There’s no doubt that weed has had a powerful presence in music, art and basically every creative scene you can think of. After all, even Bob Marley says, “When you smoke the herb, it reveals you to yourself.” But what about when it comes to photography? I mean, taking a couple hits and running to out to shoot something ‘artistic’ almost seems too easy. So to find out how weed affects photography, we spoke to 16 photographers of varying ages and disciplines about what it’s like to get high AF and manhandle a camera. 1. ‘Only bring your A game,’ Roberto Valenzuela, Wedding Photographer, 39 First, before I begin making my point, I want to let you know that I’ve never smoked weed or done any kind of drugs in my entire life. However, that doesn’t mean I haven’t seen the effects of weed or any other mental stimulant on other people. I can only equate the effects of smoking anything with drinking wine. I think the most challenging issue adults experience with bringing their A-game to a photoshoot is their own inhibitions. During a photoshoot, there is always an unspoken adjustment period between the subject and the photographer. This is especially true if you’re working with that subject for the first time. Children on the other hand, don’t have any inhibitions. They do what they want and say what they please. Bringing your inner child could be a powerful tool to bring to a shoot. It would make the photographer more decisive, not have to second guess him or herself, and come up with the wildest ideas with great enthusiasm. People are attracted to personalities like that. They become instant leaders. For this reason, I don’t mind sharing a little wine with my clients before a shoot. It could help remove some inhibitions and help the subject relax. 2. ‘Your client will know you’re stoned,’ Jason Leiva, Advertising Photographer, 37 My use of Marijuana has played a very small part of my creative process, even less so as I’ve become older and more confident in my process and ability to think through my methodology. In my younger days, it was a bit of an escape from the stress of long days, whatever personal issues I was having, and weeks of post-production. But ideation and problem solving wasn’t necessarily made better by a smoke break. However, it did occasionally help me focus or at least become interested in benign bullshit while I was locked in a darkroom retouching ad campaigns for days on end. My creative process has changed over the years, but it has always been based in knowledge of my craft and the willingness to experiment. And sometimes, a little burn can assist in opening up that experimental side of your process. But it can also be a drawback. When time and deadlines are important, getting stoned didn’t always help. Sometimes I would walk in a creative director;s office with a “brilliant” idea, when in reality it was only brilliant to me inside my hazy mind. Also, dealing with clients while stoned isn’t a good practice. You know that paranoid voice in your head that keeps asking “if they can tell I’m stoned?” Dude, they know. However, I think it helps me most often when I feel a bit stuck in my own process or just need to let go of some preconceptions. But it is by no means a way of daily inspiration. If you’re only creative when you are stoned, then you may have a bigger issue at hand when it comes to being creative at all. As an independent artist, free from the confines of a daily gig, I’m free to burn whenever I feel like it. But these days I have less desire to take that path with any regularity. Really, it’s simply a vacation from myself for a couple hours and a chance to try something familiar with a slightly alternative state of mind. Sometimes the results are interesting, sometimes it just looks like I was stoned. 3. ‘Trust your inner voice,’ Celebrity Photographer, 32 I think if you can really be honest and ask yourself, ‘does this make me more creative and productive?’ and the answer is ‘yes,’ then sure, smoking weed is good for your photography career. I’ve definitely gotten high and wrote nonsensical notes-to-self that later turned into successful personal projects, so in those moments smoking was good for my photography. Then again, I’ve also gotten high and wasted hours getting sucked into a Law and Order SVU marathon. Obviously, this is not an effective use of time. It’s so personal. I know some wake and bake, all-day-every-day smokers who are really creative and get a lot of work done while stoned out of their minds. And if this is you, amazing then, smoke away! I personally can’t function that way—weed as a lifestyle for me would ruin my career. But as the occasional creative catalyst, or sleep aid before a big shoot, I’m a fan. 4. ‘Rely only on your own vision,’ Portrait Photographer, 41 I don’t think weed, or any drug for that matter, can necessarily make anyone a better photographer. I’ve never smoked before shooting a client job, but I’ve sometimes smoked before shooting some personal work while out wandering by myself or during the editing process. Smoking will affect people in differently, but for most, it will potentially allow us to look at something in a different way or to explore a new way of seeing. I find now that I simply want to be razor-focused and aware of how I’m seeing, and to think about why I’m seeing the way I do. Being impaired can take away that clarity. It’s also worth remembering that editing something while high can make us think the most bizarre things look amazing. I would often go back to what I’d edited late at night while high, thinking I’d created something epic, only to look at it in the cold light of day the next morning and wonder why I ever thought what I was doing looked good! With that said, there’s no denying that smoking weed has helped open up certain ways of approaching or seeing the work I want to create at times. For those who use it as a tool do to just that, I get it. I think the only real danger for anyone has to be when we become reliant on weed, or anything, really, and think we need it before we can create the work we want to do. I believe being reliant on anything other than your own vision and expertise is just taking you down the wrong path.
