Photos from the Beat
Sausage Party at The Bad Pitch
Flickr has, yet again, made my life easier and therefore better.
Upon browsing a new contact's photos, I noticed a button in her profile titled 'flickr DNA,' and clicked it.
The button took me to a sub-section of Big Huge Labs , a site maintained by a Web developer who creates 'flickr toys' -- programs to easily convert photos into mosaics, posters, business cards, novelties, and other sundries.
I've used BHL before - I have been creating my mastheads here and at traveljax through the site - but flickr DNA was new to me. It culls all of the relevant flickr data for any public member and posts it one one easily navigable page, including recently uploaded photos, favorites, and those which have appeared on flickr's constantly rotating Explore page, a collection the 500 most interesting photos of the day, based on a secret algorithm.
Just the fact that flickr has a secret algorithm makes the site double-oh-seven-cool. But in addition, it increasingly makes it easier for me to organize my own photos, promote my articles, and create meaningful relationships. There's no selling or pitching, which removes a lot of the stress social Web sites can create, and acting like a nudge, jerk, or donkey is also strongly discouraged, making for a happy online community free of exchanges such as "Whatev, KatesMom546! U don' know what yer talking about, biottchhh!" or something worse.
(I just made up KatesMom546, by the way, so if there is one I assure you I don't actually think you're a biottchhh.)
BHL isn't affiliated with flickr, but exists primarily to create promotional and entertaining whozie-whatsits for flickr members, so I can only assume the powers that be have at least spoken briefly once or twice. Its programs are also as simple to use and spread around the Internet as flickr's, which only enhances the obsession.
One such tool that I found while on my own flickr DNA page was the 'ego surf,' which finds one's flickr photos elsewhere on the 'net. Hooray -- an easier way to keep tabs on my online presence - key to my freelance career and also to my sanity.
I found a few links to this blog and to traveljax, but also one to The Bad Pitch , a blog maintained by PR professionals that details some of the less desirable practices in the world of media relations.The editors, Richard Laermer and Kevin Dugan, used (and credited, thanks) a photo I took while on assignment for BusinessWest magazine, exploring a new grocery store with high-end product at Gen X prices (the days of Top Ramen are still so fresh in our minds). The photo didn't run with the original story, but instead got a new context as an illustration for a post called 'Sausage Party at Bryn Mawr College,' regarding poorly researched story pitches. In this case, it was a release about fraternity life, sent to a women's college with no Greek system.
Through one click, I found a new blog to enhance my own job and confirmed a neat-o photo placement. I'll be adding a link to The Bad Pitch here because I enjoyed their stories of PR Woe so much, and get this, loyal readers: Laermer is a fan of The Simpsons.
Like minded souls are everywhere. And lately, it's so darn easy to find them.
