The ALL NEW ActionRunner 2.0 is now available for Mac OS10 and CS2 operators.

Soon to follow will be CS3 and CS versions. Also, PC will follow sometime in the next 4-5 months we hope. Until then you can still purchase 1.0 for PC which I personally use for my own images. 1.0 has the same actions, just a less friendly user interface.

Here is a screen shot of 2.0




This software is so simple:

You use whatever file browser you like, select the action you want, drag as many images at a time as you want onto the action icon and then click on GO! Each image is opened, action applied, saved and closed. And you can add up to 120 of your own actions in the custom tabs, virtually any action you have can be included in the automation power of actionrunner.

It's really incredible and you can get a free trial version at www.davistools.com.

Here is a comment from Photographer Heather Kallhoff in SD who just purchased 2.0:

"ok, I'M LOVIN IT!! YOU ROCK . . . YOU ARE THE BEST . . . YOU ARE MY HERO . . . I THINK I'M IN LOVE!"

check out her work at www.kallhoffportrait.com

Click Here to see our cover story in Studio Photography!

12 Photographers are selected each year to be on the cover of this national photo pub and we were one of them!

What a privilege!

This isn't the actual cover, it's just a mock up, but the march 2007 cover is gonna be all over WPPI and mailed out in the next couple days or so.

I just took these pix of my sister-in-law sarah. Which one do you like the best?

All three are the same pic, just different actions run on them.

Her and her husband Nathan came over and helped us organize and get rid of junk in our garage. What an amazing feeling! My garage is like the best room in the house now!

Thanks guys.

Jim

I've been playing in my new studio that we converted from an old carriage house/garage on the back of our property! I love the available light that comes thru the big doors. Anyway, it's fun here's a test shot of my little guy, aka "Woody" from toy story.

Congratulations to Jen Kroll for being the highest bidder and winning 90 minutes with Lara and I at WPPI for a mentoring session! She'll also receive a free copy of ActionRunner too!

Only problem is, aren't we supposed to mentor the one who pays? She rocks! I'm sure we'll have some questions too! Can't wait to meet Jen!

Also, if your interested in a little bit of the online drama that happened last night check out www.thirstrelief.blogspot.com and see my post! We brought in over $25,000.00 dollars through the WPPI Mentor Benefit Auction!!! But it wasn't without some excitement! (crashing servers, maximum user overload errors, anti-sniping features on the auction site that made it so that you couldn't win unless you really were willing to bid the most, just like a real auction.)

Anyway, I was up til 3:00 a.m. dealing with the drama and excitement of the auction and then I was up at 5 a.m. in order to be downtown and ready for a photo shoot with Coach Tony Dungy (2007 Super Bowl Champs) Coach Jim Tressell, go Bucks! and Archie Griffin! I love being the photographer for the Columbus Gathering as it provides really incredible opportunities to hear incredible speakers and take some pix of awesome people! Check out this photo of all the guys praying together before Coach Dungy speaks!

We really are a lot nicer than we look here in this shot, but it's what I have. Anyway, this year at WPPI Lara and I will be offering a 90 minute mentoring session. We'll take our highest bidder out for a meal, it will be one-on-one or I guess 2-on-one or 2, just depends on if a spouse attends. Before we meet we'll take the time to evaluate your portfolio and website and consider any questions you might have. Share openly about our lives, our business, about Thirst Relief, how we juggle the responsibilities of family life, business, running a non-profit, how our faith plays a role in all this etc. Pretty much whatever you want to talk about we'll be happy to do it. Be warned though, this could be dangerous! Last year the girl we mentored was sobbing! By the end of our time she was smiling again and hugging us. We were actually able to uncover a deep sense of guilt over charging "too much" for her services etc. and it was this guilt that was keeping her from taking her business to the next level where she could reach her fuller potential. Anyway, we spoke truth to her, prayed for her and she left changed! It was awesome! We left changed and never dreamed a photo mentor session could be so powerful. We recently received a nice big box of gourmet candies with a special note of thanks for how we affected her life and she went on to tell us about how much her business has changed for the better and more!

