31 Days to Build a Better Blog

Over at ProBlogger, there is 31 Days to Build a Better Blog going on.

http://www.problogger.net/archives/2009/03/25/31-days-to-build-a-better-blog-sign-up-here/

I've pretty much failed for today. But, I'm going to use this time to try and figure out if I want to blog regularly.

Yesterday

Admit_Visit_IStep_Pictures.jpg
Originally uploaded by enrollmentsystems

I'm going to try and do faster turnarounds this Fall.

I keep getting bogged down in the minutia trying to convert my ideas into reality. Sometimes, you just have to just crank something out.

I originally thought this would replace a graphic we currently use because they both referenced "Campus Tours" then it hit me pictures are like the "cowbell." More is always better and moved this graphic to the Admissions frontpage.

I love it when a plan comes together.

Becoming a Fan of the Chronicle

This is exactly why it's so hard to get buy-in on campus.

http://chronicle.com/media/video/v54/i39/image/

If I Ruled the World......

If I Ruled the World or this campus, whichever came first.

I would make departments share photographs. Every department with someone who takes pphotographs at events would need a private Flickr account and then we would connect and share our pictures.

That dream gets better way of Photophlow (you know I love some TechCrunch).

Let's imagine there is a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer on your campus and he shoots your orientation. He uploads the pictures to Flickr. Then, you go online with Marketing and your boss and you check out the photos together. As you browse through photos, you go click on one, it pops up for everyone. You agree that it's THE shot. It goes on the website or in an updated brochure.

How easy is that? How much time have you saved?

I am going to investigate if this works that easy.

Earth Day

I had no idea today was Earth Day, well that was I had no idea before I experienced the 'Tree Jam.'

Seriously, if I walked up to some students and said, "Hey, will you climb that tree and play your instruments so I can take your picture?" I'm sure they would think I was crazy. Sometimes, this is too easy.

Flickr, Where you at?

I just tried sending a pic over and it didn't work.

When is it Time to Call in a Pro?

I saw a video that semi-featured Andrew Keen on TechCrunch and this is after seeing him on the Colbert Report. So, he has made the rounds with his 'Cult of the Amateur' shtick.

As someone who wants to have a voice yet recognizes very clearly his limits, I have argued both sides in my head for weeks.

The main area is photography.

I am old school. 14 years ago, I was one of those geeky guys taking the pictures of all the cool kids for my high school yearbook (my apologies to the yearbook photographers who were actually cool). I had my used Canon AE-1 and shot/developed my own black and white 35mm prints. When I needed a picture for an article I was writing , I'd just go and take it.

After my adviser persuaded me against a Social Work/Photography double major. I took a couple of classes in college and ended up working in the technical side of publishing for a newspaper and two publishing companies. So, I've clearly been around the block. I know what I like.

Now, I take pictures of the kiddo and mostly to document events that would normally never be covered. This year I finally forked over the cash for a DSLR and the enjoyment of photography is all back for me (without the frustration of buying film, waiting to see what your pics look like, printing test strips, and the cost of paper).

I am however in no way a professional! I don't even play one on TV. I feel like I walk a narrow line between "Consumer Guru" and "Wannabe Photog."

I love a lot about Web 2.0. There are students doing videos that are outstandingly creative. I am able to achieve things that would take (me) weeks to do in Final Cut Pro in minutes. And, I still believe you get what you pay for. I just don't know.

But, does blogging make you a wannabe writer?