Caption: Bob White and Joanna Benson Spencer reconnect at the Roswell Fire Department’s Ole Timers Dinner at Station #24 on February 28, 2023. This event has occurred with Oyster Stew served each year for over sixty years. However, this is the first event in a couple of years due to COVID restrictions.

I just did a coverage yesterday for the Roswell Fire Department’s Ole Timers Annual Dinner; the photos in the blog are from that event. Event photography is an art, and it’s not just about capturing the elements of the event but also the emotions, moments, and personalities of the attendees.

Capturing the attendees’ emotions and interactions is crucial when covering a corporate event. A great event photographer should anticipate moments and be ready to capture shots that can convey the mood and emotions of the event. These candid shots help showcase the attendees’ personalities and relationships, creating an album that reflects the true spirit of the event.

It’s also essential for an event photographer to communicate with their clients to understand their expectations. Often, clients want to have a large group photo taken. As an event photographer, it’s essential to know how to manage a large group of people, find the right spot, and ensure everyone is in the correct position.

Tips:

To ensure your photos are searchable online, it’s essential to keyword them with relevant and specific terms. This way, your photos will appear in the search results when someone searches for a particular topic or event. While it may be impossible to keyword everyone’s name, be sure to get those who are the speakers or in leadership roles. Additionally, include relevant keywords such as the event name, location, and date to improve searchability.

In conclusion, event photography requires more than just capturing the elements of the event. It’s about capturing the attendees’ emotions, moments, and personalities, which help tell the event’s story. A great event photographer anticipates moments, pays attention to the interactions between the guests, and communicates with their clients to meet their expectations. Finally, keyword your photos for online searchability and increased exposure.

Here is a link to all the photos

When training a few years ago to get my Part 107 drone certification, I first encountered a well-defined list of hazardous attitudes that can sabotage your flying and decision-making abilities. As I learned more about these attitudes, I realized that they could apply to aviation and many areas of life, including business. In this blog post, I will discuss the five hazardous attitudes and how they can impact your success as an entrepreneur.

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In life, as in aviation, our decisions directly impact our endeavors’ outcome. Whether you’re a pilot or an entrepreneur, avoiding the five hazardous attitudes identified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to achieve success is essential. These attitudes are Antiauthority, Impulsivity, Invulnerability, Macho, and Resignation.

Antiauthority refers to a reluctance to follow the rules or regulations. In business, this can manifest as disregarding best practices, industry standards, and ethical guidelines. While being creative and thinking outside the box is essential, respecting established norms and complying with relevant laws and regulations is also crucial. This attitude can lead to legal issues, poor reputation, and a lack of trust among customers and partners.

Impulsivity is characterized by making decisions without fully considering the consequences. This can manifest as hasty investments, rash business deals, and impulsive hiring decisions. While taking risks is an integral part of entrepreneurship, weighing the pros and cons of every decision and anticipating potential outcomes is crucial. Unfortunately, this attitude can lead to financial losses, missed opportunities, and a lack of strategic vision.

Invulnerability refers to a belief that nothing wrong can happen to you. In business, this can manifest as overconfidence, complacency, and a lack of preparedness. While it’s essential to be optimistic and believe in your capabilities, it’s also crucial to be aware of potential risks and take measures to mitigate them. This attitude can lead to a false sense of security, poor crisis management, and a lack of resilience.

Macho refers to a desire to prove oneself through taking risks or showing off. In business, this can manifest as an obsession with growth, expansion, and market dominance. While it’s essential to be ambitious and strive for success, it’s also crucial to be mindful of the impact of your actions on stakeholders, society, and the environment. This attitude can lead to unethical practices, unsustainable growth, and a lack of social responsibility.

Resignation refers to a sense of helplessness or apathy. This can manifest as a lack of motivation, initiative, and business innovation. While it’s essential to be realistic and acknowledge challenges, having a growth mindset, embracing change, and seeking continuous improvement are crucial. This attitude can lead to stagnation, irrelevance, and a lack of competitiveness.

