Subject Matter: Acme Made Trixy Laptop bag. It’s not black!

Most laptop and computer bags come in black, black and…black. Boring. Acme Made has some very stylish, yet sturdy laptop bags for ladies of all ages. Observe the red Acme Made Trixy Laptop bag. It’s good looking, the Trixy comes in three different colors, yet sturdy for a very fashionable bag.

I am hard on bags and purses. Even my watch has a roll bar. And I go through bags and purses. Yet, I don’t have to baby the Acme Made Trixy Laptop bag, and it has multiple uses.

The Trixy bag contains two pull-out pouches, one for your laptop and one for miscellaneous small items (keys, cards, makeup, pills, etc – just the right size). An outside and interior zipper pocket allows me to compartmentalize, and find papers, wallet, keys, whatever. The bag also features four open slide-in pockets for cell phones, glasses, business cards, etc.

Some Nice Features
Leather pull tabs on sturdy zippers and leather trim are attractive features, the bags are made from water resistant material, and raised metal bottom tabs will keep your laptop bag’s bottom surface clean. Dimensions are not bulky and fit most 15.4″ laptops. Nice!

Color choices: Chocolate with pink trim, camouflage, or red with brown trim.

I’m loving this bag. You will too.
Contact: Acme Made Trixy Laptop Bag
Cost: $97.50 US

Readers can browse the detailed index that offers subheadings under each chapter, making it easy to find specific points, or techniques. The book’s initial section focuses on getting started (uploading lesson files), setting computer preferences and color correction, and how to play video tutorials (requires Adobe Flash). Learning what’s new in Photoshop CS5 is found in Chapter 14. Each lesson chapter provides step-by-step instructions (no long paragraphs), and numerous lessons are provided on the DVD insert.

Extra screen shots throughout the individual sections point out various tools, or techniques identified in the individual directions. Readers can also refer to the supplemental video tutorials, which are very informative and a bonus to this tutorial package.

Self Study Section
At the end of each chapter there is a self study section, plus topic questions and related answers. The individual chapters do not state their estimated time length, but from practicing a few lessons, I would assume the average user may need 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. Video lessons are short and informative.

If you are interested in learning Adobe Photoshop CS5, then consider this book as an option.

Contact: www.digitalclassroombooks.com
Cost: $49.99 US; $59.99 CAN

Each page is a post card with interesting picture. On the back page a schematic drawing and short paragraph details individual lighting techniques.

All of the pages captures the “teachable moment” by offering a short summary how to achieve different lighting effects.  The content is short, yet detailed describing how to acquire the “look” for each photograph.

Over 25 post card pages offer numerous inspirational photos and lighting examples of outside lighting to indoor studio photography. And all the images are beautifully lit, and contain great composition.

Each volume costs $24.99 US, and $29.99 CAN.

To break out with lighting, definitely consider these books.

Contact: www.peachpit.com

Composition: From Snapshots to Great Shots, is well-written and easy to understand.  The only error that I found was in Chapter 2 that discusses the exposure triangle. In the lower right-hand corner of Figure 2.1, the red arrow should be between the ISO 400 and the shutter speed of 1/250. Even with this editing error the book is so well done that I classified it in the top 10 books on photography that I’ve read.  If you’re looking to improve your composition and make great shots, I highly recommend that you check this book out.

Contact: Peachpit Press

Price: $24.99 US and $29.99 CAN

Easy to Identify
HMH offers two field guide books written by the late American naturalist, Roger Tory Peterson. One field guide focuses on Western North America bird species, and the second field guide details Eastern and Central North America birds. Each book is well laid out. The front section offers quick one page references on bird families, bird topography and regional area covered by each book. The remaining sections are color coded based on identifying birds (i.e. bird size, wing shape, bill and tail shape, etc. – a must read for beginning birders) to various bird families.

Detailed drawings assist in bird identification, along with range maps and short information paragraphs. Is the bird common or uncommon? What is it’s song pattern? What is the summer, or winter range? All this information and more is provided.

In addition, the last section provides detailed range maps for specific species and a life long list index. Know the difference, and seen a verdin versus a snow bunting? Add them to your lifelong list index.

More to Peruse – Podcasts
In addition, Peterson offers 33 different podcasts covering species profiles, family overviews, tutorials, and a mini biography of Ralph Tory Peterson (1908-1996), one of America’s well known and respected naturalist.

Accessible, concise and easy-to-use, Peterson Field Guides continue to provide detailed information to birding enthusiasts.

System Requirements: iTunes or Windows Media Viewer
Contact: Peterson Field Guides
Cost: Each field guide $19.95 US

Springtime is Flower Time!

Let David Brandenburg’s National Wildlife Federation: Field Guide to Wildflowers of North America guide you on a journey through flowers. Many field guides offer plain black and white sketches with a central, or back section of flower panels that still lead you guessing.   Not so with this guide.

The beginning section highlight habitats, conservation, how to use the guide and defining wildflowers. A flower key helps identify flowers by petal shape, petal configuration and flower color. Each flower discussed is photographed, and referenced based on type (wildflower, introduced species, etc).

