Matthew Baltrusitis

The Protect IP Act, Clarified

Matthew — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:36:10 +0000

We all use the Internet everyday but not all of us understand exactly how it works. Of all the things that I have read on the internet about PIPA, this video has best explained what it is large corporations are trying to do and what the consequences of this bill are if it were to pass. Take a few minutes to watch and don’t let large corps. take advantage of our ignorance.

Act and sign a petition below

Who likes great portraits?

Matthew — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:42:45 +0000

How about great free portraits? Well if you do then you are in luck! I will be giving away 12 free portraiture sessions. Thats right. A portrait session on the house. Free ninety nine. Nada. Zip.

How do you get in on this goodness? Two simple things.

All you have to do is Subscribe to my newsletter and “Like” matthewbaltrusitis.com on Facebook. If you have already have, consider yourself already entered into not only this but, all future contests. Its that easy.

Prizes:
Winners will be selected at random and sessions will be given on a first come, first serve basis. All winners will be awarded with a one-hour portraiture session and an 8×10 print of the photo of my choosing, which will also be featured on my website.

Rules:
Eligibility for a free portraiture session is dependent upon the applicant’s location being between NYC and Montauk, New York.

Any questions can be posted in the comments below!

2011′s Project 365

Matthew — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 03:07:04 +0000

I have made attempts in the past to do a project 365 and have failed. Things have changed though, with a different role at work and only going to school once a week I finally have the time I want to put into a quality 365. Each update will not have its own blog post rather, it will be posted right here. Below is a slideshow of my entire Project 365. To skip the slideshow and just view the thumbnails click here.

School, Fishing and Help-Portrait

Matthew — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:38:07 +0000

School is winding down to the last few weeks and its been a mad rush to get everything done. A senior dissertation and two other papers are all that really keep me from the finish line and I am pretty stoked to get there and finally be done. As if that has not been enough, I got involved with a few other things as well.

As usual, I try to pick up the camera as often as I can, when and if I find the time. I decided to go down to the Robert Moses beaches one morning just to check things out. I was expecting a desolate parking lot but it was jam-packed with people, even though it was a little overcast that day. When I got to the end of the boardwalk and onto the shore I saw dozens upon dozens of surfcasters dotting the beaches as far as I could see.

Friendliest people ever, seriously.

Not once did someone neglect to say “hi” or jokingly ask me, “So where’s your fishing pole?” eyeing my camera. They were more than happy to have their picture taken and they are some real interesting characters so its definitely worth re-visiting once I find the time.

What has been taking up the majority of my website and “blogging” time is a charity I got involved in called Help-Portrait. Its all about giving the gift of photography to those who otherwise, would never have pictures of themselves or their families. Once a year, these individuals can register at any of the thousands of Help-Portrait events going on around the world and be treated like absolute royalty. Professional make-up, hair and portraiture all donated by professional creatives. Not for getting portfolio work and not for “networking” or anything else but, for the sole purpose of making someone feel special if even for just a few moments.

Its something I find real worthwhile which is why I am hoping to expand the program next year to Long Island. A group of local photographers and myself started a LI Help-Portrait website which will be taking off next year. As for this year though, we have one massive collection of efforts in Queens where this years event will take place.

-Matthew

UPDATED: Sweet Customer Service

Matthew — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 17:05:12 +0000

I totally dig my Westscott Apollo 28″ softbox, I picked it up on a whim about two months ago from B&H but there was just one thing that always bothered me about it. Besides the fact that you can barely tilt it (which I kind of work around by putting it backwards into the umbrella adapter), only three sides of the diffusion panel would attach to the box itself. Only three sides you say? Aren’t all four supposed to be? Well yes…

I had originally thought that one side was sans velcro so one could reach into the Apollo and make an adjustment via tactile memory to their strobe. Later on I had learned, when I had a shoot with a friend who had the same softbox, I was wrong. Apparently I had received an incomplete Apollo missing a whole strip of velcro so I e-mailed FJ Westcott and they were absolute gems to deal with. After about 2 days of e-mail exchange and a proof of purchase I received an RMA number and I shipped it off to Ohio where one would assume is where there repair/customer service center is located.

What does this have to do with pastry? Well the post office that I frequent (where I shipped the Apollo) is right by the Brightwaters Village Bakery, next to where I used to work, and they make scrumptious chocolate danishes. I could not resist spoiling my lunch so I swung by and picked one up.

Hopefully Westcott will make this a quick turn around because I do not want to be without my favorite modifier. I will update this post when I get it back in hopefully a week or so.

UPDATE – 6/8/10:
I just received the box back and they sent me a brand new one. It took about a week and a half, a little longer than I really would have wanted. The up-side though is that Westcott customer service was easy to find and communicated with me throughout the process. I have been waiting on the Apollo for a bit as I have come up with some ideas and am putting some final touches on my post-processing techniques. You should start seeing some of the results posted up here in the upcoming weeks as I battle to balance my creative needs with school/work/family/etc….but who isn’t these days?

-Matthew