Shutterfly just sent me an email with the subject "We've made something special for you."
Now before I go on, I should mention that I love Shutterfly. I upload a lot of pictures there. I get prints. I make calendars. I even used it to make a great Christmas present for Mom this year, a little "brag book" with all the best photos I took of my nephews and the rest of the family.
But in this particular case--well, I'll let you judge.
The text of the email said:
Short on time? Preserving memories is easier than ever. A photo book filled with your pictures makes the perfect gift to give or keepsake to treasure. We’ve arranged your pictures just the way you took them, but you can organize them any way you want.
The photos in question were a group of shots I took of a flock of turkey buzzards. I uploaded them to Shutterfly so I could send a link to a friend so she could see them and help me decide which one to use for that day's 365 project photo.
The proposed book cover features a tasteful shot of the whole flock feeding by the roadside (shown at the top of the page). You can't quite tell what they're feeding on--I like to think it was a ripe, burst-open garbage bag, but it's hard to tell. I didn't want to get close enough that I could tell.
On page one the buzzards are merely hovering menacingly over . . . something. In the first spread, you get some closer shots of groups of buzzards. The page with three buzzard shots against a pink flowered background is particularly festive, though I would have used the pink on page five, the first of the shots of a pair of buzzards billing and cooing like turtledoves. (Shown at left. Who knew it was buzzard mating season?)
I like that they dedicated a single page spread to the closeup I got of a particularly fine individual buzzard. I'm not a buzzard expert, but I bet he's a grizzled old buzzard, a veteran of many roadsize carrion picnics. He even looks rather noble, almost regal. Well, for a buzzard.
Not making fun of Shutterfly. Well, just a little. Seems like every time I upload some photos these days, I get an email offering to turn them into a book. Shutterfly's trying to maximize its sales, like everyone else. Sometimes I find the memory book offers annoying, and sometimes useful--after all, if they hadn't sent me one in November, I'd never have thought of doing that brag book for Mom.
So I'm probably going to pass this time, Shutterfly, but thanks for asking. And even more thanks for, unintentionally, providing me with a good laugh at time when I could really use one!
I read this and couldn't stop laughing. I've received those e-mails as well, but never with such an "interesting" subject. Though they are cute in their own way. Just because I am a science nerd, the ones with black heads are Black Vultures and the picture of the one with a red head is a Turkey Vulture. Thanks for the laugh!
Posted by: JK | January 25, 2011 at 09:20 PM
So this was a mixed flock of Black and Turkey Vultures? Cool!
Posted by: Donna Andrews | January 25, 2011 at 09:47 PM
Great photos! While kayaking once (near Bear Mountain, NY), I came upon a whole flock of turkey vultures -- a bit overwhelming when they're in a large group. I read somewhere that turkey vultures "winter" in Virginia -- lucky you!
Posted by: Write4unj | January 27, 2011 at 09:20 PM
I hate to think what Shutterfly would do with the photos I took for the vet of one of the dogs' stitches.
I do like your photos, and enjoyed laughing at the thought of an entire book.
Posted by: Melanie | January 31, 2011 at 07:53 PM
Hmm...perhaps I won't upload the shots I took of the stitches in my nephew's finger. Or the one where the dog squatted just as I was pushing the button. Or the ones of the snake swallowing the toad . . . yes, many things I do NOT want Shutterfly to package for me in a memory book.
Posted by: Donna Andrews | February 03, 2011 at 09:50 PM
Laughing here. A snake swallowing a toad would be cool as a book. You could call it "Everybody Eats."
Posted by: Melanie | February 04, 2011 at 11:56 AM