Enlightened Tripod 15

The “Enlightened Action Word” ….

Oath:

A solemn promise to perform an undertaking or a statement that something is true, which God or some holy person or thing is called on to witness. Take oath, make an oath; promise or state solemnly.

Vow

Pledge

Most people swear or make an oath to others and keep it. I believe that the most important pledge that we make is an oath or pledge to ourselves to always do the best we can and be in the constant search for excellence and keep it.

The “Enlightened Quote” …

One secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes. Benjamin Disraeli

The “Enlightened Business Plan”…

Opportunity

The third word in the SWOT analysis is “Opportunity.” The other three words in the SWOT analysis are Strength, Weaknesses, and Threats. Of the four, my favourite is opportunity, because there is nothing more exhilarating than to find new markets, trends, ideas, and ways of making money. There is nothing as constant as change and at the same time people fear change the most.

So guess what?

Opportunities abound and they a ripe for your picking!

True creativity is about coming up with innovative ideas and turning them into value-creating profitable business activities.

Steve Jobs has his 12 rules for success:

1. Do what you love to do – what kind of pictures can you take regarding your sport or hobby?

2. Be different – when I do a photo session I take three types of photographs

a. What the client wants

b. What I want

c. Something totally different and creative

3. Do you best – photograph other peoples best, look at magazines and books for inspiration as to what is happening out there, not what you have been doing. I am not talking about Photography magazine but clothing, architecture, home and garden, bridal fashions, and magazines like wired.

4. Make a SWOT analysis of your life and your business so you know where you stand.

5. Be entrepreneurial – now this is tough. Start thinking like a business person looking for money making opportunities rather than like a photographer.

6. Start small but think big. Look at a broader scope, the internet has brought the world to your computer.

7. Strive to be the market leader – be the best – period.

8. Focus on the outcome – where do you want to be, not where you are or what you are doing.

9. Ask for feedback – it is not something to be afraid of but rather to be embraced.

10. Innovate – concentrate eon important creations and radical innovation.

11. Learn from what doesn’t work – think about why and how something didn’t work.

12. Learn continually – ask people in other businesses, “If there was a need for photography, what do you think it would be?” you might be pleasantly surprised with the outcome!

The “Enlightened Technical Corner”…

Open flash (Bare Bulb).

A technique of illuminating a dark scene with a flash unit and an open camera shutter. Typically the photographer sets the camera on a tripod, opens the shutter in bulb mode, triggers the flash manually (multiple times if desired, and often from different positions in the scene) and then closes the shutter. Another definition of open flash is commonly referred to as “bare bulb” flash. This is basically a light without a reflector and bounces everywhere. There is not much written about this technique but what is written is usually a lot of nonsense. Bare bulb flash is one of the nicest forms of lighting that I have used. Often in tough shooting situations I use a bare build and put it into the corner of a room and allow the light to come from one direction (like the sun) at through the natural bounce from other walls and ceilings it provides for a nice soft lighting ratio.

It is particularly useful in situations involving people with glasses. Yes you can “photoshop” it away but it you can minimize your time use and maximize your lighting ambience, using the bare-bulb is the way to go. Used close up it will cast a sharp shadow, so use it in such a way as to create the dramatic effect you desire. As for the reflection in the glasses it will result in only a pin-point of light. Well placed, the pin-point of light provides a nice “catch-light” in the eyes of the subject or sparkle on the product.

If you don't own light boxes, you may not know this, but you use bare heads inside of light boxes.

One camera function that can be a lot of fun to play with (and that can get you some interesting results) is slow sync flash. Photography without automatic synchronization of shutter and flash lamp is referred to as open flash. The photographer opens the camera shutter, then sets off the flash, and finally closes the shutter-all in an instant. Here, you take advantage of the full output of light from the bulb. With a synchronizer, on the other hand, the shutter is open for only a part of the split second during which the lamp burns. During the intervals before and after the flash when the shutter is open, the film is, of course, being exposed to whatever light is present. Therefore, open flash should be employed INDOORS, OR, IF OUTDOORS, AT NIGHT. This is also known as Slow sync flash and the rear curtain.

This technique is most often used with action photography. It requires a burst of flash just before the end of a long exposure. In normal flash photography, the shutter opens for only a very brief period of time, allowing only the light from the flash to be recorded. By lengthening the exposure, the CCD or film will first record the ambient light and then, provided the camera and flash combination supports this function, just before the rear curtain of the shutter closes, the flash is fired.

When this technique is used with a moving subject, the period before the flashgun fires will be recorded as a blurred streak, and at the very end of the exposure a sharp image of the moving object will be captured by the very brief flash.

Imagine a ball flying through the air. As the shutter opens, the ball moves a distance and this is recorded as a blur, but when the flash fires, a brighter version of the ball is recorded during the brief instant of light.

Needless to say, slow syncing flash with the rear curtain is one of the best ways to suggest movement in a still photograph.

