Feb 07

Entertaining Video Highlighting Changes From Pen and Paper to Web 2.0 And Beyond

The nicest thing about the web these days, beyond email spam, file sharing, lovelygirl15, porn, and access to the latest NASDAQ numbers, is obviously the huge transfer of relevant information. I've written a fair bit on the somewhat-controversial (that's another issue...) term coined by Tim O'Reilly, Web 2.0, and what it means to the photography industry. I was happy to have been quoted or tracked back in some great blogs, by some talented journalists: Jay... read more ›
Feb 04

The Black Box of Advertising Photography Meets Business 101

This is not a rant. It's a page out of Business School 101.If you've ever seen/heard one of my speaking engagements, you've probably heard me talk about the Black Box. It's the name I've given to "what the world of advertising photography looks like to a new or aspiring photographer." Something goes it one end of the box (the request, the pitch, the job offer, etc) and something comes out the other end (finished images,... read more ›
Jan 30

Apple and ASMP, Adobe v. Apple?

So what am I, the frickin ASMP sales guy? Naw. Just found another good deal to pass your way: If you're an ASMP member, you can save up to 17% on stuff from Apple. Seems from this and my earlier post that Apple and Adobe are really going head to head on a couple angles: (1)connecting with the pro shooter (all these promos aimed at the pro market), and (2)fighting over marketshare between Aperture and... read more ›
Jan 30

Adobe Lightroom and ASMP

You may have heard the news today: Adobe Lightroom emerges from beta testing and is for sale beginning February 19th. If you're running the beta, it will expire on February 28th. It will be priced near $300 BUT I've just learned from my good friends at ASMP.org that if act now, you can save $100. Purchase Lightroom direct from Adobe here to get the discount.And, if you're a photographer and you're NOT already a member... read more ›
Jan 29

Predicting Weather For Outdoor Location Photography

I just returned from a location shoot in the Cascade Mountains, east of Seattle today. The weather had us guessing at several points during the day, but for the most part it went according to plan. Plan? That's right, as someone who is often hired to shoot outdoors, I've been forced to become quite the weatherman, doing my best to anticipate and plan for Mother Nature's ways. She always plays hard to get, but it... read more ›
Jan 20

David Lynch (And You and Me) On Creativity

I attended a gathering in Seattle this week to hear David Lynch speak about his creative process, filmmaking, and how his creative successes stem--according to him--in large part from his 33-year, twice-a-day commitment to transcendental meditation.Wow.What a trip this talk was! I adore many of Lynch's films: Mulholland Drive, Lost Highway, Blue Velvet, etc. Some classics, for sure. But I must say that I was deeply intrigued by how his meditation gets him to [paraphrase]... read more ›
Jan 16

Graffiti, Street-, and Public-Performance Art: Why It Matters

As as investment, I own a small commercial building not far from our studio in Seattle's historic Greenlake neighborhood. It's a quaint brick building from the 1920's with tons of character and charm and I've intentionally filled it with tenants with creative businesses: architects, 3-D designers, filmmakers, etc. You get the picture.It got vandalized today. Tagged. Basically spray paint for the sake of spray paint on bricks and metalwork. I admit, when my friend Marc... read more ›
Jan 15

Waiting For iPhone? Get Yours Here First.

UPDATE: If you have to wait till June, you might as well download this foldable paper template of the iPhone. It's cool - you can pass some time and you fool your friends too! ...next best thing to the real thing.Download the .pdf template here.(Thanks to iphonecountdown.com for the great fun and to my pals at creativetechs.com for pointing me in the right direction!)
Jan 14

Take 17 Minutes and Watch This

I'm suggesting that you take 17 minutes to watch this historic speech. If you're observing the holiday at home or at the office, turn up the speakers and gather a few family members, friends, or collegues together.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk
Jan 13

Help Me Respond To Crazy Political Crap

So while I was on assignment last week, my Seattle office got a call from some passionate Republican. He left a message about a "business award" I'd won. My office staff, knowing that I vehemently oppose the current administration and thinking this was a joke by one of my clever friends (I have several with whom I engage in such behavior), played along. The caller backed up his message by sending our office a fax... read more ›