5. ‘Don’t let weed slow you down,’ Ryan Speth, Wedding Photographer, 44
I don’t know if any drug can make you a better photographer. I’ve never found marijuana to be a very productive drug for me, and I don’t think you can really be in the moment when you’re altered like that. When I’m shooting, my eye is rapidly scanning and reacting to what’s in front of me. Weed slows that down and softens the edges too much for my liking. And I certainly can’t be on anything when I’m shooting with an 8×10 camera. For one, it’s too technical to operate stoned, plus it’s already a slowed down process and very zen like. I do have caffeine to keep my energy up, and sometimes a stiff drink to help me get over social anxiety, but they don’t make me a better photographer.
6. ‘Tackle your fears,’ Matt Henry, Photographer, 46
When you’re young I would say drugs help you tackle your fears. Ask that stranger if you can take his or her picture. Ask that model or celebrity to be in an awkward position. Help push your passion. Be able to focus intently. But it could also backfire, and I’ve put my foot in my mouth numerous times because of weed. 7. ‘See beyond,’ Billy Murray, Editor-in-Chief of Resource Magazine, 24 (IG: @_billymurray) For many, many years of my life, I was a massive stoner. Back in the day, as far back as high school, I could roll a gram into a blunt, smoke it, then go about my day without any inhibition. In fact, that was often when I would ace tests, write music, which is one of my biggest past times, or have extremely intense, open-minded and deep conversations with friends about the meaning of life, accessing the bullshit expectations of society and our plans to excel above that. I know, I know, it sounds like the lyrics of a Grateful Dead song, but really, this lifestyle, which included many more factors than simply smoking pot, is truly how I discovered that the only thing I ever want to do is create shit for a living. However, something changed in my late teens. Increasingly, smoking weed made me paranoid and very anti-social, self-conscious, and unable to carry myself with confidence in public. I guess the simplest explanation would be that I just grew out of it. Of course, if I was high, feeling like that all day, I wouldn’t be able to function in any facet of my life, aside from getting stoned and eating pizza in bed. And when it comes to photography, it was only very recently that I’ve become confident in my abilities and locked in my process. Weed makes me second guess that and overthink everything I’m doing. At the end of the day, it makes me so critical of my work and overcome with self-doubt that I end up getting nothing done. That said, I would by lying if I said I ‘don’t smoke.’ Like many photographers, I sometimes suffer from pretty intense insomnia and I’m outwardly against relying on pills or other medications for sleep or anxiety. But a puff or two of weed before bed is a solid tool for putting my mind at ease, as long as I don’t smoke too much. Basically, I wouldn’t say smoking weed has ever made me create better work, but I respect weed culture in the sense that, from a young age, it helped me see beyond the straight and narrow, copy and paste life path that society says will lead to happiness, but in reality leaves many people unfulfilled.
8. ‘Don’t let weed slow you down,’ Celebrity Photographer, 45
Working in the field of photography where trust is paramount, and often the time is very limited, I’ve always tried to limit any on-set “relaxation” to a wrap beer. Or, OK, sometimes the occasional “last set-up” beer if the talent suggests it. But I’ve never actively tried to shoot while having smoked weed. But part of success with the above is being able to maintain a very chill and relaxed state of mind, especially when things aren’t going right. I feel that in general, the attitude of smoking weed contributes to that personality, almost allowing me to draw on the feeling of being high while not being high, like a method actor draws on a past emotion. As for trying a pot-driven shoot where everyone is involved and just “seeing what happens,” I have not yet done that.
