You know how Ricers (those kids who put giant spoilers on their moms' Honda Civics) like to pretend to know what they're talking about when in fact they either have no clue or are just spitting out something they read on an internet forum? Well I hate to say this, but a lot of noob photographers are that way about photography and their equipment.
What's worse is that these noobs like to give advice to other noobs who like to give advice to other noobs, so they end up circulating a bunch of bad information among each other. Oftentimes their info originate from suggestions meant for a different type of photography (eg: giving advice for nature photography to someone doing portraits) and marketing materials (eg: "This digital diffuser invented by Harry Wang creates studio lighting!").
There's a simple way to avoid bad info. Look at the guy's portfolio! If someone is giving you advice for portraiture but he has no portfolio of portraits, he's a moron. If you take that advice and pass it on to someone else, you're a moron too. Please, don't become a moron among morons. Stop the trend! In fact, don't become a photographer.
Have you noticed that I don't give shooting advice in this photography blog? ;)
January 23, 2007
January 9, 2007
Nightclub directories suck
I got an offer from a lady from a certain club directory website to submit my photos from a recent event. Actually it wasn't an offer at all, since she wasn't offering anything. My response was, "Tell me more." What I meant was, "I'm giving you one more chance to tell me why this is not a waste of my time!"
Her response was that they want the files zipped and uploaded within 24 hours of the event. I suppose she meant she wants photos for future events too, since it's been 60 hours, 37 minute and 29 seconds since that particular event. OH OH OH! She did point out that she can mention me as the photographer for that event in its tiny ass description!
Look, nightclub directories are useless, except for the people who run the websites. First of all, I don't know anyone finds the next party by going to a directory. People go to their friends to find a party, because everybody knows somebody who knows a club promoter or a promoter for a club promoter. I take it back. Lonely middle age men hoping to accidentally hook up with a young blond might use directories.
Secondly, these directories don't benefit promoters. They make money from advertising, so they only benefit those who advertise on their websites. (At least those who buy ad space hope to benefit.) All those events not being advertised just end up as another event in a long list of events, which lonely middle age men randomly choose from.
Finally, they don't benefit photographers. Those directories generally claim to offer professional (haha) photography services. Suppose your photos are posted in the website and a promoter looking for a photographer stumbles upon them. The promoter isn't going to come to you to shoot his next event. He'll contact the directory, and the directory will choose a photographer who will shoot as a photographer for that directory and receive the least amount of pay.
I told her no thanks. What I meant was, "ROFLMAO!!!"
Her response was that they want the files zipped and uploaded within 24 hours of the event. I suppose she meant she wants photos for future events too, since it's been 60 hours, 37 minute and 29 seconds since that particular event. OH OH OH! She did point out that she can mention me as the photographer for that event in its tiny ass description!
Look, nightclub directories are useless, except for the people who run the websites. First of all, I don't know anyone finds the next party by going to a directory. People go to their friends to find a party, because everybody knows somebody who knows a club promoter or a promoter for a club promoter. I take it back. Lonely middle age men hoping to accidentally hook up with a young blond might use directories.
Secondly, these directories don't benefit promoters. They make money from advertising, so they only benefit those who advertise on their websites. (At least those who buy ad space hope to benefit.) All those events not being advertised just end up as another event in a long list of events, which lonely middle age men randomly choose from.
Finally, they don't benefit photographers. Those directories generally claim to offer professional (haha) photography services. Suppose your photos are posted in the website and a promoter looking for a photographer stumbles upon them. The promoter isn't going to come to you to shoot his next event. He'll contact the directory, and the directory will choose a photographer who will shoot as a photographer for that directory and receive the least amount of pay.
I told her no thanks. What I meant was, "ROFLMAO!!!"
January 6, 2007
Nikon pwns Canon
Here's a guide to choosing the right brands for all your digital photographic needs.
SLR
Nikon. Canon bodies use that stupid wheel in the back instead of arrows, and photos take forever to show up on the display. Other brands don't even matter. Well, maybe Fujifilm. ... Nah.
Point-and-shoot
Canon. Solid construction and reliable. I've had three Canon PowerShots and they've all been great. Plus I'm not sure who else still makes good cameras that use AA batteries. Being able to use AA batteries is great for traveling.
Flash memory
SanDisk or Transcend. Actually it doesn't really matter which brand or what speed you choose, since your camera should have an image buffer. It matters if you're continuously shooting RAW in continuous mode continuously, but who the hell does that?
Photo printer and paper
Epson. Not sure what to say about Espon. They make printers. It's their specialty, and they're the best at it. And their semigloss ColorLife Photo Papers are nice.
Cola
Coke. Drink Pepsi if you want to be Britney Spears. Drink Coke if you want to be a real man, like Santa Claus and polar bears. If you're a girl, drinking Coke turns you into a sexy warrior woman.
Bag
Tamrac. Their Adventure Series Backbacks are awesome. I have the Adventure 7. It's not even a big backpack but I can fit so much in there and still have room to spare in the top compartment.
Computer
Apple Mac. Use Windows if you want your computer to be unstable due to viruses, or anti-virus software which think everything is a virus. Otherwise get a Mac and save yourself some headache. Don't use an Apple mouse though. Even Apple's Mighty Mouse is awful.
I'll expand this list when I feel like it.
SLR
Nikon. Canon bodies use that stupid wheel in the back instead of arrows, and photos take forever to show up on the display. Other brands don't even matter. Well, maybe Fujifilm. ... Nah.
Point-and-shoot
Canon. Solid construction and reliable. I've had three Canon PowerShots and they've all been great. Plus I'm not sure who else still makes good cameras that use AA batteries. Being able to use AA batteries is great for traveling.
Flash memory
SanDisk or Transcend. Actually it doesn't really matter which brand or what speed you choose, since your camera should have an image buffer. It matters if you're continuously shooting RAW in continuous mode continuously, but who the hell does that?
Photo printer and paper
Epson. Not sure what to say about Espon. They make printers. It's their specialty, and they're the best at it. And their semigloss ColorLife Photo Papers are nice.
Cola
Coke. Drink Pepsi if you want to be Britney Spears. Drink Coke if you want to be a real man, like Santa Claus and polar bears. If you're a girl, drinking Coke turns you into a sexy warrior woman.
Bag
Tamrac. Their Adventure Series Backbacks are awesome. I have the Adventure 7. It's not even a big backpack but I can fit so much in there and still have room to spare in the top compartment.
Computer
Apple Mac. Use Windows if you want your computer to be unstable due to viruses, or anti-virus software which think everything is a virus. Otherwise get a Mac and save yourself some headache. Don't use an Apple mouse though. Even Apple's Mighty Mouse is awful.
I'll expand this list when I feel like it.
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