These are funny - and yet ring true

Scott Heiferman's Notes: 50 Reasons Why People Aren't Using Your Website: "44. Because they don't want to look dumb
45. Because they've never heard of flickr or delicious either
46. Because there aren't enough people using it yet to make it useful
47. Because there's no nudity or celebrities
48. Because it doesn't tell them why to use it"

Ouch...

...but dead on.
Daniel and I are growing our PHOTOtool, WebFolio and Total Control Sites. We have no investors, no VC money, nor do we have any time to party... we are working. And we don't live in 'the valley'. I agree with Jason that it is a great time to start a business, if starting a business is your goal. If, however, you wanna get your hands on a stack of other people's money, yeah - it is probably a little more difficult.

It's a great time to start a business - Signal vs. Noise (by 37signals): "Yes, it's a bad time to start a company on VC diesel, using me-too technology, flaunting your non-existing goods, doing tagging because it's cool, and spending all your time partying. Guess what? That was never a good idea."

There are a great many ways to create a business with the low cost of entry, significantly lower bandwidth and storage prices, and technology that encourages instead of limits.
If you are a photographer or designer, consider growing additional streams of income with online sales, stock, e-zines, and more.

When everyone zigs

...some folks zag. Have you shot any film lately? Could you imagine using shooting film as a differentiation for shooting digital? Could you make a compelling case to a client for shooting film? I can. In fact, I just did - and got the job.

Reversion - a photoset on Flick

Clarification: these are not my photos... they are kk's.

"Lookin' out my back door"...

... RIP Buck.

Caught Up In The Fable: The Buck Stops: "Buck Owens died today. A master of Country music's classic Honky Tonk sound, Buck influenced everybody after him, especially modern honky tonkers Dwight Yoakam, The Derailers and his contemporary Capitol lablemates, The Beatles. The Beatles are alleged to have a standing request for copies of all new Buck Owens records. They covered his Johnny Russell-penned hit 'Act Naturally'. "

Business savvy will trump

... technology widgets. Everytime. I have started to wonder how the web will grow business that are funded with millions of dollars to provide services that are free. Sure - the premium thing works - until there are so many players in the space that there is a constant stream of 'free' apps. I can think of at least 3 web-based word processing apps... all free. Read this whole thing from one of the founders of Flickr.

Caterina.net: It's a bad time to start a company: "Web 2.0 isn't all that. Hello?. I don't think there's a rising tide lifting all boats here. I don't think Web 2.0 is the magic bullet some people seem to think it is either. It ain't the features, it's that AND the business. Tagging was a great feature, no doubt. But Flickr was at break even -- about to tip into the black -- when we were acquired."

UPDATE: See above for a dead-on rebuttal. Or click here.

Jim nails it...

... and I can only agree.

Jim Logan - The World Is Full Of Crap Marketing, That’s Your Opportunity: "One the one hand, the low barrier means there is a lot clutter and crap we have to sift through. On the other hand, the norm is so pathetically low, it’s easier today to stand above the majority in quality of content and message.

Your opportunity is to not produce crap. So don’t."

Gotta see this...

...and then watch the second link. Enjoy.

Chris Bliss: Must-See Finale

Gotta See this one now...

Read the comment on the second link that denegrates the original (and then the oh-so-trendy 'apology'). Read what was written about the amazing performance and then look at the original video again.

"So, there is this video of a comedian/juggler floating around online. He is doing a remarkably simple 3-ball routine, but has timed it to some crappy Beatles song or something, and gets a standing ovation for his awkward, clumsy, and generally goofy-looking routine."

Really.

Note apology:

"A bunch of people have written me or posted comments, under the impression that I have no appreciation for the Bliss video, and that I think Jason's is better. THIS IS WRONG. The Bliss video is just a performance that involves juggling...the Jason video is juggling that is a parody of a performance. The two are not the same."