“Enlightened Marketing”

On-Line Marketing

There are many new and exciting ways to market your business online. Online marketing has been proven to be the most cost effective investment in capturing targeted product enquiries and online sales, resulting in a growth for your bottom line and your business. Online Marketing is a billion dollar industry that is overtaking the traditional means of advertising. It has been said that 60% of customers are looking online before talking to a photographer.

Email Newsletters – Stay on their radar and they’ll think of you first. Sending an effective email newsletter is a powerful way to stay in regular touch with your customers or members. Benefits of a newsletter:

1. Increases lead generation.

2. Increases customer lifetime value.

3. Provides a Low Cost, Instantaneous Channel for Sending Messages.

4. Opens a two-way dialogue with customers and prospects.

5. Hypercharges your Existing Marketing Efforts.

6. Provides Instant, Measureable Results.

7. Through Google Ads or Affiliates you can generate added income.

The best way to think of an email newsletter is as an online magazine:

1. Design your content or material. Think of things that would interest you, ask your clients what they would like to see, and ask your mentor board for ideas.

2. Consistent format and layout. Keep a consistent look and feel and your clients will start getting used to looking forward your contact. Keep the fonts plain and clean so that it is easy to read.

3. Delivery and List management. I use a professional service; it is easy, inexpensive, and trust-worthy.

Blogs are the hot and growing on-line marketing tool. It is also a great forum for sharing and brain-storming. By helping others you also help yourself. It is a very direct to consumer form of communication and also very immediate. Keys to success:

1. Stay involved and answer all questions immediately. Relationships are built over a long period of time.

2. Spell check – nothing ruins online credibility faster than misspellings or incorrect grammar.

3. Incorporate Keyword Phrases into your promotions.

4. Always be clear in your “Call to Action.”

5. Identify yourself clearly.

6. Be Patient.

Websites – can anyone in the visual art game today live without a website? Yes, but poorly. Now the key is not whether you have a website or not, but rather, how well do you market your website? Steps to marketing your website:

1. All of your communication, whatever it is, should emphasize your URL (web address.)

2. Print your web address boldly on the front of all of your snail mail.

3. You can issue a press release announcing anything new or newsworthy on your site. Make sure you use appropriate and effective key words in the description.

4. Incorporate your web address on all of your telephone answering machines or cell phone.

5. When you go on a radio talk show, make sure you drop your URL a few times.

6. When writing articles for magazines or newspapers online or off, always put your URL in your by-line.

7. Whenever you use advertising specialties (pens, note-pads, etc.) make sure your URL is on it.

8. Any form of advertising you use, always put your URL on it.

9. On your web pages, drop your URL in them from time to time. It reinforces the name in the readers mind and it helps with search engine optimization.

10. Mention your website in your signature for all news groups, discussion groups, or forum postings.

11. Use pay-per-click advertising.

There are many companies that specialize in online marketing, do your research. If you have specific questions or need some ideas drop me a line and I will be happy to discuss it with you.

“Enlightened Living”

Oil of Oregano or Oregano Oil

There has been numerous university and independent research done on the properties and efficacy of Oil of Oregano. Evidence has proven that Oregano Oil is a potent antimicrobial, antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal agent rivaling even pharmaceutical antibiotics. It also has been proven to be a powerful parasitic expellant, a valuable food preservative, and has been used to decontaminate foods from potentially harmful pathogen’s.

What does this mean and what can Oil of Oregano do for you?

Oil of Oregano is specifically good for:

• Digestive health

• A healthy immune system

• Joint and muscle flexibility

• Respiratory health

• Smooth, healthy, and clear-looking skin

• Helping to establish a toxic environment for unhealthy organisms constantly attacking our skin, digestive tracts, and mucus membranes

It has also been shown effective as a natural nutritional supplement for the management of acne, allergies, arthritis, asthma, athlete's foot, Candida, constipation, croup, digestive disturbances, insect bites, bronchitis, canker sores, colds, flu, earaches, fatigue, gum disease, headaches, menstrual irregularities, muscle pain, parasites, pneumonia, psoriasis, toenail fungus, toothache, seborrhea, staph & strep infection, strep (sore) throat, ringworm, rosaceous, sinusitis, and warts. Hippocrates used Oregano Oil for curing stomach pain and respiratory diseases. Paracelsus used wild oregano to treat diarrhea, psoriasis, vomiting, jaundice.

Oil of oregano is not to be confused with common oregano in the kitchen spice cupboard, which is usually marjoram (Origanum majorana or O. vulgare) rather than true oregano (Origanum vulgare). Oil of Oregano can be purchased as either a liquid or as capsules/tablets. In both forms, it is important to verify that the oil is derived from the proper potent oregano plant, and that the carvacrol concentration is at least 70%.

Yours in Health, Happiness, and Success

Your Friend

Chuck Groot BFA, F/PPABC, MPA