So, not to lay out too much expectation or make anyone afraid, but if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity we'd love to do it! Plus 100% of all the procedes go directly to benefit Thirst Relief International! It's an online auction so go HERE if you'd like to bid. Plus we'll also demonstrate our editing tool ActionRunner and giving a free copy to the highest bidder. There is only one day left to the auction so check it out if your interested.

Also, be on the lookout for who is on the cover of Studio Photography this month when it's realeased!!

I just had to share this very quickly, it's an all-time classic!

For those who don't know, Lara and I are expecting our 3rd child! We are very excited, however when Lara conceives she is typically VERY sick from about week 8-20 and is bedridden most of the time or she ends up hospitalized from dehydratoin due to excessive vomitting. It's pretty rough, so right now everything is on me and with the support of some friends and family I am taking care of Lara, the boys, the business and still operating as president of Thirst Relief International. (this is volunteer, my real job is a passionate wedding photographer! And my thirst staff does more of the day to day than I do!)

Anyway, so a nurse came to our home yesterday (since our insurance finally agreed to pay for a zophran pump, cause you know we only pay nearly $1000 a month for our health insurance.) So, she came to show Lara and I how to hook up this pump/IV type thing that pumps regular doses of this anti-nausea medication called zophran. Anyway, I'm sitting there watching the nurse show us how to do it (so that lara isn't vomitting all day) and Brayden my 3 year old comes over and say's "Daddy, hold me my stomache hurts. Will you rub it?" I said sure honey and held him as I listened carefully, a few moments later he HURLS on my chest!!!!! I was a bit in shock as I was covered in vomit and I ran to the bathroom carrying him to get him over the toilet where he proceeds to emmit the rest of his lunch!

Funny thing is I wouldn't trade the last 6 weeks of misery for much less than a million $ maybe :) but for real, it's been amazing how God has used it in me to see how little so much of what I strive for matters. In the end if I love my family, my God and serve each of them faithfully life is GREAT! In that I can serve my clients with excellence as I am serving God but as almost anyone with a family and carreer or any other passion can relate to it's easy to drop the ball on the most important things while seeking to maintain your own "shtuff". I heard a line the other day in a song, it goes "You put me here for a reason, How can I further Your Kingdom when I so caught up in mine?" Often my own little kingdom gets in the way, it's like James Cameron (you know the guy that directed the totally inaccurate show that claimed they found Jesus' bones?) when he won the oscar for Titanic he jumped up and down saying "I'm the king of the world!" NO, not even close, just a good director with some seriously great talent that doesn't mean a hill of beans to most of the people that me and my staff at Thirst Relief labor daily for to save their lives and most of the rest of the world. (sorry for the run on.)

Anyway, it was just too funny. And literally I was laughing as I held my little guy over the toilet and watched him chucking it all right there! I wasn't laughing at him, I was laughing at the fact that just earlier that day in church I was standing there worshipping God with my hands raised high and I said to God in my heart, "Thank you for helping me to learn obedience and perseverance in the midst of suffering, just like you did." I kinda thought to myself as I stood there "I got it, I got what HE wants me to get in this trying time, now it will be over soon." Then almost in humor I go home and get a chest full of vomit!!! It was so funny.

Over the past 5 weeks I've had some seriously hard times (hard for my comfy sheltered world) and at times have failed at being a kind and patient father and loving, compassionate husband, but in the end God is using it all to draw me to Himself and set my heart in line with His will, not mine!

Thank you Jesus!

And thank you to all who have prayed, called (probably w/out a return call) and have brought a meal or played with the boys!

WPPI 2007 Thirst Benefit Mentor Auction


Who: You and generous and talented industry leaders who are donating their time, wisdom, experience and excellence in the form of 1-90 minute mentoring sessions.