To build a successful brand and grow your business over time, avoiding these hazardous attitudes and cultivating a mindset of responsibility, resilience, and innovation is essential. This can be achieved by developing a clear vision, establishing core values, engaging with stakeholders, seeking feedback, and learning from failure. Doing so can create a culture of excellence that attracts customers, partners, and employees who share your vision and contribute to your success.

Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation where a friend or colleague sends you a long article or video without explanation, leaving you unsure whether it’s worth your time to review it? If so, you’re not alone. This is a common problem many of us face in today’s digital age, where we are bombarded with information from various sources daily.

As someone who values your time and attention, you want to make sure that you are investing it wisely by reading or viewing only the content that is relevant and valuable to you. This is where the importance of distilling information into a summary comes in. By providing a clear and concise summary of the material, authors can help readers quickly determine whether or not it’s worth their time to review the entire text.

In this blog post, we will explore the importance of creating short summaries that capture the essence of a larger body of work. We’ll discuss how summaries can save time, help you better understand complex ideas, and provide a valuable reference tool for future use. So, whether you’re a student, professional, or just someone who values your time and attention, read on to learn why distilling information into a summary is an essential practice in today’s fast-paced world.

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In today’s fast-paced world, time is a valuable commodity, and people often have limited time to spare for reading lengthy articles, reports, or even books. As a result, it’s become increasingly essential to distill information into a summary that captures the essence of the larger body of work. In this blog post, we will explore why it is necessary to provide such summaries and how they can help people make more informed decisions about whether to spend their valuable time reviewing something that will take considerable time to read.

Firstly, providing a summary allows the reader to quickly understand the document’s main points or material without spending significant time reading through the entire text. By highlighting the essential facts and critical takeaways, readers can quickly determine whether or not the material is relevant to them and whether it is worth their time to review it in full.

Secondly, summaries can help clarify complex ideas or concepts by breaking them into more accessible, bite-sized pieces. This can be especially helpful in fields such as science, technology, or finance, where technical terms and jargon can make it difficult for non-experts to understand the material. By presenting complex ideas more straightforwardly and understandably, summaries can help readers better understand the material.

Thirdly, summaries can serve as an essential reference tool for future use. By providing a condensed version of the material, resumes can be easily stored and accessed, allowing readers to quickly review the key points without having to go back and read the entire text. This can be particularly useful for students or professionals who need to reference the material for later use.

Finally, providing a summary shows respect for the reader’s time and attention. In today’s busy world, people are inundated with information from various sources. By providing a clear and concise summary, authors can demonstrate that they value their readers’ time and are willing to try to ensure their material is accessible and easy to understand.

In conclusion, distilling information into a summary is an essential practice that can help readers save time, better understand complex ideas, and make more informed decisions about whether or not to invest their time in reviewing a larger body of work. In addition, by providing precise and concise summaries, authors can make their material more accessible and valuable to a broader audience. So, the next time you create a report or document, take the time to complete a summary that captures the essential points and makes it easier for your readers to engage with your material.

Bailey King was broken by a lifetime of poverty and dawn-to-dark labor when Don Rutledge came to spend several weeks with him and his family. Doctors claimed it was meningitis and a stroke. “It weren’t that,” a friend said. “His body just plumb wore out.” But King’s mind was keen — and his lifelong belief in accepting others and sharing what little he had shone through. Rutledge’s photographs found the windows onto his soul in the lines and ridges of King’s weathered face, in the light and shadows of his sagging clapboard house. [photo by Don Rutledge]

Learning from the greats in photography can be incredibly beneficial to aspiring photographers. It not only helps in developing an understanding of why certain photographers are considered significant, but it can also inspire one to find their unique style.

Studying the Masters

When one is interested in photography, it is essential to study the work of great photographers. By studying their work, one can better understand what makes their work stand out and how they created their masterpieces. This can be as simple as visiting an art museum or a local art gallery to examine their work in person.

Understanding the Art

To truly understand the art, one must look at the lighting, composition, and the moment captured in the photograph. Examining these elements allows one to gain insight into the artist’s vision and inspiration. For example, understanding the lighting in a portrait can help one learn how to replicate the mood and feel in their photographs.