9. ‘Lubricate with beer,’ Barney Britton, Photographer, 34
Beer seems to be the more usual professional lubricant.
10. ‘Smoking between set-ups gives me a break,’ Ty Beal, Photographer, 44, (IG: @Foto119)
Using marijuana while I’m shooting is cool for me, whether I smoke it, or have some edible marijuana, because I seem to be more creative and free with less rules and less fear. Also, having a quick smoke between set ups gives me a freakin’ break! It gives me a second to breathe, reflect on what I’ve already shot that day, and come up with that extra kick in the ass for the next round of shooting. After smoking, I can ‘see’ a little more, I laugh a little more, and I’m more empathetic, which makes for a great shoot. So I don’t know if marijuana makes me a “better” photographer, but it certainly makes me a little more fun during the process! 11. ‘Just drink instead,’ Brad Trent, Photographer, 57 It doesn’t help me…it puts me right to bed! That’s why I don’t smoke weed and drink so fucking much wine! 12. ‘If I had ADD it would help me focus,’ Tam N, Photographer, 32 I feel super impaired, unable to even keep a conversation going. Whenever I get high with Lauren, I’m always a few topics behind. I know my brain is so slow when I’m high. That said, my brother who has diagnosed ADD is an agent and a mild dose actually helps him focus. But only indica, which is a downer. When he smokes sativa, he gets random and slow like me too. Basically, stimulants help clam him down and depressants speed him up, which is the complete opposite for non-ADD/ADHD people. 13. ‘There is a time and a place for it,’ Photographer, 35 Being a better photographer is a really broad statement. Does being a better photographer mean I’m being more creative? Or does it mean I’m executing better? I think one could say that being better at either of those things would constitute as being a better photographer. Anyway, I think there was a time that I believed smoking weed opened up my creativity and allowed me to think outside the realms of my own limitations. However, it has definitely affected my ability to execute as I’ve gotten older. So I guess I believe there is a time a place for it. It is wonderful for spurring creativity, but awful for sustaining productivity. 14. ‘Don’t fall into the rabbit hole,’ Pat Black, Photographer, 25 I am 25 years old and have never smoked weed, but for my friends that do it it helps them relax, take their time, and not to become stressed out by the clients and the struggles of being on set. I’ve watched people let everything they care about slip through their fingers when they lose self-control, but the same thing happens if someone drinks too much or gambles to much—it depends so much on how driven and responsible they are. For myself, I know I would probably fall into that rabbit hole so that’s why I try to stay away from it. 15. ‘Shooting Dead,’ Peter Hurley, Photographer, 47 I turn into a zombie on that stuff so I think it’s dependent upon the human being that’s firin’ it up. 16. ‘Be your professional best,’ Karaminder Singh Ghuman, Photographer, 35 I’ve barely smoke weed but when I’m shooting, I need all my wits about me. Often times, it’s not about being creative, it’s about managing time, the client, the subject and putting out fires and being creative with all the limiting factors. I believe any intoxicant (weed, alcohol, etc.) is a hindrance to being your professional best. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2p3OsjD
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We all know the feeling of giving up. As humans, we often fail to recognize our full potential. It’s like when you’re running on a treadmill, and in the back of your mind you’re thinking about how you can’t go on any longer. Or, from an emotional perspective, it could be the underlying feelings of hopelessness that come with finding a career path. This is why Tom Bilyeu, a successful entrepreneur and co-founder of Quest Nutrition, has set out to eliminate “the poverty of poor mindset,” as he puts it, and build a community of creators centered around wellness and self-transformation. To do so, Bilyeu has recently launched his secondary company, Impact Theory, an online talk show of sorts that ignites human potential through original interviews with content creators, creatives and entrepreneurs who have inspired him in transforming his own life. So far, this has included the likes of Chase Jarvis, Tim Ferriss, Terrell Owens, and many more. In addition, Impact Theory also produces a blog that posts inspirational, advice-filled content. As a whole, the company hopes to create, cultivate and help monetize mission-based companies determined to solve meaningful challenges while bringing to light the emotional impact of a healthier lifestyle. We caught up with Bilyeu to get a closer look at Quest Nutrition, discuss his goals with Impact Theory, and discover the key principles of creative wellness. Hey Tom, it’s nice to connect with you. Let’s begin with your own wellness story. Walk me through your journey. I grew up in a morbidly obese family that struggled, and in many instances, still struggle pretty profoundly with their weight, so it was definitely something on my mind. As a kid, I was a little bit chubby, but I really got into fitness and nutrition as a way to escape that fate. In my early 20s, I found myself beginning to put on some weight, and never had much luck with women. I really wanted to turn that around. I found my way into fitness and nutrition somewhat clumsily in the beginning. I made a lot of classic mistakes, and ultimately started researching it. I eventually met some people who really knew what they were doing in the gym and from a dietary perspective. Then, I