Vital Stats:
Age 50; born in Lakeland, Florida; resident of the Tampa Bay area.
Occupation:
Editor and Publisher of Photoshop User Magazine, Editor-in-Chief of Layers Magazine; training director and instructor for the Adobe Photoshop Seminar Tour, President National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP), CEO of Kelby Media Group, author of a string of bestselling technology books. Conference Technical Chair for the Photoshop World Conference & Expo, author of numerous Photoshop training DVDs and online courses, and co-host of PhotoshopTV, and D-Town TV. 10 jobs, little sleep.
Last Book Read:
Stumbling on Happiness, by Daniel Gilbert
Favorite Films: (In no particular order)
The American President, Notting Hill, 48 Hours, True Lies, Austin Powers, Trading Places, The Sting, Dave, Beauty and the Beast, Arthur, Groundhog Day, Grease, Pretty Woman, Stripes, Galaxy Quest, The Holiday, and just about any good romantic comedy.
Favorite Bands/Musicians: (In no particular order)
Bon Jovi, Kenny Loggins, Aerosmith, Frank Sinatra, Boston, James Taylor, Duran Duran, Eddie Money, Kiss, Chicago, and most disco songs from ’78 thru ’84 with the notable exception of “I Will Survive” and “I Love The Nightlife”
Favorite Restaurants:
Copagna’s Dugout Italian Restaurant in Clearwater, Ocean Prime in Tampa, In/Out Burger, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Johnny Rockets, Flemings Steakhouse, Carmine’s on West 44th in NYC, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Il Fornaio in Burlingame, Gibson’s Steakhouse in Chicago, 5-Guys Burgers, Katz Deli in NYC, Cheesecake Factory, and Cuban Breezes in Oldsmar, Florida.
Interests/Hobbies:
Sports Photography, Guitar, TaeKwondo, Piano
Favorite Magazines:
PDN, Outdoor Photographer, Professional Photographer, National Geographic Traveler, and Digital Photo Pro magazine.
Favorite Foods:
Penne with meat sauce. an In/Out Burger Double-Double, Peccadillo with yellow rice, Filet mignon stuffed with Maytag blue cheese, Spaghetti Aglio and Olio, my wife’s salad (known locally by friends and family as “The Salad”), the Prime Rib End Cut at Mortons, Chinese food, and the 1905 salad from the Columbia Spanish restaurant.
Latest Projects:
Just finished “The Photoshop CS5 Book for Digital Photographers” from New Riders Publishing. Now working on “Photoshop CS5 Portrait Retouching Secrets.”
Accomplishments:
Wrote “The Digital Photography Book, Vol. 1? which became the bestselling book in history on digital photography. Won the Benjamin Franklin Award for my book The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers, was named The #1 Bestsellling computer/ technology author in the world for the past six years straight. Earned my black belt in Tae Kwondo. Played in a rock band in Europe, started my own successful business, married the girl of my dreams, and have an absolutely wonderful little boy, and an amazing little girl. I’m one happy puppy!
Favorite TV Shows: (in no particular order)
Big Bang Theory, Entourage, Scrubs reruns, So You Think You Can Dance, Hell’s Kitchen, and Two And A Half Men.
I Stay Home to Watch:
Tampa Bay Bucs away games.
Computer Setup:
A 15? Apple MacBook Pro, a 27″ iMac, a Wacom Wireless Intous 4 tablet
My Favorite Stuff
- Really Right Stuff Ballhead
- Hoodman Loupe
- Drobo
- Elinchrom RX-600 Strobes
- David Hobby Lighting Kit (stand, umbrella, hot shot mount)
- Westcott TD-5 Spiderlites
- Really Right Stuff L-Plate
- Prints from MPIX.com
- Think Tank Photo International Airport rolling photo bag
- Nik Color Efex Pro 3 Photoshop Plug-in
- Apple iPad
- Gitzo G065 Laptop Platform
- BlackRapid R-Strap
- Epson Stylus Photo R2880
- iPhone
Favorite Software Programs:
Lightroom 3, Adobe Photoshop CS5, iTunes, Adobe InDesign, Keynote, and Firefox
Favorite Diversion:
I love going to Disney World or Universal Studios with my family, and just hanging out. I also love to spend an afternoon at Barnes and Noble or BestBuy.
Favorite Web Sites:
Terry White’s Tech Blog, Digital Pro Talk, PhotoWalkPro.com, John Nack on Adobe, MooseNews, NikonRumors.com, Apple Insider, Seth Godin’s Blog, B&H Photo, JoeBucsFan.com, ProFootballTalk.com, Engadget.com and BestAppSite.com
Biggest Thrill:
Experiencing the birth of my son and my daughter, and seeing my beautiful wife walking down the aisle to marry me (21 years ago).
Personal Philosophy:
You never go wrong by doing the right thing.