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Square Prints Available in the Gallery

By Julie Miche Leave a Comment

Just The Square Prints Now Available!

Select images from my Instagram Page are now available. Choose from multiple images and sizes. They are currently available in Square Prints only.

Our Square Metallic Prints

Our s Square Metallic Prints are printed on Kodak Endura Metallic Photographic Paper and feature a glossy finish with a metallic finish, creating images with exceptional visual interest and depth.

Our MetalPrints™ Images

Our MetalPrints™ Images are printed on Aluminum Metal, and are preserved by infusing dyes directly into specially coated aluminum sheets. Because the image is infused into the surface and not on it, your images will take on an almost magical luminescence. The ultra-hard scratch-resistant surface is waterproof/weatherproof and can be cleaned easily – just avoid direct sunlight.

MetalPrints™ represent a new art medium for preserving photos by infusing dyes directly into specially coated aluminum sheets. Because the image is infused into the surface and not on it, your images will take on an almost magical luminescence. The ultra-hard scratch-resistant surface is waterproof/weatherproof and can be cleaned easily – just avoid direct sunlight.

Our Float Mount Hangers are attached to the back of the aluminum print, and float the print 1/2-inch off the wall when hung.

Enter The Gallery

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Filed Under: Gallery Tagged With: 50% off for black friday, black friday, California, Ireland, prints for sale, Prints of California, Prints of Ireland

Flash Sale Starts Now!

By Julie Miche Leave a Comment

We’re Having Our 1st Flash Sale!

We are celebrating over 19,000 followers on Instagram by having a Flash Sale!

As a thank you for your support………….

Everything in the Just The Squares Gallery is 50% off for 24 hours!

CLICK ON PHOTO BELOW TO GET TO THE FLASH SALE!

Flash Sale  for gallery

 

The details…

  • For 24 hours all images in the Just The Square Gallery are 50% off

 

 

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Filed Under: Gallery Tagged With: Celebrating Followers on Instagram, Flash Sale, Julie_Miche, lifestyle photographer, travel photographer

Gallery Changes

By Julie Miche Leave a Comment

Have you stopped into the Gallery Store lately?  There’s been some big changes!

Images I’ve featured on Instagram are now available for purchase in the gallery.

Gallery of Julie Miche featuring instagram
Come on in & check out the squares!

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Filed Under: Gallery Tagged With: Art, Gallery, Gallery Store, Instagram, Julie Miche, Manipulated Reality, Photography, Travel photography

The Real ID Act

By Julie Miche Leave a Comment

With a new year comes new travel rules and the enforcement of The Real ID Act.

Did you know that you may need a passport to travel domestically? The Real ID Act is a law that was passed in 2005 by Congress. It is being phased in across the United States and will be enforced by Homeland Security.

Passport, The Real ID Act, domestic travel
Do you need a Passport?

Before you travel this year, check to see if your state is in compliance with the new travel rules.

Without proper identification, you can’t board your flight! Goodbye trip!

There are currently only 22 states in full compliance, many that have been granted extensions, and some that did not receive extensions.

The following states/territories are compliant with the REAL ID Act:

  • Alabama
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • DC
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Maryland
  • Mississippi
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • Ohio
  • S. Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

The following states/territories have an extension, allowing Federal agencies to accept driver’s licenses from these states. Check with your state to see if your ID is acceptable to travel domestically.

  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Idaho
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Montana
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • N. Carolina
  • N. Dakota
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • S. Carolina
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • New Hampshire

The following states/territories are under review for an extension renewal, allowing Federal agencies to accept driver’s licenses.

  • Guam
  • N. Marianas
  • Puerto Rico
  • Virgin Islands
  • Illinois
  • Missouri
  • New Mexico
  • Washington

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Filed Under: Gallery

5 Most Inspirational TED Talks On Travel

By Julie Miche Leave a Comment

 5 Most Inspirational TED Talks On Travel

Where is home? How many of us ask ourselves that question? Having lived in four different states myself, I often wonder if I will ever feel like I’m really home. I’ve lived in Santa Barbara, California for five years now, however when I travel back to Chicago, I always say I’m going home for a visit. Chicago is where I was born and spent a good portion of my life, but I don’t live there anymore. So, where then is home? Check out 5 Most Inspirational TED Talks On Travel.

Writer Pico Iyer meditates on the meaning of home, the joy of traveling, and the serenity of standing still.

Where Is Home – Pico Iyer

Manipulated Reality is supported by readers. Product links on Manipulated Reality are referral links for things I like & believe you will too! Read more here.

