First of the year. We are very happy.

Sent from my Android. This post made possible by qwerty. Email: don@steelid.com

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Yes Yes Yes... This is what I talk about all the time!

Because all tied up in the notion of seeing/having a good eye are things like: [an innate] feel for composition and framing; [an innate] feel for how to see and use light; and also a way of seeing or viewing the world, which has as much (if not more) to do with feelings…with the stuff you carry around in your brain and your heart –like empathy, maturity, compassion and passion– as it does with the mechanics of vision.

via aphotoeditor.com

From the comments at APhotoEditor.

by Cynthia Wood

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"I am more interested in thriving photographers than thriving Flash developers..."

A quote you can definitely use...

This retort was to a discussion on Flickr about web design. You can find the totality of it here. The italics are me quoting someone who took issue with my statements in a post above.

I have strong beliefs and they have to do with photographers becoming successful... period. I have little to gain from my positions other than the deeply held understanding of how the web works.

"Two main appeals of Flash to photographers are the better control of the layout at any screen resolution (as opposed to HTML tables or CSS positioning),"

Well, that may be your opinion, but I have not had the opportunity to meet too many photographers who were interested in "better control of a layout" - unless you mean full screen viewing. And you well may mean that. And that is fine. I think I was pretty clear in stating that: "Flash can be used to make beautiful presentations and galleries," so you may choose to argue the point where I agree with you, but... well - whatever.

Having big-ass pictures on the screen and worried about stolen images is - well - a terrible conundrum to me. Yes, it makes the ability for Gramma to take your image a bit more difficult, but then, I am not really worried about 'Grams' taking my image. The people who could cause me real irritation are way too savvy to be deterred by mere flash. As a matter of fact, I had a discussion with a photographer about a year ago who was telling me that people couldn't steal his images cause they were Flash. So I did a nice little screen capture, printed a lovely 8x10 and sent it to him.

So go ahead and protect the image from Unca Joe, I will stay concerned about art directors for magazines who grew up with this stuff and are gonna get what they want. Hell, Flashgot will snatch entire image galleries... and it is a free FF extension.

"Well, this is wrong on many levels. A Flash site might be called a tool, not Flash itself. If you insist on calling Flash a tool, than it's an application building tool, and it should be judged as such. Flash has long ago grown into a general-purpose Web technology, and quite a powerful and already mature one. "

True. But then we were discussing PHOTOGRAPHY sites, were we not? Of course Flash is a fantastic tool for application construction. Linking with multiple DB's and its ability for realtime calling of information is very nice. I have designed several flash applications for business.

Not for artists or photographers. For them, the site is NOT a tool. It is a hindrance. (Aw shit, here I go again. Swore I wouldn't do this anymore.)

As an art director, I love to be able to bookmark individual images. Sharing that image with clients is how assignments get going. Being able to isolate the specific information is also very important.

A. Link to the image (non Flash)
B. "OK, go to this site, then click on "people" then scroll to "on assignment" then click seven images in... the one with the blue hat..."

See also this well documented piece from Photoshelter. There is a similar survey done by the editorial photographers association (sorry cannot find link but will look later today) that bore out the findings in the tight market of editors and magazine AD's.

They didn't give a damn about 'animation' and 'sliding thumbnails' - they want to get in to the site, see the images, contact the photographer (its just so convenient to have to retype the photographers email into your system because the photographers site is Flash so no cut and paste...) and make a call.

Another consideration that I like is the ability to modify the page. In Flash developed websites for photographers the general approach is like in the print world. It is 'finished' - done. The design is then static as well as the information presented. Static.

Of course there are all kinds of tools for updating the flash site, but adding in a couple of "stories: or a press release or a link to an article is - well, costly. Flash developers can make twice minimum wage I understand ( :-). So the photographer has to live with the design for a couple of years to make the investment worth it.

In addition, we hear about all the 'mirror' sites and 're-purposed content for IOS' and such. So what? Mirrored info is still, technically, against Google's TOS. Will they crack down? I dunno... do you? Does anybody? Run the risk if it is worth it to you.

