New Honey Harvest!

My bees are out there working hard! I’m looking forward to getting out there and doing another major spin pretty soon. That’s always a ton of hard work for a day, but it’s so awesome to end up with over a hundred jars of your very own honey!

Here’re a few pictures from last year’s harvest with the family!

Daily Photo – Seeing Double In Vegas

This is one of those fun double-exposures. I don’t do a lot of them…I’m not sure why. I think they often look pretty cool and trippy! The creation process is quite fun in its own right. I used Analog Efex Pro 2 to make this… it’s one of the new features that is in the new version.

Seeing Double In Vegas

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2013-08-24 03:04:11
• CameraNEX-7
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time0.3
• Aperture4
• ISO200
• Focal Length10.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias+1

Old-School Double Exposure

I saw a bunch of old-school double exposures recently. You know, people used to do this kind of stuff on film all the time… it was so creative and smart. I don’t have a mind that can think like that… it takes a different kind of brain to come up with those sorts of ideas I think!

Daily Photo – Stumbling around Vegas

I can’t be the only one that has stumbled around Vegas and seen this! Actually I was totally sober when I took this, but I decided to mix it up a little with Analog Efex Pro 2. It has a cool double-exposure filter that does this kind of stuff to your photo. I recommend you get the demo and try it out!

Stumbling around Vegas

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2013-08-24 06:54:53
• CameraNEX-7
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time6
• Aperture14
• ISO100
• Focal Length10.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias

How to get a red road at night

Usually I light up the road at night with my headlights, but I figured out this strange trick by accident! I was parked, facing the other way, and the tail lights were illuminated because the headlights were on. There was barely any red visible on the road itself, but the long exposure ended up making everything on the ground and walls a wondrous red!

Daily Photo – Driving through the Desert – Destination Vegas

Here is another recent photo from my trip to the desert. This was a very long exposure from a beautiful road in the Valley of Fire. Those glowing lights in the far distance? Those are the lights of Las Vegas, plainly visible even though it is still 60 miles away!

Driving through the Desert – Destination Vegas

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2013-08-18 04:02:20
• CameraNEX-7
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time15
• Aperture4
• ISO200
• Focal Length10.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

Stuck In Customs Facebook page

I try to leave little surprises and stuff on the Stuck In Customs Facebook page. Be sure to come join to see the latest!

Daily Photo – The Mega Lobby

They don’t love it when you take photos in Vegas, but I love to take photos in Vegas, so this causes a bit of a problem. Since I am not objective about the situation, I go ahead with my side of the story and take photos when and how I choose. At least, until the authorities show up… I then go into Michael Weston mode and talk my way out of the situation.

This is the lobby of the Venetian, and it looks amazing from almost any angle. Just outside, you can often hear the valets singing a bit of opera… it’s very strange but kind of nice!

New Print Available – The Mysteries and Adventures of the New Year

Art collectors and fans rejoice! This great new Limited Edition Numbered Print is now available entitled “The Mysteries and Adventures of the New Year“. It’s so pretty and one of my favorites. I took it in Indonesia after patiently waiting through a heck of a bad storm at this ancient temple. Sometimes, if you wait through the storm just long enough, a perfect and dramatic sunset can appear. Even better, you’ll be able to enjoy it by yourself because most everyone else will be huddling inside, trying to avoid the storm.

Also, remember that every print is unique and has its own number. You can purchase now from our partners at Really Big Canvas. You can also shop more around that site — Mother’s Day is quick approaching!

Daily Photo – The Royal Entrance

It took me a long time to get this shot right. In fact, in the upcoming HDR DVD, I try to work on another version of this — a vertical one. No matter what I did, I could not get it quite sharp enough because of some camera shake. This one turned out okay.

This is one of the entry hallways into the amazing Venetian hotel in Las Vegas. Feel free, as with all the photos, to zoom into the maximum resolution version on SmugMug. And yes, I still think SmugMug is very cool and am still using it after three months. For more info, see my SmugMug Review.

Previous Shot from Nearby

I did a post a few months ago called “Dale Chihuly is My Kinda Guy” (follow link for pic), which was shot only a few hundred meters from this place. That’s one of the many cool things about Vegas. Just a few more steps away and you are in a completely different place!

