Friday, April 30, 2010

Cacti and clouding

Clouds over the roofline

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My Daughter's Resume shots

Michaila is heading for a gig with a major skating ensemble (professional ice skating) and they needed a resume portrait.

So we headed off to the studio to make these quick shots. Yes, having a cyc really helps in making the shots quickly.

We had fun, and the resume has been sent.

(for those wanting to know lighting info... heh : two ProFoto 600WS compacts on minimal power into a 60" main umbrella and a 42" backlight umbrella.

-- don

Don Giannatti:
Designer / Photographer / Writer
www.dongiannatti.com / www.lighting-essentials.com / www.learntolight.com / 602 434 1765
Y! messenger: dgiannatti Skype: wizwow AIM: wizwow Google Talk: don.giannatti


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Thoughts on Flash and Its Future

Steve Jobs (Apple) released a little article entitled "Thoughts on Flash". As you can imagine, it has raised quite a stir among the web developers out there. You can read it here: http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/

It sparked these thoughts from me on Flash as a platform for photographer's sites.

I think flash will continue for quite awhile. I am NOT a fan of it for a website platform, but it has definite uses in app design, and interactive situations where it is best used.

The point is that the web is NOT TV, nor is it a moving brochure, or a bouncing logo... it is information delivered in a rich form, and collaborative across platforms.

I want my stuff to be seen by everyone. I want it to be delivered with ease to each and every potential client. I want it be be bookmarked and shared for potential clients,while maintaining the control over usage that I can. (Tineye will be better and better and spark competitors, so within a few years, my jpg.png will be tracable, while a screengrab of a flash page may not be. But that could change as well.)

The iPad, like the Kindl, has sparked a new delivery method that will continue to grow. And grow. And while Apple may not ever own the total market, the penetration is most definitely going to be felt.

I think there is a very important part of Job's post - #6 that has even more far reaching implications. Developers of platforms do not want to be held hostage by developers of software. Flash is proprietary, so they can begin to create things that may FORCE the platforms to comply, and that may not be tenable in the way things are moving.

I am not anti-flash. I love it for what it can do, and there are times when it matters not if it cannot be rendered in an iPod Touch somewhere.

But - for photgraphers... wow. I cannot imagine why a photographer chooses flash. I have never understood it, and still don't get it. I understand the images look better - I get that.

But in today's market, reaching the most people and pull marketing and social marketing are so far away from what Flash delivers... sorry, I still don't get why Flash gets chosen.

I have heard its cool. Yep. I have heard it is easy to do with the backend support (XML). Yep. And there's all the designers who do all them cool things with bouncing this and fading that and sliding whatchamacallits. Yep. Got that. I do.

But that is designing for yourself, not for the client. It is all cool and such till a client tries to share an image with their client and has to refer them to 'go to the home page and click on the little box and when it expands chase down the 'portfolio' button and click on it... after all the nav buttons slide in, click 'auto' and count 11 in from the first image... that's the one we are talking about..."

Yeah... that's sooooo coool.

There is very little a good developer cannot do with CSS/JQuery or MooTools that Flash can do. And it is far easier to work with.

Flash developers may get all hot and angry and such, but I really rarely ever meet a Flash developer that gets the paradigm of usability/content delivery/pull marketing that the web, at least I believe, is all about.

Notice that EBay, Amazon, Flickr, FaceBook, MySpace, CL, and other totally huge sites use flash... or, well, DON"T use flash.

Wonder what they know that photographers simply don't want to hear?

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Thursday, April 29, 2010

Remember a Time When Cops Were Kinda Heros...

You know, before they became lackeys and thugs.
Oops! Quincy PD Releases Bogus Statement; Lashes Out at Protesting Granmas… Forgets About Army of Videographers

Oops! The Quincy Police Department released a bogus statement calling the SWAT Team on the the protesting grandmothers yesterday. Unfortunately, they forgot about the army of videographers that filmed this incident.
Yeah, they got a lot of video.

So... really, what happened here. Cops are supposed to be smart. But... well, I think I would investigate every case these idiots ever investigated.

My middle daughter in the doorway at the studio

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Michaila in the studio doorway

Michaila at the studio

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Choose Your Own Creative Adventure | Chase Jarvis Blog

A small list of gems.
Choose Your Own Creative Adventure | Chase Jarvis Blog


"How many pictures will you let pass you by if you wait till you get a better camera, better lights, or better vision"

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Brown in hot water day before Birmingham

Come on Rubes... this is EXACTLY what they think of the common person. I know too many 'for the little guys" who simply aren't. In no way are they interested in common people, the salt of the earth people. They make fun of them and deride them behind closed doors. Been there. Done that. Sorry to say.