Take note of the wide use of vivid photographs throughout the book.  While not every species has a photograph, the most common species in a flower genus contain photographs, and habitat range map.

If you’re struggling to identify a plant, when it flowers, where to find it in broad terms, then consider this book.  To narrow down the hunt for a very specific flower species may require a detailed botanical key.

For $19.95, this book is an excellent resource, and sized to carry in backpack for field use.

More information maybe found here.

Contact: Sterling Publishing

Price: $19.95 US $ 25.95 CAN

Content is King
As RC Conception notes – people will return to your site if you have good content.  Presentation may draw folks to your site, but good content will keep them coming back.  The book also provides links to how-to videos and free templates to help get your site up and running quickly.

If you a looking at building a photo place on the web, I strongly recommend that you consider this book.

Contact:
Peachpit Press
Kelbymedia

Cost: $39.99 US    $47.99 CAN

Bird Photography
Serious wildlife photographers typically do a significant amount of research on the species that they are looking to photograph. For these photographers, the “Peterson Birds of North America iOS app provides solid background information. For the casual bird photographer, this app is a great resource to help identify the bird in your picture. If you have a particular species that you want to photograph, the Peterson app provides enough information to point to likely areas to find that species.

Birds A to Z
This app provides excellent drawn pictures, detailed family and species information, and lots of extra features to discover birds, birds, and more birds. It’s rather addicting. The app’s landing page has numerous identity cards to scroll up, or down to start identifying specific bird types. Did my red headed bombardier look something like a cardinal, or was it a shorebird? The upper lefthand eyeglass symbol can help users identify birds by either an alphabetic list, individual bird pictures alphabetically organized, or I can type in bird names in the Search window.

Managable to Find Diverse Information
Choose and tap a bird grouping card that define different bird species by similar characteristics (loons and grebes, shorebirds, or rail-like birds). On the screen’s right side are detailed pictures of various birds that can be individually selected and zoomed in.

Note in the right and central menu bars, there are various symbols offering varying points and information (pictures, sound, migratory range, etc.)

The app provides good information on nesting areas and habitats, seasonal ranges, bird feeder notes, flight pattern, clutch and egg characteristics etc. I can zoom into the picture and view striking plumage features. In addition, other related species are available on a small side window. I can also create a checklist of identified birds. What does a Black-bellied plover sound like? Tap on the plover’s picture to select the species and select the audio symbol. Loud, clear distinct bird calls resound from the app.

One nice feature is the font size can be adjusted to enlarge or reduce words. I didn’t find a lot of information regarding what different species eat. Some of that information, however, is provided in the bird group information (tap on the bird symbol above the central font symbol).

Here’s some additional information provided by AppWeavers:

** Full screen views of Roger Tory Peterson’s outstanding bird illustrations
** Adult, juvenile, male, female, breeding, and non-breeding, and in-flight images
** Illustrations are grouped and ordered using the same tried and tested method as the print field guide
** Screens group similar birds for fast positive identification
** Unique Peterson Identification System
** Over 800 North American species
** Over 700 bird calls and sounds
** Compare detailed range maps
** Comprehensive additional information on Hawks, Hummingbirds, and Warblers
** Nest and Egg information on over 500 birds, including nest photos with eggs
** Molt information from Steve Howell’s ground-breaking book
** Extra articles on birding, including how-tos and backyard birding tips

Features:
** Compare illustrations, range maps, and songs of similar birds on one screen
** One app with unique interfaces for iPad and iPhone/iPod touch
** Zoom and pan to see fine detail in all illustrations
** Quickfind, one-tap access (no typing!)
** Hide arrows and captions for an uncluttered view of birds
** Create and update Check Lists
** Record sightings, with date, place, confidence, notes
** View and sort sightings by Species, Date, and Place
** Customize the interface to suit you, including left-hand, right-hand navigation and more
** View similar species
** Quick facts for each species
** Browse by family groups, taxonomy, or species

Expert bird watchers or photographers will appreciate the detailed drawings, and species information. Beginners to intermediate bird watchers or photographers can easily use the identifying cards and scroll through similar species to key out birds. Oh, and my flying feathered friend that rat-tat-a-tatted on a nearby dead tree? Thanks to the Peterson bird app, I identified as a Pileated Woodpecker. They’re big!

System Requirements: iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or later.
Contact: Peterson Birds of North America
Cost: $29.99 US

Composition
Composition is critical to the storytelling power of a photo or painting. Good image composition draws the the viewer in and leads to the subject. Great composition grabs the heart strings. Poor composition leaves the viewer lost.

Contents
Photographic Composition A Visual Guide is written in three sections and an appendix.  The first section in a few short pages discusses the physical and mental preparation that some photographers use to get ready to create photographs.  The second and more extensive section provides images and a short (1-2 paragraph) discussion of the composition.  This section is broken down into 11 subsections covering related composition element, for example, geometry or movement.  At the end of each sub section are exercises that can be used to practice composition.  Third section discusses composition post capture (or after the click).

Richard D. Zakia and David A. Page in Photographic Composition A Visual Guide provide a visual guide that that is worth taking a look at if you  are looking to improve image composition.

Contact: Focal Press or Elsevier

Price: $29.95 US