Or, maybe some of you are just thinking of rolling into town for the Trade Show, (and a little late-night partying?  Or some themed photo shoots?) …then check this out:  You can go to the trade show for FREE!  Just use the code:  WPPIEXF when you register at www.wppionline.com.  No limit, no strings attached, just attend the trade show for free!

(Note:  I cannot be responsible for any money you might spend INSIDE the trade show, what with the Canon 1DX and the Nikon D4 being around!)

BTW, if you’re *NOT* going to WPPI this year, never fear!  SLR Lounge will have an extensive, full report to give once the educating (and partying?) subsides.  Check back for more coming soon!

Take care,
=Matt=

We had a blast yesterday teaching at the Los Angeles SMUG (Smug Mug User Group). Thanks again to Chris Schmitt for inviting us out. We had so much information to talk about that we were modifying our presentation down to the wire. Which did actually result in a few unfortunate deleted slides and awkward moments which those that were there witnessed ;) But, all in all it was awesome.

Apparently there were quite a few that couldn’t make it since we had nearly 140 RSVPs and only half in attendance, tisk tisk tisk. What happened to all you slackers? Was it the horrid Los Angeles traffic? Cause we enjoyed a good 2 hours of that on the way up from Orange County. Anyway, if you didn’t make it we spoke on business strategy, branding and image, website usability, SEO and web marketing.

It is tough cramming days worth of information into 2 hours, but hopefully everyone was able to walk away with a few golden tidbits to help their studio and business. What would you guys think about us doing like a 2 day intensive workshop on Strategy, Branding and Web Marketing? Perhaps if it is something you guys want, we can plan for something like that later this year.

Anyway, for now we just wanted to say it was wonderful meeting you all. We had such a blast and we were delighted to meet so many wonderful fellow photographers. Below, you can download the full presentation PowerPoint file, though it probably won’t make too much sense unless you were at the meeting since it is very abbreviated. But, if you were there, this should help you guys have a little guide of things to continue researching.

Thanks again everyone!

Download the PowerPoint Presentation Here

– Post Production Pye

Hey everyone! Just wanted to make one final announcement. We have been invited to give a lecture at this months SMUG in Los Angeles at the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn this Thursday January 26th starting at 7pm. The event is free, and there are already over 102 people attending, so be sure to get in your RSVP quick if you are planning to go. You can RSVP and get all the information by visiting this page – Los Angeles SMUG.

We are going to be discussing the following topics:

Business Strategy
Branding and Image
Website Cohesion
Client Experience
Blogging Guidance
SEO Tips
Social Media (FB, Twitter, etc)

We are going to have a blast, so come on out and meet the Lin and Jirsa, SLR Lounge and UNDFIND team! Can’t wait to see you all.

Post Production Pye

These days the name Kodak is mostly associated with the production of film, however did you know that Kodak was one of the earliest pioneers of digital technology?  Just have a glance at the business’ history timeline on Wikipedia.., and check out 1975-1986.   They even invented the digital Bayer sensor pattern that almost EVERY digital camera still uses today, otherwise all our digital photos would be black and white!   Heck Kodak even kinda beat Canon (by 1 day) with the first full-frame DSLR! (The Kodak Pro 14n was announced for Nikon mount in 2002.)   Kodak has been an incredible source of innovation, right up until the “very end”…

HOWEVER, thankfully,it’s definitely NOT the end! In fact chapter 11 bankruptcy is a good thing as far as the future of the business is concerned.  If it had been Chapter 7 bankruptcy on the other hand, that would have indeed been GAME OVER.  When Agfa Photo “went under” in 2004-2005, (not chapter 7, but they did “divest”) unfortunately they did in fact completely end production of some of my favorite films.  :-(   So I fully expect that we will continue to see the production of (most) all of the great Kodak films, …and I think Kodak still makes digital cameras too?

YES, of course, I do know that Kodak makes digital cameras.  I was trying to make a point: most people just don’t even know what Kodak is up to these days, and that’s never a good thing.  Even though film is not dead, and even though Kodak makes some GREAT digital cameras, …in many ways they have become relatively unimportant in photography, at least in the eyes of the masses. (Even though they still own and license thousands of patents)

Is this what causes such a decline?  It could be any combination of things, from poor financial management to loss of vision.  What is your opinion?  To me it seems like Kodak did NOT lose vision, even with digital photography.  Historically, for over 100 years Kodak has always been about bringing photography to the masses, and pioneering new technologies.  They still do this with digital photography, in my opinion, by offering low-budget digital camera options, almost always more affordable than any competition.  But you know what happens when you compete on price alone, I suppose.  EVERY affordable camera is made dirt-cheap overseas nowadays, which probably levels the playing field a whole lot.