Developing a Style

By studying the work of great photographers, one can develop their style. It is important not to worry too much about creating a kind but rather to let it happen naturally. One day someone may notice a photographer’s unique style, and that is when they know they have found it.

Lighting, Composition, and the Moment

The style we see in others’ work is usually apparent in how they handle lighting, composition, and the moment captured. Lighting can create mood and add depth to a photograph. Understanding composition can help determine what to include and exclude from a photo. Capturing the decisive moment can be challenging but can be learned with practice and experience.

Learning from the Masters

Some great photographers to study include James Nachtwey, William Albert Allard, Sebastião Salgado, Dave Black, Eugene Smith, Carolyn Cole, Joanna Pinneo, and Don Rutledge. By studying their work, one can gain a deeper understanding of the art of photography and learn how to create their unique style.

In conclusion, learning from great photographers can be an exhilarating adventure for those interested in photography. One can better understand the art and develop their unique style by studying their work. Of course, it takes time and practice to master the elements of lighting, composition, and the decisive moment, but with dedication, anyone can become a great photographer.

The photo above is a practice session where we are demonstrating how to do an interview working with a translator during our Storytellers Abroad Missions Multimedia Workshop in Togo, West Africa. This is where we teach communicators who might be photographers, writers, and videographers how to be producers who can do this as a one-man-band storyteller. Most organizations will not have the resources to send out teams, but most can send one person.

In today’s fast-paced world, effective communication has become more critical. Communicating their mission, goals, and impact is essential for nonprofit organizations to engage with donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders. One way to achieve this is by having a professional communicator who can act as a one-person band if required by budget.

Having a Communications Specialist embedded in the field provides several advantages over having the position primarily at corporate headquarters with occasional travel to the area. One significant advantage is capturing and sharing stories and experiences in real time. This ensures that the content produced is authentic and relevant to the local context and can be used to inform and engage stakeholders more meaningfully.

Another advantage of having a Communications Specialist on the field is the ability to work more closely with the local staff to identify and create content that reflects the work and impact of the organization. As a result, they can collaborate more effectively to capture stories and experiences that are most relevant and impactful to the local community, ensuring that communication efforts are focused and targeted.

Furthermore, having a Communications Specialist in the field can help to ensure that communication efforts are aligned with the local context and culture. They can work more closely with the local staff to understand the nuances of the community, ensuring that communication efforts are sensitive to the local context and that messaging is appropriate and relevant.

In conclusion, having a Communications Specialist on the field provides a unique opportunity to capture and share stories and experiences that reflect the organization’s impact and work, collaborate more effectively with local staff, and ensure that communication efforts align with the local context and culture.

Drone photography has revolutionized how photographers capture images, offering a unique perspective that was once impossible without expensive equipment and extensive experience. With the advent of affordable and easy-to-use drones, anyone with the necessary training and certification can capture stunning aerial shots. In this blog post, we’ll explore how drone photography has changed what a typical professional photographer can offer their clients once they have their FAA Part 107 certification.

FAA Part 107 Certification

Before diving into how drone photography can benefit clients, it’s essential to understand the FAA Part 107 certification. This certification is required for anyone who wants to operate a drone for commercial purposes, including photography. To obtain the certificate, individuals must pass an aeronautical knowledge test and meet other requirements set forth by the FAA.

Commercial Drone Flying Without a Pilot’s License

• The civil penalties for flying commercially without obtaining a remote pilot’s certificate from the FAA are up to $32,666 for each incidence.
• This fine is charged per day for continual illegal use of a drone for commercial purposes after receiving a warning letter from the FAA.
• The FAA may also impose criminal sanctions, which include a fine of up to $250,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to three years upon conviction.

Once a photographer has obtained their FAA Part 107 certification, they can legally operate a drone for commercial photography. This opens up a new world of possibilities for photographers and their clients.

Benefits of Drone Photography for Clients

1. Unique Perspectives

Drone photography offers a unique perspective that is impossible to achieve with traditional photography equipment. With a drone, photographers can capture images from above, offering a bird’s-eye view of landscapes, buildings, and events. This perspective can provide clients a new and exciting way to showcase their products, properties, and events.

