around the net 18, funky cameras

15 August 2008 5 Comments

Let’s start with a really fun website filled with funky, off-beat cameras: Alfred’s Camera Page. Alfred has a ton of information on vintage Russian cameras but also has a large non-Russian camera section on this very easy to use website. Back when I was chasing down Kiev cameras I’d always land on this site for the reviews. If you’re participating in the Epic Edits Weblog’s $50 film camera project this might generate creative ideas for purchasing a film camera. There’s also a very informative post on scanning film by Alfred.

I’ve been wandering around photoblogs.org lately, looking for inspiration. One of the first photo blogs I discovered was Neutral Hills Stills, photographs taken in the Neutral Hills of Alberta, Canada, by commercial and nature photographer Sean D. McCormick. Beautiful and varied, I’ve spent quite a while viewing these inspirational images. Sean has a wonderful vision.

Now memories are flooding back from my old photoblog, thirty seven seconds. For a year or so while photo blogging I would also post to the weekly Photo Friday challenge. Every week a new thematic word is revealed on Friday and hundreds of photographers post links to their images along that theme. Want to see how many different photographers interpret the same word / idea / theme? Photo Friday is the place to be. Better yet, get on the list and join in.

There have also been a couple of great business posts this week I wanted to share. The first one is from Rob Haggart’s A Photo Editor: Can Editorial Photographers Make A Living Anymore? This post has a lengthy list of comments, some from names that will be recognizable to those in the industry. Some comments are positive on the current state of editorial photography earnings potential and some are negative. If you shoot for magazines or want to shoot for magazines this is a ringside seat to a very frank discussion on the state of the industry.

The other post I’d like to mention is David Ziser’s (of Digital Pro Talk) article on Managing the Business to Manage Your Profits. There are couple of great links here, one on managing employees and the other on networking. The networking tips are what really hit home with me as I read them. They provide sound advice on not only being successful in business, but tips that will make all of your pursuits more fulfilling by simply trying to do “the right thing”.

On Monday I’ll have a new location portrait video to share and hope to see you then. Have a great weekend!

- Jim T.

5 Comments »

Matthew Botos said:

Networking does seem to be the best way to find clients and work, though it’s tough on a few counts. Effective networking itself is an art, and it tends to be more of a long-term investment than a quick sale. I suppose patience is another much-needed photographic skill!

# 15 August 2008 at 10:04 am

Jim Talkington (author) said:

Yep, it’s pretty much all one step at a time, no instant fixes. Just like Johnny Appleseed, planting those seeds and seeing what grows from it.

# 15 August 2008 at 1:36 pm

matt haines said:

This is the site I used when I was first dealing with my ebay-camera addiction. Spent a lot of time drooling and/or puzzling over the cameras here.

http://www.mattdentonphoto.com/cameras/index.html

Also some useful tips on it.

# 17 August 2008 at 3:55 pm

Sean said:

Thanks very much for the kind words. I’d just like to add that I don’t view myself as a commercial photographer. I’m someone who once tried commercial photography, disliked how it forced me to compromise my vision, and then abandoned the practice.

Of course, I’m always happy to sell a print or license an image to a greeting card or calendar company, but the income from that barely pays my fuel bill. I cover such a large area that the cost of gasoline has been murdering me.

Best,

Sean M.
http://www.neutralhillsstills.ca

# 21 August 2008 at 12:33 pm

Jim Talkington (author) said:

Sean, it’s good to hear from you and your reasons for abandoning commercial photography are fully understandable, thanks for the clarification. And thanks again for producing those beautiful vistas and sharing them on the internet.

# 21 August 2008 at 1:48 pm