What Blogs do you read?

Ok time for you to give back? I have a certain few blogs I check everyday. Here is my list:

1. PixelatedImage Blog - David is one of the best writers I know and is always inpserational.
   
2. Joe McNally - Joe is one of the best photographers out there and is always willing to share. And by the way, Joe's blog was a stitch today!
3. Chase Jarvis - Chase is awsome. Talk about some who shares knowledge. This guy rocks and he produces some pretty mean videos as well.
4. The Travel Photographer - Tewfic El-Sawy always has some great links to some very cool slideshows.
5. Photoshop Insider - Scott Kelby is, well Scott Kelby a must read.
6. TED Blog - This is always a way to stay up on what the "world" fines important.
7. Gavin Gough - Gavin has great insight and I just love looking at his images.
8. A Photogrpahy Blog- Rachel Hulin digs up some great images and is always good for a hoot.
   

OK - Now it is your turn. Who do you read? I know you are out there, I see the states. So please don't embarrass me and not respond. Or I am going to have to have my mom email for 50 different computers to cover my Arse!


PS One more I almost forgot to list. What the Duck. A must read. Not only is it funny, but it speaks volumes!

©2008 Aaron Johnson - Used With Permission - What The Duck Comic Strips

The Stock Jungle

I am not talking about the stock market, not that jungle. The jungle I am hacking through is the stock image jungle. From monsters like Getty Images and Corbis to the micro stock agencies where you can pick up a great image for $5 or less. Who are they and how does this all work. Here is what I know:

Most stock agencies sell images based on size and usage. So an image that is small and will only be used once in a limited small run may only cost you a few bucks. But an image that will be used on a hording (that is a billboard for us Americans) and plastered all over New York or London will run you big, big bucks. The photographer lets these agencies represent their images for "right of use". He makes his money from a cut or a percent. It can be anywhere from 25% to as much as 50% of the image sale. Micro stock is different. These guys deal in volume and will sell your images for pennies compared to the large stock agencies. In fact you won't even get a check till you have sold $75 to $100 worth of images. Not much profit for the amount of work that goes into imaging. So, the idea is to have large volumes of photos online and key worded so that when some one wants an image of a "crying boy" they key-in those words and your image pops up. That is of course, along with 150 other crying boys, so you still have to have great images that stand out above the rest.

So who are these micro stock agencies? Here are just a few. The most famous being iStockPhoto also Shutter Stock, Dreams Time, 123rf.com, Feature Pics. Feature Pics actually let's photographers set the price for their images. Then there is Stock.xchng, these guys even have many images that are free! I found images on Stock.xchng that were priced images on iStock. Not sure how they do that, but for the end user it is a great deal.

At this time I have not taken the dive into the micro stock agency. I am represented by IndiaPicture. Of course they specialise in ..er.. Pictures ...of India. One thing they have just started on their site, that I have not seen of the others is Live Support. Not sure how this is used but I guess it is at least fun to talk to someone in India for once about your image needs and not your credit card statement.

In The News

I am sorry it has been so long in posting. I have been up to my gills in setting up house, getting insurance and finding transportation. I should have a phone line with in 7 days with significant internet speed, or so they tell me. It had better be for price I am paying. I am looking forward to meeting with Grungeman with week. We are going out for some Teh Tarek and shoot some photos together.

I am in the news this week so I thought I would do a little honking of my own horn today. Check out an interview done with me by a new website on India and travel called duniyagolhai.com (the world is round). Here is a short excerpt:

2. How in your opinion traveling influences the art of photography?

MB:I think traveling has had a significant influence in photography over the past 10 to 15 years. The fact that people can travel more, longer and further is a huge factor. People are going places today that were once thought only accessible by National Geographic Photographers or highly funded adventurists. It used to be that a unique image was good enough, now very little is unique so an image has to be exceptional. It needs to tell a story, communicate the vision of the photographer.There are a lot fewer barriers today for a traveling photographer than 15 years ago.Almost everyone has a digital camera and a photo lab in their computer. All these things have had a huge impact on photography today....

