Just bought the new Cat Empire album, Cinema, and it’s terrific. The usual mix of great storytelling and frenetic energy is apparent throughout.
That set me thinking about ducks. In cricket a duck might be bad news (for a batsman anyway). I should know, I scored a couple of them in my day, although my defence was that I was a bowler…
During the past few weeks the analogy of the duck gliding along looking graceful above the water but paddling furiously underneath it is particularly apt. In a nutshell, Rose and I have been paddling away on a number of important projects, all while maintaining the serenity of our appearance on the water.
Since I got back from the States we have:
- rebranded the company from the website down to our ‘With Comp’ slips
- designed signage for our office, which will be ordered and installed over the next few weeks. The guys at Think Big in Invermay have been really helpful, with Richard being a particular sanity saver thanks to his site visit and his clear and comprehensive quote
- produced and ordered new real estate service brochures (due for delivery in around a week) that will be handed out to our clients shortly thereafter
- put together a fantastic new product called Oh Snap! that allows young people the chance to enjoy a professional studio photoshoot at a budget basement price
- set up our presence on Facebook (more about these two items later)
- researched and commenced the implementation of a really important upgrade to one of our real estate services (much more about this in coming weeks)
- continued our ongoing battle with Sensis, which around our office has become a byword for stupidity, ineptitude and errors, as in “Doh, I just made a Sensis!” Honestly, they’re a walking, talking advertisement for why monopolies suck. Don’t take our word for it, ask around.
- and, seen our work published in the latest edition of Enterprise magazine
All of this has been achieved without missing a beat in the day-to-day duties and services we’re renowned for providing. I guess you could say we’ve taken to this work like ducks to water. Sorry, couldn’t help myself.
Now, if you’ve read this blog you’ll be aware that I think Facebook is the devil’s work. Marketing via social networking is, however, highly effective at targeting young people in particular. With that in mind I appointed Rose head of youth communications and gave her the task of setting up our Facebook presence, which happened late last week. Search Facebook for Rose at Bret Salinger Photography and friend us or follow us or whatever people do when they Facebook. There’s plenty of cool photos to look at there and this is where many of the images we’ve previously posted to galleries on this site will now appear. She’s done a great job because the data from the site reveals we’re communicating with an ever-expanding number of people in our target age and gender rage.
Combined with our new Oh Snap! product we feel we can provide a valuable photographic service that utilises our studio and skill set, and allows us to offer a quality product to an important market sector. Oh Snap! has been adopted from our mate Belle at Spy Photography in Devonport. Belle has great success with her mini-shoots so we thought we’d put together a similar concept specifically for young Launcestonians who want to enjoy the experience of shooting in a studio environment. Rose has been responsible for implementing awareness of this new product and our funky new brochures will start popping up all over the place. But of course you can read all about it here.
So students, book yourself a shoot now. The shoots have already proven to be great fun and the images are stunning keepsakes of a time in your life you’ll miss in later years. God I sound old.
And what of this blog’s future? Won’t Rose’s Facebook entries compete with this way of communicating? Well, this blog was always intended to be a more complete form of communication with our client base, and that’s the way it will remain. Our Facebook page is a way of communicating the here and now on a more frequent basis. This blog is the why and how we’re here and now.
So, where do we get the energy to do all of this, as well as our day-to-day work? That’s simple. We’re photography and communications specialists. We get the job done because that’s what we do. So – gratuitous plug coming up – if you’re trying to paddle up a certain well-named creek in terms of getting your message across photographically and in meaningful words then I suggest you stop and call in the professionals.
This long weekend BOFA, or the Breath of Fresh Air Film Festival, played at Inveresk. The primary venue was the Tram Shed, but there were also showings at the Annexe.
BOFA offered feature-length films, including the only showing in the North of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Australian feature Three Blind Mice, a range of short films, Q&A sessions, film makers’ forums, a short film competition and more.
While there’s very little in the way of an independent film culture in the North of Tasmania – as witnessed by the selection usually on offer at the local Village – it is hoped that BOFA will become an annual event and a highlight of the city’s winter entertainment offerings, helping to educate and entertain via the craft of well-made films. And after all, what better way to avoid the minus one degree nights by watching quality films while nursing a glass of red like cinema-goers in civilised societies all over the world?