started to really learn my way around it. At one point, I was 60 pounds heavier than I am now, but ended up getting in good shape, getting six pack abs, and founding a nutrition company that went on to be very successful. On a more existential level, what’s inspires you the most when it comes this self-transformation you speak of? Let’s talk a bit about Quest Nutrition. What were some of your goals in this entrepreneurial endeavor? The mission of Quest is to end metabolic disease, and we went into accepting a fundamental truth about the human condition: people eat for pleasure, not for sustenance. You can tell a small segment of people to eat less and exercise more, and for some, that could be a great strategy and they’ll stick with it. But for most people, to address the problem we felt we had to make food you can choose based on taste that also happens to be good for them. That was the winning formula, and it was a great way to build a big business that brought a lot of value to people’s lives. We live in this world where there’s this false dichotomy between food either tasting good and being bad for you, or food tasting bad and being good for you. We thought that could be overcome by taking a fundamentally different approach to food. Quest grew by 57,000 percent in its first three years. Can you tell me a bit about the process of bringing that from startup to success? In the beginning, we weren’t sure if there was a business in this, and it started by asking ourselves fundamentally different questions. We built our previous company all around profitability, just thinking about the money. It was a company we thought was good, and it wasn’t that we were lazy or anything, but we just didn’t have passion for the product. We weren’t thinking about our customer and really delivering value; we were trying to identify a niche in the market. Eventually, we got fed up with that and wanted to be passionate about what we we’re doing and deliver value to people. So we decided to do Quest totally differently. Rather than worrying about what’s most profitable, we lead with what delivers the most value to the customer, how we can evangelize them, how can we get them excited about the company, and made a long term play for what we’re going to deliver in the long run. We were entirely focused on building a community, and we wanted to really connect with people and celebrate the notion of transformation. Now couple that with a product that we believe is the best on the market, as well as holding ourselves to metabolic standards, and that’s basically the foundation of Quest. Now tell me about Impact Theory. What’s your wellness strategy and how does that differ from Quest? The original idea behind Quest was that I wanted to save my mom and sister. They were struggling profoundly with their weight, and I wanted to give them something they could eat based on taste that was good for them and help get to a positive place with food and body image. With my sister, it worked unbelievably well, and since we launched the company, she’s lost over 120 pounds and had an emotional transformation, which was really the driving factor for me. I had always wanted Quest to be able to encompass both things, both physical and emotional health, but when the brand was getting successful we had to make it clear that the audience understood it was a food company. We also found that getting it to expand its own self-definition and encompassing things around the mind was a very expensive endeavor. So, rather than trying to make a company that encompasses both the body and mind, I took it to the studio created out of Quest, and spun it out to a standalone company called Impact Theory. We’re able to focus on the mind through content creation, incubating mission-based businesses, and helping the next generation of content creators and entrepreneurs with an emphasis on mindset. How do you choose the subjects for your episodes? Is there a favorite interview you’ve done so far? It really comes down to people who have inspired me in my own life. That’s the way I judge any influencer: if people take their advice, will their life be better or not? If the answer is yes, then we try to get them on the show and give them a chance to present what it is about them that really inspires me. However, there’s really good stuff I’ve gotten out of each and every one of them. So far, the neuroscientists are the people I probably get most excited about because understanding the brain, to me, is extremely powerful. We’ve had three neuroscientists on: Moran Cerf, David Eagleman, and the godfather of them all, V.S. Ramachandran. His breakthroughs are absolutely incredible, and him coming on the show actually led to one of the first companies that it looks like we’ll be getting involved with, so that’s just a perfect example, on the business side, of what our model is with the show. What advice do you have for budding entrepreneurs who are scared to take the leap? We’re living in an amazing time where there’s a lot of great content being put out there, but it’s all about developing your mindset. Standing between who you are today and who are going to need to become in order to build a business is simply a skill set. You do not need to be a born entrepreneur. There’s very much a skill set that you can go out and acquire to do that, and so much of that material is available for free online. That’s really our “business model”—to give away our content and literally teach anybody who’s willing to listen everything I know about being an entrepreneur. And from there, we believe in building a community of like-minded people. Totally. To wrap things up, I’m wondering where you see Impact Theory headed in the future? We’re going through this boom right now where entrepreneurs are literally the new rockstars. You get people like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, which I think is awesome and gives people something entirely new to look up to, but they need to understand the mindset that comes with it. The way that humans assimilate truly disruptive information is through narrative, so we want to create the next generation of stories and empowerment. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2orePww If it hasn’t happened to you yet – it will! A friend or family member approaches you to take some photographs for them and so begins the traumatic dilemma of what to charge them or whether to charge them at all! If you want some tips on charging friends and family for photography stick around and watch the video…
