Visual Journalism – Page 166 – Notes from aside the camera

August 19, 2011

An Awesome Foundation

That’s not hyperbole, that’s actually the name: The Awesome Foundation. According to an Idea Lab article, the foundation started when Tim Hwang asked 10 friends to put aside $100 a month to be used for microgrants given to awesome projects. This isn’t a venture capital firm, according to their web site there are no strings attach. Just, you know, go...

Business & Industry/Competitions

August 19, 2011

So Sorry, Didn’t Mean to Steal Your Image …

… though, we did. The tale of Alice Taylor and the theft of her work by Britain’s Daily Mail is a classic example of the problems photographers around the world now face. She posted a photo to her site, it was picked up – with permission – from a few others. When contacted by the Daily Mail, she asked for...

Business & Industry/Ethics & Legal

August 18, 2011

How Do You Succeed? Don’t Suck

We’re on a business tear today, not sure why … Scott Bourne over at GoingPro talks about his recent relocation and the vendors he had to deal with. It didn’t go well. His conclusion? I came away with the distinct impression that it’s not the economy – it’s that we suck! Customer service is everything, no matter what you do.

Business & Industry

August 18, 2011

Making Clients Happy

Seth Godin says you need one of three things: results, thrills or a stroke of their ego. Do they fit in with being a freelancer? Yep. Do your photos always work? Are you consistent, reliable and helping them out? You’ve got the first one. Do you share your experiences? Do you go way beyond what they expected? That’s the second....

Business & Industry

August 18, 2011

Multimedia Bootcamps at the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute

FYI … Freedom Forum New Media Training at the Diversity Institute will offer two hands-on Multimedia Boot Camps this fall: Multimedia Boot Camp for Journalism Professionals and Educators November 16-20, and Advanced Multimedia Boot Camp October 12 – 16, 2011, for more experienced practitioners. Both Boot Camps use practical, hands-on study and practice to make you a more effective journalist...

Advice & Learning

August 18, 2011

Inside a Deal

This … is kind of awesome. Bill Cramer has a great post up over at A Photo Editor that details the pricing and strategies for a good-sized commercial shoot. Worth spending some time on and reflecting how you’re setting up your billing. Also has an interesting ethical twist in there.

Business & Industry/Ethics & Legal

August 17, 2011

Being Prepared for the Salt Flats

So, your editor says, go our west to the Bonneville Salt Flats for SpeedWeek, when a bunch of nutcases try to go as fast as they can in a big, dried up ocean bed. How hard could this be? Jim Urguhart from Reuters found out. With temperatures well over 100 degrees and no shade anywhere, it’s easy to cook yourself...

At Work/Photojournalism/Tech Talk

August 17, 2011

Students: One for Your RSS Feeds

Because I know, by now, you have set up an RSS reader, right? Add this one in: The Visual Student is the National Press Photographers Association’s blog for students and, with a new Student Chair, I think it’s going to be getting busier.

Advice & Learning/At Work/Business & Industry/Photojournalism/Tech Talk

August 16, 2011

Arcane, But Important, Legal Decision

This is something you probably think is pointless to talk about here, but it’s not. A Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge has reversed a decision over who has jurisdiction in a copyright case. Why does this case matter? It sets a precedent on where you may need to file a copyright case. If, for instance, Publication A was in...

Ethics & Legal

August 15, 2011

Detaining Photographers Within Long Beach Police Department Policy

Something to be aware of if you’re in Long Beach, California: according to Police Chief Jim McDonnell, his officers are allowed to detain you if they feel you are taking pictures “with no apparent esthetic value.”

Ethics & Legal/Journalism