Recently I've received a number of emails from our members. I am doing my best to stay on top of them. And I do want to say that I appreciate the openness about what is going on in your photography businesses, and how the economic situation is affecting your lives.

This is a time when all of us need encouragement, and we all must remember for every down time, there will be an up time; we just have to continue until it arrives.

That's why we are planning some photography Meetups where we can share new ideas. Also we can communicate with each other the best ways to survive these times and new ways to develop our skills as photographers.

We have some amazing images that are showing up on our Photographers and Digital Artist of Los Angeles Flickr site. http://flickr.com/groups/photographers_and_digital_artists_of_los_angeles/pool/

for your maximum viewing pleasure do try using the Cooliris software and FireFox http://cooliris.com/

The Flickr site is set up for critiquing the work of our members, so please use the comment section and respond to their efforts by leaving your feelings and ideas about their work.

We will be exploring the warehouse district of downtown Los Angeles. This will be a photo safari utilizing this historic industrial area, and the bridges that are nearby.

We will be working in groups, trading off subjects, and using reflectors. So bring your equipment that you want to utilize for this Meetup.

You are ready for printing, now the question will be what is the most cost effective way to reproduce this print? Should you maintain control of your project all the way by using your own personal printer, then send it to your client? Or should you look to a production house lab to do all the work for you, and send it to your client?

These are two questions that we all as photographers and Photoshop graphic imagers are facing to be competitive with others that are in our profession, along with the need to meet deadlines.

When you print for yourself are you looking for a machine that will represent your work by producing a quality output? We will be discussing some options here are a couple of possibilities:

http://Mpix.com is a photo lab that also frames and re-touches images for photographers and graphic people alike who are in the business of producing images for others.

Epson Stylus Photo R2880

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=63075040&prevOID=63075477

Produce exhibition quality prints with unprecedented control with the Epson R2880 photo printer, the choice for professional and fine art photographers. With its innovative ink set, Epson UltraChrome K3��� with Vivid Magenta, this powerful printer offers an astounding color gamut for brilliant reds, blues and purples.

Cost around $700 for replacement ink will set you back $14 per cartridge.

Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster
Their Price: $35.00 - 8.5" x 11" 50 sheets

We will be discussing the merits of both in the near future.

• Educational videos on photography and other art forms.

http://www.graspr.com/videos/Studio-modifiers-part-1

http://www.graspr.com/videos/Photography-Tutorials-Commercial-Photography

http://www.graspr.com/videos/Photography-Tutorials-Wedding-Photography