It's Not Just an Hour

We can't help but to take time for granted.

Then something happens. 

This week that something was "spring forward" for Daylight Savings. It's a fun little exercise that we engage in each Spring and Fall here in the U.S. In March we set our clocks forward one hour, and when Fall comes, we turn 'em back. 

One hour. 

And yet it creates subtle havoc in my life. I feel like I've lost half of my Sunday, my only day off. And even though I pretend to take it in stride, I find Daylight Savings annoying. Nature will make the days longer on her own. We really don't need to intervene. 

Then I realize that Daylight Savings is also a wake up call.  

I don't like losing an hour in the Spring. But how many do I piss away every month? Time is a gift. And if you're lucky enough to have health too, there really isn't anything you can't do. 

This is the way I make myself view Daylight Savings. It's my semi-annual reminder about the value of time. 

It's also a good time to relearn how to set the microwave clock.

-Derrick

Ah, the Internet

A chunk of the photography world was all a flutter this week over reports of light leaks in the new Sony a7 and a7r mirrorless cameras.

As it turns out, it seems to be much ado about nothing. And if you do need to make a 30-second exposure at ISO 25,600, you can solve the problem by stretching a hair band around the lens flange. Oh, and by the way, if you subject flagship Nikons and Cannons to high beam flashlights at the same settings, you get light leaks there too. 

What the Internet makes up for in speed, it lacks in perspective. 

Clicks are the name of the game. And if you've got a scoop, run with it. You can always apologize later if you got a few details wrong. Maybe.

With my social media clients, I often use the terms "organic" vs "paid" clicks. If you have an organic audience, they usually frequent the site regularly, participate in the conversation, and will support the site's efforts financially.  

Paid clicks, through blanket advertising of engaging in link bait posts, fly in, then step out. Their footprints may remain, such as a hollow Facebook Likes, but they're not really there.

We all love to report great numbers to clients and advertisers. But those numbers should really represent people, not ghosts.

So this brings me back to light leaks and the Sony camera. Much of what we read on the Web is published in the pursuit of numbers. And the collateral damage may be people and brands.  

[Pause and gaze upward for a moment of contemplation.] This reminds me of what my high school woodshop teach used to preach. 

Measure twice and cut once. 

-Derrick

The Selfie Seen Round the World

Like many of our own best photos, Ellen DeGeneres had an idea of what she wanted to accomplish before the lights went up on the 2014 Oscars event. 

During a rehearsal, Ellen commented, "I think if I just say I'm trying to break the record of most retweeted picture, I really hope that everyone jumps in this picture," she said. "I keep thinking, I mean, that would be amazing if everyone really gets in." (source ABC News)

Ellen did a great job of putting the ball in play on live television. She didn't know exactly how many people would jump in, how the photo would turn out, or even that Bradley Cooper would take the Samsung camera from Ellen's hands and possibly become the technical copyright owner of the image.

Ellen's approach to the selfie seen round the world is a good one for our own events. Brainstorm the possibilities beforehand, get your tools together and know how to work them, put the ball in play, then let it unfold naturally.

Over 3 million people have shared that famous Oscar night image. It's a great shot.

If you didn't see it unfold live, or haven't seen a video of the famous selfie yet, I think it's worth watching.

Because in addition to everything else she did well that night, Ellen DeGeneres also provided a noteworthy tutorial for event photographers.

-Derrick

The Evolving Podcast

One of the topics during lunch Saturday with the workshop crew centered around how I assemble the TDS podcast.

If you're a regular listener, you know it's changed dramatically over the years. In the early days, I would settle upon a topic, then yammer into a mic for 30 minutes or so. In those times, podcasts were more casual. It was our version of the "early days."

As the NPR broadcasts (and those like it) grew in popularity, the medium evolved. The episodes had real structure, sponsors, and talent. Yammering was out. Segments were in.

The TDS show today has seven distinct parts: the billboard, personal introduction, Weekly Update, feature story, Screening Room, Nimbleosity Report, and Virtual Camera Club News. That's a far cry from my cobbled-together monologues.

I write the show before I record. That serves as a loose script for the discussion and is also published as the Show Notes on The Digital Story.

Originally, I spent 15-30 minutes working on the notes. Yesterday (Mondays are recording days for the show), I invested a bit over 3 hours for research and writing. Added another hour for recording, then 90 minutes for editing out any ridiculous gaffes -- there goes the first day of the work week. And that's before production and posting.

In truth, I like the current episodes much better than the original shows. I've evolved along with the medium. And I think the future is bright for podcasting.

We've come a long ways from jamming a microphone into an iPod and hitting record. I love listening to podcasts by others these days.

I like creating mine even more.

-Derrick

After It's Over

I have my first day off in two weeks.

Last night we wrapped up the Fine Art Workshop at my studio in Santa Rosa. It's been a consuming and rewarding few days.

As you can imagine, it's a lot of work conceiving, organizing, and leading a workshop. Even though I start planning months ahead of time, the few days leading up to the event are always the busiest. 

One of the big questions for the Fine Art event was weather. I had outdoor shoots planned on both Friday and Saturday. The forecast was rain for both days. Fortunately the precipitation was light for Friday, and we dodged it all together on Saturday.

I'm really happy about that because the group shot wonderfully both days. And I can't imagine  those beautiful images not being created.

Once the last participant left on Saturday night, it was just me and the cat at the studio. It seemed so quiet. I was spent. In part because workshops are demanding, but also because I was coming off a week long live-action filming with the crew at lynda.com right before the workshop.

After it's finally over, the adrenaline dissipates. I'll clean up the studio tomorrow. I have enough energy to drive home, have some dinner, and get some sleep.

It's not the easiest way to make a living. But I love it.

-Derrick