Recently in Art and Photography Category

It's now just barely a week after Halloween, and even if your candy coma has worn off, there's usually one very distinctive post-Halloween leftover still to deal with: pictures.

That's right, like the lingering traces of hand stamps for those of us who were out rabble-rousing, or like the last little Jolly Rancher that you didn't realize was stuck to the inside edge of your plastic trick-or-treating pumpkin, pictures are still floating around your friends' cameras, phones, or the internet. Just like my friend Matt the Oompa Loompa - there are some things that everyone wants to remember for years to come from this past Halloween. That's where Shutterfly comes in - with their reasonable online printmaking prices, and the various options for what to do with your pictures, they are a fantastic resource for all your post-holiday merrymaking. For instance, as soon as next week, Matt could be drinking out of a coffee mug with this image emblazoned on it, or I could be extra sneaky and give him a Christmas ornament with this picture inside of it. The possibilities are endless.

Ebates gives you yet another reason to use Shutterfly for all your photo needs - right now they are in our November Double Cash Back promotion, and they are offering 15.0% Cash Back on all your purchases. In addition to this already great deal, through this coming Wednesday, Shutterfly also has a special coupon code where you can get twelve free 5x7 greeting cards. Just enter code 12GREETINGS at checkout to take advantage of it. One final tip, and I can speak from experience on this one - nothing wins you points with family quite like making your own calendar, so now is the time to do just that and have it with plenty of time to give as Christmas gifts. Trust me, this works every year.

Find more merchants with increased cash back in our November Double Cash Back event!

As Winter is fast approaching, that means the holidays are just around the corner. While I don't want you to think that I am believing it's the holiday season or even the holiday shopping season, but in my family one thing that always accompanies the bloated waistlines and festive holiday decorations of the summer is photographs. Like so many other families, we seem unable to acknowledge the passing of any milestone without immortalizing the moment with about ten pictures of the people, the dinner table, the works.

This got me thinking about cameras again, and I thought I'd set out on a search for a nice quality DSLR at a good price, and a quick search through some key Ebates stores led me to eCOST.com, who currently has a special running through the 24th on the Canon EOS Rebel XSi. It's still going to cost a bit: the price is $639.99, but what most people don't realize is that's a savings of $337 off the suggested retail price, plus the 1.0% Cash Back you earn from Ebates. So don't wait - you won't be able to get your hands on a sweet 12.2 megapixel DSLR at a price like this for long!

Find great deals on all your photo needs in our Electronics & Photo category!

As you've probably noticed, we're now in the midst of our special Baby and Kids Sale, so you can now find increased cash back at six of our most popular baby merchants. How does Shutterfly fit in to this grand scheme, you wonder?

Just take a second to think about how many pictures people take of babies, especially their own.

Ah, there you go. If you're snapping photos of your little bundle of joy, you'll need an inexpensive photo printing solution like Shutterfly, and with 11% Cash Back and a whole wealth of various Shutterfly coupons. You can save on things like photo books, calendars, mugs, or just plain photo prints. So whether you have a little baby to snap pictures of, or if you just have a lot of pictures that you like to give to friends and family, make sure you save by taking care of all your photographic needs at Shutterfly, earn 11% Cash Back through Ebates, and tack on even more savings with Shutterfly coupons!

Check out the rest of our Baby and Kids Sale merchants!

This past week, I was complaining to a friend about the failure of my printer. I was going to print out some photos for my family, and the next thing I knew, I was awash in blinking red lights. Luckily I was able to upload my photos to Shutterfly, find a Shutterfly coupon for 20% off, and simply click "proceed" to get the prints made. My complaining about not being able to print my pictures and have them in my hand immediately, all from the comfort of my bedroom, got me thinking...

In the current day and age, photography has taken on a whole new meaning. I can remember growing up, having to make sure every picture my family snapped was absolutely perfect, because we couldn't waste film. Film was carefully loaded into cameras, and you never knew for sure if you were going to get the twenty four exposures, or if you might luck out and get a few more shots on the roll. When all was said and done, we'd go down to any number of local drug stores and drop off our roll of film; three or four days later, we'd get an envelope back rife with random pictures of feet, giant fingers invading pictures from an upper corner, or just random pictures full of darkness. Today, we can leave all of that behind us.

Today, we have four-inch screens to show us whether or not the pictures we take are "the perfect picture" and rather than a roll of film with twenty four exposures, we have memory cards that are smaller, more durable, and can hold literally thousands of pictures. Plus, they are completely re-usable. The other advantage we have now is that we have services like Shutterfly to do all our dirty work for us, assuring we get crystal-clear prints that we can edit and fix as we see fit. Plus, you can use a Shutterfly coupon, like this one, to save 20% on your order through April 13th. Or, if it is your first Shutterfly order, you're eligible for twenty five free prints. Or get your face on a mug! Or make a calendar! Or do whatever other fun things you want with your photos!

