As a rule of thumb, I follow these steps when I’m out & about away from a charger. Works every time!

If you’re in Hurricane Sandy’s strike zone, these six quick tips will mos def prolong your iPhone battery life incase the power goes out….

1. Disable LTE if you have an iPhone 5. If you have an iPhone 4s or earlier, drop down to 2g
Settings > General > Cellular

2. Lower your brightness setting.
Settings > Brightness & Wallpaper

3. Turn off Location Services
Settings > Privacy > Location Services

4. Turn off your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings
Settings > Wi-Fi / Settings > Bluetooth

5. Turn off all of your push notifications
Settings > Notifications > Set your apps up accordingly

6. Change your mail setting to Fetch manually
Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Fetch New Data > Manually

I saw this business card concept on Dribble by French designer Frederic Tourrou of Beasty Design & had to bite his style for myself.

So simple, fun & catchy. And of course, as an Apple fan, it got me really hype.

I’d love to have this printed…. Maybe…

Walking past bright tulips always cheers me up! This one was like a spot of sunshine. I started to take it home but there were too many people around…

The morning fog the other day was so thick that you could hardly see the car in front of you. And while dangerously thick, it was nothing short of beautiful.

The trees showing their glory through barley cover branches, bright fallen leaves in a misty gray foreground made for visual romance.

A sights like this is why I enjoy living in the country.

This photo also represents why I love autumn & another reason why I love the camera on the iPhone 4. I’m just saying…

Tuesday, I was so let down with the announcement of the iPhone 4s. I was expecting something much more sexy. In fact I was bored with the presentation, then pissed off. Way to go Tim Cook!

I’m not sure what I was expecting but I did not get anything that made me want to jump like with previous releases.

Maybe I need to stop following all of these Apple rumor blogs because they had me gassed up like a mofo!

I’m totally satisfied with my iPhone 4 and iOS 5, so I’ll be holding out for the iPhone 5, which will hopefully be released in the summer of 2012. No big rush cause the phone is still bad as hell. And that is bad as in good!

And yes, that is a tattoo… More to come on that later…

1987… I had my introduction to computers in the 7th grade at Durfee middle school. I LOVED my computer class but I didn’t like my teacher, Mr. Donaldson at all.  He was tall, super skinny, high yellow, short but pointy afro and a nose the size of a small Yukon gold potato. He always seemed to be on me making threats and just generally being a hard ass.

Although he was not a teacher that left a positive impression, I learned a lot in his class working on Macintosh computers. Mr. Donaldson would say, “it’s time to get on the Macintosh.” That’s so funny to me now.

We did all sorts of education activities and commands that would make the computer talk to us.

During free time, we worked and printed signs from a program named “Print Shop” (does this still exist). I remember being fascinated by the dot matrix printer and all the noise that it made.

We also got to play “Oregon Trail,” which I still love! Totally one of the best games ever!!!

After a year in that class, I did not touch a computer again until 1992 when I was a high school junior. Then it was all about Windows.

Fast-forward to 1998 and I have my very first PC. It was a Compaq Presario. I swear that I loved that thing. Then it died! Over the course of time, several Windows based PCs and laptops followed and they all died tragic deaths of epic proportions.

About 6 years ago, I gave up on Windows based PCs and started to move to Mac only. First a laptop, then a desktop. I was hooked. My kids even have a Mac desktop.

I guess I would say that I am somewhat of an Apple loyalist but I’m not ride or die like others, however I LOVE going to the Apple store, especially the Apple store on 5th Ave in New York.

Last night when the world learned that former Apple CEO, Steve Jobs passed, it seemed like Twitter, news sites and blogs that I follow were going to explode with the news.

I really don’t do RIPs but I am feeling the need because the man created a movement and a computing lifestyle that made being a nerd cool… so I’ll leave it there.

<tackynote>While a sad moment in modern history (for tech lovers), I can’t help but to wonder about the timing of the death. Was he kept alive long enough to let the release of the iPhone precede his death? Is it a total coincidence? I’m just saying…</tackynote>

I caught up with celebrity stylist & soon to be reality star (VH1), June Ambrose Monday at Lincoln Center rocking some funky “shoegasmic” ice skate inspired heels.

Filming is going on now & more details are forthcoming on her show. Stay tuned to my friends The NYLA Report who recently interviewed June…

While June & I kicked it briefly about Nicki Minaj (hot ass mess!) who was spotted at the Carolina Herrara show with Anna Wintour of Vogue magazine, it was hard not to notice how passersby were digging on June’s look (peep the chick in the background).

As we parted ways, I said “see you in February” and she laughed! June is my Fashion Week boo!

I’m not sure if you have been able to tell or not but many of the images that I’ve been posting lately were taken with my iPhone using the Camera+ app. You know I keep singing the praises of the iPhone 4 camera and I’m anxious to see how the camera will improve with the next version, which is rumored to be released next months (Oct 2011).

And while the camera on the phone alone is DOPE, the Camera+ iPhone app is DOPEx10. It’s super flexible & allows you to do some pretty cool tricks.

Here are two images taken of downtown Detroit landmarks done with the iPhone & Camera+. The top image is the Horace Dodge Fountain in Hart Plaza. The bottom image is the Spirit of Detroit statue located at the City County Building or the “Coleman A. Young Municipal Center” if you’re new to Detroit.

For shits and giggles, I used an iPad as a light table to illuminate this white henryi trumpet lily. I, then took a few photos of it with my iPhone using Camera+.

