Did you know that:

• That China will soon become the #1 English speaking country in the world?
• That the average high school student sends over 2,000 text messages a month?

A fascinating new video is making the rounds on the Internet. Created by Karl Fisch, Jeff Brenman, and Scott McLeod, it describes how technology is changing our world.

The original version, created in 2007 is called “Shift Happens.” It focuses on how global changes (not just technology) are impacting our lives. According to the authors:

These videos have been viewed well over 20 millions times by audiences large and small, educational, corporate and everything in between. It’s been shown to the leaders of our national defense and to incoming congressmen. It’s been shown by university presidents and kindergarten teachers, televangelists and politicians, folks just trying to make a buck and those trying to save the world.

If you have 5 minutes to spare, I definitely recommend you watch the latest video. It will remind you where you need to focus your marketing efforts. If you have 10 minutes, watch them both. You won’t be disappointed.

Lindsay Adler over at PopPhoto.com has a great article entitled, “26 Books Every Photographer Should Own.” If you’re looking for inspiration, a gift for a photographer, or a gift for yourself, this is a great list to start from.
 
 
 
 
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Recently I purchased a subscription to the Photovision video seminar DVDs. Even though I am not a working photographer, I am constantly looking for ways to help photographers improve their business and photography. I thought the Photovision videos could help.

I was right. Each DVD, hosted by Ed Pierce, contains two hours of video training by some of the best photographers in the industry. The DVDs are like watching a TV show where only the world’s best photographers share their secrets with you. Some talk about shooting technique, some talk about studio design, some talk about marketing; but all of them taught me something new.

For example, I was particularly interested in the video walk-through of Adobe’s Lightroom software. After a single 25 minute video, I felt I understood how the product could benefit several of the lab’s clients. The time was much better spent than reading a manual or playing around with the software. During another video I enjoyed listening to Julia and Jeffrey Woods as they explained the tricks they use for keeping a clients energy level up during a photo shoot in order to make more exciting photographs.

A one-year subscription (bi-monthly) to the Photovision DVDs is $149. Think of it as paying an expert about $12 an hour to help you improve your business and photography. It’s a deal you can’t afford to pass up.

UPDATE

In addition to their photographer training video, Photovision now has a large library of educational DVDs. For $69 to $149 you can learn studio lighting, marketing, posing, or any of a dozen skills taught by the industry’s leading professionals. Very cool.

Jodie Coston, a freelance photographer who has won numerous international awards for her images and makes her living selling photography online, has an online photography course sponsored by the morguefile.com. This course is free and open to the public. Lots of excellent examples, and she covers both the theory and the practical application of professional photographic techniques.

If you have mastered all these techniques, you may be ready to start selling photography online too.

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Lesson 1: Composition And Impact - It’s A Beautiful Photograph, But Do You Know WHY It’s Beautiful?

Lesson 2: Aperture And Shutter Speed - How They Work Together.

Lesson 3: The lens - choosing camera optics.

Lesson 4: ISO, Grain, Transparency vs. Negative, Specialty Films

Lesson 5: Fun Effects - Camera Filters, Soft Focus, Zooming And Panning

Lesson 6: Landscape, Nature and Travel Photography

Lesson 7: Portraits And Studio Lighting

Lesson 8: Studio Lighting - Still Life and Product Photography

Lesson 9: Tying It All Together

Lesson 10: Special Requests