Viva la Digital Revolucion!

The Gorillapod is neither a primate, nor a device to escape peril within. Instead, it's an outstanding, multi-jointed tripod that lets you pose your pictures precisely how you'd like them, with reckless abandon for level surfaces or rocky surroundings. Thanks to its multitude of grippy joints, you can bend and pose the Gorillapod to take stationary pictures practically anywhere or - as you can see from the picture on the side - on practically anything. It supports the largest SLRs and most Video Cameras with ease, and is extra lightweight and super portable so you can take it with you practically everywhere.

In the end, if you ever need to set up a shot somewhere, the Gorillapod is a necessary addition to anyone's gear bag. As always, check back every day for the best coupons, deals, and gadgets you can get cash back on - only at Ebates!

The digital age has had a huge effect on the way we approach picture taking. I'm sure I'm not the only one who remembers having to make sure you had that shot lined up perfectly so you didn't waste a single shot, then waiting weeks until you got your roll of film developed before you could be certain that the picture came out just the way you hoped it would. With the increasing popularity of the digital camera, film developing is becoming a thing of the past, and we can now take pictures freely, knowing we can comb through our memory card after the fact to find those few pictures that you really want to print.

There has also been a change in how you print photos: while many people print their photos at home on higher-end color printers, there are many of us for whom the convenience of ordering prints online while earning cash back is just too great to consider anything else. While I'm not exactly an avid photographer, I love having pictures around to remind me of good times, see how much my friends and family have changed over the years, and remind myself that there is always someone with a camera nearby whenever I embarrass myself. (see left) So, in the spirit of saving you money when ordering prints online, here are three merchants who will earn you double-digit cash back on online photo printing.

As a former high school teacher, bar goer-outer, and owner of both a Facebook and Myspace page, I have seen literally thousands of pictures taken at arm's length. Chances are, if you're under thirty, you've been there yourself: you want to get a picture of yourself or you and your friends, and someone has to hold the camera at arm's length and estimate where everyone is. Invariably, you either end up with a big chunk of arm in the picture, or half of a head missing.

If this has happened to you, you need the telescoping digital camera arm.

Just look at that beauty: compacted, it collapses down to a mere nine inches, but at full length, it is just over three feet long. It also works well for raising a camera above a crowd for those ever-important distance shots as well. Just follow this link, and search for the word "Xshot". It's under $20 and you will get 2% cash back.

After all, don't we all want to be as happy as this guy?

Another Friday has popped up on the calendar, and that means another weekend is just a few anticipation-filled hours away. While most of us have our weekends booked up by Tuesday, some people (myself included) love to have at least one day without any obligations where it really feels like a weekend rather than just a day where you don't have to go to work. For these days, I always try to do something a little out of the ordinary, and I usually pass along these recommendations to my friends. Now that I'm employed here at Ebates, I am passing along these recommendations to you, along with all the information of how to get the products to make these suggestions a reality.

Having said that, as the title indicates, my recommendation to spice up your weekend a little bit is to go out and take some photos. In this age of technical innovation, anyone with a decent digital camera can take enough photos and give your picture enough tries to really capture that "perfect shot." With so many choices of cameras out there, and so many features to decipher, I know it can be somewhat overwhelming when you try to find a new camera, especially the point-and shoot style. My recommendation? The Panasonic DMC-TZ5A. I personally own an older model of this camera, and have been absolutely in love with it since the day I bought it. It also bears mention that when a friend dropped my camera, I was able to get it repaired for free under warranty from Panasonic without a single snag. It's got an unreal 10x optical zoom which pairs with 9.1 megapixel resolution, which translates into some of the sharpest, clearest, and most vivid pictures you'll ever snap. Go out and explore your creative side with this great camera, a great value at just under $300 out the door.

If you buy this camera from Crutchfield not only do you get free shipping included and their free installation guide, you can also use the coupon for a free 1GB SD Memory Card.

I'll admit, I'm a little biased on this one, folks. As a former literature student, I love books. At home, my walls are covered by shelf after shelf of books, the backseat of my car looks like a small library. Having said that, one thing that I am always fascinated by is the cover art of books. I know, I know, "you can't judge a book by its cover" but I say sometimes you can.

Before you all start to wonder where I'm going with this, I'll cut to the chase: Urban Outfitters has slashed the prices on all of their vintage book cover art prints. A majority of the titles are down to $29.99 from the original price of $78.00, which is a savings of more than 60%. Get prints from a number of your favorite authors or books. Be forewarned: the selections are spread across three different web pages. Also, the two most in-demand prints have gone down to $49.99, which is still over 35% off the original price. Click on any of the following pictures or text to access the pages for each set of prints listed to the right of it.