Now they want us all to think they are for us while in fact they are only FOR power.

In America they refer to it as 'fly over country."

But... well, Gordon will soon find that many 'flyovercommoners' have complete control of their senses come election day.

See ya, gordo... heh.
Ben Clatworthy's Blog » Brown in hot water day before Birmingham

"The incident occurred as Gordon got into his car forgetting to take off his Sky News lapel microphone. As his car drove off his words were recorded live."

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The Future of Photography – Find out What’s Coming « Art/Work – Creativity from the Cube

If you are near KC, you should go. Clint is pretty cool.
The Future of Photography – Find out What’s Coming « Art/Work – Creativity from the Cube

Digital Labrador and ASMP-KC are happy to welcome Canon Explorer of Light Clint Clemens to Kansas City on Thursday, April 29th. Clint will lecture and present some large prints of his work in an exhibition at Digital Labrador. In his lecture, learn what Clint sees coming in photography’s future. He’ll also talk about how to retain a competitive advantage and how to succeed in the future of photography. This is a talk for anyone in the business of photography or considering pursuing a career in this highly-competitive field. You’ll be inspired by Clint’s fantastic work and his outlook for the future.

Hi Linda. I agree, stay home.

We in Arizona are trying very hard to elevate our intelligence level. You, maam, are too ignorant to actually be able to read.

So you demonize, and call people who are simply asking for the laws to be followed, nazis and racists.

And, hey, that's OK. It is the first place someone with no depth, no evaluative reasoning skills, and is, in fact, a place that most racist, homophobic, fascist styled useful idiots go.

The law does NOT make it illegal to be brown. Or Hispanic. Or immigration.

It has to do with being here legally, being an honored member of our fantastic, wildly diverse, nation.

Legally.

I am interested to know which other countries you have visited that would not require you to show papers - as you are NOT a resident/citizen there? Any? Germany (gotta get that Nazi thing in there for ya, Linda)? Russia? China? Mexico? None?

We do NOT require people who are citizens to carry any kind of papers. We do ask for those who are legally here to carry green cards, passports, and other identification. It is the law.

But anarchy fits when it works toward the ethics challenged left.

So, please. Do stay home in NY and have yourself a great day.
Breathing While Undocumented - Opinionator Blog - NYTimes.com

"So what to do in the meantime? Here’s a modest proposal. Everyone remembers the wartime Danish king who drove through Copenhagen wearing a Star of David in support of his Jewish subjects. It’s an apocryphal story, actually, but an inspiring one. Let the good people of Arizona — and anyone passing through — walk the streets of Tucson and Phoenix wearing buttons that say: I Could Be Illegal"
What a POS this broad is to try to paint me as a racist. Dare her to say it to my face.

I truly fucking do.

Selina on Inspiration

I love this!!! Look at the different definitions of inspiration. They speak to mind, body and soul!!!

How important is inspiration in your life?  What are you inspired by?  How do you cultivate inspirational moments?

This is a great little list. Join in the discussion!

Posted via web from Going Pro NOW Seminars

Selina on Inspiration

I love this!!! Look at the different definitions of inspiration. They speak to mind, body and soul!!!

How important is inspiration in your life?  What are you inspired by?  How do you cultivate inspirational moments?

This is a great little list. Join in the discussion!

Posted via web from Going Pro NOW Seminars

Lighting Essentials - a Place for Photographers. Learn Lighting, Photography, Fashion and Editorial Portraiture on Location and In Studio. Portable Strobes, Studio Flash and Natural Light Photography

1. Identify your ‘Fans’ and create ‘Evangelists’.
Do you have anyone who is a super fan, those who love your work? Make a list of them. And then figure out how you can make them true evangelists for your photography. How can we turn fans into ‘raving fans’? Find out what they like about your work. Note what you can do to make more raving fans instead of ex-clients. It is so much easier to keep a client than to get a new one.

2. Take 5 of your images and do a critique of them.
Do it online if you want to be really brave. And remember that a critique is not simply what is wrong, it is also what is right. Do a thorough investigation of each of the images. What makes them work? What are their flaws? What could you have done to make it better if you had to do it again. Don’t do this in your head… write it down. In the process of writing or typing it becomes more important in your mind.

