As a photographer and artist, I'm constantly seeking out the new and fresh to inspire and delight me. It can be overwhelming to distill the content, sites and sounds out in the world and use it all to motivate instead of intimidate. The question I'm always asking to others who are creative for a living, not just in a casual whenever–the–mood–strikes–me sense how do you organize ideas and keep your work going? More

The Fotodiox Crystal DSLR Camera 2/3 replica of the Canon 7D works as a paperweight, bookends if purchased in pairs, or just a conversation piece for the shelf. We'd imagine these would be well received amongst shutterbugs, especially Canon loyalists; at just about $60 even two are a lot cheaper than most photography related gear (too bad it's sold out at the moment). More

Oh cool, Braveheart is on TV. Wait, don't you own that DVD? Or did you loan it out to a friend and forget about it for a year, rendering your chances of getting it back approximately zero? Adopt this smartphone strategy and you'll never forget who borrowed your DVD, jacket, blender, or anything else ever again. More

I could just imagine freaking out my photographer friends for a split second if I pulled out one of these to sip my morning cup of good morning. I bet even after recognizing the joke, they'd quietly check their equipment bag...

Ever wondered what that ISO button at the top of your camera can do for you? Here are 4 tips for understanding ISO. More

Although interchangeable DSLRs and mirrorless micro 4/3 models the best photos, for amateurs and enthusiasts, a compact point and shoot still rules the backpacks and pockets of travelers (minus camera phones out of the equation, which seems to be eclipsing them all). Although you generally can't switch lenses with permanent single lens model without some serious hacking, you now can a circular polarizer with the simple technology of magnets! More

tiltpod and tiltpod mobile
• $14.95
• Gomite

Want to learn a technique for taking better photos immediately? Stabilize your camera onto something while shooting, ideally a tripod, instead of shooting hand-held. But most of us aren't looking to carry a tripod everywhere we go, even a compact fold-up model, making something like these clever and extremely pocketable tiltpod "tripods" for point and shoot and iPhone photographers an attractive alternative. Each version rotates and tilts, with the iPhone model coming equipped with a magnetic base and keychain ring for perpetual Instagrammers. And because they're so small, you'll always have it with you, unlike that $XXX.00 tripod you always forget!

If you are a beginning photographer or seasoned pro, chances are your friends have asked for you to shoot some photos for a bio page, web site or project. Head shots can be a quick creative practice to keep you fresh and thinking. Here are some tips to keep in mind next time you're on the head shot task. More

Have you ever seen a photo essay? Or flipped through the pages of a travel magazine and drooled over the pages? Or even looked through a beautiful wedding album? These are all examples of a photographer telling a story through pictures. Like with any good story, there are hills and valleys, pauses and exclamations. There's variety, story arc and plot. To visually describe an event, place or situation, here are some tips to keep in mind. They all involve moving your feet! More

Laying in bed last night with my recently upgraded iPhone 5, I began to think about the technology we love and use and how quickly we churn through our tech. How many cell phones, tablets, computers, and tech in general have I gone through? It turns out my numbers are kind of shamefully high. So what's your number? More