TRANSCRIPTIONOnly when you become self employed do you truly understand the nightmare that is working with friends and family for money. It can really be a hideous and agonising experience and I’ve heard of situations where relationships have been destroyed beyond repair. In my experience (and what I’ve heard from hundreds of others) the problems always seem to occur when you work with friends and family and give them the same experience and treatment and service as you would a real client BUT you give them a significant ‘mates rates’ discount. Because unfortunately what happens is you work your butt off and go above and beyond for no real financial reward and then get really upset and angry when they appear to not understand or appreciate what you’ve done for them. Maybe they don’t really thank you or they don’t share or comment on social media. Or even worse, they end up expecting the earth and maybe even complain about the work you’ve done. You can’t help thinking that you could have spent that time working for a full-paying client OR on your marketing so you could GET a full-paying client. Or what about this one – you give them a discounted price and they turn it down and go to one of your competitors instead! Yeah, that doesn’t feel good. And let’s face it. It’s not just photographers. Most self employed people face this challenge. The struggle is real but the secret is simply to be prepared. Most problems in life come from a lack of communication and lack of preparation and this one is no different. As long as you know what your ‘friends and family’ policy is and you communicate it loud and clear to them then you should have no problems. So here’s how I see it. If you want to avoid any sticky situations with friends and family there are three ways to deal with this. 1. You don’t work with friends and family. Ever. If anyone asks you simply say that you wish to keep work completely separate from your relationships with friends and family but that you can recommend someone to them. You can even add some humour if you want. Some might be a bit put out but they’re not going to hate you and if they’re really offended – they’re probably not worth bothering about, let’s be honest. 2. You charge friends and family full price and treat them the same way as any other client meaning they can take it or leave it. Again, some of them are going to be a bit miffed at this and they might choose another photographer. You’ll have to be prepared to suck that up and not take it too personally. 3. You do what I do and put together a special ‘friends and family’ package and offer this to any friends and family who enquire. So what do I mean by a ‘friends and family’ package? Well I mean something super simple. For me, I tell them:
When you do this you are doing several great things: You’re letting them know in a very friendly way that your time is precious and that you have other clients to look after so they are going to appreciate and value your time much more. You’re outlining a very clear offer that is win-win for both of you. AND you’re allowing them to pay you something (because most friends and family will WANT to pay you something). Believe me they’ll be delighted. Because don’t forget that they feel awkward about the money side of things too – they’ll be relieved that its all so clear and they know where they stand. When you meet you can spend 30 minutes or so taking some shots and you can have a coffee with them or a play date with the kids. Afterwards you can spend 30 – 60 minutes or so editing ten of your choice and sending them over to them. As for money – you can charge whatever you feel is appropriate for that. Whatever will ensure that you don’t feel undervalued whilst at the same time ensures they are getting a great deal. Since doing this I’ve never had another awkward experience with a friend or family member. They’ve been so happy and appreciative and I’ve felt satisfied and rewarded. So I think I know what you might be thinking at this point. What about those REALLY close friends and family members? The people you love to bits. Well personally I don’t charge them anything. Why? Because I’m more than happy to take photographs for them. I love spending time with them and I see it as a privilege to be able to do this for them. I do the same thing though. Just a short shoot and a few edits. I find that these are the people who actually insist on paying me but I don’t accept it. THAT is definitely a personal decision you have to make though. It can be hard to do something for free for one friend and then charge another, because what if they find out? I always ask those I don’t charge to keep that fact to themselves and they do. I love them for a reason you know – they’re good people! As for acquaintances or very distant relatives? I would really recommend treating them the exact same as any other client. No discount, no friends and family package, nothing. You simply have to draw a line somewhere. You’ll know in your gut who to offer your package to and who to treat as normal. So what about you? Do you have any stories about charging friends and family? Let me know in the comments! The post Charging friends and family for photography – it doesn’t have to be so traumatic! appeared first on Tea Break Tog. