Cup of Joe Photo

Confessions of a Disgruntled Awards Night Host

If you missed the awards night intro this year, you can see it here, right now. Well friends, Ron Dawson made me look like I could actually kinda act. Being in front of the camera is MUCH more difficult than being behind it. This video was so fun to do! I'd like to thank Ron (it was his idea) and his lovely wife Tasra, my favorite San Francisco brutha Brook Todd (You're money baby) and Skip Cohen and all the staff at WPPI for giving my the best two nights of my life hosting the awards night banquet:) I love all you guys, and I'm not just sayin' it because I want to host again. Oh and thanks also to what's her name...

Ingrid & I in Vegas

My lovely wife is awesome! She is so patient and understanding with me in Vegas. She actually dreads this convention because of the totally hectic pace, lack of sleep, smoke filled casinos and my ever changing plans. It's good to be home and I look forward to a return to quiet living. Ingrid is the foundation of everything I know is important. I'm truly blessed to have her as my wife and my best friend.

Coming home

WOW! What an incredible week it has been in Vegas. WPPI was better than ever! I'm so proud to be a part of such a wonderful, nuturing community of talented artists. It's 3:30 in the morning here, and I'm ready for some sleep. I'll be posting more about my experinces over the next several days. Until then, check out the portrait that Kate Benson did of me while I was mentoring her as the winner of the Thirst Relief bid.
I'll be home tonight. Cheers.

Robert Mapplethorpe

You're never going to get anywhere in life if you don't live up to your obligations. -Robert Mapplethorpe

Love him or hate him, he has an important point here. His comment reminds me of the "The Four Agreements". Two of the agreements are to "be impeccable with your word" and "always do your best". If you do what you promise to do and always do you best, you will go far in life and especially with those closest to you. These practices are making huge changes in my personal life. The journey is exciting, practice living up to your obligations.

Andrea & Benn Engagement

Andrea and Benn were so cute together. They had a great time with each other as I was shooting them. One of the critical elements of a successful portrait session, is that the clients be relaxed and comfortable with their photographer. It's easy for me to be excited and affirming while I'm shooting. As a result, the clients can enjoy the session, and the results show in their expressions. Enjoy!

The Long Tail

Chris Anderson is on to something here. I found this book fascinating. His research is fresh and interesting. He examines consumer trends capitalizing on countless niche markets as the web provides vastly greater choices for individuals to explore and purchase their preferences. Check out his blog too. A big shout out to David Jay for giving me this audio book. Thanks brother! You bless me.

Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly Wired editor Anderson declares the death of "common culture"—and insists that it's for the best. Why don't we all watch the same TV shows, like we used to? Because not long ago, "we had fewer alternatives to compete for our screen attention," he writes. Smash hits have existed largely because of scarcity: with a finite number of bookstore shelves and theaters and Wal-Mart CD racks, "it's only sensible to fill them with the titles that will sell best." Today, Web sites and online retailers offer seemingly infinite inventory, and the result is the "shattering of the mainstream into a zillion different cultural shards." These "countless niches" are market opportunities for those who cast a wide net and de-emphasize the search for blockbusters. It's a provocative analysis and almost certainly on target—though Anderson's assurances that these principles are equally applicable outside the media and entertainment industries are not entirely convincing. The book overuses its examples from Google, Rhapsody, iTunes, Amazon, Netflix and eBay, and it doesn't help that most of the charts of "Long Tail" curves look the same. But Anderson manages to explain a murky trend in clear language, giving entrepreneurs and the rest of us plenty to think about. (July) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Bookmarks Magazine
In The Long Tail, Chris Anderson offers a visionary look at the future of business and common culture. The long-tail phenomenon, he argues, will "re-shape our understanding of what people actually want to watch" (or read, etc.). While Anderson presents a fascinating idea backed by thoughtful (if repetitive) analysis, many critics questioned just how greatly the niche market will rework our common popular culture. Anderson convinced most reviewers in his discussion of Internet media sales, but his KitchenAid and Lego examples fell flat. A few pointed out that online markets constitute just 10 percent of U.S. retail, and brick-and-mortar stores will never disappear. Anderson's thesis came under a separate attack by Lee Gomes in his Wall Street Journal column. Anderson had defined the "98 Percent Rule" in his book to mean that no matter how much inventory is made available online, 98 percent of the items will sell at least once. Yet Gomes cited statistics that could indicate that, as the Web and Web services become more mainstream, the 98 Percent Rule may no longer apply: "Ecast [a music-streaming company] told me that now, with a much bigger inventory than when Mr. Anderson spoke to them two years ago, the quarterly no-play rate has risen from 2% to 12%. March data for the 1.1 million songs of Rhapsody, another streamer, shows a 22% no-play rate; another 19% got just one or two plays." If Anderson overreaches in his thesis, he has nonetheless written "one of those business books that, ironically, deserves more than a niche readership" (Houston Chronicle).