What have you learned while traveling? How has it impacted your life? After spending 4 months a year for the last 30 years living out of a suitcase, Rick Steves, shares lessons he has learning traveling the world.

Rick Steves – The Value of Travel



If travel allows a life of freedom, are these modern day vagabonds more free than the rest of us?
A photojournalist that dreamed of running away from home to live freely, now follows modern nomads into their homes, giving us a glimpse into a culture on the margins.

Kitra Cahana – A Glimpse of Life On The Road

EN - 640x248

Have you had a life transformation achieved by traveling? Francis Tapon shares how travel can be a catalyst for transforming your life by giving you insights that may be impossible to achieve by any other means.

Francis Tapon – How And Why Travel Transforms You

Is your personality given or chosen? Gulhan Sen discusses her experiences gained through travel and how it helped her realize the “given identity”.

Gulhan Sen – How Traveling Shapes Your Personality

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Filed Under: Gallery Tagged With: exploring the world, Francis Tapon How And Why Travel Transforms You, Gulhan Sen How Traveling Shapes Your Personality, Kitra Cahana TED talk, Pico Iyer, Rick Steves and The Value of Travel, TED talks and travel, Travel and Photography blogger Julie Plevak, traveling, traveling inspiration

Top 10 Must-Have Travel Apps

By Julie Miche Leave a Comment

Top 10 Must-Have Travel Apps

With so many options to choose from, these are my favorite top 10 Must-Have Travel Apps:

top 10 travel apps must-have

Word Lens

Instantly translate printed words in real time by using your built-in video camera. How cool is that?

Wi-Fi Finder

Worried you won’t be able to find a WiFi? Be sure to add this app! It has a data base of over 550,000 that is constantly being updated. It gives you directions to the closest spot, and shows whether it is free or you have to pay for the connection.

Tipulator

Who doesn’t need help when it comes to tipping? Whether you are splitting the bill, or just need help figuring out the right amount to leave, this app makes it all easy. It also can convert to the local currency of wherever  you are traveling.

XE Currency

Confused about currency exchange rates? Enter the currency you want to convert between, and a display will give you the value of both. It’s a quick and easy app to use.

Shazam

How many times have y0u heard music you like and do not have a clue who it is?  Just imagine traveling overseas, hearing amazing local music, and being able to identify the artist!

Cameo

Create short videos of your travels. You can edit the clips, stitch it all together, add text, filters, and a soundtrack. What’s not to love?

Steller

Ok, this one is just fun! Create a digital storybook with your travel photos, videos, and text.

Airbnb

If you don’t want to stay in a hotel, Airbnb offers over 600,000 listings for apartments, rooms, or even houses in more than 34,000 cities. It’s pretty simple to use too!

Foodspotting

And, for the Foodies… This app is a visual guide to good food and where to find it!

Touchnote

Ever wish you could send a postcard with your own photo on it? Well this app allows you to do just that! Touchnote has customizable templates which allow you to share your travels, and add a personalized message. For $1.99 you can send one to your family and friends.



















Filed Under: Gallery Tagged With: Airbnb, Cameo, Foodspotting, Santa Barbarba Photographer Julie Plevak, Shazam, Steller, Tipulator, Top 10 Must-Have Travel Apps, Touchnote, travel apps, vacation travel blog, Wi-Fi FInder, Word Lens, XE Currency

Flying Standby

By Julie Miche Leave a Comment

Flying standby challenges!

Have you ever flown standby? I have once, but only because my original flight was cancelled. It was my only choice, and flying standby was something I ever thought I would choose to do! Yet, one year later, I was choosing just that!

The plan was to catch a flight from Santa Barbara to Chicago… Sounded easy enough. I’ve done it many times before, except I had an actual ticket in hand.

The alarm went off at 3:15am… I started my day with 3 hours of sleep! Woo Hoo! Off to a great start!  After making sure I had everything, I headed outside to find my taxi waiting… Yes! The reservation I called in the night before actually worked. I was feeling good now!

I arrived 45 minutes before boarding time. Normally, I wouldn’t cut it that close, but Santa Barbara has a pretty small airport. When I got up to security, nobody was there! I was pretty surprised to find TSA hadn’t even opened yet. Apparently, the magic time for that is 4:45am!

Once, I made it through security, I headed to my gate. I was pleased to see, I was the only one on the flying standby list. I was feeling pretty confident that I was going to make it onto the plane…  And, that’s when I heard they were waiting for fifteen passengers. TSA was moving slowly! Really? Perhaps they should have come earlier! I was there before TSA even opened! Arggg!

