May Week 1: Five Sites Journalists, Photojournalists and Designers should visit
I’m always looking for interesting blogs and websites to visit and usually how I find them is the same way I hope my blog is found, by linking. I go from one blog to another like no one else and at times I’ll have 20 or so tabs open in my web browser so I don’t forget about the wonderful sites I found. So today I have decided to start posting these websites on my blog so my readers can benefit from them.
As you know I am a journalist and journalists are always looking for new avenues to better ourselves and our work, whether it is by attending a seminar from the eminent journalists we all respect or by taking online courses at the various journalism websites, we all do what we can within our usual meager budget. Well this week we are going to focus on the free websites that have helped me by either gaining a better technological understanding of some of my gear, by helping me see a glimpse into what the future of journalism holds for us all and by helping me come up with great colors for my designs.
1. Creative Live
Creative Live is an amazing website, it has some of the best photographers in the industry explaining the different aspects of photography, from tutorials on Adobe Photoshop to learning how to using your brand new HDDSLR (Canon 5D MK II and such) so you get the best results. As a matter of fact, I am watching Vincent Laforet, an excellent photojournalist and HDDSLR cinema early adopter, teach a great deal about HDDSLRs. He really takes the time and goes into great detail on the HDDSLR and he also provides people with information on affordable equipment alternatives for the starving artists. I can’t tell you how much I have learned and for FREE! Although I did end up purchasing the whole 3-day course for $79 dollars. What really gets me about Creativelive.com is that this is probably the first workshop marketed for people who can’t afford to pay the usual $500 to $3000 dollars most photography workshops cost and it is a great business model.
2. The British Journal of Photography
I came across the British Journal of Photography while I was reading about Photographer Daniel Morel and his encounter with Agence France Presse. The blog has some great articles on photography, but they don’t limit themselves to only photojournalism or commercial work, they write about all types of photography and often post some great resources for photographers. They are definitely worth a read especially if you want to keep up with the industry and these days this is almost as important as knowing how to use your camera.
3. This American Life
Addictions suck, especially if its a weekly ordeal. Well my weekly addiction is to listen to the WBEZ program “This American Life.” I have been listening to NPR since I was seven years old, mostly because my parents listened to it, and so I was forced to as well. Don’t worry I have become an NPRphile as well. Okay back to what I’m suppose to be talking about. ”This American Life” is a WBEZ Chicago Public Radio and NPR creation. I love the themes they cover and how their reporters relay that information to the listeners. One of my favorite episodes is The Giant Pool of Money, in which TAL (This American Life) reporters talk to the people who worked at the financial firms and how the financial collapse went down, while also talking about the people on the receiving end of that collapse. it was truly an amazing piece of journalism and I hope they continue their work because I don’t know what I would do without my weekly fix.
Anyone who loves listening to the wonderful stories on NPR, you will certainly love TAL.
4. Media on Twitter
Media on Twitter is a database of the journalism community that is on twitter. So as a journalist you can find your favorite writers, editors, photographers and all other media professionals but you can also list yourself, your publication and location for others. This is also an excellent resource to find and build contacts within the industry. So get yourself on that database and start finding some journalists to talk to about the future of journalism.
5. Colour Lovers
Is one of my favorite sites this month. It is a resource that can leave all designers frothy mouthed, I know I was. At Colour Lovers members create and upload palettes, colors and patterns for other designers to use within their own designs. I don’t know about other designers but one of the biggest problems I face in my designs are choosing the best colors. Colour Lovers has been instrumental in my work. The website also has a great utility that allows you do download each palette, color or pattern with an app-specific extensions. ( .ai, .aes…)
I hope you enjoy these websites as much as I have. They have made my life a lot easier and I have been able to focus more on my creativity. Okay I’m going to go back to watching the Vincent Laforet Workshop on Creativelive.com.
Hassan Arshad
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I want to has the color palettes on Color Lovers. WANT. NOW.
I know right! The colors you find at that website are amazing.
Just going to try to test the Disqus Comments plugin.