2. Increased Detail

Drones are equipped with high-resolution cameras that can capture incredible detail from above. This allows photographers to capture sharper and more detailed images than those caught from the ground. Clients can use these high-quality images for various purposes, including marketing materials, websites, and social media.

3. Enhanced Safety

With a drone, photographers can capture images from angles that were once impossible to achieve without putting themselves in danger. For example, drones can capture images of large structures, such as buildings and bridges, without needing a photographer to climb to dangerous heights. This enhances safety for both the photographer and their clients.

4. Cost-Effective

Drones are relatively inexpensive compared to traditional photography equipment, making them a cost-effective option for clients. In addition, capturing high-quality images from above can save clients time and money on an expensive helicopter or airplane rentals.

5. Versatility

Drones can be used for various photography needs, including real estate, events, and landscapes. This versatility allows photographers to offer a broader range of services to their clients, making them more valuable as a photographer.

Conclusion

Drone photography has genuinely changed what a typical professional photographer can offer clients once they have their FAA Part 107 certification. With the ability to capture unique perspectives, increased detail, enhanced safety, cost-effectiveness, and versatility, drone photography has become an essential tool for photographers looking to offer their clients the best. So if you’re a photographer looking to enhance your services, obtaining your FAA Part 107 certification and investing in a drone may be the perfect solution.

In today’s world, photographs play an important role in how potential students and their families perceive educational institutions. A professional photographer specializing in education and student recruitment can help institutions create a powerful visual brand that attracts the right students.

Here are some reasons why hiring a professional photographer is a smart move for educational institutions:

1. Quality photographs showcase the institution’s strengths and values: A professional photographer understands the importance of capturing images that highlight its unique qualities, such as its academic programs, campus culture, student life, and community engagement. These photos can be used in marketing materials, social media posts, and other communications to demonstrate what makes the institution stand out.
2. Professional photography creates a cohesive brand identity: An experienced photographer can work with the institution’s marketing and communications team to ensure that the photographs align with the institution’s overall brand identity. This can include color schemes, visual styles, and messaging that communicate the institution’s mission and values.
3. Photos can make or break a first impression: Potential students and their families often form their first impressions of an institution based on its website and marketing materials. High-quality photographs that showcase the institution’s facilities, student life, and academic programs can make a big difference in how prospective students view the institution.
4. Professional photographers have the technical expertise to capture the best shots: A professional photographer knows how to use lighting, angles, and other techniques to create visually appealing images that convey the right message. They also have the equipment and editing software necessary to produce high-quality images that can be used across various platforms.
5. Photography can help build an emotional connection with potential students: By showcasing the institution’s campus culture and student life through photographs, educational institutions can help likely students visualize themselves as part of the community. This can help build an emotional connection with the institution and increase students’ enrollment likelihood.

In conclusion, hiring a professional photographer specializing in education and student recruitment is an intelligent move for educational institutions that want to build a strong brand and attract the right students. With high-quality photos that showcase the institution’s strengths and values, institutions can create a powerful visual identity that resonates with prospective students and their families.

This is the Storytellers Abroad Workshop team in Lima, Peru. [NIKON Z 6, Sigma 24-105mm ƒ/4 Art, ISO 2000, ƒ/8, 1/200, Focal Length = 24]

Storytelling is essential for individuals and organizations to communicate their experiences, values, and ideas to their audience. However, becoming a proficient storyteller is not a one-time accomplishment but an ongoing process requiring continuous learning and practice.

Professional storytellers who assist people and organizations in finding and communicating their stories must keep up with evolving trends and technologies to remain effective in their craft. In addition, they must stay aware of the cultural, social, and economic shifts in their audience’s preferences to keep their stories relevant and engaging.

As non-fiction storytellers, they must be able to connect their audience with the message they are trying to convey. Therefore, adapting the narrative’s style and content to the audience’s needs is essential, making it easy for them to understand, empathize and find value in it. Storytellers must also be able to weave together facts, emotions, and insights to create compelling narratives that captivate their audience.

Additionally, these professional storytellers must be open to feedback and criticism. Constructive criticism helps them learn and grow, helping them adapt their storytelling style to create better narratives in the future.

