Photo by Ira Lippke Studios
www.iralippkestudios.com

Humor is a hard thing to convey in a picture. I’m not talking about showing a picture of something funny going on. I’m talking about making a picture funny. Seeing the world and recognizing how it conveys a very specific idea that others will get is anything but easy. Humor tasks you with razor sharp perception and quick wit. You need to know on the spot what not just how you see a situation, but how people will react to it, and there’s no way to resort to visual devices for security. You have go all in and make sure it’s really about the moment.

This shot from Ira Lippke Studios grabbed my attention. … Read more...

I was watching Top Chef Masters one day, when it hit me. No one gets kicked out for producing great food that barely meets the criteria of the challenge. But people get kicked off all the time for producing mediocre food that perfectly fits the criteria of the challenge. Most challenges force the contestants to cook meals for someone other than the judges. It might be a rock band, an actor, a tailgate party, or a couple about to be engaged. But they don’t really matter. The judges do. And no one is impressed with people who just show they can follow the rules. You cook down to the people, you get kicked off. You cook for yourself, and you … Read more...

Spencer’s Law:

The level of risk you take directly relates to the benefits you receive.

The funny thing about information is that there’s never enough of it until it doesn’t matter anymore. So, there’s little that makes me happier than the fact that hindsight is 20/20. It means we live in a world filled with opportunity. It gives us all the chance to be pioneers by staking our own claim. Being bold. Finding our ponds. And it’s all as easy as taking a risk. Forget about wait and see. If you wait, you die. Because once everyone has access to the same information and tools, competitive advantage is lost.

Take the case of the camera that doesn’t need you … Read more...

Getting a lot of “So-and-so photographer just offered me X. Can you match that?” Nip it in the bud. Nip any potential issue in the bud, because once the question is out there, you’re on the defensive. Life is worse. You’re playing on someone else’s turf. If you have a great answer on tap, then maybe you can go with it, but 9 times out of 10, you’re better off preventing people from asking the questions. Engage their concerns before they have to ask it of you, because if you’re being compared, you’re being commodified.

The trick? Establish your position from the very start. Let’s go back to the package comparison. Make it clear that what you do is unique. … Read more...

Photo by Becky Holladay
www.beckyholladay.com

It’s getting to the point where I’m going to have to name this “Periodic Inspiration” instead. But that would sound lame. Fortunately, I still have a nice archive of images I’m working my way through, so with some luck, I can kick things in gear and put these up a little more regularly. I wonder to myself so often “How can I be so busy that I can’t get around to posting one picture each day?” Is it just me?

At bat today is Becky’s wonderfully moody getting-ready image. Beautifully exposed and nicely metered, going with the silhouette was a smart move. The stark black outline brings attention to the form of the body. You … Read more...