As to SEO: While SEO as we know it will probably be done in the next 24 months, there is still a lot of energy being expended in finding stuff on the web. Google, Bing, AOL, Yahoo... all billion dollar businesses based on being able to find stuff.

But Flash developers say... ah, screw that finding attention, we'll build an html site that the SE's will find if they actually crawl the site to begin with. Since most of the last available tools SEO has to work with is content, searchable, relevant content, a flash 'mirror' site with 'welcome to my website' just is gonna fail.

Yeah. That's a tool?

Not one I am likely to endorse. An HTML website in CSS will be able to be modified quickly, from colors to layout without changing the content. It is searchable, it can be 'liked' on Facebook (who served more outgoing links in September and October than Google... just let that soak in...), it can be referenced, discussed, shared and commented on.

That - is a tool.

As far as clarifying what I said... the platform for the galleries can be flash. I love Dripbooks and Slideshowpro for delivering images. But that is NOT the platform for the site itself... in my opinion.

"...but the very low value attached to actual skills in using it...."

Well, OK. I choose not to insult those who come to my websites by saying it is a great site, but you are too stupid to use it. That seems to be what you are saying, but I may be reading more into it.

"That homeless web designer featured in the BBC 4 doc..." is someone I know very little about. That he is a web designer is something only he says. I wonder if he was any good. I wonder if he had any skills that would be considered valuable. I am very aware of the terrible, atrocious, downright lousy websites that are on the web... and many of them were built by "web designers"... so, excuse me if I don't give much credence to this sob story. I am doing pretty well, as are most of the folks I know in web design.

I find that we are where we are because of the choices we make. Period. Simple... and yet frustrating cause it is so easy to blame someone/something else for where we are. And that is both bad and good situations. (The world is currently engaged in a massive collective desire for a "do-over" and we will all bear the anguish of that stupid set of decisions... there are NO do-overs. Ever.)

"...maybe it's time to just forget about all the effort invested in this craft, and move on to something else. ..."

For him... yeah. For me, naww. I have too much to do and have been around the press for many decades. I know how they play to the sob-story and uneducated masses of hysterical blame other folks first crowd.

Build a site any way you want. It is hardass work being in business these days. From photography to design to development. Competition is fierce.

Same thing in the Pizza business, my bud tells me. So - we aren't alone.

If I was a photographer in a large to medium market and depended on getting my message out with the fewest available funds, I would work hard on SEO, SM and developing multiple points of entry for clients to find my work. Creating a portal with a minimal 'mirror' thing is - well, counterproductive in my mind.

I once had a photographer challenge me at a meeting where I was discussing this topic. His hand went up and he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm... "Jimmy Williams has a flash site, and he does OK with it."

He was of course right. Jimmy Williams does have a Flash site. He also has an LA rep, NY rep, London rep, Tokyo rep and a client list most of us would dream of. I explained that spending hundreds of thousands on marketing meant he could have any kind of site he wanted.

And I also said... "Yes, Jimmy Williams has a Flash website, but with all due respect, you aren't Jimmy Williams."

Now if you think that having a website built by the same people who built 'so and so's' website puts you into their league, I am not going to be the one to burst that bubble.

A website is the MOST important part of any photographers marketing strategy. Having a cheap or free one says a lot, and not any of it good. Having one no one can find means more dollars expended on traditional ways to drive business. Losing out on the possible assignments that could have been assigned because your site has NO content and is hidden from the SE's makes no sense to me at all.

Sure I step on Flash developers toes sometimes. I am way more interested in seeing thriving photographers than thriving Flash developers. I really am.

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One of the shots we did in Norfolk

In case you hadn't seen it before, this is how you can increase the power of your strobes with Photoshop.

1. Camera is on a tripod and does not move.
2. Since clouds move pretty quickly, only 3-4 shots in between the no lights shots.
3. Keep your lights from in front of anything that is important and will be in the grab area.
4. Have fun with it... there are many ways to make this technique work for you.