After I was done playing with Camera+, I realized that I should capture this with my “real” camera.

This was a fun & very geeky thing to do but the end result cannot be denied.

On a related note, I now know that the iPad has another practical use for me because I’m not really finding it good for much. Yeah, I’m still not feeling the iPad but I’m totally feeling this image.

Between my trips to LV & DC, I was away for 10 glorious days!  Vegas had me beat down but DC lifted me back up leaving me feeling right & reenergized!

I took my camera on both trips of course but I just was not motivated to use it. Let alone carry it with all of the moving that I was doing.  I totally slipped into the less is more zone & pretty much rocked the iPhone camera the entire time. You know how I love the iPhone 4 camera!

Rumor has it that I will love the iPhone 5 8px camera even more.

The photo above is a snapshot that I got of my friend Allison aKa @alicewonder (Twitter) after the DC Sip & See. The image was processed using Camera+.

What I love about the photo is the clarity, the faux bokeh, noticing the versatility of my new stunna shades & how Allison is rocking my homegirl Afrobella’s new custom Mac lip gloss “All Of My Purple Life.”

Here is a quick snapshot of Las Vegas’ newest hotel, The Cosmopolitan. Well, the sign at least. The photo was fun to capture because I had to time it between people walking past & a long line of cabs. This it took 7 tries before I had no obstruction. This photo was processed in Camera+ using the clarity scene & Diana filter.

Also from The Cosmopolitan is a photo from the deck of one of the top level suites. My homegirl balled out and the SHRM crew hung out in the lap of luxury discussing HR issues, education and a mix of hot mess with a hint of gossip, while enjoying the Vegas lights. This photo was processed in Camera+ using the Depth of Field filter.

Lastly, I LOVE architecture found in the DC Metro system but I’m not loving the service. It’s slow, it’s too expensive and it is not unusual to see someone taking a leak in one of the cars. Yeah, I know, the NYC subway can get ghetto-grimy but it’s fast, and relatively inexpensive. This photo was processed in Camera+ using the clarity scene & Ansel filter.

All in all, I’d say (again) that the iPhone Camera is a total win.

On a related iPhone 4 camera note, you have to check this out only because I thought it was awesome!  I’ve been jokingly saying that I was going to offer an iPhone wedding photography package. Maybe I really should!!! These photos look good.

And if you are an iPhone 4 camera geek like me, this may knock your socks off!

For the longest, my friend Loti has been telling me about her beloved medium format camera that she refers to as Big Mamma; a vintage Mamiya RZ67 with a 110mm f/2.8 lens.. She brags on how sexy & sweet Big Mamma is all the damn time.

This past Friday, I got to experience Big Mamma for myself.  She is big & sexy & sweet as Loti said.

Actually when I saw Big Mamma, my tip got moist! When I held Big Mamma I lost my cool!!!

Loti was like don’t drop her.

Looking through Big Mamma’s viewfinder was like looking through a magic dreamy looking glass. Quite exhilarating.

So of course you know I must have my very own Big Mamma. I’ve actually been scouting eBay & Craigslist.

I feel so pressed to have this camera but I need to slow my roll until the fall. I’m thinking that a Mamiya RZ67 will be my self-birthday gift.

For now, I need to figure out how I’m gonna scan the film & consider getting a new light meter. Blah!

The photo above was taken by Loti via Big Mamma’s Polaroid back. I know… I looke like a hot husky model. Don’t hate.

I’ve been wanting to post but the energy & time just have not been here over the last week or so. This semester has been killing me softly but I’m hanging in there until the bitter end.

Over the next few days, I’ll be working on my final assignment for the class then I’ll have 2 weeks off before the summer semester begins. Yikes! While I’m out for the short break, I will be in Vegas & DC. Guess who’s ready to leave now……

Vegas is business, DC is pleasure but I plan on having fun no matter what. I need this space. I need a space where I do not have to think for a while. I just want to be.

On a photography related note, I picked up another wedding & gave a pitch for a 2012 wedding (talk about planning ahead) this past weekend. I also had a very nice photo session, which I will post about soon.

On a iPhone note (as if you care), I watched the keynote access given by Steve Jobs et al last week where iOS 5 was introduced. Upon hearing Jobs mention 10 of the new features, there was just no way that I could wait until fall when it’s scheduled for release.

So, all of the sudden, I have a developer account and have been testing out this iOS that seems to be on IT crack. I’m totally in love.

My top feature thus far is the Notification Center. If this was the only feature coming in iOS 5, I would still be in love.

I’m also digging the new iMessage feature. Although, I can only iMessage a few friend nows, I totally see the value in this application. My one concern is how phone carriers will find a way to get paid off of us using it.

Other features that have me elated are

• System wide Twitter Integration
• Reminders app.
• If you tap and hold on a song name in Music.app, a popup shows all the details
• You can set custom vibration tones for each contact, so when it vibrates in a specific pattern you know who’s calling
• When you landscape your phone in iCal, it gives you a week view
• Swipe on the weather to the left or right on the Notification Center drop down to view five day forecast
• When you download an app on the iTunes on your PC, the app is automatically pushed to your
• iDevice and installed
• Quick Camera launch from Lockscreen

And these are just a few features from what’s being discovered by developers. On my last check, there were 200 enhancements.

The only downside to testing in Beta is the speed at times & the occasional crash. I’m willing to pay the price to play now though. I ain’t tripping.