Jack Kerouac's On The Road

JD Salinger's Catcher in the Rye

Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird

Charles Bukowski's There's No Business

Joseph Heller's Catch 22

William Burroughs' Naked Lunch

Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire

Philip K. Dick's UBIK

ENJOY!

True, it's been years since I've carved a pumpkin, but when did pumpkin carving kits become so sophisticated? Isn't there a kind of stoic elegance in the 'three triangles and a mouth' model I specialized in as a child?

If you've been looking to add an air of royalty to your jack-o-lantern's visage, check out the Disney Princess Carving Kit. The lowest price can be found at eToys.com and KBToys.com, who both sell it for $10.99 with 3% Cash Back at Ebates. There's also a Pirates of the Caribbean  Carving Kit. Come on, who wouldn't want Johnny Depp's face glowing on their front porch during the chilly autumn nights? Anyone?

For advanced pumpkin carvers, the Dremel Pumpkin Carving Kit is available at Hechinger.com or Home Depot for $19.99. If, to you, 3-D pumpkin carving is akin to sculpting the next Sphinx, try the basic carving kit from Spirit. At $5.99 with 7% Cash Back from Ebates, you really can't go wrong.

Finally, because I find this hilarious, here is a pattern from which you can carve a jack-o-lantern resembling Bob Marley:

Looks like you've got some decisions to make before October 31st. Princess Jasmine? Three triangles and a mouth? A three dimensional representation of the Mona Lisa?

Thanks to fabulousfoods.com for the Bob Marley image!

Want to get Cash Back when you buy pumpking carving supplies? Join Ebates now!

 

Have you ever visited Zazzle.com? At first glance, it seems like just another site where you personalize beefy tees with awkwardly posed pictures of your Schnauzer, but look again! They've got personalized postage stamps!

Maybe I'm a little behind on the lastest in personalized gift technology, but I've gotta say- this is extremely cool. I had no idea you could do this!

It looks really easy, too; you just upload some digital images to Zazzle,  add some text (which is optional) and voila! You've got your very own  postage stamps! They keep a gallery of what people have created in the  past. Some of them are so well-done it's tempting just to use theirs.

On second thought, that's like taking someone's family photographs and putting them on your Christmas cards.

If you don't want to use your own photos on the stamps, Zazzle provides "zazillions" of stock photographs. They've got tons of beautiful images, but why not make your own? You could use your dog, kids, vacation photos- the possibilities are endless. Head on over to Ebates and grab the coupon that gets you $2 off each sheet of stamps when you buy at least two.

A little cooler than family photographs, huh?

Growing up, your mother probably told you, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all".

Of course it's true; you shouldn't curse, would never gossip, and you certainly can't call other people names!

Until now...

   

I saw Uglydolls for the first time at Kid Robot  in San Francisco, and fell in love! Sure, Barbies have computers, euro-hip rides and luminous locks , but do they have tentacles, wedge-shaped heads or chest hair? I think not!

Maybe you're wondering, "Why on Earth would I want a doll with chest hair?" The question you should be asking is "Why wouldn't  I?".

Come on, people! Uglydolls are so cute you'll want to buy the whole family. Plush, unique and  adorable, they're appealing to everyone: kids, adults, your relative  with the creepy doll collection in her living room... well, maybe not  her. Each Uglydoll has its very own story: a name, likes and dislikes, a family history... How many Barbies can say that?

KBtoys.com is offering free shipping on Uglydolls and of course, Ebates is offering Cash Back! This is one time that your mom's advice is better left unheeded.

Thank goodness for digital cameras! They're great, aren't they? You can take hundreds of photos, have your finger over your lens half the time and still end up with a bunch that turned out great- all without having to buy film!

But what happens when you get home from that tour of Europe or that night on the town for which you're, uh, having trouble recalling the details? Your digital pictures go straight into iPhoto (or whatever photo application you use) and probably never leave your hard drive! Sure, when you feel like reliving that day at the world's biggest biergarten, you can pull out your laptop and scroll through 100's of thumbnails, but wouldn't it be nice to have just your favorites organized in one album?

Go over to Shutterfly.com. They've got a really cool service where you upload your digital images to their site, organize them into an album, and then Shutterfly binds it into a book which is sent to you in the mail. I went to India last January and actually bought one when I returned home. I couldn't believe how different my pictures looked when they were professionally printed and bound! The images come out looking crisp and vivid- just like in a magazine. I chose a simple black cloth cover, but they have many others to pick from: leather, suede, satin, you name it. All the options look clean, elegant and are a more modern (and easier!) alternative to traditional photo albums.

Ebates will give you 8% Cash Back when you shop at Shutterfly.com, and we've also got a coupon code that'll get you a free 8x10 print when you spend $10 or more. So go ahead: drag and drop those digi-pics into an album. Won't it be a little cozier to curl up with one of these than with your laptop?