-- don

Don Giannatti:

Designer / Photographer / Writer
www.dongiannatti.com / www.lighting-essentials.com / www.learntolight.com / www.steelid.com / 602 814 1468

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Portrait: Apex, NC (near Raleigh)

Portrait: Apex, NC (near Raleigh), originally uploaded by Don Giannatti (aka wizwow).

Portrait in White. Apex, NC

Portrait in White. Apex, NC , originally uploaded by Don Giannatti (aka wizwow).

Yeah... I'm a rock star... sorta... well, ...

Setting up the lights at Houston, I filled in while the model was busy getting ready for the shot. Alfredo decided to take a snap while I was goofing off.

Maybe I could get a gig with an 80's cover band... or, well... not.

Now to learn gitaur...

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Cindi's boots, Houston

Sent from my Android. This post made possible by qwerty. Email: don@steelid.com

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Lunch at Central Texas Style BBQ in Pearland, Texas

Sent from my Android. This post made possible by qwerty. Email: don@steelid.com

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An Open Letter To A Local Photographer: A Personal Dialogue on what was once called Reality...

I’ve spent quite a bit of time looking at myself lately, determining that this mentality will cause all of us to eventually self-destruct. As hurtful as this letter comes across at face value, we can never change others. We can only change ourselves and grow on a personal level as photographers, artists and business people. I’m finding out it’s not about the other people though. It’s about you and I. I’ve made the mistakes. I’ve followed the sickening trends early on and unsuspectingly listened to the masses. But I’m the only one who can do what is right for me. I need to remind myself that coming into my own isn’t an overnight process. I’ve spent thousands and thousands of hours trying to find my voice and place within the industry. I have yet to even scratch the surface and I still have thousands of hours ahead of me.

via tiffinbox.org

But since reality has been marginalized - partly due to the ability to reach everyone with the tiniest minutia of information without really having anything to say and the increasing importance given to naval gazing as a way of life.

In a society that has begun to lose the ability to discern between reality and fantasy, we have seen the introduction of the 'cult of personality'.

I do not know this photographer, but he seems to be discovering that being 'all that' means little if the guy looking back in the mirror doesn't believe it.

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The Big Decision: Personal or Corporate Brand? - Something to think about for photographers!

A good personal brand is a clear projection of you, what makes you an individual and what makes you different from others.  Done well, it will consistently convey your unique personality and approach to those you encounter.  It will help you stand out from the crowd, and hopefully mean that people think of you first when they start thinking about becoming a customer or partner.

Hopefully you don’t need to spend too much time formulating what you stand for before embarking on a mission to establish your personal brand.  I believe it works best when rooted in authenticity.  People have a sixth sense for what is credible and what is not.  The contrived approach will ultimately smell a little bad if you’re faking it.  The good news is that being yourself should be easier than working to a script—which is what you’ll have to do to some extent when inventing a corporate brand.

Fame can also be a benefit.  It’s a two-edged sword for sure, but who’s going to deny that it’s nice for your ego to have a personal fan base? Who out there doesn’t enjoy a little bit of attention? Before you tell me that it’s not your thing, how often to you check Google Analytics to see how many people tuned into your last post! If you’ve never had your name on the door at an exclusive party, I’ve heard that it feels great to walk past the queue.

via problogger.net

How you structure your brand... either as a personal brand or a more corporate feeling can have huge ramifications on down the road.

For instance, it is impossible to sell a personal brand. Don Giannatti has no value other than to me. Lighting Essentials can be something I could sell at some point down the road. Thinking through these and other questions are a good practice - especially if you haven't nailed down your branding strategy.

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This should shock and anger you. ARMED DEPUTIES arresting "unlicensed barbers." That's BARBERS.

As many as 14 armed Orange County deputies, including narcotics agents, stormed Strictly Skillz barbershop during business hours on a Saturday in August, handcuffing barbers in front of customers during a busy back-to-school weekend.

It was just one of a series of unprecedented raid-style inspections the Orange County Sheriff's Office recently conducted with a state regulating agency, targeting several predominantly black- and Hispanic-owned barbershops in the Pine Hills area.