Daily Photo – The Consumer Tube

This is one of the new shopping areas in Las Vegas inside the City Center. At the time I shot this, the mall had just opened and many of the stores had not yet been completed… but the architecture was all in place and it was impressive from so many angles.

While I was there, I saw another dude with a tripod setup. I like seeing other photographers around with tripods… I always give them a brotherly nod of approval.

Charging the iPad Problems

Having trouble charging your iPad? I’ve updated my HyperMac Review a bit with information on how I am using it to keep things charged on the road.  My Macbook Pro just ain’t cuttin’ it!

I also have much greater luck when plugging it directly into the wall with the plug that was included. In just a few hours, the iPad is full. The USB connection to my new MacBook Pro just charges it way too slow!   I think we have all gotten used to how fast the iPhone charges… and the iPad is just a different beast.  I will keep testing the this battery thing and let you know how many charges it can supply… I’ll update the HyperMac review here when I figure it out.  Anyway, there are two options for your charging the iPad problems – hope they help!

Daily Photo – Chihuly in Space

I know you guys don’t get tired of the Chihuly pieces, and neither do I! In fact, I like this one so much that I use it as my desktop wallpaper.

Just as much thought goes into lighting these as it does the creation. I always wonder if he has the “lighting scenario” in mind when forming the piece and its colors. Or maybe, it’s just so awesome and naturally formed that it looks good under any kind of light. Heck, it would probably even look good in a 7-11 at 1 AM when all the pasty-lonely people stumble in for a Big Gulp and a Snickers. I can say this because I am often one of those people.

By the way, you all are free to use my images as desktop wallpaper, for fun, on your blogs, etc. That is the beauty of the Creative Commons license. If you are going to use them for any commercial purposes whatsoever, contact licensing at stuckincustoms.com — the team there will take care of you.

Here is another Chihuly from just down the road… I’m sure some of you have been lucky enough to see this beautiful monstrosity in person!

SmugMug Contest Winner Announced!

Our SmugMug Portfolio contest has a winner! Congratulations to Hunter Luisi!

He has won the fabulous prizes of:

• An Ultimate Version of the Stuck In Customs Textures Tutorial
• and… tuition payment for the new workshop: Vacation with Vanelli!

Daily Photo: Another Chihuly Masterpiece

Isn’t there some point when you can just stop saying “masterpiece”? I mean, isn’t everything he does considered a masterpiece? It’s like there should be a whole new elite lexicon – special words for descriptions, all of which mean “masterpiece” or better.

This gem is at his new gallery in Las Vegas. You just have to go see that place. The people inside were very nice and let me take my time to set up and properly get the light as it truly was. I’m not sure they could figure out what the heck I was doing with my camera and the process! But that’s okay. We kept up good conversation while I was going through my motions… and most of our conversation centered around how much we admire Dale!

Cali and Neal are doing amazing work… If you subscribe to the free and fun-filled newsletter, you probably have heard me mention Geekbrief.TV several times and what Cali Lewis is up to over there. She uses my art in the background of her shows, and, well, I think they always look amazing. Believe it or not, I can be objective about such matters! Anyway, I was watching a recent Geekbrief.TV episode (see the hi-res too!) and I noticed that they added moving “snow” to one of my images from Whistler, up where they are preparing for the Olympics. The snow looks really great! In other news, Jeff McCord from the Moxie Mo Show is also using my art in the backgrounds of his video podcasts as well. Fun!

Daily Photo – Laser Vision in Las Vegas

The new Vegas City Center has opened. Isn’t “City Center” one of the most boring names ever for such an awesome place? This was surely a name that was decided upon by a committee. And, this is precisely why you never see a statue of a committee.

Thankfully, the architects that designed this 21st century piece of art where not part of the naming committee. It is clear they had leeway to design something unexpected and beautiful. Howard Roark would be proud.

Thanks for coming to the Chicago Party

I really enjoyed meeting you guys and gals that came.  It was a great event and I want to thank you all!  We do have a fun photowalk that we will be doing Sunday at 10 AM – meeting in the lobby of the Hotel Sax.  Anyone is welcome!

Daily Photo – The Way to the Penthouse

This incredible spot is located at the bottom of the MGM Grand in Vegas.  It’s one of those places that you will walk by after a day of visual-overload in Vegas and not even notice!  It has taken me some practice, but I try to look at each new room anew, and do my best to bring it back to you!