Anyways here are a few VERY interesting articles that describe the legal and financial situation:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204616504577171341903855320.html

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-19/kodak-bankruptcy-may-shed-photography-bet-on-digital-printing.html

A highlight, before I finish: did you know that Kodak’s patents which I mentioned are said to be worth $2.6 billion?  And Kodak has earned $3 billion since 2003, in patent licenses alone?  It sounds like they just began to fall prey to tactful patent infringement, *cough* Apple *cough* …which I think is a huge shame.  Oh well, such is capitalism? Or?  Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Take care,
=Matt=

Canon EOS 3, Canon 200mm f/1.8, Kodak Film

Canon EOS 3, Sigma 50mm f/1.4, Kodak Film

Okay so if you don’t know what SOPA and PIPA are, well, you basically have not been on the internet *AT ALL* in the past few weeks.  But CLICK HERE to read some of the “anti-SOPA” propaganda if you need to.

I’ll cut right to the point:  Yes, I’m thrilled that I can just go on Youtube whenever I want to hunt down that random Paul Simon song about Nikon cameras, or watch awesome, tear-jerking clips of U2 concerts.  (For the thousandth time…)   However, THAT DOESN’T MEAN IT’S LEGAL!  Yes, I enjoy the freedom with which I can blog random tidbits and photos, even if I have no idea who originally created it…

Again, just because everything on the internet is free and we’re all accustomed to it, that DOES NOT MAKE IT LEGAL.  In a way, I think that “social media” has given the entire internet world a huge sense of entitlement.  And why not?  We already use Google’s innumerable services for FREE.  Facebook is FREE, Twitter is FREE, and blogging is mostly FREE.  So naturally, everyone just thinks that if it’s all free, what’s wrong with sharing something cool / funny / educational?  Even if it’s “kinda” copyrighted?

Well, I’m here to say that as a creative person, (and admittedly,  reclusive & anti-social) …I would be just fine if 90% of the internet were just “erased” due to copyright violations.  Sure, I’d cry a little bit at first.  I’d have to start from scratch on my blogging and Facebook wall.  But you know what?  I’d also get off the computer, *gasp* and spend a lot more time in real life!  Heaven forbid I actually go out for a walk, maybe to a library or to an art gallery, or a concert, …and enjoy other people’s creativity the old-fashioned way, without “harmlessly” infringing a copyright.

Now, let me clarify:  THIS DOES NOT MEAN I SUPPORT the SOPA or PIPA in Congress.  I’ve tried to read up on them, but all the support / petition sites seem strangely vague about the real facts; it seems like more propaganda, scare tactics, and bandwagon effects than serious discussion of the exact wording of the bills.  Again I am NOT trying to diminish the true urgency of what could happen if those bills passed, I’m just saying that I haven’t been able to gather enough hard facts yet to form an official, vote-casting opinion.  This post here is just a thought I had, and hopefully it will get you thinking too.

I do understand that many, many businesses out there are based ENTIRELY on social media, and in a worst case scenario these businesses / markets could disappear overnight.  Millions of dollars could stop dead in their tracks, people could lose their jobs, etc. etc.  However, once again, in my opinion it just comes down to whether or not what is happening in social media is LEGAL.  If you’ve built a business on a foundation that is even lightly sprinkled with the illegal sharing of music or images, or any other INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, well, …didn’t you kinda see this coming?  I’m sure you KNEW, in the back of your head.

Anyways, all I want to say is that I’m in favor of respecting the rights of someone who creates something.  Just because the internet is FREE and EASY, doesn’t make it LEGAL.  If you go and “share” a random image from my landscape portfolio, (in order to drive traffic to your website that pays you profits from ads or affiliates) …then you’re breaking the law a tiny little bit.  You might have only profited a mere $0.05 by circulating my creative work, but you’re still breaking the law.

The only question is, how far should we bend the law, where do we draw the line?  Is this “Big Brother” cracking down on our freedom of speech and other unalienable rights?  Or is this just a healthy curbing of social media’s out-of-control sense of entitlement and blatant disrespect for copyright?  So far, I’m not sure at all.

Your thoughts, opinions, and additional information (NO cliche propaganda though, please) are very, very welcome!  I am certain that there is much for me to learn on this subject, and I fully expect to gain a completely different perspective by the time this is all over.

Take care,
=Matt=

(My #1 most copyright-infringed image)
Nikon D70, Nikon 17-35 - Death Valley, 2005