BOFA was put together by a sub-committee of the Launceston Film Society and I was asked to provide photographic coverage of the event as I’m a Film Society member.
So here’s a few snaps from BOFA 2010.
BOFA's chief organiser Own Tilbury watched on as Michelle O'Byrne officially opened BOFA 2010
The Tram Shed hosted Friday night's official opening of BOFA 2010
Screen Tasmania presented the best Tasmanian shorts in the Annexe on Sunday
Moviegoers arrive for the showing of Three Blind Mice on Sunday night
Winners are grinners - The Park's producers won the major prize in the short film competition
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June 9, 2010
Well, these guys encountered in the US aren’t quite pets, but they’re pretty cute anyway so deserve a spot in the blog.
A squirrel near the White House eyes the camera
This furry fellow relaxes on a park seat on a hot day in Washington DC
Who's watching who? Seals sunbake at San Francisco's Pier 39
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June 5, 2010
After Washington, it’s time for a little New York. Various images from and of the city’s main sights.
Madam Liberty overlooking Manhattan
Working on a shot for my Masters project I needed shots of Manhattan from various images to be worked into shots of a lovely New York/Maryland based model, Suzy, who was kind enough to shoot with me earlier in the trip. The Masters image will be posted in that section of the website once I’ve completed it. Typically, these digitally manipulated shots can take up to 20 hours to process, and I need to use the big screen back at the office for that sort of fine work. The cruise around the Statue of Liberty and later, a stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge, allowed me to collect various shots of the city from a range of angles so that I could find the right one for the final image.
Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge
Not a walk for the feint hearted, the Brooklyn Bridge offers panoramic views of the city. But the base of the pedestrian walkway is timber and considering the overall appalling state of New York’s infrastructure it was a little disquieting to know that the only thing between you and a fall to sudden death in the East River was a plank of well weathered timber.
View towards downtown Manhattan from the Empire State Building
The Empire State Building in the distance
The Art Deco-inspired Empire State Building retains its crown as the pinnacle of New York's architecture
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June 2, 2010
Okay, so I’ve been on holidays for a while and am yet to post any images. Time to remedy that.
The New York photos are too numerous to edit and post, so I thought I’d upload some from Washington DC, the nation’s capital. It was the Memorial Day public holiday in DC so there was more than a little pomp and circumstance on offer, with the National Memorial Day Parade and Rolling Thunder – obstensibly war veteran motorcyclists – the highlights of the start of DC’s long, hot summer of festivities.
Here’s a sample of shots. Edited on the three hour train trip from Washington back to New York.
The White House - Obama was in Chicago, where it literally rained on his parade.
Flowers lined the Memorial for the 1st Division, Washington DC 2010
The Washington Monument from the 1st Division Memorial, Washington DC 2010
The Lincoln Memorial from the Second World War Memorial, Washington 2010
Rolling Thunder, Washington 2010
Korean War Memorial, Washington DC 2010
Memorial Day Parade, Washington 2010
When Johnny come marching home again...Memorial Day Parade, Washington 2010
National Sculpture Gallery/Garden, Washington DC 2010
Washington DC's outstanding Metro system - the only way to travel in the capital
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May 7, 2010
We’re working on the launch of our re-brand so I sent Rose over to Princes Square the other day to get some photography for the launch collateral. It was late in the afternoon and the sun had that golden autumn glow about it.
With the park directly opposite our new studio we’re in the fortunate position to have one of Launceston’s best backdrops in our front yard.
The theme for the launch is change, so I’ve chosen the autumn leaf for its symbolism, and Rose really captured the look I was going for; as I knew she would. And what’s more she came up with a choice of really cracking shots for the collateral. That’s what a professional photographer does well – provides great shots and choices of shots to enhance the imagery of a campaign.
It’s what we do best.
Rose's shot of autumn leaves for our re-brand launch.
Rose's shot of autumn leaves for our re-brand launch.
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