Gambling

I find the timing of this story amusing. Quite funny actually. I'm a Catholic who, just this past Thursday, took my Grandma and my God father (who is a Catholic Deacon) out to Harrahs in San Diego to play slot machines. I am not at all into gambling. It's not the slightest temptation for me. My grandma, who is one of the most devout Christians I know, likes to play slots. Good for her, it's her entertainment. I prefer shopping at Louis Vuitton. (That actually might be a sin.) Anyway, I'll be pondering this story further as I drive out to Vegas today. Cheers.

Conservative Roman Catholic bishops in the Philippines were not amused when three nuns were photographed playing slot machines and blackjack at a gaming fair in Manila.

The church, which frowns on all forms of gambling, launched an inquiry and says the nuns could face sanctions from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines if found to have sinned.

Archbishop Oscar Cruz told local radio Tuesday that he has ordered an investigation and will take "steps on the sisters' actions."

Cruz said the church "strictly prohibits men of the cloth... including nuns ... from gambling."

Cruz said the church recently defrocked a parish priest who was caught gambling in a provincial casino.

He described as "shameful" photographs and television footage showing nuns playing blackjack and trying out slot machines at the launch of a Gaming Expo in Manila.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. spokesman, Edward King, described the incident as "innocent."

"The sisters are innocent of the ways and means of the world. I'm not saying they are saints."

He said the nuns "played without money" and denied the nuns were tricked into playing blackjack and using the slot machines.

Banner Banner

I designed my first banner for a wedding coordinator friend of mine. Sheryal Rozelle of Unique Elegance has created a very large Indian and Southeast Asian Bridal Show for Southern California. It's going to take place this Sunday. Since I'll be heading to Vegas, this is the first year I couldn't participate as a vendor, so I made her a banner. Check it out, it's 31 x79 inches. Totally cool for promotions. I'm certain I'll be making more. Check them out here.

Henri Cartier-Bresson

To take photographs means to recognize - simultaneously and within a fraction of a second - both the fact itself and the rigorous organization of visually perceived forms that give it meaning. It is putting one's head, one's eye and one's heart on the same axis. Henri Cartier-Bresson

This is a movie that should not be missed! Enjoy every moment.

Volunteers Needed

I need 8 photographers who enjoy their daily "cup of joe" to help me spread the good news of my blog at the WPPI convention. I have thousands of postcards introducing the blog (and some exciting new surprises). Be the first to know! I will meet with the willing Evangelists on Sunday at 5 pm at Paris and give each person a stack to distribute. Drinks are on me and the top 3 promoters will receive rewards. Details to be discussed on Sunday.

Interested?

Send me an email and tell me who you are why you'd like to participate. Please send asap to becky@joephoto.com. We will contact you on Friday with the specific details. I'm looking for enthusiasm and passion! I'm an equal opportunity...well...you get the picture. Let the games begin. Cheers!