Learn more about travel photographer Ron Dubin. See an in-depth interview:

Big Bolivian Sunsets: Interview with Photographer Ron Dubin.

Can you decipher the following?

Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM
Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM
Canon EF 50 f/1.4 USM
Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM

You’re taking great shots with your new Canon DSLR. Landscapes, buildings, portraits of your family and friends: The camera rarely leaves your eye. But, you’re feeling a little limited, hemmed in with the kit lens that came with the camera body. After a quick look at the camera lenses online you find yourself lost in bizarre nomenclature.

What? What does that mean? I’m not a professional, only a studious shutterbug. What’s EF and EF-S? What is IS and USM? Fear not, Canon lens nomenclature is not as hard as it seems. Let’s break it down. See the rest of the article at Associated Content.

I met Joel Carillet on a website I used to frequent. Joel was one of the only reasons I visited after the site descended from mediocrity to a moronic mass of infantile alphabet games . His work: Photographs and travelogues are a shining example of what travel writing should be. He is a man that cares about his craft, and it shows in the work he produces.

Meet Joel Carillet, get to know the man behind the images, words and adventures. See my two-part interview at In The Know Traveler.

Travel, Photography, and Joel Carillet
Travel, Photography, and Joel Carillet pt 2

Yes, I have been away. Now I’m back, bad, and well-rested.

But I have been not been idle. My review of the Phottix Cleon Remote Shutter Release is available for your reading pleasure. It’s a dandy piece of gear available for both Canon and Nikon DSLRs. Read the review. My thoughts? Definitely consider picking a Phottix Cleon if you need a remote/wireless release for your DSLR.

What can I say about Thailand? I think an American politician once said China was a country with many Chinese people. You could say the same about Thailand.

I’m letting my bias show. Thailand was nice, I wish I had had more time to explore, a trek in the hills perhaps. But time was limited and I once saw the highs, and some of the lows.

I saw architecture that defies description: Gold-covered wats, orange-robed monks, and tropical forests. I stood on a mountain, looking down on the clouds. Many drunken tourists wandered into view, dressed in Thai-style, tattooed, pierced, and walking down back alleys with ladyboys on their arms.

Mrs. Stevo fed an elephant. I fed my face with delectables not available in the Middle Kingdom.

Stay tuned for more photos and stories from Thailand.

Yes, I’ve been a touch busy as of late. The school term is over, I’m worn out, and trying to plan a trip to Thailand. I don’t have a lot of time to ramble incessantly.

If you find yourself needing to read the deft prose of the stevo, please see his latest article at In The Know Traveler.

Now back to your regularly scheduled program.

It has been an interesting year. The last 12 months saw me finish my first year as “boss” in my real existence, and start fresh in my virtual life.

I know many of you from the “place that will not be named.” Tired of unmitigated bullshit; a rigged photo contest, plagiarism, and constant sniping, I ventured forth and started inane ramblings. When logging in causes your blood pressure to rise more than a classroom of Grades 1s, or eating an entire pound of bacon in a single sitting, it’s time to make a change.

I knew nothing about domains, SEO, WordPress, CSS, or PHP. I quickly learned. By some miracle, I found you, my friends, some old, some new, and am now part of a vibrant community. You have made my virtual life as lively as my real one. I no longer feel as isolated as I once did, a world away, a strange man in a strange land.

Things started slow but have picked up. This little blog broke even, and has paid for 2008. Yes, I occasionally pimp out a post, but I have plans.

This year saw my first wedding anniversary, both of them, my slide towards that frightening milestone of 40, much joy, some heartbreaks, many toys, and the realization that my life, although I never thought it would be, is good. I have no regrets at present. As I say this, I know Karma will kick my ass to the curb, just to keep me in line.

Raise a glass: Here’s to continued friendships, good posts, and humorous comments. Here’s to marvelous captures and verbose verbiage. To friends, new and old, to an uncertain but interesting future.

Cheers. May your 2008 be as good as my 2007.

2007
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