January 10, 2011

New Website update, Study Hall with Becker and more..

The Photographer

The last week has again been kinda crazy busy.. but enjoying how this year is progressing..

I just wanted to give you a brief update on what I’ve been up to and some interesting stuff to check out..

• New Website

I’ve been working hard to get images ready and things customised within my new website that I’m designing. I’m hoping to get it live this week and can’t wait to present it to you and my future and prospective clients. The blog is most definitely the personal side of me, with my work being shared via regular blog posts. A website for better organised presentations of my work and for future clients to get to know my style, for me, is a must. I think the new website will add greatly to my photography business and will  further the professional feel to my work.

• The B School – Study Hall with [b]

If you check out Thursday’s Study Hall with Becker, then try and watch this Thursday’s broadcast. Becker is in London for SWPP and has invited me to be a guest on Study Hall with him, Internet connection permitting! :) If I’m correct, I think this will be one of very few international broadcasts of Study Hall (there was one previously in Canada) so I hope we get to broadcast!

I cannot wait to chat and meet Becker. I love his work and his attitude to the photography community. I have learnt so much from Becker,via the B School and from the members within it, who continue to help me and each other. If you haven’t checked it out already and you’re a photographer, definitely check it out!

The B School 2.0 also debuts on 02/02/2011 and I’ve been lucky enough to be able to check out the Beta version in advance. The site looks great and I can’t wait for other members to get on board too. Its super quick, has all of the favourite functions from the current version such as the forum, classroom and the gallery and its very easy to navigate. It also has all the social media widgets you could want!

Becker has been working hard to make this site the best way for photographers to connect and it does just that! Get involved..

• 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

I borrowed this book off a friend a while ago and unfortunately never had the time to read it. I really regretted that ever since and finally decided to buy the book, but when I went on Amazon, I saw that the CD version was only £5! So I thought I’d buy that and listen to instead..  It was definitely worth it!

The 7 habits within here include being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, thinking win-win and some excellent tips on negotiation. Be sure to check it out! Stephen R. Covey is a great speaker and throws in some great examples to illustrate his points throughout.

• Zane Lowe – In New Music We Trust

For some of the best new music and up and coming artists, check out Zane Lowe‘s Radio 1 show during the week, Radio 1, Mon-Fri 7-9pm. The music is always fresh and up beat.. Love this on while I’m editing!

• The Wire

I’ve been rewatching series one of The Wire this week whilst editing. I have to say, I absolutely love this show.

Don’t start a conversation with me about the Wire, I could talk about it forever. But briefly, its one of the best TV drama’s created by HBO and is also said to be Barack Obama’s favourite TV show too.

It’s very realistic and is set in Baltimore from the view point of the drug dealers, the addicts and the police, lawyers, and anyone else who is involved. It’s slow moving to start with but you’ll soon get used to it and probably addicted to it like me.

For photographers, the lighting is always dramatic and low lit, dark and moody in particular, especially in season 1. .

Pay attention to the dialogue! There’s a lot going on .. ‘Listen carefully’

• iPhone 4

Yes! I finally bought an iPhone4 and am loving it! I have a few apps already installed, mainly Hipstamatic, Tweetdeck and WhatsApp and thanks to you guys on twitter, I’ll soon be trying out Instagram, BestCamera and Retro Camera too!

I think its going to change the way I connect with others and I really needed it to respond to emails quicker, briefly showcase my portfolio to others, connect with others via twitter, catch up on blogs whilst commuting, stay in touch with family and friends abroad with WhatsApp and of course use the camera to take photos!!!

Let me know if you have any other recommendations for Apps or functions I should be checking out!

• Portrait

Finally, I’ve been revisiting some of my older work and images and re-editing them too. This is one of my portrait’s of a model called Rob that I shot with Dr Rave in a Warehouse over the summer in London.

I added a different black and white process over it and quite like it like this .. I hope you do too!

Enjoy the rest of your week, and hope to catch you online at The B School, Thursday evening at 12 midnight GMT & 4pm PST.

Cheers!

Sachin