5 Common Mistakes Aspiring Travel Photographers Make (+ How to Avoid Them)

As you can gather from the title, this post relates to travel photography. However, I want to note that travel photography is a broad topic and so for most part, the mistakes that I’ll discuss here are actually made by the majority of those of us who are in the beginning of our journey into the world of photography, regardless of the genre we’re involved in.

Because I wanted to go into some detail and to provide some visual examples, we’ve decided to split this post up into two parts. Without further ado, here’s part I and check back for part II tomorrow. [read]

10 words I'd ban from all websites

You may think your website is the cat’s pyjamas but you could be falling into some very basic traps that will be making your fanbase flee. These simple rules will stop your customers switching off.

Well, it’s mid February and time to be grumpy and opinionated I’d say. In twelve years of running digital copywriting agency Sticky Content, there are a few words and phrases I’ve grown to hate with a passion. If I had my way I’d ban them from all websites and for some sound commercial reasons too. [read iMedia Connection]

How to (Gracefully) Manage Your Critics

Many of us have an innate reflex to please everyone. It is a curious and burdensome responsibility that we have assumed since childhood. As creative leaders, the need to address critics is a reflex that is liable to override other more important uses of our energy. While we carefully weigh the costs and benefits of most decisions we make, criticism has the tendency to lead us astray.Of course, criticism is important. Early detection of disappointment or misunderstandings can save us a whole lot of turmoil further down the line.

But, oftentimes, our efforts to address our critics become an obsession. Even worse, our efforts can backfire by fanning the flames. A single harsh comment on a bulletin board can turn into an aggressive and insulting exchange that is not constructive but still liable to keep you up at night. For this reason, many prominent bloggers and companies have removed comment boards altogether. [read 99%]

Don’t cut off your critics. Feedback helps us correct our course and spurs a dialog that serves to build community. Instead, you should decide how and when to respond. [read]

BP logo gets a makeover

At least 504,000 gallons of oil are leaking into the Gulf of Mexico every day. The latest news is that sadly, BP’s “top kill” plan (to plug the leak with “heavy mud”) has failed.

Greenpeace has launched a campaign to redesign the BP logo, and with around 300 entries already uploaded to the Flickr set, here are a few that stood out. [read]

Bing to take over iPhone/iPad/iPod touch search?

Say it ain’t so. . .

Here comes that Bing taking over iPhone search rumor again.  Techcrunch says,  ”we’ve heard from mulitple sources, including a high level source who claims to have been briefed on the matter.”

Bing might very well be coming to the iPhone’s search bar.  But, just like you can use Yahoo or Google now, you’ll probably just have a third choice in Bing.  Which makes sense.  Businessweek mentioned the possibility earlier this year. [read]

AT&T to Begin Offering iPhone Insurance on June 6th? $13.99 Per Month Plus Deductible

AT&T continually decreases the iPhone’s appeal.  What a bunch of dunderheads.  Would love it if they went the way of Circuit City.

Boy Genius Report claims to have received information from a source at AT&T indicating that the carrier is set to introduce a hardware insurance program for the iPhone, allowing users to protect themselves (for a relatively substantial monthly fee) against replacement costs for out-of-warranty hardware failures, as well as accidental (including liquid) damage and loss or theft. The “MobileProtect” insurance program will be set up through the App Store and then billed monthly via credit card. [read]

Imogen Heap: "So expensive to tour!" [music]

Touring was supposed to be the savior of music. Live concerts are something fans can’t download, the story went, and thus will provide a reliable source of artist income to offset slumping profits from recorded music sales.  But while some artists do still make their livings from live performances, it’s not always the panacea that some would have you believe.

At least that’s what UK artists Imogen Heap, a successful artist by most measures, told her fans in a short series of tweets earlier this week.

“So expensive to tour! Just had a rather depressing meeting with tour manager. Record sales low (across the industry) really impacting me.”

“Sad truth is touring US especially such a monopoly. Audience end up paying double ticket price to the venue @Seattle_D. Huge mark up.”

“This may be the last tour in a while. A bit emotional. Ugh. Not easy keeping afloat in this climate!”

Source Hyperbot

Are You Killing Your Productivity? 6 Things to Watch Out For

Whether the work week is made up of two hours or two hundred, all freelancers, entrepreneurs, business owners, experts have one common goal: squeeze every last ounce of productivity out of time spent working. After all, time is money, and maximizing productivity is something that typically translates directly into bigger profits. But even the most experienced veterans of work can unknowingly fall victim to productivity killers and undermine their earning potential, or worse – willingly and actively participate in killing their productivity. Here are six productivity killers you need to watch out for to ensure that you stay productive, stay on point, and maximize your potential. [read eLance]

We're the same, we're the same, we're…

Take a look at just about any industry with many competitors–colleges, hotels, sedans, accounting firms (especially accounting firms)…

The websites bend over backwards to be just like all the others. You can’t identify one hotel website from another if you delete the name of the hotel (unless there’s a beach or a snow-capped mountain in the background).

Sometimes, we try so hard to fit in we give consumers no choice but to seek out the cheapest. After all, if everything is the same, why not buy what’s cheap and close?

How about a site that says, “Here’s why we’re different.” And means it.

(Easy to read this and nod your head, but… what’s your resume look like?)

Source Seth Godin

Egnater Rebel 30 1 x 12 combo [guitar]

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Egnater grew up learning guitar with the music of the local bands of his era, including Alice Cooper, Grand Funk Railroad and Bob Seger. His frustration at not being able to find an amp that did what he wanted it to led to Bruce designing and building one of the first cascaded gain lead channel guitar amps.

Ever since then, for three and a half decades, he’s run his own custom amplification shop and worked with some of the world’s top players, including Kirk Hammett, Steve Vai and Dimebag Darrell, as well as Randall and Rocktron. [read]
www.egnater.com