Yeah... how could anyone confuse the words 'remarkably simple", "crappy", "awkward" and "goofy-looking" for the true admiration they really are. Get real. (I just loathe this new-agey crap of saying what you want, without thinking about it and then issuing a boo-hoo "I'm sorry, I didn't mean what I said, BS apology." Here's a thought bucky, think before you spew.)

Looking at the polish of the original performer, the musicality of the performance and the stunt heavy, edited, version of the second performer and you can see the difference between a professional and a really, really good pro-am. Too bad, but that is what we have today... so many people not doing the heavy lifting to get the 'whole-package' of professionalism, preferring only to do the fun stuff.

Watch out... don't let the arrogance of over self-assuredness get in the way of seeing the reality of your work.

Update:
My wife and I were talking about Barry Manilow's working with the kids on Idol his week. She mentioned to one of her colleagues about how wonderful he was in helping the kids. His retort... "Barry Manilow? Are you kidding? That guy is a freakin' goofball... his music sucks."

That is another of our burgeoning traits... Being overly critical and mean spirited about everyone. Deciding that we will denigrate success, from a place far lower. Can you imagine a guy who hadn't done a thing at all with his music making that kind of value judgement about a guy who has sold over 70 million records? Think about it. He may not like Manilow, many don't, but to decide he is a freak and his music 'sucks'. Damn I am so sick of that crap.

It is totally possible that people will have other tastes than we do. That isn't a reason to become a neanderthal, it is simply the way of the world.

Are you sure, kevin?

Organized Individualists: Hmmm,: "The only thing worse than having clients like him is not having clients at all."

To answer your question...

...by great programming, more channels and more features. Of course there is no guarantee they will, but I am personally not interested in more and more stations with even less of a barrier for advertising. Can you imagine the incredibly lame commercials we would hear every 8 minutes if there were that many channels fighting for the small space that is radio now? Arghhh... that would be ear-hell.

Don't be singing XM's swan song yet...

A lullaby for satellite radio (sleep tight) - The VoIP Weblog: "I could have a country station, an all-news, a talk, a classical, a smooth jazz, and an all-Pink Floyd station broadcast using a single FCC license on digital spectrum. Add to that the local advertising and free-to-consumer nature of terrestrial radio, and I see a triple-whammy smackdown for satellite radio.

How is satellite radio ever going to survive, I ask you?"

Hey... you wanna buy my book?

This is my first E-book. It is a PDF in print format. The PDF file is encrypted for protection. NOTE: This is a book of images of women and there is one nude tryptich included.

Some of these images are older shots, but most are new and feature some wonderful shots of women I have had the great fortune to meet.

The book is 52 pages and features black&white and color images.

If you are interested, you can purchase this e-book for $9 at PayPal. I will email your book to you within 24 hours (probably a heck of a lot sooner) after your order. I will also send your encryption code for the book.

Seth's Blog: Q: What do you think of my brochure

Q: What do you think of my brochure

A: The thing you must remember about just about every corporate or organizational brochure is this:
People won't read it.

That's right. People won't read it.

Seth has a good post on the viability of your brochure and what it really means to create one.

People won't read it. But you can get them to look at it... with great images and compelling design. Compelling design with crap images... not gonna do it. Great images with average design... has a better shot actually. People like pictures.

People won't read it. That is one of the most important reason to get the best images possible for your brochure. Seth has a good list of things to do to make it a better brochure. Read the post.

I would of course add that great imagery can make all the difference in the world. Where do you get great imagery?

1. Off the internet for a buck?
2. From one of those image sharing sites?
3. From a trained and professional photographer with vision?

Uhhh... answer is 3. In most every case.

Are there good images at some of the free or nearly free sites? Sure, but you are finding an image to 'fit' your work instead of creating a work that enhances you work. Yes, there is a difference.

When I design a brochure the first thing I do is to nail down a photography budget. If they have no money for great photography I can (and have) reject the job if I feel it is what is needed to make the brochure sing.

