Archive for the ‘Photography’ Category

49 Days Gallery Show

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

49 Days Postcard FrontThe Party is over, but the gallery show goes on. Weekdays from 10AM to 5PM at AJPN Photo. Come in and check out the prints and see what all the fuss is about.

Takes place at AJPN Photo Studio and Gallery. 985 Lincoln Way STE 204 Auburn, Ca 95603. Call 530-885-5375 for more information.

Foreplay – 49 Days and Counting (Gallery Show/Party)

Friday, June 11th, 2010

49days_720
Come out and get fired up for the 25th Burn.

Call it a local precompression party and gallery show. Saturday, July 17th, 2010. Starts at 5:00 and goes until 9:30. Get ready for the burn and meet some new people. Feel free to bring your favorite playa snack and drink and yes, this one is a dress up party. We’ll be serving wine and beer and snacks.

Meet members from the themecamps Burntown, Inspriratum, MidTown, Barbie Death Camp, Karma Chickens and others.

Takes place at AJPN Photo Studio and Gallery. 985 Lincoln Way STE 204 Auburn, Ca 95603

49days_back

Artwalk Tonight

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

AMGEN Tour of California Gallery Show

AMGEN Tour of California Gallery Show

Don’t forget that tonight is the Auburn Artwalk. I will be open from 5:00PM until 9:00. My show will feature select images from last years AMGEN bicycle race and from the Nevada City Classic along with an assortment of images shot in California.
Images from all over California

Images from all over California


The show will also repeat on Saturday Night with a more festive vibe including complimentary wine and beer. AJPN PHOTO also asks you to please join our fan page on Facebook and stay in the loop. We are also currently in forth place on the KCRA A List voting poll. Please take a minute to help a local business and vote here. Thank you and we hope to see you at the show tonight or Saturday.

Link to the Burning Element Virtual Gallery

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Saturday March 27th, 2010 5:00 PM

Saturday March 27th, 2010 5:00 PM

ON Saturday March 27th at 5:00 PM we will have a closing show for the the Burning Element. People my take home their purchases any time after 7:30PM. Please bring your reciept. For those of you interested in seeing the gallery who cannot make it, the virtual gallery is located here.

the Burning Element

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

the Burning Element

the Burning Element

On Saturday, March 6th, 2010 I will be having a the first show in the gallery portion of my studio. The show will feature selected prints from six years at Burning Man. The show begins at 5:00 PM with a reception and refereshments.

Please feel free to invite anyone you think may have an interest in viewing photographs from the annual even, which takes place yearly the last week of August in the Black Rock Desert outside of Gerlach, Nevada.

AJPN Photo Studio and Gallery is located inside the State Theater at 985 Lincoln Way Suite 204 in Auburn, California 95603. Please call with any other questions you might have. (530) 885-5375. Regular hours are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday

Check out the event on Facebook.

Tutorial: Replacing a Novatron Flash Tube

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010
A standard Novatron P/N 2100C Flash Head

A standard Novatron P/N 2100C Flash Head

If you own a Novatron lighting system there is a good possibility that sooner or later you will need to replace a flash tube. Fortunately it’s not often they burn out (I have only had one burn out in several years), but it happens. I have also broken one being careless while trying to install a massive Photoflex Softbox.

The first time I had to replace one I looked for some kind of tutorial in the Internet to no avail. There were plenty of people who had accomplished the task, but no one who shared any knowledge of how it was completed.

This time I decided to make a tutorial of my own.

Novatron Flash Tube as Mailed

Novatron Flash Tube as Mailed

The first thing you need to do is find a replacement tube. There are at least two sellers on eBay who have them. I found the best deal from:

Genesis Lamp

Lights 64 also carries them albeit at a slightly higher cost:

Lights 64

Lights 64 is a top rated seller, so if you’re more comfortable with a seller with 20K+ sales then perhaps paying a buck or two more is not important. I went with Genesis Lamp and I received my tube very well packaged only a few days after placing my order.

the Necessary tools

the Necessary tools

The next thing you want to do is to assemble the necessary tools. You will need a small Phillips screwdriver, a pair of needle nosed pliers, some wire snips and a soldier iron and soldier.

Now to begin. With the Phillips screwdriver and the pliers remove the screws holding the reflector to the protective case. Once this is completed you will see that the reflector only comes out as far as the wires will allow it (see the top picture).

Nylon Collar in Place

Nylon Collar in Place

Turn the unit over and find where the cable connects to the unit. There is a black nylon collar that keeps the cable locked in place. Use the needle nosed pliers to squeeze the lock in and pull the collar out. Remove the collar and slip the cable though the body allowing you to move the reflector from the case.

the Collar after Being Removed

the Collar after Being Removed

Familiarize yourself with the wiring. There is a red shield and a black shield that connect to there corresponding areas on the circuit board. On the opposite side is a brown wire that will connect to the outer wire on the flash tube.

the Flash Head Opened

the Flash Head Opened

Use the wire cutters to cut both the red and black wires at the edge of the ceramic insulator tubes which protrude from the rear of the reflector. Make sure you gently pull the red and black shields away exposing the wire before cutting. You will need to reuse these shields. Remove them and put them aside.

Red and Black wires Oppose the Brown Wire

Red and Black wires Oppose the Brown Wire

For the brown wire you will want to cut it on the tube side of the shield. Pull it through to the back and remove any excess soldier. Strip the end of the wire and twist the wire so the end is smooth.

If you haven’t already plugged in your soldier iron do so now. Once it has heated up use it to heat the soldier points where the wires you removed the red and black shields from are connected. Gently pull them though trying to leave the holes in the circuit board open.