The List in Alphabetical Order:
Becker
Charles and Jennifer Maring
Chenin and Doug Boutwell
Chris LaLonde
Dane Sanders
David Beckstead
David Jay
Davina Fear
Denis Reggie
DQ Studios
Gary Fong
Gene Higa
Huy from f8 Studio
Jeff Jochum
Jefferson Todd
Jeffrey and Julia Woods
Jerry Ghionis
Jessica Claire
Jim and Lara Davis-Hicks
Joe Photo
John at Imagemakr.com
John Michael Cooper
Joy and Garrett Nudd
LaCour's Rachel and Andrew
Laura Novak
Liana Lehman
Marcus Bell
Matt Antonino
Me Ra Koh
Michele Celentano
Mike Colon
Mike Larson
Nathan and Amber Holritz
Parker Pfister
Pepper Nix
Ryan Joseph
Stephen and Jen Bebb
Vanessa Hall from Wildberry Studio+Design
Vicki Taufer
Yervant

What: The 2nd Annual WPPI Thirst Benefit Mentor Auction is happening this week! Each of the Mentors listed above has donated 1-90 minute mentor session to the highest online bidder. 100% of all proceeds will go directly to providing pure water for those who need it most via Thirst Relief International.

When: The Auction will be live March 1st-March 8th at midnight PST.

Why: Because over 1 billion people lack access to safe, clean water and nearly 2.5 million children die annually as a result. For $5 we can provide a lifetime of safe, clean water to one person in need! Click here to learn how.

HOW????: Follow these instructions in detail to place your online bid!

1. Click the link below (thanks to fotoverite.com for the free online auction)
2. Once you arrive at fotoverite.com click on the Thirst Relief Logo and register for the auction.
5. You'll then see all the different names and auctions you can bid on. Follow the intuitive online bidding format provided.

BID ON YOUR FAVORITE MENTOR NOW!! By clicking HERE.

Note: If you win the auction you will be required to make your payment online via credit card at www.thirstrelief.org within 24 hours of winning. If you do not make your payment you will forfeit your session and the second highest bidder will be the winner. Please do not bid if you are not prepared to donate online within 24 hours of winning the auction.

I created a new action today! It's kind of a cross between a vintage look and a color infrared. I call it Colortage. It will be bundled in the User Friendly V.2.0 of ActionRunner. The GUI for ActionRunner 2.0 is so smooth and seemless, user friendly and dummy proof! It's gonna be rockin!

However, while I've been able to get alot of work done today since my parents are in town Lara has had a horrible day. Please pray for her health. I can't stand to see her like this. Why pregnancy affects some like this and not others is a mystery.

God bless,

jim

so my last post was on friday, lara's best day was saturday.

could it be a prayerful connection?

let's do an experiment.

if you know anyone that is a praying, miracle believing believer ask them to pray for Lara to be freed from the extreme nausea she experiences in pregnancy.

right now she is completely bedridden and vomits multiple times a day. saturday she experienced some freedom and actually got showered, dressed and out of the house for a few hours. it was amazing to have her back among us! the next day, she was back to normal.

so, that said, she is in need of some prayer! please pass this request on to others and i'll report back on how she is doing!

thank you.

Life Comes At You Fast!!

Though we do have our coats on since it was only 56 degrees and windy, it was sure nice compared to what we came home to! Frozen pipes in our kitchen (our house was built in 1875 and has poor insulation under our floors in the kitchen) anyway it's been anywhere from -7 to 20 degrees but not above that for like 2 weeks now! Lara is also really sick with the first trimester of our 3rd child! So, from 56 to -7, to a sick and bedridden momma and some needy boys with a thriving business and helping to run www.thirstrelief.org I am kinda busy!

I'll take all the prayers I can get! God bless you all.

Here is the snow outside my back door!

I don't know if this is from who it say's it is but I must say I think it's pretty accurate and a real masterpiece.

Enjoy.

AN EXPLANATION OF TAX CUTS.........................
Sometimes politicians, journalists and others exclaim; "It's just a tax
cut for the rich!" and it is just accepted to be fact, without
questioning it. But what does that really mean? Just in case you are
not completely clear on this issue, the following might help.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let's put tax cuts in terms everyone can understand. Suppose that
every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to
$100.
If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something
like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the
arrangement, until on day, the owner threw them a curve.
"Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce
the cost of your daily beer by $20."Drinks for the ten now cost just
$80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so
the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free.
But what about the other six men; the paying customers? How could they
divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted
that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would
each end up being paid to drink his beer.
So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's
bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the
amounts each should pay.
And so:
The first four men (the poorest) would still pay nothing.
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings). The
sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings). The seventh now pay $5
instead of $7 (28%savings). The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25%
savings). The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings). The tenth
now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four
continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men
began to compare their savings. "I only got a dollar out of the
$20,"declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man," but he got
$10!"
"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar,
too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!"
"That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back
when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"
"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get
anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next night the
tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers
without him.
But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something
important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even
half of the bill!
And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how
our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most
benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being
wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might
start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
David R. Kamerschen, PhD
Professor of Economics
University of Georgia

This picture represents our growing family. Count how many snowmen there are!