Are there times and clients where getting a $3 image is appropriate? Yeah, I guess. Small, small business or maybe for backgrounds - even some web use. But if you are investing in premium paper, 6-7 color inks, truly unique design and think that you can 'get off' with some crap you snagged off Flickr... well, that is so wrong on so many levels.

There are some incredible shots on Flickr, and Slide and Loop and the myriad of Photoblogs that can astound. If one of those images truly gets you going and that is the image you want, then I will concede that contacting the photographer and Paying for use is fine. (This works so much better if the brochure only needs one image. That way the vision is at least consistant.) I just believe that in most cases a unique image, viewpoint, vision, style will make the brochure connect at a slightly higher level.

Seth's Blog: Q: What do you think of my brochure: "At its best, a brochure is begging for someone to judge you. It says, 'assume that because we could hire really good printers and photographers and designers and writers, we are talented [surgeons, real estate developers, whatever]' And more often than not, people do just that."

Yep...

TCS Daily - Newspapers in Trouble?: "And I'd expect a broader range of competency: My reporters would also all be photographers, equipped with digital cameras, and videographers, shooting clips of video that could be placed on the website along with their stories. This isn't asking too much, really. The world is full of people who can write and take pictures. I've heard editors at existing newspapers who doubt that their reporters could do this sort of thing, but if so, they need better reporters. I'd tell them to learn, or seek employment elsewhere. It's not that hard. This sort of approach might create union problems, which often forbid reporters from doing the job of photographers or vice versa; I'd tell the unions to go visit the Buggy Whip Museum and ponder the fate of work rules in that industry."

This will be a great tool

Gizmo – A free phone for your computer - Learn More Overview: "Gizmo Project uses your internet connection (broadband or dial-up) to make calls to other computers. With the click of a mouse, you’re connected to friends, family, and colleagues anywhere on earth. It’s just that simple. You talk clearly. For as long as you want. For free.

And with inexpensive add-ons like Call In and Call Out, you can talk to any telephone–mobile or landline–on the planet. Any phone? Yes.

Download Gizmo Project, and suddenly it all clicks–some calls are better online"

Ooooh...

Samsung unveils 32GB Flash-based 'HDD killer' | Reg Hardware: "Samsung has launched what it reckons its the world's first 32GB NAND Flash-based hard disk drive replacement unit. The company claimed the so-called 'solid state disk' can access data three times faster than an HDD can and write files one-and-a-half times more quickly - though we don't know what HDD spec it was comparing its product to"

Megapixel Calculator for Photogs

A cool little widget that will let you see how large a specific image is in any format. This is good information and a cool site.

Megapixel Calculator - digital camera resolution [forret.com web tools]: "This is a megapixel calculator, a tool to calculate and convert resolution, file sizes. How many pixels in a DVD image? How does that compare to a 5 megapixel camera? What is the resolution of Digital Cinema 2K? The answer is here!"

DIY Sunday

Consider it a hack for productivity...

D*I*Y Planner | Paper, productivity & passion: "We are a community of people who see the value of paper as a medium for planning, productivity, creative expression, and exploring ideas."

No Media Kings: Generally, self-publishing involves an inverse relationship of work to money: The more work you’re willing to do, the more money you can save; the more you want to just skip to an end product, the more it’ll cost you.

Bill Huber at Pbase: Follow these instrutions to build a light box.
You will need the following items:

Better Pics from your cameraphone: One of the reasons people leave their pictures imprisoned in their camera-phones is that they're disappointed with the shots they've taken. The images are too blurry or too washed out, or the perspective is distorted. In detecting details, film cameras and digital cameras are more limited than the human eye and camera-phones, in turn, are more limited than both film and digital cameras.

Interesting... and yet

... I really don't know what it means.

I am sitting here watching one of the legends of the early punk-rock movement (Sting) singing "My Funny Valentine". I fell in love with what are referred to as 'standards' when I was a kid. My dad would play Armstrong and Duke and Basie. One of my favorite albums even today is Keely Smith and Louis Prima live in Vegas... damn that was, errr... is, great music.