All of a sudden there was a group of people running frantically towards the gate. I started counting… Damn! All fifteen had made it. I was not getting on this flight! My next attempt was several hours away, so I went in search of caffeine and something to occupy my time.


Manipulated Reality is supported by readers. Product links on Manipulated Reality are referral links for things I like & believe you will too!
 Read more here.

waiting flying standby
Flying Standby Supplies

My next attempt was four hours later. I was more than ready to start traveling. Unfortunately, that next flight was jam packed… No room for me! The customer service agent told me the 2:00pm flight was wide open, however I would most likely end of stuck in LA! Wow! I could have got in my car, and done that myself on any of the freeways there!

Finally, she found room on a flight that had been delayed earlier. It was heading to San Francisco. I would be flying right into the storm known as the “Pineapple Express“! How exciting! Since that was my only chance of getting to Chicago, I said, “YES PLEASE”, and boarded the plane.

Once in the air, the pilot announced we would be flying through moderate turbulence due to the storm… Lovely! Luckily, I was exhausted and fell quickly to sleep. Most of the ride was smooth, and then it hit. Did he say moderate turbulence? I felt like I was at Disneyland up in the sky! And, there was what sounded like rocks pelting the plane. What was it? Rain? Hail? Oh God, maybe we were being attacked by aliens!

After getting a grip, I realized we were flying through the Pineapple Express storm!

Window Seat on plane
My view flying through the Pineapple Express!

Thankful to finally be on the ground in San Francisco, I ran to the next gate hoping to make my connection to Chicago. That went much smoother. There was plenty of room on the plane, and flying standby was not an issue!

Flying into Chicago
Arriving in Chicago!

I arrived five hours later than I originally thought I would. Considering all the delays, that wasn’t too bad. So, would I fly standby again? Sure! I’m ready for the next adventure! I could, however, do without the turbulence and storms!

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Filed Under: Gallery Tagged With: Chicago, flying standby, Julie Plevak, Photographer, Pineapple Express Storm, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Travel Blogger

1st Santa Barbara Art Show

By Julie Miche Leave a Comment

1st Art Show on the Beach

The past couple weeks have been insanely busy getting ready for my first art show on the beach in Santa Barbara. I had to figure out what kind of display I wanted to use, and then build it.  Next, I had to cut and sand wood for the photos to be mounted onto.  And, last but not least I had to print the photos and mount them.  This took much more time than I anticipated!  I was still mounting photos at 11:30 pm the night before the show! I finally managed to crawl into bed after midnight.

After lightly caffeinating myself Sunday morning, I headed down to the beach in search of a spot to set up. Show set up starts at 6:00 am… Yes, that’s right, 6:00 in the morning!

I was greeted with a beautiful sunrise as I set up… What a great way to start a day!

Sunrise at the Santa Barbara Art Show

Sunrise at the Art Show

 

Julie Plevak art Santa Barbara Beach show

All set up and ready to go!

Santa Barbara Art Show on the beach

My first sale! Thanks Matt!

My first show went well! If you are in the Santa Barbara area, be sure to stop by the Arts Show on the Beach! I will be there on most Sunday’s!



















Filed Under: Gallery, Santa Barbara Tagged With: Artist, Beach Art Show in Santa Barbara, Julie Plevak, Santa Barbara Photographer

Which US States Have You Been To?

By Julie Miche Leave a Comment

How Many US States Have You Visited?

I came across this fun little interactive map on my Facebook feed. I was surprised to see how many states I’ve actually been to. I’ll have to work on visiting the rest!


Create Your Own Visited States Map
!



















Filed Under: Gallery Tagged With: travel, United States, USA, Vacation

Santa Barbara Art Show

By Julie Miche Leave a Comment

Santa Barbara Art Show on the Beach

I just was had my art screening and was accepted! I am happy to announce that I will be joining the Santa Barbara Art Show on the beach. It is every Sunday from 10am until dusk. It’s located from Cabrillo Boulevard, East of Stearns Wharf to Calle Cesar Chavez. Make sure to stop by and see me! I will be posting some sneak peaks of art every week, so check back and see what’s new!
My start date is November 23, 2014! See you then!

Art Screening in Santa Barbara

Art being screened.

Photos waiting to be screened for art show

Waiting for photos to be screened.



















Filed Under: Gallery Tagged With: Cabrillo Beach, Julie Plevak, Santa Barbara Art Show, Santa Barbara Artist, Santa Barbara Photographer, Things to do in Santa Barbara

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