Connecting the Brown Wire to the Exposed Tube Wire

Connecting the Brown Wire to the Exposed Tube Wire

Tin the end of the brown wire. Tinning is accomplished by heating the exposed wire and melting a tiny bit of soldier on it. Slide the brown wire back through the ceramic tube. Twist the end around the exposed outer wire on the tube. Do this as close to the tube as you dare. You will not want this contact to touch either the modeling bulb or the reflector at any time. Cut the excess wire from the tube.

Push the other two contacts through the other two ceramic insulator tubes. Turn the unit over and replace the red and black shields. Bend the wire so you can push them through the corresponding holes on the circuit board. Pull them into place and make sure the tube is positioned correctly. Once you have done this soldier both connections.

Soldiering the Red and Black Connections

Soldiering the Red and Black Connections

Cut the excess wire. Look over your work and make sure everything looks exactly how it looked before you began. Pull the cable through the case and realign the reflector. Reinstall the screws. Slide the black nylon collar up the cable and install it on the cable in the exact place it was at before. Squeeze the lock down and slide it into place.

the Finished Product

the Finished Product

Insert the model light and make sure nothing is touch where it shouldn’t be touch. Plug in the unit and test it. Everything should be in working order.

Viola. You’re finished!



2010

Monday, January 4th, 2010

Frank Calabretta's Bail House Bail Bonds

Frank Calabretta's Bail House Bail Bonds

It has been too long since I have made a blog post.

2009 was a fine year. I opened AJPN Studio and have came a long way towards getting the studio to where I would like it to be. I still have a ways to go and I feel confident that before the end of the first year I will be well on my way to exceeding those goals.

Here’s to everyone who has helped my along my way and here’s to an even more productive year in 2010. See you soon.

Tony

My Philosophy on Photography — Humble Beginnings

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

Wind Swept (1986)

Wind Swept (1986)

I first discovered a fascination with taking pictures when I was a young child. A family member had given me a box camera and I shot two or three rolls of 120 film. The resulting images were a disappointment. The expense of film and developing prevented me from going much further with it at that time; but the seed was planted.

I was a teenager when I truly discovered my passion for taking pictures. Unfortunately, photography was not offered as an elective at my high school, but I’m sure that had it been, I would have enrolled in the program.

I got my hands on a 35mm Pentax and started taking it everywhere I would go. At that time, even though it as difficult to get developed, I preferred shooting with black and white film. In fact, the only time I resorted to using color film was when I couldn’t locate something monochromatic.

Sel Portrait (1985)

Sel Portrait (1985)

A few years later I would put photography aside when I decided to pursue another of my interests, music. I couldn’t afford to invest in equipment for both. As the years passed, I kept many examples of my photographs around, even adorning my walls with a few pictures I had taken back in my youth. Often times people would ask me why I didn’t continue taking pictures, as they looked over one of the framed images.

When I finally put my pursuit of music aside it was nearly as much the echoes of those voices as my former passion that encouraged my return to photography.

For several years I shot only with film, but in 2002, I started shooting digital and in 2003, I purchased my first Digital SLR. Since that time, my 35mm SLR has been seeing less and less use. Within a year of that eventful purchase one of my images saw publication.

Another image I took in 2004 was picked POW (Photo of the Week) on Photo.net. It’s quite a prestigious honor and the image has been viewed well over 1.7 million times. Later that image would see publication in two separate magazines.

Bridge into Silence

I began shooting occasional professional work in 2005. Since then I have taken on more and more work as a photographer and earlier this year I decided I would open a studio and pursue it full time. In April, I found a space at 985 Lincoln Way, Suite 204 in Auburn, California. The studio is now open and you are welcome to drop in anytime Monday through Friday. I take appointments on the weekend as well. The phone number is (530)885-5375.

In my next blog I will discuss elements of life’s experiences and the manners in which people communicate and the impact I feel that both have on my Philosophy of Photography.

Colfax Independence Day Parade

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

Soapbox Derby!

Soapbox Derby!


The Independence Day Parade in Colfax this year, which took place on July 3rd, turned out to be a lot of fun. It was a little frustrating to have to wait for the train to pass before the festivities could begin, but once it got rolling things quickly looked up.

Highlights of the parade were the Quinn Family Clowns, lots of free flying candy, a little campaign stumping by Scott Owens and plenty of kids and family friendly fun.

Capping off the entire event were the fireworks later that evening. We were there, but I decided not to take pictures.

Check out the gallery of what I did take here.

3rd Annual Pirate Festival

Friday, June 26th, 2009
The Mast that Greeted All who Came

The Mast that Greeted All who Came

Last Saturday, June 20th, 2009, we headed on down to the Third Annual Pirate Festival at Mare Island in Vallejo. It was free and I have to tell you, we really got our money’s worth. I had more fun there just walking around than I have had in some time at any other event.

I really appreciate it when someone is so into it that they go the extra step to do it right. And whereas at many other events the women step it up and make the men look like pathetic wannabes, well, it wasn’t that way at the Pirate Fest. In fact, it was hard to find too many women that were as glammed up as many of the men.

One of the 'more' Insane Pirates!

One of the 'more' Insane Pirates!

I highly recommend checking this event out next year. It’s worth going out of your way for. It’s just a good, family friendly, exciting event. There were a ton of kids there and I didn’t see one making complaint.

Great music and food and fantastic shopping, especially if you’re into the kind of duds that pirates might favor.

Check out the gallery here.