Seems like lots of folks are rediscovering the classic music with melody and nuance and passion. Now I am watching Paula Cole sing "Look of Love". Wow... great job of it too.

Seems like the older music may still last longer than some of the more 'pop' stuff. And maybe not. Who knows? All I can say is play a little Sinatra, Martin or Davis Jr., and I am listening.

Gotta go... there is a 15 year old girl belting "Pennies from Heaven" - this I gotta hear.

I'm sorry, but Lileks is on a roll

I actually shot a lot of computer rooms back in '80. In onc situation I remember it was a Wang system in a bank in Long Beach. This shot reminds me of it even though it was a little more modern than this.

LILEKS (James): Institute :: Compu-Promo: "From 1971, the Control Data Cyber 70 Bosom-Goggler, which automatically stares at the secretary’s breasts, freeing up the busy executive so he can stare at her legs."

Hat tip: Lileks

To my wife...sorry, honey... James made me look.
Seriously wonderful Flash design here. (Yes, I like Flash when it is used well... and it is used well here.) From concept to production it is solid. Enjoy.
:: LANA LANDIS - AMERICAs No.1 PIN-UP | HOLLYWOOD CALIFORNIA | SITE BY 247 MEDIA STUDIOS ::

I love it when someone does the unexpected

... and boy is this wild. NOTE: If you don't like figure skating skip it.
MojoFlix - Evgeni Plushenko - Sex Bomb!

Heart, Soul, Memories and Forever

RIP Jonathan Briley.

Michelle Malkin: THE FALLING MAN REVISITED: "Some images leave an indelible mark on your heart and soul."

This couldn't be more timely for me

My inbox is overflowing. I am missing important emails because of the clutter. If you are tired of inbox hell, follow along at 43 Folders and let's all get organized. (via Lifehacker)

43F Series: “Inbox Zero” | 43 Folders: "Clearly, the problem of email overload is taking a toll on all our time, productivity, and sanity, mainly because most of us lack a cohesive system for processing our messages and converting them into appropriate actions as quickly as possible.

So, over the next few days, I’ll be sharing detailed tips — some old and some new — on how I deal with email. Like most stuff here, there’s no guarantee that this will be any kind of panacea for you. Each of our needs and challenges differ, and there’s no one correct way to do practically anything. As ever, some of this will be more or less useful for you, and you should choose your own major changes with care and mindfulness."

Ooooh Baby...

Photoshop... Photoshop... Photoshop...
Well, it probably is a bit pricey. Good thing you can still get one of these.

Tyan Typhoon Personal Super Computer: 16 Cores Under Your Desk - Gizmodo: "Tyan has created a monster supercomputer that harnesses all that power into a box that fits under your desk. Aimed at researchers and scientists, the Typhoon Personal Super Computer (PSC) is available with either Opteron or Pentium processors inside, and consists of four dual-socket blades in a box equipped with cooling fans that are so quiet you could actually live with them running in the same room. Each one of its four blades is hooked up to a SATA drive, and all of those are linked together via gigabit Ethernet. The Opteron handles 64GB of memory, while the Pentium settles for “just” 32GB."

So let's say....

... you are, oh, a photographer or videographer... maybe a designer who knows how to shoot some video. And you have something to say... and words alone can't say it like video can show it.

I'm guessing you might want to read this article... and see if it causes a few ideas to pop into your head... ya know? Thanks Kev.

As Internet TV Aims at Niche Audiences, the Slivercast Is Born - New York Times: "But in January, he did introduce a sailing channel, one that is rapidly filling with sailing talk shows, product reviews, programs on sailing techniques and, most important, intense coverage of the sort of smaller races that don't make it onto traditional television.