In "sweeps" on Aug. 21 and Sept. 17 targeting at least nine shops, deputies arrested 37 people — the majority charged with "barbering without a license," a misdemeanor that state records show only three other people have been jailed in Florida in the past 10 years.

The operations were conducted without warrants, under the authority of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation inspectors, who can enter salons at will. Deputies said they found evidence of illegal activity, including guns, drugs and gambling. However, records show that during the two sweeps, and a smaller one in October, just three people were charged with anything other than a licensing violation.

via orlandosentinel.com

Money quotes:
"...conducted with a state regulating agency,..."

Regulating agencies now have armed cops with the license to kill un-licensed barbers? What the hell is that about?

"...The operations were conducted without warrants, under the authority of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation inspectors, who can enter salons at will. ..."

Without Warrants? Hey all you 'civil rights' screamers and ACLU types that were freaked out about warrantless wiretapping of known terrorists get a friggin clue and do something about this. Without Warrants?

"The operations were conducted without warrants, under the authority of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation inspectors, who can enter salons at will. "

So that's it? That is a good use of community police? Unlicensed barbers. With guns drawn? Really?

In America?

Read the whole thing. It should make you sick... and angry.

The minuscule amount of drugs found does not make this something that we the American people should have to put up with. There was a crime here, for sure.

But not with 'unlicensed barbers'... my oh my.

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Copyright and Culture: Newly Enemies - Winds of Change.NET

The problem faced by this documentary film is common to all such works - which, unlike newspapers etc., must secure permission to quote when it uses news film clips, etc.

via windsofchange.net

Yes it is. It is also true that every performance of Samuel Barber's Symphonies, and Eliot Carter's String Quartets carry a price as well. As does a play, musical, reprint of an article. There is a huge difference between quoting for an article and the use of material that MAKES the article.

Quotes and "Fair Use" have been with us for quit a while. Because the medium changes, some think that the ownership of the work and how it is used should change. While I agree there is room for compromise, I do not believe a wholesale move to the 'let me have it, I want it NOW' mantra is going to work all that well.

And telling me that some great historical item will be lost if the people who CREATED the work in it are to be paid is - well - falling a bit short on reality. If there is a market, there will be payment.

"The five-year licenses expired and the company that made the film also expired. And now we have a situation where we have this series for which there are no rights licenses. Eyes on the Prize cannot be broadcast on any TV venue anywhere, nor can it be sold."

That is really sad, and it would be wonderful if it could be saved.

But it is equally as sad that the people who say they care about such things cannot raise the money to keep it going. They can raise $50M for a slapstick movie about redneck car racers, or frat house kids dying a thousand different ways.

But they can't raise a crappy ass $500K?

The people who made the content need to be paid. And if it is such a wonderful film, why is no one trying to raise the money and get it back?

No.

The problem is that no one obviously thinks the film is worth $500K. I am not saying it is or it isn't, but for a lousy $500K they can renew it and no one can get that money together?

Why?

And why is that the fault of the people who created the works used in the film?

"And right now, the law is a serious hindrance to transmitting history and culture to new generations:"

Depends on which side of the creatin' and makin' you sit. If you are one wanting to make money off the sale of the film (somebody gotta be making some money - distribution, copies, packaging) then it is in your best interest to cut out any extraneous costs.

The people who put their lives and fortunes on the line to create the work you are discussing are not the place to cut.

I am not sure what will happen with all this "we gotta save the culture" stuff when it comes to IP, but ripping it away in the name of the culture seems short sighted, illogical and downright cruel to the creators.

Want more culture?

Create some yourself.

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Drones Get Ready to Fly, Unseen, Into Everyday Life - WSJ.com

An unmanned aircraft that can fly a predetermined route costs a few hundred bucks to build and can be operated by iPhone.

via online.wsj.com

Awesome. I want one of these.

No. I have no idea what I would use it for.

I just think they would be cool.

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Courtney Love - ‘I’d Like to Be Trusted Again’ - No, Courtney. You are still a total asshole.