I've read that Ancient Celtic Warriors used to strip down naked and paint their bodies before heading to war! This must be the Irish coming out in my boys!

Today is Brayden's 3rd Birthday. He definitely has a warrior spirit. Sometimes it wears me out, I am just praying that I can help to direct it in the right direction.

Happy Birthday Brayden, your daddy and mommy love you soooooooo much!

Every year now at WPPI we are doing a Thirst Relief Benefit Mentor Auction. Big name photogs like Mike Colon, David Jay, Dane Sanders and many others sign up to be mentors for a 45 minute session. All the procedes go directly to benefit Thirst Relief International!

Super cool news is that Denis Reggie known as "the father of wedding photojournalism" is on board as a mentor! I am blown away at the continued amazing responses that we get in support of Thirst Relief International!

Thank you Denis and the entire photo community!

Just as I was writing this I received word that [b]ecker and jessica claire are both in too!

This weekend's slidshow from the wedding. click here

So this weekend I shot this really great couples wedding, Jennifer and Jason. But, as wedding time often is running late we were running out of daylight fast and on top of that it was raining! So we had to get really creative. I saw this old horse barn at the venue and thought, that'd be a great shot, but no light???? hmmm, I don't want a fake look of just flash, even bounced or filtered wouldn't give me the look I was going for, so I asked Mike Lotz of Lotz Photography who was shooting with me to pull my truck up and shine the lights in the barn at an angle, this is what I got! If you could see what it looked like with the naked eye you'd be amazed at how this shot turned out! When I showed them on my D2x lcd they couldn't believe it! I was very pleased. I'm gonna make a soft box for my headlights, no joke.

God bless guys! Have a great time in Canada on your honeymoon, I hope you get the snow you were praying for!

all i can say is "what happened to my bucks?" that was not the same team i cheered on all year!

wow, i'm in shock.

i will give credit to Troy Smith right after the game he said "There is a whole lot more to life than football, this kinda stuff forces you to grow up."

wow, he didn't blame the line, or lack of line, he just recognized it's a sport and he better build his life on more than just how well he plays it.

i'm sick at the loss but i wish i was more sick at what is happening every day across the globe with injustices that are too sick to mention here. know what i mean?

Scrooge/Grinch or next to Santa/Elf like???

Which one are YOU? I'd love to hear what best describes you this time of year and why?

I can be a bit of a Scrooge cause I hate buying gifts for folks that already have everything already! I think that consumerism christmas has almost completely wiped out the real meaning of Christmas, but I do love the concept of giving, it's just hard cause so many folks need so much more than us and yet we give to eachother. Don't get me wrong, I love giving a gift to folks that need it or if it's something really cool that they don't have but I'd rather go in with my family and buy a car or something crazy for a family in need or do international effort stuff like fund an entire well $5k in Zambia with Thirst or something.

So what are you? I'd love to hear!

Also, I have a super cool photog seminar idea, it will only accomodate like 3 photogs max per session but it will be super cool! Shoot me an email info@davistools.com if your interested in learning more.

Being the President of non-profit www.thirstrelief.org is like being a kid during Christmas time! I never know how much year end giving we'll see come in and it's so exciting to see them when they arrive! It's been so fun to see Mike Colon, Gary Fong, Jeffrey and Julia Woods and many others getting involved and generously!

Life is good, business is good, kids are great, marriage is rockin! I like when life feels like it does right now, but I know that whether it feels good or not God is good!

I'm thankful for the gift of Jesus this Christmas and for all of you too!

God bless, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!