Kodak

If you tend to be on the geek side and want to go an extra mile for your Valentine this year, this is for you.

This example is a card I made for my daughter

Give your Valentine a personalized card with her picture on the front cover and a QR code on the inside.  After she reads the very romantic note you have written for her, she'll scan the QR code with her Smartphone which will take her to a YouTube message you have prepared just for her.  At this point if she wasn't touched by your card, your note or the candy you gave her, this will definitely do the trick.  She'll know how much you care after seeing all the 'trouble' you've gone through. It might even register you in the laurels of the great romantics.

BTW, she doesn't need to know that creating this card was actually very easy. Here's how it's done:

1. Select the picture you wish to put on the front cover of the card and store it on a USB jump drive.
2. Select a YouTube video you want to share with her (make sure you have the rights to it, or create one for the occasion yourself).
3. Create a QR Code for the YouTube URL:  you can find several QR Code services on-line that create QR codes and many are free. This is what I used: http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
4. The QRC service provider will create the image of a QR code that corresponds to your video; use your favorite screen shot software to snap the image of the QR code from the PC Monitor. (I use this free software: QuickScreenCapture.) Save the QR image in JPG format and put it on the same jump drive as her image for the front of the card. Watch this video to see how I did this in just 3 minutes
5. Now you're ready to create your personalized card. To do this, go to a KODAK Kiosk at a store near you (there are thousands of them across the country: use this link to locate the one nearest you).  Once there, insert your USB jump drive in the kiosk and follow the easy directions for  creating an instant greeting card (take a look at this video  to see how I did this in under 5 minutes )

I realize that the size of the intended audience (i.e. geeks who are also suave) is extremely small and perhaps an oxymoron.   I also realize it is very unlikely I will reach any of them with this note; therefore, I depend on you, the reader, to forward this blog to the geek in your life and suggest this idea to him.  BTW, I am neither geek nor suave, but I created one of these for our anniversary; the QR Code linked to a YouTube video of the first song we danced at our wedding; my wife loved it. 

We live in a new hyper connected world, so we at Kodak are doing our part to bring you solutions that are easy to use and let you take advantage of the new technologies.  We merge the old with the new and let you enjoy the best of both.

What you think? Does this idea have potential beyond the suave geeks, or am I really a geek in denial? What would you hyper connect with a QR code if you were to create this kind of card?

Added bonus: use this code for a 2-for-1 deal.

If you wish to see how you can create a professional looking video slide presentation with your favorite pictures and music, check this link.  It is very easy and quick and you can link to it with QR Code as described above. 

I began an Art & Design Photography class last fall. An assignment given to first semester students is called "12 Hours of Sunlight" where you photograph one outdoor scene every 15-30 minutes from sunrise to sunset and create a photo journal of your experience.

The purpose of the assignment is to bring about a greater awareness of how natural light defines objects and affects mood as the sun moves across the sky, plus increase your ability to perceive what you are looking at. But all I could think is, "12 hours? Really? That's a lot of time!" And then there were the restrictions: no music, no books, no newspaper, no nothing - just you, your camera and your surroundings. I prefer to spend my weekends going on photo walks, hanging out with friends and family, taking weekend getaway trips or simply relaxing - not being stuck in one place all day.

Towards the end of the semester I got over my mental block and was ready to do the assignment, but then I saw my grade getting washed away by a month of heavy rain and fog. Finally in early December I got my chance. Once my way-too-early-for-a-weekend alarm went off at 6am, I grabbed my gear and some well-needed coffee, and headed out to the backyard.

I set up my scene and took my first shot at 6:40 am A half-hour later, I really started to get into the assignment when I noticed all of the shadows from the trees falling on the back of the house.

Then in late morning, the sun hit the glass door and reflected off the fence in the shape of two eyes, and the patio chairs created beautiful shadows.

Birds were chirping and flying from tree to tree. I even saw a hummingbird a couple of times, which is rare during winter. It was a real treat!

I began exploring the other side of the backyard, where I found several rusted old shovels and saws. I love the color of rust. (My sister says I'm weird for liking these types of things, but I feel there is art in just about everything. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it's what makes us individuals and keeps things interesting.)

The remainder of the day flew by, and I took my final shot at 5:10pm. Whew! That assignment was D-O-N-E!!!  

Would I do this again? Definitely… but not anytime soon. It's a huge time commitment to give up an entire day, yet I felt a huge sense of accomplishment when I was through. I ended up really enjoying it, and realized how much there is to see in my own backyard that can be taken for granted day after day.

To see additional photos from my 12 Hours of Sunlight photo journal, checkout my Gallery slideshow.

My KODAK MOMENTS, the Facebook app we launched last year to create photo books right within Facebook, is having a sale.  The popular Medium sized book, 8.5" x 9.5", is on sale for $9.95 (normally $14.95) and FREE SHIPPING!  That's a savings of over $10 all together!

Not only that, the books are very easy to make. You can select from your own Facebook photos or even your friends' Facebook photos - a great way to surprise someone with a thoughtful gift.  Have a friend (or a hubby) who is an athlete? - make a book of their last race. 



Have a friend who is a cakepop queen? - make her a book of her creations. 



Have a friend who not only takes photos of her pug, but has her pug TAKE photos?! Make her a Pug Book.



I opted to make a photo book for my daughter of her dance recital. Knowing how much she loves photos, I have a feeling she will carry this one around with her and cherish it forever. 

Photographer: tony derosa

"New at light painting, just loved this one, it is in Leavenworth WA. I loved the lighting they have and it was winter so i called it winter love. It felt so warm."

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Dozier is looking for a Valentine maybe you can help him out?  

With Valentine's Day is right around the corner, why not create that special gift yourself?  Check out PrintProjects powered by RocketLife - it's the easy way to create and print your own greeting card, photo book, calendar or collage at home and in minutes – right on your home inkjet printer.  It's fast, easy, and creative.  You can add text and graphics, background effects and more.  

What are you waiting for? Make your special someone's day even more special and turn those moments into special memories.  Visit www.kodak.com/go/printprojects