In conclusion, storytelling is a never-ending journey for professional storytellers. They must continually improve their craft, adapt to their audience’s changing preferences, and learn from their mistakes to create compelling and relevant stories. This journey requires constant practice, learning, and creativity, but it ultimately makes more effective and powerful narratives for their clients.

As a professional photographer, you may have heard that prime lenses are the only way to truly high-quality images. However, while prime lenses certainly have advantages, they’re not always the best choice in every situation. There are many situations where a zoom lens can be the better choice for a professional photographer.

Here are some reasons why you might want to consider using a zoom lens:

1. Versatility: One of the most significant advantages of a zoom lens is its versatility, and flexibility prime lenses do not. With a zoom lens, you can quickly and easily change your focal length without swapping out lenses. This can be especially useful in dynamic environments where you must quickly capture various shots.
2. Convenience: Zoom lenses are also convenient because you don’t have to carry around multiple lenses. This can be especially important for photographers who are shooting on location and must keep their gear to a minimum.
3. Depth of Field: While prime lenses have the advantage of larger maximum apertures, which can create a shallower depth of field and more bokeh, zoom lenses can also create this effect by zooming in and using a longer focal length.
4. Image Quality: Zoom lenses have come a long way in recent years and can produce excellent image quality. Some zoom lenses even rival the image quality of prime lenses.

Of course, there are still situations where a prime lens might be the better choice. For example, if you’re shooting in low light and need a wide aperture to let in more light, a prime lens with a large aperture might be the best option. However, a zoom lens can be more versatile and convenient for many other situations.

So if you’re a professional photographer who has hesitated to use a zoom lens, it might be time to reconsider. With their versatility, convenience, and image quality, zoom lenses can be an excellent choice for many types of photography.

For Those Who Feel The Need To Comment

It’s important to remember that everyone has their preferences and opinions regarding photography gear and techniques. While some may prefer prime lenses or avoid high ISO settings, others may find value in using zoom lenses or shooting at higher ISOs.

• Regarding the comment about prime lenses: “While some photographers prefer the sharpness and image quality of prime lenses, I find that the versatility and convenience of zoom lenses better suit my shooting style and needs in certain situations. Of course, everyone’s preferences will differ depending on their goals and shooting conditions.”
• Regarding the comment about high ISO: “While it’s true that shooting at high ISOs can introduce noise and reduce image quality, I’ve found that using higher ISO settings can also be a valuable tool for capturing low-light scenes or fast-moving subjects. Of course, there may be situations where it’s better to avoid high ISOs and use other techniques like longer exposures or additional lighting.”

Please remember respectful and constructive dialogue can help build understanding and bridge differences, while trolling or derailing conversations can be counterproductive.

In the Parable of Talents, Jesus tells the story of a man who entrusts his three servants with varying amounts of money while he goes on a journey. Two of the servants invest and grow the money they are given, while the third servant buries his talent in fear of losing it. This parable represents our tendency to play it safe and avoid taking risks, even when it comes to pursuing growth and progress.

Analysis Paralysis and Career Changes

Many individuals struggle with taking action and are stuck in what is commonly referred to as “analysis paralysis.” This is the tendency to overthink and analyze a situation to the point of inaction, leading to missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential. One example of this is a person considering a career change. They may spend months or even years researching different career paths, becoming so focused on analyzing every detail that they never actually take the necessary steps to make a change.

To overcome analysis paralysis, it is important to take small steps towards the goal, even if everything is not figured out yet. Setting deadlines, taking action, and seeking support and guidance from others can all help to move forward and make progress towards career goals.

The Fear of Starting a New Venture

Another example of playing it safe is the fear of starting a new business or pursuing a creative passion. Many people have dreams of starting their own company or pursuing a creative passion but are held back by the fear of failure and the unknown. Like the man who buried his talent, they may choose to play it safe and stick with the security of their current job, even if it means sacrificing their potential for growth and success.