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2o7RWSM With National Park Week in full swing, we are pleased to have teamed up with our friends Jim and Will Pattiz from Sea Raven Media, who founded the project ‘More Than Just Parks.’ According to the brothers, “the goal of the project is to share the wonders of the National Parks with as many people as we can, thereby ensuring their continued protection and enjoyment for generations to come.” To celebrate the beauty of the National Parks, we will be sharing the films, photos, and stories behind the brother’s work in these protected lands throughout the week. We have previously shared their incredible views of Grand Teton National Park and Voyageurs National Park, but the brothers have many more stories from National Parks all across the country. More than two years ago, the project was born when the Pattizs published their first National Park film, ‘Olympic’. The brothers spent 30 days backpacking around the park, traveling over 500 miles to accumulate the more than 50,000 photos and videos that went into making the film. On their website, the team describes the reasons why they chose Olympic National Park as the launching pad for the project. ‘We chose Olympic as our first of the More Than Just Parks short films due to its incredible diversity. It is unlike any park on the planet offering glacial mountain peaks, old-growth rainforests, and over seventy miles of wilderness coast, all within a day’s drive.’
I asked Jim what it was like, backpacking for 30 straight days in some of the most remote and beautiful terrains in the western United States.
They go on to detail their 500-mile route, even providing a map of all of their shooting locations. The film and the photos are a stirring look into one of the west coast’s most popular National Park, which averages almost 3.5 million visitors a year. And based off the stunning scenes in this film, it’s easy to see why Olympic National Park is so popular. To see more, follow More Than Just Parks on Vimeo, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and their website. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2oR8mMw In his latest vlog episodes, Casey Neistat revealed he is again working with Samsung in making a television commercial, but this time, the commercial is being made and produced by content creators. Neistat teamed up with the late Sourcefed’s William Haynes to recruit other YouTubers for this commercial. During Coachella, Neistat traveled to Los Angeles to shoot with some of the top vloggers on YouTube. This included David Dobrik, Jason Nash, Zane Hijazi, Scotty Sire, and Toddy Smithy. The concept of this commercial is to show “the rest” of this generation’s filmmaking industry, a message Neistat relayed in his first Samsung commercial during the 2017 Oscars in February. Neistat will be helping Samsung collect short clips from different content creators and edit them into one commercial. These creators will be starring in these clips, as well as creating the ideas behind them. For example, Dobrik filmed the other YouTubers pull a “water bottle prank,” which is something that often happens in his vlog, in a 5-second clip that will be featured in the commercial. The most important element to the commercial is that all the clips will be filmed on smartphones, meaning no fancy cameras. Just a Samsung Galaxy S8, a production crew and an idea, a formula most content creators today are familiar with. Haynes shot a quick comedic shower scene for the commercial, and Neistat also met up with YouTubers, Ethan and Hila of h3h3Productions to film a skit for the project. He traveled to Venice Beach and met up with Jesse Welle of the PrankvsPrank channel, and for this particular shot with Jesse, Neistat and his crew created a smartphone drone using equipment one would use for a cinematic camera, but simplifying it to fit a Samsung phone. The drone captured a stunning image of Jesse riding his bike on the beach while filming himself with his phone and selfie stick. Watch the most recent vlog episode above! via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2pDFPKg In case you didn’t see, Google launched a massive update to Google Earth today, and it’s absolutely incredible. Check out this teaser video before we talk about how cool it is for travel junkies like us. Besides some beautiful new mapping and 3D redesigning, the two biggest changes in the new Google Earth are massive. The first is that now it’s easily accessible to anyone on a Chrome internet browser, so you don’t need to download a desktop app. But the second is a really beautiful new feature called ‘Voyager’. While on the Google Earth website, simply click on the ‘Captain’s Wheel’ icon on the left-hand side to be brought to the exciting new page. While you may think this is just a random algorithm that generates interesting places, it actually is not. It’s carefully curated ‘stories’ that Google has created with the help of content creators like the BBC and Planet Earth. Being curious, I dug right into the Voyager section and was immediately greeted with a virtual journey called ‘The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks.’ Being that is is National Park Week, I thought this was the perfect way to test out the new Google Earth. I clicked Start Exploring and was given an option to check out 5 specific National Parks.