His new channel, however, will not be available over the air. And it won't be found on cable or even on satellite, at least not yet. The channel, called Sail.tv, is broadcast only on the Internet, which enables video to reach a much larger worldwide audience at a much lower initial cost than a satellite channel. Because 'we didn't have any idea how big the audience would be,' Mr. Steward said, he wanted to keep his expenses as low as possible. 'Internet television is an investment we can grow into,' he said."

I know, I know...

...most of the readers of this blog know this stuff already. But take a look at how well it is written for the non-pro shooter. It makes it so simple to understand how to make great shots... ok... way better shots anyhow... and that is cool.

Now think how much we take for granted when we are talking to our clients. Then we get angry or defensive when we get challenged or they seem to take what we do for granted.

Take a note from this. Break it down so even the least informed can understand. Don't minimalize the challenges you face, but explain them in a clear and concise way.

Oh, and use that little mountain thingy for landscapes...

How to take great digital portraits - Lifehacker: "Need a headshot for your web site? A good photo of the little one for your holiday cards? A portrait of Grams for your self-produced family history movie? Taking good pictures of people can be hard, but don’t despair. An average digital camera can take great portraits if you keep a few simple guidelines in mind. These steps should prove doable for non-professionals everywhere; no special equipment is required and the features discussed are widely available on most point-and-shoot cameras. Who knows, if you follow along carefully you may never have to pay for those expensive school pictures of your kids again."

Flying to San Francisco this evening

Working on a pitch with several investors and preparation has been brutal. But I leave you all with this amazing work. All I can say is 'wow'!!

Impact Lab - Amazing 3D Sidewalk Art Photos: "These unbelievable photos are chalk drawings done by Julian Beever. Beever uses his drawings to create an amazing 3D illusion."

Check this out

Yes, it is Flash. Really well done Flash. This is a wonderful little marketing site focused on a niche user. The playing off the name of a best selling book is well done.

THE GAMEKILLERS

"just get the damn site up...

... steal one if you don't know how to build one."
Remember that these guys are in the internet business and they supposedly have wheelbarrows full of (investor) cash to launch 15 sites in three years. We've seen how they treat other people's work. Let's hope that this initial screw up is not indicative of how they treat other people's, you know, money.

Next Internet Steals Flock's Website Design — Business Logs: "and I'd probably be more interested in them if they hadn't completely, utterly, and unabashedly stolen the look, feel, and code behind Flock.com. The screenshots don't lie:"

He has a screenshot, check it out.

Working on those dang fundies

Creating Passionate Users has a wonderful set of posts going on becoming an expert (or at least letting your expertness out). How true the words "keep practicing the fundamentals."

After not shooting very often for over 7 years, it was kinda strange to get back into it. Looking at my new images, I realized that I had become a 'safe' shooter because of my uncertainty at remembering the basics. It was like a sax player trying to take a solo after not playing for a couple of years. Your brain thinks it knows what to do, but getting that information to the fingers... well...

When I was young (you were young?... ed), I was what you would call a 'natural drummer.' I took to the traps like a duck to water. My teachers were all amazed, and I went from beginner to busy jazz sideman inthree short years. And I almost never had to 'practice.' In college I began to study 'percussion' which included the very cool vibraphone and the tremendously boring tympani. I loved learning the vibes and even played them in a group, but I didn't practice the fundamentals of the tympani. Looking back I realize that they (tympani) are pretty cool and I blew it.

Now I am playing the drums again. I am no longer a 'natural' talent. I want to play as well as I can and that means I have to practice the fundamentals... stick control, paradiddles, flams, independance and more. Long, challenging practice sessions that are designed to increase independance, flexibility and control over the set. Oh, and keeping perfect time is in that mix as well. There are times when I want to just play, but I am focused on working out the kinks, getting some serious bass drum action going and then taking that to the music.

Photography got to be almost automatic to me, and now I am focused on building a body of work that has some depth, a style of seeing and a craft that remains solid, but not overt. I know what I want to see in the print, and continue to refine the ability to make that happen.