Posted via web from Going Pro NOW Seminars

Lighting Essentials - a Place for Photographers. Learn Lighting, Photography, Fashion and Editorial Portraiture on Location and In Studio. Portable Strobes, Studio Flash and Natural Light Photography

1. Identify your ‘Fans’ and create ‘Evangelists’.
Do you have anyone who is a super fan, those who love your work? Make a list of them. And then figure out how you can make them true evangelists for your photography. How can we turn fans into ‘raving fans’? Find out what they like about your work. Note what you can do to make more raving fans instead of ex-clients. It is so much easier to keep a client than to get a new one.

2. Take 5 of your images and do a critique of them.
Do it online if you want to be really brave. And remember that a critique is not simply what is wrong, it is also what is right. Do a thorough investigation of each of the images. What makes them work? What are their flaws? What could you have done to make it better if you had to do it again. Don’t do this in your head… write it down. In the process of writing or typing it becomes more important in your mind.

Posted via web from Going Pro NOW Seminars

Leaving Omaha

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Portrait, Omaha

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Abandoned Building, Omaha

Empty building, Missouri Valley, Iowa

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Homade Cherry Pie, Missouri Valley, Iowa

Chris: Missuori Valley, Iowa

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Don’t talk to aliens, warns Stephen Hawking - Times Online

Ummm... OK.
Don’t talk to aliens, warns Stephen Hawking - Times Online:

"He concludes that trying to make contact with alien races is “a little too risky”. He said: “If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans.”"

Friday, April 23, 2010

For fun

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From the window seat

The Good, Bad And Ugly Of The Web Design Industry

Oh so true, so true...
The Good, Bad And Ugly Of The Web Design Industry | PV.M Garage:

"Auto-starting music – This is so 1990. If you have a client who requests auto-starting music (or even worse, the music that plays without a stop button) please step away slowly and never return :)"

Al Gore and Company Go To Court to Allow Themselves to Steal Work of Others - and WIN

Well, there ya go. Not only is the guy a creepy fear mongering fool, he advocates and actually becomes a thief of the IP of others. Real IP, not made up tripe about Polar Bears. I guess that 'man of the people' shit becomes tiresome when it actually, you know, costs money.
The Brave Online World of Linking, Borrowing and Attributing (or Not) - Bay Area Blog - NYTimes.com:

"Current TV did not deny that it used the photography of Ken R. Light on its Web site without his consent. They argued that by the rules currently governing the Internet, they could do what they wanted. A San Francisco judge agreed, overturning the small-claims-court judgment Mr. Light had won, which had received some local media attention.

I can’t claim to be dispassionate about this issue. Call me old fashioned, but I still believe that professionals should be paid for their labor, including writers, musicians and artists. The Napster-era view that when creative work becomes digital, it can suddenly be copied and distributed for free is all too often just an excuse for theft."

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Boardwalk, Florida

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Wall, Florida

Lamp

Tree, Florida

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BREAKING: Health Care Reform Makes it Harder to Balance the Budget - Surprise, surprise

This certainly has to be a very late April Fools Prank, right? I mean, really? They promised, man... they promised. Of course, they are fucking liars like no other... but, still.
BREAKING: Health Care Reform Makes it Harder to Balance the Budget - Business - The Atlantic

Who could possibly have predicted this shocking and totally unexpected turn of events?
America, elections have consequences. We have the most inept, corrupt, stupid and downright ignorant group of so-called leaders ever assembled in one place.

Ever.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Giving away a magician's secrets

Wonder if Seth has been reading the photographer's blogs and forums out there? Hmm... no matter, he nails it - and nails it good.
Seth's Blog: Giving away a magician's secrets

"I guess it comes down to this: if you're having trouble persuading people to buy what you sell, perhaps you should sell something else. Failing that, perhaps you could talk about what you sell in a different way."

MSNBC Pulls the Plug on Donny Deutsch’s Weeklong Anchoring Stint - Olby the Prick Shows True Colors!

Well - apparently he is as bad in bed as he is in taking criticism too. What a fool. Bwahahahaha.... Keep tearin' yourselves to shreds, dopes.
MSNBC Pulls the Plug on Donny Deutsch’s Weeklong Anchoring Stint - Media Decoder Blog - NYTimes.com

"In a reply to an e-mail message from The New York Times, Mr. Olbermann said: “Your account is entirely untrue. Your e-mail is the first I am hearing of any of this. What I know of what happened is this: Phil Griffin phoned me yesterday enraged at what was on that show and I didn’t disagree with him.” Mr. Griffin is the president of MSNBC.

