More Preview Pages at Blurb

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I've made several Blurb books, learned a lot in the process and (I hope) am getting better at both editing and book design. Previously, Blurb allowed 15 page "previews". Now, a Blurb author can choose to allow unlimited previews. I've opened my Swiss Army Knife book and my dad's autobiography to full previews.

Update: Just like last year, my entry to Blurb's Photography Book Now (Swiss Army Knives at Work and Play) did not win, place, or show -- or get mentioned at all. Oh well, I like it and voted for it. Wait 'til next year!

Lessons Learned: Not all, but a significant number of the winning or mentioned books in Blurb's Photography Book Now contest used a very simple design: blank page on the left page, one large print on the right page. Sometimes the left hand page includes the caption or a comment about the right hand page. This is especially interesting considering that Blurb offers so many page templates and variations on design. No doubt I've been using overly complex designs and layouts.
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SAK Repair Team

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Some jobs are just too big for one Swiss Army Knife.

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The Craftsman

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This is the Craftsman Swiss Army Knife that I gave my dad some years ago. It was an appropriate gift because my dad was also a craftsman. The Craftsman knife is posed on my dad’s heavy workbench in his shop.

I’ve written about my dad in a number of these posts, including his memoirs , his first hammer and the violin that he made.

Here are the links to other Swiss Army Knife photos posted in this blog and the link to my SmugMug gallery of Swiss Army Knife photos.

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SAK at the Piano

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Actually, he's not much of a piano player but, like the others in my collection, enjoys getting out of the box on occasion.

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Philmont 50th SAK

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In 1989, my son and I spent two weeks hiking in the mountains of the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico with his Boy Scout troop. We had a wonderful time; in fact, this hike was one of the better experiences of my life. We returned twice and my son then worked at Philmont for four summers. I wanted to buy the Philmont 50th Anniversary Swiss Army Knife but all had been sold. Just recently, I was fortunate to find one in mint condition and add it to my collection of knives and photos.

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Another for the SAK Gallery

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This little fella poised inside a diffusion zone made from a 2’ x 4’ translucent light panel bent into a U shape and lit from the outside with a Nikon SB-24 triggered by Cactus wireless units from my Canon G9. I liked it well enough to include in my collection of Swiss Army Knife photos at SmugMug.

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Swiss Army Camera

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I set this up because I like Swiss Army Knives and wanted to emphasize the versatility of the G9. As if the fully automatic camera features were not enough, the G9 has features like slide shows, direct printer connection, voice recorder, calendar, clock and more. Is a knife soon to be on the list? (Summarized from my longer essay at MyCanonG7.)

More of my Swiss Army Knife photos are on Smugmug.
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