While I know that I am no Elvin Jones or Irving Penn, I know that I can be better next year than I am this year. Working steadily toward constant growth will hopefully pay off.

Creating Passionate Users: "The problem the Parelli's see in those trying to transition from skilled amateur to expert virtually always comes down to something from the fundamentals that they either never quite mastered, or that they forgot over time. So, perhaps that's one more thing the superior performers do better than the rest of us--they keep practicing the fundamentals. This fits with the notion that experts practice things that aren't necessarily fun, which can include both the things they still don't do well, AND the non-exciting basics."

Oh, and if you have some vibes you aren't using, you can stash 'em at my place.

Zamari Dance Company

Zamari Dance Company
Originally uploaded by Wizwow.

My wife is a dancer, choreographer and teacher. This year her dance company is doing a piece called "Conversations" and I decided to make that the point of the poster. I got the girls to talk among themselves and my wife was yelling funny things to them so they were all laughing.

I lit it very simply with two umbrellas, one high and one to camera right in the front. The image needed very little photoshop work.

Ouch...

My favorite Web 2.o overused font is Century Gothic... oops - I've used that... (but not helvetica rounded... ahhahahahah)

Valleywag: Web 2.0 logo fonts: "The designers at Font Shop name the fonts used in a couple dozen Web 2.0 logos -- dividing the 'Softies,' 'Futurists,' and and 'Classics.' It's painful to see the crisp Xanga logo placed so close to that awkward mid-90s-clipart Bloglines logo, but any attempt to combat Web 2.0 logo vertigo through analysis is a valiant effort."

Which somewhat explains why...

... I am learning the saxophone. I played in college as a music major, but now I am learning it again as someone who wants to seriously play it someday. (Yo Branford, don't get all panicky on us now, I aint gonna go for your gigs.) I just want to be able to pick up the tenor and play some songs kinda, well, kick ass - ya know.

Creating Passionate Users: How to be an expert: "Seriously. How many people think they've missed their opportunity to be a musician, or an expert golfer, or even a chess grand master because they didn't start when they were young? Or because they simply lacked natural talent? Those people are (mostly) wrong. According to some brain scientists, almost anyone can develop world-class (or at least top expertise) abilities in things for which they aren't physically impaired. Apparently God-given talent, natural 'gifts', and genetic predispositions just aren't all they're cracked up to be. Or at least not in the way most of us always imagined. It turns out that rather than being naturally gifted at music or math or chess or whatever, a superior performer most likely has a gift for concentration, dedication, and a simple desire to keep getting better. In theory, again, anyone willing to do what's required to keep getting better WILL get better."

Every once in a while

we are reminded how incredibly resourceful, powerful and indeed heroic the people of this country are. The politicians got it wrong, the media got it way wrong and the people took control and got it done. Yeah, it aint a 'marketing or photography' piece, but it does remind us that not everything we hear on Leno or read in the NYT is necessarily accurate. Or even close.

Katrina: What went right: "By Wednesday, August 31, as the media screamed for troops to deal with the over-hyped breakdown in public order, more than 100 helicopters were flying rescue missions. Air traffic was so heavy that one pilot said the city looked like a hornets’ nest. Another, flying at night, compared helicopter ops to swarming fireflies. By the end of the week, crews had virtually run out of victims, and were shifting operations to dropping sandbags, evacuating the city, and assisting door-to-door searches by boat crews. "

Humbling and Thoughtful words

For those who awoke today with fears real or imagined, and hardships to face yet again... some perspective. Thanks Tom, inspirational words I will keep for a long time.

Tom McMahon: What I Have Learned In 15 Years: "It was 15 years ago today that our 8-year-old son Ryan suffered a severe brain injury that left him unable to walk or talk or feed himself. He was in the hospital (in two hospitals, actually) for over six months, and ever since has lived with us at home. I thought I would share some of the lessons I've learned in these past 15 years:"