How to look good in HD

Everyone can see the vivid and intense picture you get when watching something shot in HD. The colors are truer, the quality is impeccable, and the movie stars are…real?

When HD became the standard for shooting, it had a lot of actors nervous. Able to see every little blemish or red spot, people who made their living in front of the cameras all cringed the first time they saw themselves shot in HD. Personally, I think it’s great. Especially for the more influential viewers (think 10-20 year old females). The picture quality shows that people are real, even if they are a big star.

That being said, now that HD camcorders are becoming more affordable and more and more people are capturing your every family vacation in high-def, I’ve found a few pointers to help you look your best, and make your video look great.

1. Natural light creates the best background, avoid direct overhead sun.
2. Ditch the makeup. Not totally, but don’t go overboard. The more natural, the better it will look, and avoid bright eye shadows
3. Make the decision – do you really need an HD camcorder? Are you filming your family vacations, school plays and grandma’s birthday? Then do you really need an $800 camera? If you don’t have an HD TV, don’t get an HD camcorder.
4. If you do get an HD camcorder, make sure you play around with the settings and read the user manual. There are a lot of settings and tricks that the camera can do to make the best possible picture.

Enjoy!

Posted by: Lauren

Farmers for Technology

I don’t get Verizon wireless service in the Cambridgeside Galleria, so I was amazed that farmer Steve Tucker, profiled in CNN’s ”Twittering from the Tractor”, has a signal in the rural lands of Nebraska. Not driving down the street, but throughout the 4,000 acres of his farm. (Excuse me sir, who’s your provider?)

If you have not read the article (okay, I’m a day late on the uptake), take a few minutes and do so. Tucker is one of many farmers now using smartphones and the Internet, joining the ranks of us desk-bound, and letting the outside world in by answering ”what are you doing?”. He now has more Twitter followers than inhabitants of his town (150 population) and is an evangelist of technology (of sorts) in the agricultural professsion as these technologies provide the opportunity to share crop information with other farmers, have access to weather reports and other specific applications, as well as the opportunity to put ”a face with the name”. In an eco- and health conscious age, where more and more people are making purchasing decisions based on “where is my food coming from?”, farmers like Tucker are putting their personalities online and telling you just that. 

The article certainly outlines the benefits of today’s technologies both personally and professionally, but even moreso, it breaks down stereotypes with frank statements like, “farmers tend to be very early adopters of technology”. Really, because here in the City of Boston, I thought… Well, I think you know what I thought. 

Social media is breaking social barriers and stereotypes. In addition to keeping up with friends, business associates and changing the way we share and receive new, we can learn about new people, new cultures, and new professions. It is an interesting aspect of social media that we do not read often read in the headlines.

Posted by: Katie

Social media: You’re not notable by your absence

Lots of companies, especially smaller ones, are a little freaked out by social media. They might not fully comprehend the purpose. They may feel it is a risky, uncontrollable venture. They may view it as the domain of the young and those with too much time on their hands. They may consider it a potential time-waster, or they may not see the value in devoting money and human resources to it, especially when they can still invest money in the tried and true marketing methods they have employed for years and, in some cases, decades.

It is time for businesses of every size to throw all of these caveats out the window. A lack of participation in social media at this point is akin to a lack of a web site or e-mail. Social media offers a terrific, relatively low-cost opportunity for every sort of business that wants to build stronger, more interactive relationships with its customers and spread the good word about its products and services.

Still, admittedly, social media can be a little overwhelming. Where to start?

Rhode Island Beer Report: Newport Storm and Narragansett Creating Buzz

Beer is an economic bulwark even with Rhode Island’s increasing unemployment and a legislature’s hostile approach to out-of-state business (ask Amazon). Damn fine beer is associated with the Ocean State,  for value conscious and beer bourgeois alike.

As a moderate localvore, I try to support locally owned and operated companies when possible. As a frequent beer drinker, I like the options of having an affordable, easy drinking brew for light binging and a more complex, robust beer selection to compliment meals. Fortunately, Rhode Island offers both.

Narragansett Beer – “Hey Neighbor, Have a ‘Gansett”

With a rich history dating back to 1890, Narragansett became the largest selling beer in New England with one of the most modern brewing facilities in the country supporting over 850 employees. An unfortunate series of financial and logistical miscues led to the closing of the Cranston, RI factory in 1983. Fortunately, lifelong RI resident Mark Hellendrung bought back the brand in October of 2005 and ‘Gansett is poured from taps in over 750 New England bars.

