be the ball
In this latest album of photos, I was asked to shoot images of golfers. Having seen numerous golf shots of the same, boring image of foursomes lined up shoulder to shoulder (like fence posts), I decided to photograph the golfers from an entirely different angle and perspective. I decided to be the ball.
What do you think?
Convergence (n) – the point at which objects meet.
On May 15, 2011, my hometown of Sacramento became the convergence point, and I could only be at one place at one time.
So, I shot photos at the Amgen Tour of California as it blew into my hometown.
Wrapping itself around the state capitol for its final leg of this “opening” stage, the race finished just blocks away from where I also wanted to be, the Sacramento Community Center.
For it was at that precise time and place that my other true passion was converging.
The technical communicators’ annual conference!
My best photos. http://on.fb.me/mdbjvl
Not able to attend SXSW (the South by SouthWest conference), I have to live vicariously through the tweets, blog posts, slideshares, and other conference notes from attendees who happen to be among my social media contacts.
So, this set of hand-drawn notes by ad agency Ogilvy appeals to me on several angles.
First, it’s visual. Colorful. Image-based, more than text-based content.
Second, it’s good for business. Clever that this agency differentiated itself from others, the illustrations open potential business opportunities for Ogilvy, simply because presenters and followers who request a free 11×17″ print might linger, browse, and perhaps do business with Ogilvy.
Third, it’s cleverly different. Unlike the presentations posted on other sites, notes posted on blogs, and photos and tweets, this visualization of the content got my attention.
Prepare to be visually fascinated!
See http://ogilvynotes.com/
I updated my Twitter Mozaic, which I first blogged about in July 2009:
Quick. What’s the one technology you can’t live without? Not a day goes by without you using it.
Is it your laptop or desktop computer? HD TV? cell phone? digital camera? GPS device? satellite radio? hand-held game? eBook reader? personal health monitor? universal language translator? transporter? (Oh-ooops, not supposed to tell anyone about that one yet.)
I can honestly answer, all of the above. Well, just one device has all of the above. It’s my mobile phone, as known as a cellular phone. It’s also the one device that does all of the above.
My phone is more than just a phone, with its directory of all my friends and family. It’s my business contact manager. It’s my universal communicator with its text, voice, and file attachment capabilities. And, it’s my instant link to my social networks (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, tumblr).
my iPhone icons
My phone is my satellite radio, thanks to Pandora radio, iTunes, and other online music sources.
My phone is also my eBook reader, storing podcasts, eBooks and Web pages to read later.
My phone is also my backup digital camera. On the very rare occasion that I’m not packing my DSLR with lenses and speedlite in its slingbag, I’m still able to capture that visual moment, that image, that memory.
My phone is also my GPS, with maps, satellite view or street view, address finder, and driving directions. (“Honey, I don’t need to stop for directions. Trust me.”)
My phone is also my personal health monitor, thanks to apps like LoseIt, which store my food and exercise log and show me if I’m practicing good daily wellness habits that will lead to my goals. (I voluntarily show my results to my personal fitness trainer, who has helped me change a few bad eating habits.)
My phone is also my hand-held gaming device, thanks to iTunes’ app store and its access to downloadable games. “Words with Friends,” anyone?
My phone is also my universal translator, thanks to Word Lens. Spanish to English and back again.
My phone is also my transporter device. Scotty. Energize.
I want to blog more.
But instead of just thinking about it and saying it, I’m going to do it.
I will post to my blog at least once a week for all of 2011.
Now, I know why my blogging has tailed off in the past few years. When I first began blogging in 2004, there were fewer challengers to my time. But in the last few years, I’ve added social networking through Facebook, business networking through LinkedIn, microblogging through Twitter, and photoblogging through Tumblr.
I’ve graduated from a simple cellphone to an iPhone with all its distractions.
So, my blogging here dropped off.
This year, I’m taking the WordPress challenge. I’m making use of WordPress’ The Daily Post 
to help me along the way.
If I need help, I get to ask for it. If I can help someone else, I promise to volunteer.
I hope you encourage me with comments and likes.
Here’s to a new 2011.
As designers add tactile touchscreen interfaces to devices, some debate the ease of use.
Some users suffer from limited tactile sense control. Others struggle with the smaller size of the visual keys. Still others need the audible and tactile feedback from hardware keys.
Would these hacks solve those user interface problems?
Discovered at socialjunjun.typepad.com/.
Schwarzenfeld Photography guest-posted a great entry at Digital Photography School’s site on tips for shooting conferences.
Tips include knowing the agenda, changing your point of view, and taking the must-have shots.
I happen to agree with many of the points, and engaged in some conversation regarding the topic.
Read the entry at DPS.
When a team asks me to join in a brainstorming session, and the first thing I see is someone with a notepad trying to capture all their thoughts, I always find a way to have them change to sticky notes and a large wall space. Why?
Continue reading
How are your team meetings?
If your team meetings need a kick in the seat of the pants, try something radical, like a structured team huddle. Watch the video of a team huddle and find the six key parts of the huddle.
“You’re acting like a nerd again.”
I’ve heard that once or twice. This week.
It reminded me that I’ve been called a nerd, a geek, and a dork at various moments in my life.
I’ll assume that many of you are not as accustomed to being called one of those terms as I am. Or perhaps you wondered which of them you should call me at a given moment.
I’ve got the quintessential answer to your question:
“What’s the difference between a geek, a nerd, and a dork?”
This comparison table should help define, describe, and differentiate the three terms.
Not another list of 10! This one from “Chip’s Blog,” of MacGregor Literary, captures errors that drive an editor crazy.
My favorite is list item number five.
Worthy of more than a quick retweet, this entry found its way to me on Twitter, thanks to Susannah W Freeman, WriteitSideways.
