On my mind #ramble
It is Sunday morning and so once again I share a few thoughts with you. What’s on my mind this week? Too much! I was having weird dreams last night, I had so much whirring through my mind. I’ve had a lot of criticism this year and most of it has been politically motivated. I get caught between the loony left and the loony right. I just try to contribute to the community. I do that by taking writing, taking photos and managing social media. On Friday I was photographing the Christmas lights switch-on. Yes, I photographed politicians but that doesn’t mean I support all their policies. In fact I support some right-wing policies such as Donald Trump’s corporation tax cuts. That doesn’t make me an American Republican. If they implement austerity to pay for those tax cuts, I will condemn them.
Modern life and the era of social media
It’s Sunday morning and so, as usual, I’ll share my thoughts with you. I’m feeling my age a bit. I was brought up in a different era. It was, where I live, an industrial era. One filled with black smoke and the sounds of heavy industry. I remember the steam trains of the Great Western Railway and the Midland Red buses that went to Dudley and beyond. I remember the enormous cooling towers of Ocker Hill Power Station and the giant industrial complexes that employed thousands of people. That all changed when bands like the Beatles taught us that music could earn more money than metal bashing and the world changed forever. It heralded a new era of electronic domination, an era of computers and eventually, an era of social media.
Developing a photography project #photography
I constantly develop as a community photographer. I take photographs at events as part of my role as a public relations officer doing publicity. I also do landscape photography, food photography and portrait photography. I not only try to develop the photography skills but the social skills to deal with people and I’m also trying to develop as an artist. I have two art projects at the moment. One is for a competition and is loosely on the subject of spring flowers and the other project is photographing people. I’m photographing people with a wide open aperture and a long zoom lens. That project needs a lot more thought and work. Yesterday, I was out taking photographs to publicise an event and a local company on social media.
Social media and blogging channels #media
It is difficult to engage with users on social media and it is even harder to engage with readers with a blog. To engage with readers with a blog you have to write about subjects they are interested in, or are passionate about. Something quite personal that they identify with is even better.
Wednesbury BID – Business Improvement District #Wednesbury
It’s Wednesday and so, as usual, I’m writing about the town I have always lived in; Wednesbury! I have good news this week because we are finally going to start getting the Wednesbury Business improvement District off the ground. It will be funded initially by the businesses in the town centre but that is just the beginning for Wednesbury BID.
A walk in the park #life
It’s Sunday morning again and so once again I let you into the innermost recesses of my mind and share my thoughts with you on this sunny Sunday morning. I am, of course, thinking about the weather, we have more showers forecast. I want to go out and take photographs. A walk in the park? Maybe not… (more…)
Spring photography
It is Sunday morning and so I’m granting you access to the innermost recesses of my mind once again and sharing my thoughts. Today’s picture is a nice sunny spring picture, but I can’t think where it could be. I took it last May, but where? I don’t usually forget pictures I’ve taken. (more…)
Look to the future #ramble
I photographed this little shop just before Christmas. It’s called Une Vie Nouvelle. Many small businesses are struggling to compete with the big multinationals and so a bit of free publicity is a big help. They do French and country inspired interiors which are in vogue right now. (more…)
Santa on social media #Christmas
This week I’ve photographed a Christmas lunch for the elderly and when Santa’s sleigh passed by my house, I grabbed my camera and took a few pictures. The pictures of both events went out quickly on Facebook and helped promote the events. It raised awareness so people feel like it’s Christmas. It has added to all the other Christmas promotions too. (more…)
The power of images #photography
This picture of the two churches overlooking where I live will be recognised by people living in the town. It’s an iconic image even at night and one that can be seen miles away. When we see the churches we know we’re home. (more…)
Images and stories
I designed a new banner for our Facebook history page this morning. Social media is all about engaging with members or fans and keeping interest alive. It’s the same if you run a community group or a small business. (more…)
Life skills, images and perceptions
I’m used to manipulating photographs to give a different artistic image and I change images using social media too. I’ve noticed advertisements on television advising young people to acquire ‘life skills’, so they can better present themselves at interviews when they are looking for a job. (more…)
Engaging people in the modern world
At one time it was enough to have colleagues and friends. Now we are expected to ‘engage’ people through social media and in other ways. We have LinkedIn for our professional profile and connections. Facebook for less formal ‘friends’ and there are various community groups we can join, rather than going down the pub. (more…)
Psychology | Communication
We tend to have a conflict in our lives between our primitive desires and our desire to improve ourselves. This affects how we communicate with each other. Our lives have become more complicated and so has communication. We are individuals, but we take decisions collectively and need the support of others.
Saturday roundup of this weeks ideas
The weather forecast for this weekend is rain all weekend and so I think there is little chance of me taking more photographs this weekend. It’s only 11 days to the Spring equinox. That will be closely followed by Easter and we will be putting the clocks on an hour so the evenings will be lighter and maybe a little warmer.
Engaging social media
Social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn have become an important part of people’s lives. The profiles on these sites are like your front garden, they say something about you. LinkedIn is like the office and having a professional looking profile sends out a message to others about your professionalism. Your Facebook Timeline also says a lot about you. You should be careful what you post there.
How to become Internet famous
Writers, artists and photographers
If you are being creative either as a writer, artist or photographer, you want people to see what you do. Many of my friends are writers and trying to get people to buy your novel is about making a name for yourself. People buy books for many reasons. They like the look of the cover or the blurb on the back sounds good. The most important reason people buy a book though is they have heard of the author. So many of my friends are trying to make a name for themselves and what better way than on the internet? (more…)
Collecting on a budget
You can collect all kinds of things, old postcards, stamps, coins and it doesn’t have to be expensive. You can even collect advertising leaflets and posters. You can get those free! The old leaflets and posters from years ago are valuable today, but you need to be selective. You need to have an eye for good design and visual appeal. You can even collect packaging, bottles and jars.