Wednesday, December 27, 2006

ImageKind update

Great news for you APO/FPO customers!

I just got a message from customer support at ImageKind and they told me two important pieces of information:

1) Thay are actively working on a way to ship using USPS mail, thereby opening up the APO/FPO/PO Box customer base, and...

2) If you e-mail or call them with your purchase request they can arrange for a USPS shipment NOW.


I love this company.

Monday, December 18, 2006

Why Didn't I (or you) Think of That?

One of the things I have always hated about e-commerce and my images is that I always get asked about framing options. To tell you the truth, having been in the contest world for some time I'm of the mindset that everything belongs in a black frame with a white mat.

My lovely wife disagrees with me. And she's right.

As usual.

I have wished there was a simple, one-stop-shopping way for my customers to select an image, pick out a nice frame and then select the mat colors to suit their homes. Wouldn't that just be the coolest thing?

Well, our wishes have come true! IMAGEKIND has apparently picked our collective dreams and done exactly that. They spent quite a bit of time in my brain as they offer a LOT of things that I have always wanted as well: the ability for me to caption my images, their use of EPSON gilcee' printers using EPSON archival inks and EPSON papers (all things I firmly believe in), rag and suede mats, metal AND wood frames, single/double/triple mat layers, acrylic or glass glazing options and the big one for me:

PRINTS ON CANVAS! IN TWO OPTIONS NO LESS!

YES, I'M SHOUTING!!!!!!

My brain is literally buzzing with excitement about FINALLY being able to offer my images with a partner that allows YOU to select what holds my prints. Listen, you can hear the buzzing I swear, even from here in England.

The only downside is they don't currently ship to APO/FPO addresses but I've already started begging them to figure some way to help the military folks out. If you'd like to see that as an option, kindly let them hear your voice in a quick e-mail.

Stop by the site and give it a good look-through, images are being added frequently so check often. If you know of an image you want seen on the site, drop me a quick e-mail and I'll see what I can do!

~James

Saturday, December 16, 2006

The Codetalkers


You might think I'm referring to the Navajo tribe members who, literally, saved many a life during WWII using their language as a code to deliver messages in the Pacific theater. I'm not, but if you get the chance, read about their exploits and how despite being maltreated for decades answered the call of a nation during war.

I'm talking about all the gobbledy-gook known as HTML or HyperText Markup Language. That's the stuff that makes up websites. I like to think of myself as a fart smeller, er... smart feller, but this stuff makes my head hurt. Reminds me of the headaches I get when reading stuff by Ansel Adams and he launches into how film grain consists of the visible structure created by silver halide crystals... blah blah blah. Serious Excedrin territory here.

I decided that the website needed a new look and after careful consideration (not really) thought a FLASH based site would be cool. You know, music, moving images, stuff like that. So, I delved into the exciting world of HTML code.

ICK!

Don't get me wrong, I'm pleased as punch with the new website! Several folks have looked at it and given it a virtual thumbs-up. I think it's much easier to navigate and looks pretty stinking good, but holy cow did I spend many a night trying to figure out what strange demon monster would emerge from my monitor when I edited things like:

id="index" width="740" height="520">





Scary, isn't it?

Anyways, with that off of my chest, please take a look at the site if you get a minute. Some neat stuff there and some exciting news coming up before the new year.


Cheers!