Back in 1966, when I was 11 and my wise old grandmother was helping me set up a typing business for college students, she introduced me to many four-letter words: free, give, help, love, need, want.
She told me that when I got to the point that I loved to give free help to people to meet their needs and wants, I would know that I had a career, and my career would provide for my own needs and wants. She taught me all about marketing, yet all she had was a partial first grade education, having dropped out of school to work in the fields after her dad died.
At the time, what she was telling me didn’t make a whole lot of sense. Now it does.
Since we are now in the fourth quarter of 2014, I have to start seriously thinking about the new year, and that always means calendars. I have rarely liked the calendars that you buy in the stores. They are always too big, too small, have a few pictures that I didn’t like, would not remain flat against the wall, were too heavy to hang on the wall with a pushpin…. whatever.
For 2015, I have resolved to create my own calendar, and that’s where YOU come in.
Here is my October 2014 calendar page:
So what’s different between my calendar and store-bought calendars?
Well, first, my page is 8½x11…. easy to print on any printer.
Second, I use my own photos.
Third, I start the week with Monday. I have never understood why religions say that Sunday is the seventh day of the week but calendars make it the first day of the week. With my calendar, the weekend is now together instead of split.
Fourth, I have six rows instead of four or five. That means that every day gets its own square…. always!
Fifth, if I have a calendar hanging on the wall, I’ve always disliked having to remove it in order to look at the previous month’s last days. My calendar fills in all the squares with days of the month…. last month’s, this month, and next month.
So here’s the deal:
I’ve made October 2014, but I need November & December 2014. And I need 2015 months…. January, February, March, April…. well, you get the idea.
For the first 50 people who leave a comment here on this post on my WordPress blog, YOU get a free calendar page. You can make it any month and year you like…. You can send me a picture to use (needs to be high resolution, at least 800 pixels wide at 100 ppi) or you can choose any of my pictures, one that you’ve seen in my blog over the 2½ years I’ve been here, or one in my galleries at Fine Art America.
Once you’ve decided, leave a comment here, and then email your month, year, and picture choice to me at
photographicart@russelrayphotos.com.
Attach your picture if you want me to use one of yours. I will create your calendar page and email a digital file to you.
These calendar pages are not easy to make, so I’ll acknowledge those first 50 comments and acknowledge your email. After that, you’ll just have to be patient.
This would make a great present for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
Suffering from Bare Wall Syndrome? Need a unique gift?
Choose Photographic Art by Russel Ray Photos at Fine Art America.
Sorry, Russel, will you please clarify the ppi resolution? Thank you.
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Right click on your file and you should see “Properties.” Click on properties and you’ll see something like “5184×3456” and “72 ppi.” The first is the size of the file (width x height) at the stated resolution of 72 ppi.
Most pictures will be at 70 ppi, 72 ppi, or 96 ppi.
The best quality is if you can send me a 100 ppi picture that is at least 8 inches wide.
Using 5184×3456 at 72 ppi, divide 5184 by 72 to get the width in inches: 5184/72 = 72 inches. Just about any picture for any camera or phone will work.
My purpose here basically is to tell everyone: “Don’t reduce the file size! Send me the largest file you have!”
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Thank you, Russel, for your immediate reply. Oh no! 😰 Is it possible to enlarge the file size into 100 ppi? Because most of the pictures are in 72ppi with 500px.
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It is, but let me do it if that’s all you have.
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I see. Thank you. I will send it to you by three days. Thank you.
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Very cool and very generous of you. If I am one of the first 50, that is great. Can’t send a pic until I get home so you can put mine last if you want.
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I’ll do them in order received, but your comment is one of the first 50, so whenever you get around to sending me the picture will be fine.
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This is an interesting idea! I like that your calendar week begins on Monday. I would have never thought to do that, but you rationale makes sense. BTW, I used the free flower print you sent me a couple of months ago to make a calendar. I am still going to make it into a poster because it is just beautiful!!
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Splitting the weekend has always irritated me. Finally, at the age of 59, I have the power to do something about it………LOL
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I think the weekend together makes totally logical sense and Monday as the start is so rational. You are a genuis and I love you for making a totally common sense “DUH” idea a new reality for me!!!
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“Feathers” is my totally favorite picture of yours!!!
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You just rock on with your bad self 😀
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That’s right! I’m bad! (Took 59 years for me to turn bad, though……….LOL)
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I am working on it….seems I have a few years to go 🙂
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Oh, can I have June 2015? It’s my birth month or are you picking months based on the picture sent?
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You can have any month, any year, any picture!
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I sent you an email with the picture attached. Let me know if you got it.
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I will be acknowledging all emails later today.
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That is so nice. I like the week to start Monday too 🙂
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I feel so powerful being able to dictate on what day the week starts…….LOL
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Don’t need the calendar page…but just wanted to say I love the idea. 🙂
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Thanks! Maybe a gift for someone else?
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Ok I am on my kindle at the Dr office so I can’t send my photo yet but would love to join in the fun. I will send it this evening if I still qualify….thanks jolynn
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I’m sending a picture that will make a great calendar page and a surprise!
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Love the stories about your grandmother.
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Your take on how a calendar should be formatted makes much more sense than what is available commercially.
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Thanks. Now if I can get the whole world to go along, I will have accomplished something in my life………LOL
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I would love to have calender if not time taking. you can put picture of any color rose. Thank you so much for being so generous. I hope I’m among the first 50s 🙂
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my email id is, tanveer808@yahoo.com
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I like your ideas, Russel. I like the week starting on Monday. And I like filling in every square (Something that I have had trouble with) And if I choose a month, I would most likely like a photo of that barrel cactus you sent us a few weeks ago. I will get on it. Thanks!
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I sent an e-mail with pictures !
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