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Hi Gang. Hope everybody had a great weekend: here’s what’s up:

  • I want to start with this week’s blog schedule: I’m only going to be blogging today and tomorrow, and then I’m taking off Wed. (Christmas Eve) and the rest of the week until Monday. I took the week off from work, and I just want to spend some time with the kids, so I hope you’ll join me here tomorrow, and then again next Monday.
  • We’re coming up on the entry deadline for the 4th annual Photoshop User Awards (the deadline is December 31, 2008). The grand prize winner will get an all-expense paid 5-day trip for two to Barcelona, Spain, and there are great prizes in a number of different categories. The contest is open to anyone, and if you’ve never entered a contest before—what are you waiting for? For all the details, click here.
  • Joe McNally is doing a series of one-day Lighting Workshops up in Dobbs Ferry (about 40 minutes outside of New York City), on Jan. 19, 20, 21, 22, and 24th. Here’s the link for details. Also, I wasn’t going to announce it quite yet, so consider this un-official announcement but we’re in the final stages of developing a nationwide Joe McNally lighting tour, produced by Kelby Training Live, that will be kicking off in February. More details as soon as we’ve nailed the first round of dates.
  • HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA: McNally’s groundbreaking book, “The Moment It Clicks” is turning into a huge seller for the holidays, and if you’re looking for that last-minute gift, this is a lock to be a hit with the photographer on your list. Here’s the link to it from Barnes & Noble and at Amazon.com.
  • UPDATE: I’m thrilled to announce that Springs of Hope, Kenya can now accept donations via Paypal (thanks to my readers who contacted them directly, helped them get it set up, and in the spirit of the Holidays, some of you have already made donations using Paypal. You guys continue to amaze me with your generosity). Here’s the link if you want to do something today that will make you feel absolutely great! (note: I’m not seeing the button appear in Firebox, but I see in it Safari).  P.S. Scott Sherman, from the Digital Photography Life podcast, posted a comment to my blog entry about you guys raising more than $10,000 for the orphanage. His story is both amazing and inspiring, and it includes a quote from Anne Frank that I’d never heard, but will never forget. If you’ve got a few seconds; click this link, then scroll to the bottom to find Scott’s Sherman’s comment.
  • LIGHTROOM 2.2: If you updated to Lightroom 2.2, and you had downloaded the Beta Camera Profiles, you now have both the Beta profiles, and the final profiles. My buddy Matt Kloskowski did a tutorial on how to remove the old profiles over at his blog (and podcast) at LightroomKillerTips.com.
  • Photoshop World instructor Jim DiVitale just posted his new Digital Imaging Tune-Up Clinic Blog where he takes you behind the scenes on a food shoot in the studio. Here’s the link (definitely worth checking out).

That’s it for today, folks. I hope you’re enjoying a wonderful Holiday Season, and I hope to see you back here tomorrow. :)