Azraphale In reply to phaythe [2005-12-23 13:20:16 +0000 UTC]

Groovy! Thanks a bunch.

How do you like your Lensbaby? I was thinking about getting one of those at one point... I see they have a new design that has some new features. I might check that one out.

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phaythe In reply to Azraphale [2005-12-23 17:53:31 +0000 UTC]

Version 2.0, appropriately has a maximum apature of 2.0 and has different coatings I believe. Thus far I love it, although I've only had it for about two weeks and in that time I haven't had the chance to use it much. You can really achieve some wonderful effects with it. I've noticed thus far that it is really a flattering effect for photographing subjects with a high-key background that would otherwise be way too over exposed. Going to have to play around with that more. For as inexpensive as the lens is, I highly recommend it!

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Azraphale In reply to DmanLT21 [2005-12-12 08:41:20 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! I have to rememer to keep uploading stuff. I have the flu, so I guess now is a good time to be stuck in front of a computer for a while...

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DmanLT21 In reply to Azraphale [2005-12-17 00:24:14 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome. Definately upload more stuff, we need more car enthusiasts here on DA lol

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Azraphale In reply to DmanLT21 [2005-12-22 21:33:30 +0000 UTC]

Groovy.
My true passion is motorcycles, and I will start uploading my motorcycle racing and motorcycle art shots soon. It's been a bit busy of late, as I am house-sitting for the holiday, and also write for three or four magazines. Odd, you'd think winter would be a slow time for me, but the weary continute to toil in (currently rain-drenched) Californication...

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DmanLT21 In reply to Azraphale [2005-12-27 17:33:04 +0000 UTC]

That's awesome. Idk too much about motorcycles, but I'm finding out more everyday, my friend and I are planning to build a buggy using a motorcycle engine, but that's been delayed for some time... What magazines do you write for?

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Azraphale In reply to DmanLT21 [2005-12-29 11:14:08 +0000 UTC]

Probably ones you've never heard of. There are two mags that cover the SF Bay area, one old and one new, and I write for both. The old is CityBike, and the new is Urban Moto (sense a theme there?). I also shoot occasionaly for Road Racer X (I have a shot fiull-page in the current issue, in fact, although it is dreadfully soft in their mag -- don't they know how to sharpen?). Motorcycle Consumer News tried to hire me as a full-time columnist, but I passed. They want me to write heavy-duty tech articles for them, but thus far I haven't had the time to do the in-depth research they want for their articles. Oh, and I was a regular columnist and photographer for Dual Sport News, a growing magazine out of Ojai. I now write for them piecemeal, and submit photos when appropriate. I should have tech articles in all the 2006 issues of DSN.

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DmanLT21 In reply to Azraphale [2006-01-15 18:23:32 +0000 UTC]

wow.... That is pretty awesome. I actually considered writing stuff for money in the future, but it looks kind of complicated. What exactly do you write about? Do they give you strict guidelines, or allow for freedom as long as it's related to the magazine?

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Azraphale In reply to DmanLT21 [2006-01-29 17:59:41 +0000 UTC]

Depends on the magazine, really, and sometimes on how much material they have for their next issue. For instance, I will often write pieces on products I find especially wonderful, or about issues that I find inspiring. I generally submit these to a number of magazines (one at a time!) and see if anyone will print them. For one magazine, I write a regular column on basic tech and maintenance; the editor gives me a word cout and we discuss potential topics. Once the topics are agreed upon, I write to their word count spec. Most of my stuff doesn't get edited too heavily, as I tend to write pretty coherently and well. Most of the edits will be for space considerations; often an article will get cut because of not enough room in a given issue, that sort of thing. Sometimes the ultimate layout and content of the mag does not get finalized until it is very nearly on the way to the printing press! And lastly, I get assignments from magazines as well. They give me a product, person, place, or company, and tell me what sort of color and flavor they want the article to have, along with a word count. I generally supply my own photos with my articles, and caption those myself.

So, in short, if you can write stuff that is interesting and flows well, and know about your subjcet, you cna probably make inroads as a journalist for magazines. Warning: Much like in acting, only a tiny handful of hopefuls ever make it "big time" (I'm still trying to get there), and for those who don't, there's not really a lot of money to be had. The smaller pubs either don't pay or pay very little, but they get your name out there and get your foot in the door.

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