MSNBC seemed to confirm that the segment about the media’s role in instigating anger was troubling. “The segment did not go unnoticed and we’re dealing with it internally,” said Jeremy Gaines, an MSNBC spokesman."

Everglades

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Gaurdian, West Palm Beach

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Coming home

Hole in the wall deep below the surface

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Stairs

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Alexandra

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Women to blame for earthquakes, says Iran cleric: Also declares Moon made of Cheese, and elephants are aliens out to get him!

We used to just refer to people this stupid as, well, stupid. Now they get 'respected' and get to meet with world leaders. Who knew that monstrously stupid could be so 'chic' right now.
Women to blame for earthquakes, says Iran cleric | World news | guardian.co.uk

"Many women who do not dress modestly ... lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which increases earthquakes," Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi was quoted as saying by Iranian media. Women in the Islamic Republic are required by law to cover from head to toe, but many, especially the young, ignore some of the more strict codes and wear tight coats and scarves pulled back that show much of the hair. "What can we do to avoid being buried under the rubble?" Sedighi asked during a prayer sermon last week. "There is no other solution but to take refuge in religion and to adapt our lives to Islam's moral codes." Seismologists have warned for at least two decades that it is likely the sprawling capital will be struck by a catastrophic quake in the near future. Some experts have even suggested Iran should move its capital to a less seismically active location. Tehran straddles scores of fault lines, including one more than 50 miles long, though it has not suffered a major quake since 1830."

Remember when Reporters were all like, seekers of, like, truth and justice? Do ya?

Now... not so much. What could have turned them into such simpering, whining, blatant puppets with nothing terribly interesting to say? Well... maybe they only do that when R's are in the WH? Yeah, that would 'splain it pretty well.
Reporters Not Doing So Well with That “Press=Flaming Sword” Thing « Grand Rants

“The power and the freedom of the press is a flaming sword. That it may be a faithful servant to all the people, use it justly… hold it high… guard it well.”

Lafayette Park, located directly across from the Whte House, was closed yesterday, so that half a dozen servicemen could handcuff themselves to the White House fence in peace and privace, unmolested by our valiant servants of the press. The protesters were objecting to the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Just ask yourself if this would be such a small story if Bush had closed a park to the revered 'Press'? And be honest to yourself.

Hope and change workin' put pretty well for the press... heh.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Fire 'em all, Governor

Every fat illiterate asswiping piece of shit that posts this vile, genocidal, hate speech. Or is it OK when it comes from one side, just not the other. Stupid pond scum. This moment of hate brought to our children by people who should know better... (but. let the apologists for hatemongers begin... go ahead... tell me how they are so frustrated. Bullshit.)

Fire Them. Fire them all.
The Associated Press: In NJ school cut debate, insults overshadow issue
"In Facebook messages visible to the world — not to mention their students — the teachers have called Christie fat, compared him to a genocidal dictator and wished he was dead. The postings are often riddled with bad grammar and misspellings.

"Never trust a fat f...," read one profane post on the Facebook page, "New Jersey Teachers United Against Governor Chris Christie's Pay Freeze," which has some 69,000 fans, many of them teachers.

"How do you spell A-- hole? C-H-R-I-S C-H-R-I-S-T-I-E," read another.

The rhetoric has become ever more heated as residents of most of the state's school districts get ready to vote Tuesday on property tax levies that support district budgets. And while many of the postings are emotional, most aren't personal attacks.

Christie, a first-year Republican governor who inherited a state in dire financial straits, wants voters to reject the proposals in districts where educators won't agree to salary freezes for the coming school year.

The acrimony intensified last month when Christie proposed cutting state and federal aid to districts by 11 percent, calling it a way to share sacrifice as the state tries to rein in spending.

That's when the Facebook attacks really took off."


Harry Crowder: 17 and Bringin' It.


, originally uploaded by Harry Crowder.

So much wonderful talent out there. I like his summation here. How many have that burn going? I don't know, but it really is a necessary component... oh, and you should be able to kick some photoass like young Harry here.

"I have a real passion for fashion photography and I dont have a single doubt in my mind that it wont be my occupation in years to come.

Going to do whatever it takes."