Canon Rebel = Canon Kiss

Hey there, Everyone!!
I have recently discovered something that only a few amateur photographers and camera enthusiasts know about Canon. Many of us Americans know the famous line of affordable Canon DSLRs as the Rebel! But I have just come across a separate name for it while I was searching on eBay for a used Canon. In Japan, the Rebel is known as the Kiss! It is near impossible to find this branch of cameras online! They offer the same features, screen, exterior, etc as the American counterpart, but simply has a different label on the lower right corner in the front of the camera. I am not kidding you on this! And instead of having the XT, XTi, XS, etc following the Kiss label, it has X2, X3 and such. It is of course a marketing front for Canon to change the name for some countries, BUT it is, without a doubt, the same camera!

If you personally want to see or own this camera, you can find it on eBay by doing an Advanced search for "Canon Kiss" and select it to be exclusively from Japan. The results will show a few of the newest versions that are exactly like the XTi (minus the small label saying Kiss on the front). This beauties are usually with a Buy-it-Now tag on it, but I was lucky enough to snatch up my own from inside the States for just under $300 because few people know that this is in fact a Canon! The Buy-it-Now price on these cameras are approximately $500 and up.

I will let you know as soon as the camera comes in, and then once I get a lens to test on it!

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thanks for reading!

Studio 414 Contest Update

Studio414 has extended their deadline for all photo entries and may extend the deadline again within the next few days, so it is likely that their winners announcement date will be extended as well. For those of you who thought you missed your chance to enter, don't fret, there is a high possibility that you will still be able to submit your favorite shots along with entry fees.

Two Weeks into 2010!!

The year is off to a good start! We're now almost two weeks in and I'd like to announce that I have started a Flicker account and will be posting new photos and art there every weekend. Sadly I haven't uploaded anything there.... YET! I will take requests for what types of photography or art you'd like to see up on my page.

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Photo Contest Update: Today was the last day to upload photos and pay entry fees for many contests, a notable one is the one held by Studio414, they do global contests about once a month, and another that is a weekly pre-chosen category contest. The contestants can enter as many photos as they wish with an entry fee of 5 dollars per picture. Like any contest with possibly hundreds of contestants, there is a considerably decent judging period, for this contest it is ten days. The winner, 2nd, 3rd, and honorable mentions will be posted to the studio's page on January 22nd. First prize winner is given the choice between a $2000 dollar prize or a Canon 5D Mark II DSLR camera!

I must say that is quite amazing. The camera is among the Top-of-the-Line choice cameras for professional photographers and has had been in featured articles in numerous photography magazines! I am unsure if the camera comes with a lens, but I can safely assume that, since the camera alone is worth up to $3000 dollars in some places, it is likely to be just the camera body. But for most of you photographers out there, it would not be a hard task to get a few decent lenses for this majestic camera, albeit they may be a tad expensive, as is any fair camera lens.

I also must add that I am unsure of how legit this contest is seeing as it world-wide, it seems like it may be a safe choice. Though there is no immediate choice for paying for entry costs in a safe link through the basic upload page, there is a choice through the alternative which is labeled for any technical problems, which will allow you to pay fees through PayPal, a much safer method.

May those of you who enter a contest have luck on your side! Have fun and be safe!

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Thanks for reading!

Photography Contests

When you google "photography contest" it is no surprise that most of them require an entry fee, site membership, or simply are from a year ago! And on top of that it's hard to know for sure if the site is real. The best advice I can offer on being sure that you don't throw away your money and kiss the rights to your award-winning (even if it is just of your dog doing some weird back flip) picture goodbye, is to do your research before you enter! It's not hard to fall into the wrong website that looks like any other legit site nowadays.

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On a slightly separate note, I'd like to direct you to a contest for all you Mac owners/lovers reading this. The first annual "Show Me Your Mac" photo contest is being held by the Mac Users Guide. They're basically looking for you to express why you love your Mac but be careful not to alter your picture too much! First place prize is a $10 iTunes gift card and a permanent page on their website for the winning image. Deadline to enter is January 31st. So get those cameras out, dust off your old (or new) Mac and show them your love!

http://www.macusersguide.com/photo-gallery/1st-annual-show-me-your-mac-photo-contest/

Here's to the Future!

I am a beginner, not to the whole blogging experience, I have done light blogging before this. But now I am looking to start off with a real blog that more than just my myspace friends can follow, and step away from posting only poems.

So, if you've already read my profile, you already know that I am stepping into the photography and design world hoping to master the new age of arts.

And in keeping with the title of this post, I will be posting pictures and art in the near future. Thanks for reading!

Now here's a peak at the type of photography I do...