Other stops inside the park included a 360 view of the ‘toe’ of the the Kenai glacier. Our ranger guide, Fiona North, tells us that climate change is having on this park, and other glaciers and ice caps around the world. The glacier usually recedes 46 feet per year, but lately, the annual average has spiked to 150 feet per year. It’s eye opening information that I am glad Google is bringing to us. And, just three stops into my tour, I have already learned something. Not all of the videos are 360 however, which I actually welcome since I usually get bored of 360 video rather quickly. The 4th stop of my tour was all beautiful aerial footage over Bear Glacier with my Ranger tour guide giving me fascinating information as I flew over this frozen tundra. Another non-360 video showed me a 40-ton Humpback Whale soaring out of the water. After Kayaking through Bear Glacier, I was done with my Ranger guided tour of Kenai Fjords National Park. It only took a couple of minutes, but I hung around zooming around the 3D world of this awesome park for a bit before moving on. All in all, my first Voyager experience with the new and improved Google Earth was pretty cool. It went quick enough where I didn’t get bored (a common occurrence), and I saw some pretty cool stuff and learned a thing or two. And this was just one of more than 40 that launched today. So what happens after you experience all 40 Voyager stories? How about checking out ‘National Parks of North America’? And if you are really out of ideas on what to search for, let Google do the work for you with their new ‘I’m Feeling Lucky’ tool. Google claims there are already over 20,000 locations in this feature, all with knowledgeable cards that are displayed on landing. On my first roll of the die, I landed on Waiheke Island in New Zealand, a location I had never heard of, so right away, the I feel Lucky button has shown me something new to explore. All in all, the new Google Earth is pretty cool and will be a valuable tool for all travelers, both for wanderlust and for actual planning. Let us know what places you think we should check out by sharing your Google Earth links in the comments! via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2o4IHTx Sony announced today the launch of a new camera with a brand new image sensor: the full-frame CMOS ‘A9,’ alongside the G Master FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6, a super-telephoto full-frame lens. The heart of this announcement is the A9’s image sensor, the world’s first 35mm full-frame stacked CMOS, offering 20x faster data speeds than Sony’s previous full-frame mirrorless cameras. In addition, the A9 offers high-speed, blackout-free continuous shooting at up to 20fps, 60 AF/AE tracking calculations per second 10, a maximum shutter speed of up to 1/32,000 second and much more. via Sony “This camera breaks through all barriers and limitations of today’s professional digital cameras, with an overall feature set that simply cannot be matched considering the restrictions of mechanical SLR cameras,” said Neal Manowitz in a press release. Preorders for the Alpha 9 begin next month. The camera is priced at $4,500 and will begin shipping in May. The lens will be available for $2,500 and begin shipping in July. This announcement comes just days after Sony revealed that their continued growth has vaulted them into the number two overall position in the U.S. full-frame interchangeable lens camera market. Resource is currently attending the Sony launch event for this gear, and will update this post with more information. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2pROs35 Is This the Worst Decision Everrrrr?
4/19/2017
Palms sweaty, my finger hovered over the Buy button. Sitting at my computer all I could wonder was OH EMM GEE IS THIS THE WORST DECISION EVER?? But lemme backup a second and explain how I got there. Perhaps I should start with my professional crush, Gary Vaynerchuk.