Excuses and Personal Growth

Excuses can also lead to problems in the realm of personal growth and self-improvement. Many people make excuses for not pursuing their passions or working towards their goals, such as “I don’t have enough time” or “I’m not talented enough.” These excuses may feel valid, but they ultimately hold individuals back from reaching their full potential and creating a fulfilling life.

Making Excuses and Stagnation

By not pursuing their passions or working towards their goals, individuals may feel unfulfilled and unhappy in their personal and professional lives. This can lead to strained relationships with family and loved ones and a sense of regret and missed opportunities. It can also create a cycle of complacency and lack of motivation, leading to a stagnation of personal growth and progress.

Take Responsibility for Action and Choices

Ultimately, the message of the Parable of Talents is that we must take action and use our abilities to their fullest potential to grow and succeed. While it can be tempting to play it safe and avoid risk, we must have the courage to step out of our comfort zones and pursue our dreams, knowing that the potential for growth and success is worth the risk. By taking responsibility for our choices and actions, and working towards our goals despite obstacles and challenges, we can create a more fulfilling and secure life for ourselves and those around us.

Photo By Gibbs Frazeur [NIKON D750, 14.0-24.0 mm f/2.8, Mode = Manual, ISO 450, 1/1000, ƒ/8, (35mm = 14)]

As a professional photographer, always having a backup plan for equipment is crucial. This was emphasized to me during my recent experience while doing commercial real estate drone work.

Upon arriving at the job site, I encountered an error message on my DJI Air 2S drone, stating that it could not take off due to a code 30064 error. I immediately attempted to troubleshoot the issue by researching online and downloading new software, but to no avail. Then, I realized the importance of having a backup drone on hand.

Luckily, I had my first drone, the DJI Air 2, with me as a backup, and I could complete the job without any further issues. However, the job could have been a complete disaster if I had not been prepared with a backup drone.

After completing the job, I went home and researched the issue and found the solution was reinstalling the DJI app on my Android phone. However, I did not receive a warning about the DJI app while in the field, which could have prevented the problem altogether.

I have a few tips for fellow drone photographers to avoid similar issues in the future. Firstly, always turn on your drone and update its software before leaving the house. This ensures you have the latest firmware updates and know your internet connection. Secondly, test-fly your drone before the job to ensure everything works as it should. This can prevent any issues from occurring during the actual job. Lastly, always format your SD card after updating the software to ensure no compatibility issues.

In conclusion, my recent experience highlighted the importance of having a backup plan for equipment when doing professional photography, especially when working with drones. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your equipment is always up to date and that you are prepared for any unforeseen circumstances that may arise on the job.

[X-E2, XF55-200mmF3.5-4.8 R LM OIS, Mode = Aperture Priority, ISO 2000, 1/500, ƒ/5.6, (35mm = 300)]

Depth of field is one of the most critical aspects of photography that allows photographers to control the amount of sharpness in a scene. It refers to the range of distances within a scene that appear acceptably sharp in an image. While many assume that depth of field is all about the aperture, the truth is that focal length and distance to the subject are just as crucial.

The aperture is undoubtedly an essential factor that affects the depth of field. A wide aperture (small f-number) results in a shallow depth of field, while a narrow aperture (large f-number) results in a deep depth of field. However, focal length and distance to the subject also play a significant role in determining the depth of field.

Focal length refers to the distance between the lens and the camera’s image sensor. It affects the angle of view, perspective, and image compression. When using a longer focal length, the depth of field appears shallower, making the background blurrier. In contrast, shorter focal lengths result in a deeper depth of field, making more of the scene appear in focus.

Distance to the subject is another critical factor that affects depth of field. When you move closer to the subject, the depth of field becomes shallower. Conversely, when you move away from the subject, the depth of field becomes deeper. This is why portraits shot at a close distance with a wide aperture have a shallow depth of field, resulting in a blurred background.

Therefore, to achieve the desired depth of field, it is crucial to consider all three factors: aperture, focal length, and distance to the subject. A photographer needs to understand these factors and how they interact to create the desired effect in their image.

In conclusion, while the aperture is a crucial factor that affects the depth of field, it is equally important to consider the focal length and distance to the subject. By understanding how these factors interact, photographers can create stunning images with the perfect depth of field for their subject and creative vision.