3. Your documentation of Kashmir is unique in capturing the soul of the place rather than the oft-reported violence. What motivated you to present the humane side of the place?

MB:There are so many photographers covering the conflict in Kashmir and doing a much better job than I could. I look at the work of Ami Vitale and am moved to tears. Her work is amazing, so why should I cover what is already being done so exceptionally well? I have always felt I wanted to show a compassionate side of the Kashmiri and Gujjar people. I am from the US and over the past few years since 911, many people in the West have developed a negative view of Muslims.....

Visit the link HERE to read the whole of the interview.

I received word that the fine people at the Indian Himalayan Club published a book review on my book "Kashmir, the Mystery". Below is an excerpt from the review.

Kãshmir: The Mystery, published by Tara Press, New Delhi, with photographs by Matt Brandon and text by Marryam H. Reshii, is a fabulous and insightful collection of photographs that brings out the beauty and ethos of Kashmir in its entirety.

The photographer's intimate connection with the land and its inhabitants, both human and animal, is very obvious from the type and quality of photographs, and Marryam Reshii's authoritative text complements the photographs and provides a window into Kashmiriyat---the Kashmiri culture and society. Concentrating on the Kashmir Valley only, making it unique, this splendid book fills a big lacuna in the set of existing books on Kashmir.

For the full review go HERE and look for the Himalayan Club e-letter, vol. 13, July 2008.

Lightstalker.org - A Photojournalist Aide

Others of you may already know about Lightstalkers.org. Lightstalkers is a network for journalists, especially photographers and other media types that find themselves constantly traveling, dealing with visas, gear issues and all the other frustrations our folks in our line of work face. It is a great experiment working towards networking photojournalists directly with one another. It is a free site and open for anyone who shares this lifestyle. There are some great resource links such as posting of assignments and opportunities, events and workshops relating to travel and photojournalism around the world, gear for sale, tech support for everything from Lightroom to negative scanners, even housing around the world. But the most interesting and most helpful has to be the travel link where you will find photographers asking questions about, "best way to embed with US troops in Iraq " or the easiest way to get into North Korea. The site comes with other perks like a Slideshow Pro gallery of up to 50 images. What it isn't, is a place to be discovered. There are way too many photographers on it and you will be just another one of many. But I do think it could prove useful for planning that next adventure or remote shoot.

Shahidul Alam

A blog I recommend and link to in the sidebar of this blog is Tewfic El-Sawy's "The Travel Photographer". Tewfic often highlights talented photographers on the net. His blog has led me to many creative sites and todays link is no exception. Shahidul Alam's multimedia presentation of his trip up the Brahmaputra is fantastic, full of color and adventure. His use of audio and graphic within the slide show is very creative. A treat for the eye. Go here to view the multimedia presentation and here to read Tewfic blog.

Philippines Gallery Posted

I have posted a few images from my most recent trip to the Philippines. Just go to the main gallery page and click on the link that reads "Philippines", pretty simple. Enjoy.

Gallery Up and Running Again

I got this from the the folks at Evrium, the makers of my gallery software:

Hi Matt,

I hope you’re having a happy holiday season!

Your website has been quickly fixed! Looks like there might have been a small server hiccup last time you were in your fluid galleries website admin area. It should be fine now.

Have a great new years Matt! Best wishes.

Regards,


Support Team
Evrium Incorporated

So all seems well.

Here is a sampling of some things to come. All these images are from the island of Cebu.

Filipino Christmas Parols (pronounced “pah-roll” with a rolling "r")

Apparently a Rolling Stones fan.

Web Gallery Down

My web gallery is down. Not sure why. I have not posted anything to the gallery for weeks, so I can't imagine I did something to it. I contacted my host and they said, "Not our fault." So I then contacted the folks that make the gallery software. I have yet to hear back from them. I guess it will be awhile as it is the holidays.

In the mean time. Here is a sampling of some of my beautiful nieces. I swear, Filipino women are some of the prettiest in the world!