Despite re-invigorating of the brand, Hellendrung has bigger goals for Narragansett beer, most notably returning the brewery to New England (ideally Rhode Island). With a savvy social media campaign including a blog, twitter feed, Facebook Fan Page and petition, as well as a nostalgic ad campaign, Narragansett is challenging folks in the northeast to drink 1.7 million cases of beer (roughly 1 case per beer drinking New Englander) by the end of the year in order to justify the need for a new brewery.

While beer snobs may turn a sober shoulder to the affordably priced lager, there’s no doubt that bringing the Narragansett brewery back to Rhode Island is the right thing to do. Simultaneously a homecoming and a boon to the state’s economy, (if you’re a beer consumer) please sign the petition, buy a case or ask your local beer vendor to start selling the beer. I bought an 18-pack last weekend and got a sweet free ‘Gansett necktie complimentary, for no cost.

Coastal Extreme Brewing Co. (Newport Storm) – Dedicated to the Craft

A company history of Coastal Extreme Breweing can be found on the website. On a personal note, as a 21 year-old I used to live across the street from the brewery. There was no beer sold, but every Friday evening, a select few dozen were admitted for tours which included, four, and subsequently two bottle caps exchangeable for free beer. The self-made owners have continued their hospitality with daily samplings and weekly/private tours. Newport Storm seasonal drafts drive hardcore loyalty but the flagship Hurricane Amber and a grassroots, events-laden effort led by the founders jockeyed ”Storm” into the drinking scene across New England. 

Not surprisingly, the brewery is wrangling with the RI legislature over its right to sell six-packs, cases and spirits to patrons visiting the brewery. The website claims, “Rhode Island is the only such state in New England that prohibits this practice at its breweries and distilleries.” A travesty? Consider protesting or mildy objecting to House bill  6169 and the identical Senate bill 943, you can learn more and send vociferous emails here.

Furthermore, I’ve heard the Coastal Extreme beer factory may be expanding to a new facility, positive news but the Oliphant Ln. home will be missed. 

Drinking beer is not a solution for most, but manufacturing beverages for inevitable consumption is sound economics, especially in the Ocean State.  Just ask Autocrat and Del’s.

Posted by: Nick Brown

@PRnick

The Art of Balance: Going Back to School in a Recession

Earlier this year, I was faced with one of the biggest decisions in my young professional career.  Upon being accepted to two programs, one a full-time PhD and one a part-time MBA, I  had to decide how to proceed.  The economy, having dove headfirst into a recession, didn’t offer me any comfort when considering the possibility of leaving my job to become a full time student.  However, the decision to take on both school and work full time seemed a bit daunting.  Both programs were distinct and unique and both offered me new opportunities and yet presented very different paths.  In the end, mine was a decision that many professionals, both early career and seasoned have found themselves considering in some capacity.  

Ultimately, I chose the MBA program with a concentration on sustainable business for a variety of reasons; but mainly because it offered me the opportunity to advance my degree and knowledge in a growing field while staying at my job.  It can be an overwhelming feeling, taking on more debt and going back to school, even after being out of college for less than five years.  I settled quickly into the pace of being a full-time professional and adding school into the mix has proven to be a juggling act. 

The recession has presented some unique challenges to our agency and our clients and we are working now more than ever to deliver results and display our talents.  Our expansion into new markets and building bridges across industries has everyone growing their knowledge base and discovering new fields of interests in order to evolve with our profession.  I find that working, now more than ever, is giving me a chance to truly grow as a professional.  But at the end of the day, I have to find time to focus on schoolwork – papers, studying, reading, researching – and it can be tricky.  Though I’ve only just begun my journey, I’ve already learned some key points that have made the transition that much easier.

• Let your employer know you are going back to school.  It’s important to be upfront about your committments while still maintaining your workload and assuring your employer that you intend to utilize your new skills in your current job.
• Set up a work space at home that allows you to concentrate and focus.  It is very easy to become unmotivated after work 9 hours in front of a computer to go home and continue work well into the evening.  Setting up a space allows you to separate relaxing at home from doing schoolwork.  The two should be separate entities.
• Stay on top of your coursework and set aside certain days of the week to complete assignments.  I have found myself having to turn down social invitations in order to complete work – but I know on Sunday and Wednesday nights, I have to do school work and therefore no longer make plans for that timeframe. 
• Research grant and fellowship opportunities – the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act provided a decent amount of funding to federal and state agencies for higher education initiatives, particularly in the green sector. 

Being back in school is certainly adding a new factor of business to my life but one that hopefully will payoff in the long term and increase my opportunities and skill set down the road.  Stay tuned for (many) more blog updates on my adventures as a grad student!

Posted by: Ashley /follow me on Twitter