This summer, while promoting a new album that revived the name Hole (but without the group’s original members), Ms. Love, who has avidly embraced social media, introduced a Web site dedicated to her style that is intended to offset all of the horrific images of Courtney Love that result from entering that name into a Google search: Courtney with scarring on her over-plumped lips. Courtney with eyes that don’t line up. Courtney with corkscrew hair extensions. The site, whatcourtneyworetoday.com, shows endless, flattering pictures of Ms. Love playing dress-up in borrowed gowns and jewelry. In the last year, since she moved to New York from Los Angeles, she has surrounded herself with fashion designers, stylists and editors who have embraced her without concern for her unpredictable behavior. She has become a regular presence at fashion shows, movie screenings and parties, a walking quotation machine who is practically considered a beat by New York magazine.

via nytimes.com

Every once in a while I am reminded of how simply vacuous and un-entertaining so many 'entertainers are. This idiot is not worth the ink on one sheet of newsprint, but she gets a whole page in the NYT.

Aren't they the 'paper of record' who are supposed to be about the 'very important' amongst us? Soooo... this is who they think are very important?

Really.

"...since she moved to New York from Los Angeles, she has surrounded herself with fashion designers, stylists and editors who have embraced her without concern for her unpredictable behavior...."

That says so much doesn't it. Fashion designers and editors embracing her without any concern for the fact that she is a raving asshole?

Oh... she has money.

Yeah.

Just remember these are the same people who tell us that 'money isn't everything.'

What utter and total morons the elite class are.

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Is your laptop cooking your testicles? - Aww, Dang. Now they tell me.

The researchers hooked thermometers to the scrotums of 29 young men who were balancing a laptop on their knees. They found that even with a lap pad under the computer, the men's scrotums overheated quickly.

via reuters.com

I am so glad they spent a ton of money researching something that ANY ASSHAT WHO EVER HAD A LAPTOP IN THEIR LAP KINDA FRIGGIN KNEW....

Jaysusssss, people!

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According to an "Editor" with 30 Years Experience, Plagiarism is "All Good" on the web.

But honestly Monica, the web is considered "public domain" and you should be happy we just didn't "lift" your whole article and put someone else's name on it! It happens a lot, clearly more than you are aware of, especially on college campuses, and the workplace. If you took offence and are unhappy, I am sorry, but you as a professional should know that the article we used written by you was in very bad need of editing, and is much better now than was originally. Now it will work well for your portfolio. For that reason, I have a bit of a difficult time with your requests for monetary gain, albeit for such a fine (and very wealthy!) institution. We put some time into rewrites, you should compensate me! I never charge young writers for advice or rewriting poorly written pieces, and have many who write for me... ALWAYS for free!"

via nihilistic-kid.livejournal.com

Read the whole thing at http://nihilistic-kid.livejournal.com/1553538.html - then pop on over to send a nice email to the nice lady who thinks that her world is one of lawful theft. There is a link to the magazine where the editor believes that it is OK to steal content. The magazine's name is 'Cooks Source" or Cooks Source.

Be nice with your emails. Be civil.

It isn't nice to attack people with obviously such slight grasp on reality.

And to think, she takes what she wants, lies about the copyright usage, then states that she should be paid for doing it.

Yeah... be very kind. She may actually be ill.

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Across the River from Cincinatti, she thought about making some changes. The sun returned, and change was put on hold.

Across the River from Cincinatti, she thought about making some changes. The sun returned, and change was put on hold., originally uploaded by Don Giannatti (aka wizwow).

Overheard: a photographic quote worth thinking about.

Quote:

"One way of paraphrasing this: If the resolution of your technical ability exceeds that of the resolution of your artistic ability, then you're out of focus and all you'll achieve are trivial pixel collections that no one other than you will care about"

-- Jan Klier, Photographer, Seattle

Well, yeah. That's about it, actually.

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Untitled

Quote:

"One way of paraphrasing this: If the resolution of your technical ability exceeds that of the resolution of your artistic ability, then you're out of focus and all you'll achieve are trivial pixel collections that no one other than you will care about"

-- Jan Klier, Photographer, Seattle

Well, yeah. That's about it, actually.

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