Jonathon Miller

Launching a new Website – www.jonathonmillerphotography.com

admin — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:47:51 +0000

Announcing a new website. Yes it is Jonathon Miller Photography. It is my new business venture. So please, check it out and see what you think.

And if you need a photographer . . .

Happy Birthday to Louis Daguerre

admin — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:47:56 +0000

Today is Louis Daguerre’s birthday. Daguerre was a French born artist. He worked for a time with Joseph Nicéphore Niépce (pronounced neeps) who is credit with producing the world’s first permanent photograph in 1822; a Heliograph titled “View from the Window at Le Gras“. It was through this partnership, and years of experimentation, that he developed the Daguerreotype. The Daguerreotype process is credited with making photography available to the more common man.

So all you iPhoneographers out there owe this man a huge debt of gratitude.

A few dozen handy rules for short SF

admin — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:07:52 +0000

The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of American is just what it sounds like; a group of writers that serves to support it’s members. There membership list boasts some pretty impressive pedigree, both past and present. The have a great number of resources on their website that even the non Sci-Fi writer will find helpful.

In their blog section Terry Bison offers “60 Rules for Short SF (and Fantasy)“. No matter what your genre, you will find something of use in Terry’s list tips.

Almost Famous

admin — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:18:25 +0000

Fame is hard work, no doubt. We may sneer at some of the antics performed by celbrities, and feel jealousy for the money they have and the freedom that it affords them. However, they do work for it. And, if they didn’t work to get there, they work when they arrive.
Nobody makes their fame on their own. Every famous, successful person out there has enjoyed the support of others at some point; be it living at home until they are in their thirties, or the right director, or agent, and of course their fans believing in them. Support in many forms is an intergral key to fame and success.
So, I ask you dear readers: If I support you when I’m famous, will you support me while I get there?.

Going to APE

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 17:53:00 +0000

On my way to #APE. Be sure to follow @DaveMcNerny on Twitter to find out where I’ll be handing out the sneak peeks.

What inspires you??

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:00:31 +0000

Of all the forms of entertainment out there, I find none as essential as music. Music has carried me through many tough times, and facilitated a great number of achievements. It’s nursed me through break-ups and bereavement, and helped me push out that last couple miles on the bike. I have, on occasion, been told, “Oh, I don’t really listen to music.” I feel sorry for the emptiness those people don’t even know they feel.

There are songs that continually remind me of my goals in life, remind me who I am, and help keep my goals on the horizon. One song that has done wonders for me is Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young”. It reads like an Irish blessing and is full of smart, instructional advice that everyone should follow. For me, it is one of those rare songs I just don’t tire of. I listen to it every morning.

If you will indulge me reflective mood just a bit longer, I would like to share the lyrics to Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young”.

“Forever Young”

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
May you stay forever young.

A seven year old girls take on the new DC Comics

admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:03:42 +0000

Fantasy author Michele Lee probed the most honest of hearts, that of a seven year old girl – her daughter, for an honest take on the new DC Comics. When questioned about the new Starfire, Lee’s daughter gives a depressingly informed opinion on the presentation of her favorite super hero. Read it here. I am still a comic book fan, and always will be, but I find this more than a little heart breaking.

Are you listening DC?

The A.P.E. Looms

admin — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:53:31 +0000

This weekend is the A.P.E. (Alternative Press Expo). I was really hoping to have a complete, finished issue of my first comic, The Dating Misadventures of Young Dave McNerny, ready to stake a claim on some real estate at A.P.E. As seems to be the case with most creative endeavors, everything has taken twice as long as I had planned on. In short, no booth. I will be there, however, along with my illustrator James Lambly, handing out teaser of Dave. It is a ‘zine style booklet filled with previews of the comic, concept art and some info of those of us working on it.

Come on down and check things out. Follow us on Twitter, @Jmiller1534, @DaveMcNerny, and @JRL3001, to track us down to track us down at the con.

I’ll be putting on the finishing touches tonight and and printing tomorrow.

Be sure to look us up.

Notebooks

admin — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:00:55 +0000

One of a writers great friends is a notebook. Notebooks like these used to be widely available from a variety of companies, most famously farm supply companies. It’s always fun to look through a stash of old notebooks, to trace the history behind them. Notebooks like these were used to keep track of things such as notes on a harvest, sketches for ideas, and just information you need to remember, like a phone number, directions, or just a shopping list.

The ones you see here belonged to my wife’s grandfather. He recently passed, and these Lietz books were found in his possessions. He was as surveyor for most of his career. The open book chronicles (in the form of a spending log) some of him many journey’s to the orphanage his daughter helps run in Mexico.

With smart phones residing in the pockets of most of us, such archaic methods of notation have fallen by the wayside for most of the general public. For those of us that still carry notebooks, they are indispensable. Most artistic people I know carry a of notebook or sketch book of some sort. Among my friends and I, our favorites are the time honored Moleskine of Hemmingway fame, and Field Notes. Field Notes also maintains a great blog about, well . . . notebooks (and a whole lot of Americana).

Check them both out. What is your favorite way to notate you life?

More awesome portraiture

admin — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:24:26 +0000

It’s no secret that I love great portraiture. Dutch photographer Joeri Bosma manages to make the difficult practice of self portraiture look effortless and impressive. As entries in a picture a day project, he has shown that self portraiture is not relegated to pictures of narcissistic, emo teenagers taken in the bathroom mirror with an iPhone. Check out all of Joeri’s work on his flickr stream and his website.