Thanks to Ryan Bello for getting these shots during the filming of the Q13 segment of our tour that aired on KCPQ FOX 13.

We’ll post the link to the video, once it is online.

Link to the story.

Review of Shutter Tours on Yelp.com

“Our guide was the informative and enthusiastic Ms. Valentina, who provided guidance on composition, and encouraged to get close, look for patterns, and tell stories with our photos. Along the way she explained a particular concept and then raised her own camera for a shot to show us examples. Her photo book also provided more examples and helped me see each concept more clearly. I see lines and curves where I never paid much attention to them previously. Who knew that Post Alley could be such an alluring subject? ”

Read the complete review on Yelp.com

By Terry Divyak

I used to blog a lot about photography techniques before starting Shutter Tours and thought I’d pull this one out from a post I made earlier this year. This is one of my favorite techniques to create an art like image from a landscape photograph.

When you take our tour, we look for some great textures to add to your arsenal of images to create some fantastic art.

This fine art image can also be purchased via Zenfolio.

I have been driving around my Macbook Pro with my new version of Photoshop CS4, trying to learn all the little nuances hidden under the hood. Somehow I got sidetracked and ended up at istockphoto.com looking at textures. Don’t ask me how, it just happens when one has a period of boredom, followed by flashes of inspiration and then some temporary forms of ADHD. Anyway, so I did a search on textures as I wanted to work with some layers in Photoshop and play around with some images I shot over the weekend in Seattle. Not having any textures at the ready, I found this one of a tuscan wall that I figured would work perfect. Yeah I had to pay for it, but I wanted it now and did not have my Europe images close by and the time to spend hours hunting for a texture. Besides I I started looking at my old Europe CD’s, I’d end up on some other tangent and never accomplish my goal , so I bought it.

Originally I was going to use and image of Post Alley by the Pike Place Market, but felt that the Seattle image would work a lot  better. In the upper left corner, you can see the original texture file as well as the Seattle photo I used.

So, let’s see step by step how I created this.

continue

Seattle Tour Saver Coupon Book

Shutter Tours is happy to be partnering with Seattle TourSaver for the 2010 tourist season. TourSaver can save you hundreds of dollars on tours with 2 for one coupons without restrictions. Our coupon will be good for all dates of our walking tour next year. Subject to space availability.

From their website:

TourSaver is an easy-to-use, travel discount book with 100 buy-one-get-one free, Seattle travel deals, that saves 50% on Seattle travel.

Seattle TourSaver has 100 2-for-1 coupons for Seattle’s top attractions–a smart, hassle-free way to see more and spend less!There’s San Juan Islands and Victoria B.C. deals too.

“If you’re visiting multiple attractions in Seattle, then Seattle TourSaver will likely save you hundreds of dollars.” About.Com

“The $79.95 coupon book can repay your investment countless times over.” The Travel Insider

Well, that’s what the headline said anyway. Check out the article, “Gift Ideas: Unusual, Intellectual, and Downright Scary Walking Tou‏rs” on Matador Goods.

Cool website as well for you travelers.

Washington Examiner article on Shutter Tours

Andrea Farnum, correspondent for the Washington Examiner, interviewed Shutter Tours owner Terry Divyak in this article that appeared in the August 9th Issue.

Link to .PDF

Tour participant Angie being interviewed by Q13 FOX in Seattle

We have had some great press lately being interviewed by major newspapers (Washington Examiner) and on an NBC affiliatte, KING 5 in Seattle.  This morning our tour was followed by FOX Q13 for a segment running  in a few weeks.

Thanks to everyone who is supporting us and sharing the good word about our tours.

We love when we get these from customers… great job Valentina!!

“Liz and I soaked up so many valuable tips from you during our last Tuesday’s Shutter Tour. It was the best way to begin our week’s visit to Seattle. We were able to take in so many interesting activities and to see them with new eyes.

Wednesday morning we spent time at SAM and dropped in on a photographic installation by Imogen Cunningham.

Oh, my goodness, there were your lessons spelled out for us in her photographs. We ran from one photo to another, calling out which technique she demonstrated. It was as if you said… “now, go and see examples of an artist at work.”

Both of us spent our week shooting pictures, discussing angles and lighting. I’ll send you some of mine, and perhaps Liz will send you some of hers.

Again, many thanks to you and Shutter Tours. – Marcia, Kansas”

In case you missed it, see our video from Evening Magazine.