So you can imagine my delight when Gary’s company, VaynerMedia, announced a new educational program for entrepreneurs. One day, 10 students, and a deep-dive into your business…and a Q+A session with Gary. Then I died. But I resurrected in time to get more information and died (again) when I saw the pricetag. Nope. No way. Never. Maybe? Can I afford it? Is it worth it? Somewhere in between the dying and resurrecting (to be fair, it was Easter week), I spent two weeks agonizing over my decision. And this brings us back to this part of the story: OH EMM GEE IS THIS THE WORST DECISION EVER?? So, here’s what I decided to do: I invested in the program…and I’m leaving to New York City. I’m scared, nervous, and worry I’ll stick out due to the Imposter Syndrome letterman’s jacket I wear in new social environments. Is this TMI? Am I babbling from awkwardness? Nevermind, don’t answer that. I know the answer is unequivocally yes. But I’m writing this letter as a way to bring you on this journey with me. Sometimes social media has a way of making a situation appear one way (“Going to NYC to hang out with @GaryVee today! #blessed), but the truth is always a little more complex. The truth reveals fear, doubt, and insecurity in embarrassingly authentic ways, but I want to invite you in to share this moment with me as I learn and grow. Why? Because I can’t wait to share everything I learned and continue to move us closer to our wildest dreams and passions. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2pCa5p0
Our #ThursdayTheme last week was Easter. Whatever Easter means to you we wanted to see your creations and, as usual, you did not fail us – thank you!
#FridayFoto is this little bit of magic from Rachel Hunter!
Here’s what Julie had to say about Rachel’s image: “Just look at this golden back light! It’s beautiful. I love that you have made the most out of it by carefully choosing your location Rachel. The trees and foliage behind your subject have allowed you that beautiful rim light without having her disappear into that white sky behind. And the way the sunlight has picked out the feathery ends of the grass here and there is just gorgeous. The styling is just perfect for the light and the story. That dress! It just adds so much texture and character to the image. I love that the sun can shine right through it in places. What a little Easter treat! Thanks for sharing this with us Rachel.”
Anna Kostochko
Claire Bell Donna Green
Jamie Burgoyne Jamie Eilts
Jenni Barclay Jessica Boehl Clark
Jessica LaHousse Karen-Karl Hook
Karissa Jones Matthews Kate Walker
Loryn Payne Manuel Alvarez
Michelle Smith Sarai Jackson-Hauner
Which is your favourite?
Pop by and request to join – you’ll love it! The post Easter – A selection of images from our #ThursdayTheme appeared first on Tea Break Tog. via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230553 http://ift.tt/2omqs7P Want to know what I love? The ability to chat with business owners about how to grow, pursue more of what they love, and create the life of their dreams. I’ve made the commitment to host live chats on Facebook 2-3 times a month, so my recent conversation focused on How to Get More Social Media Followers (…without paying for ads!). You can see the video in its entirety HERE, but the following is a brief recap of the 20-minute conversation…but you can also see/participate the Q+A on my Facebook page. Before you can figure out how to get more social media followers, you need to know the following… It’s important to leverage what your current followers like about your social accounts, in order to attract future clients. I’ve discovered the three main reasons people follow you in the first place, starting with Numero Uno… You want to make sure that every post isn’t about your business. We’ve all seen those Instagrammers and Facebookers who only.ever.talk.about.their.business as a commercial. And while I understand why they might think it’s effective, I believe that information and valuable content are the keys to growing your online audience. Next up is… One of my favorite quotes is by Simon Sinek, who says, “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” The minute you understand the power of showing more of your WHY, the easier it is to attract people who want what you provide simply because you’re the one who’s providing it. Lastly, let’s focus on this: If prospective followers have a hard time understanding what, exactly, your account is about (are you educating, inspiring, aspirational, providing escapism, etc.), they won’t follow you. Your feeds must be easy to understand and showcase your clear point of view. What are you about? What does your business sell? What value do you provide? If prospective followers can’t answer that in 30 seconds, you’ll have a hard time getting them to follow you. Let’s connect and chat more on THIS VIDEO and I’ll see you on Facebook!
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AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
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