R.I.P. hipster homeowners

After typing  ”Las Vegas foreclosures” into the google search engine box today, the query produced six million results.  The first three pages of such results were filled with companies involved in the sale of home foreclosures.  I was actually looking for statistics on foreclosure rates, but decided I didn’t really need them.  All I had to do was look around me, and only in my neighborhood’s vicinity.

You see, I live in a hipster atomic-aged neighborhood filled with fabulous mod architecture and fabulous mod people.  However, due to the downturn of the economy, some of the hipsters lost their hipster cocktail, bartending, promotion and marketing jobs.  They couldn’t afford to continue to make payments on their hipster (Prius-like) vehicles, let alone their hipster pads.  Each day I drive around the neighborhood, I cringe at the sight of another hipster loss; a foreclosure sign. 

This foreclosed home was sold by Jack Levine at veryvintagevegas.com, just to be flipped and sold through Century 21

Now, I’ve gotten to know my neighbors quite well the past year, and they told me the uber-hipsters were the first to go.  It wasn’t because they were younger, didn’t save  or got into something they really couldn’t afford.  In fact, the hipster-est were the first to spend their money wisely; they poured their money into their houses in way of renovations and restorations.  Everyone from bank lenders to financial advisors suggested they do so, for it could only build equity and they’d get that money back and then some. 

But then, something happened.  Their mortgages coupled with home improvement loans began to cut off their air supply as the value of their homes plummeted.  They began drowning in debt without any equity.  And then the hipsters had to make a choice:  Drown or Swim the seven-year bankruptcy/poor credit relay.  Most of them decided to live, but left remnants of their near-death experiences all over my neighborhood.  Consider my recent photoblog a memorial to those brave enough to attempt the seven-year swim.

Share This

Tags: atomic, las vegas, Mid-Century, Photography, real estate

Be portfolio savvy by keeping it simple

I’ve written about minimalism in Web design before.  I’m a fan of simplistic designs and don’t like to navigate.  I appreciate to see options organized neatly in front of me.  That’s all I ask of sites.  And it’s probably all potential employers will ask of me when trying to figure out if I’m the one for the job.  Soon, I’ll be creating a Web portfolio from scratch, and you can bet your buttons I’m keeping minimalism in mind.  I’ve found three examples of Web portfolios which I found interesting, well-designed and to-the-point:

CLAIRE IS COLORFUL

In Claire, it’s a no-brainer for the navigator to find what he/she is looking for.  The tabs are easy to find.  The bright colors exhibit the page-owner’s personality while the ‘about’ section is located smack-dab in the middle. User friendly means employer friendly.

CHAMA IS PROFESSIONAL

Chama is love at first sight.  The black and white scheme presents itself as no-nonsense professionalism. The tabs running along the top make this a one-stop shop.  There’s nothing to wade through.  Funny, this portfolio was created while the company was re-creating their real Website.  I’d like to see how  they improve on this.

SARAH BETH IS SIMPLY CREATIVE

Sarah Beth gives the creator the option to change the overall effect of the portfolio whenever they choose.  They just have to insert a new photo.  This portfolio example is my personal favorite, for it can be colorful and creative while getting straight to the point:  Showing what I’ve got to offer.

Share This

Tags: design, minimalism, portfolio

How to catch the morning photoblog train

All professional photographers possess a portfolio of some kind.  Even an aspiring photographer has a place in which they store their work, whether it be a refridgerator, photo box or memory card.  In this digital age, it would be silly not to take advantage of the free technologies which may exhibit a photographer’s artistic, and/or skilled eye.  Not only can an infinite amount of people access such works, but because of the limitlessness associated with the Web, taking advantage of such technology can only invite opportunity.  Here, opportunity can be defined simply as gaining an admirer, constructive criticism, or an easier way to share life’s moments with family and friends.  It can also be defined as a way to reach potential employers and gain recognition.

More than ever, photoblogs are taking part in creating unique online presence. A photoblog (photolog or phlog) is a style of photosharing  in blog format.  A photoblog deviates from the typical composition of a blog in that it focuses on photography first and text second.  Just like textual blogs, a photoblog can be as objective or subjective as the creator likes.  Serious photobloggers behave as citizen journalists or esteemed experts in the art world. Other photobloggers openly record their lives by publishing imaged diaries.

Beginning the photoblogging process is quite easy, and it’s entirely up to the indivdual to administer any potential.  Here’s a few tips for getting started:

• A digital camera is highly suggested, though not entirely necessary.  Since a computer is normally required to photoblog, something easily accomodating to the instrument of production is recommended.  However, the process of scanning a photograph into a computer for sake of quality is never snubbed.  It just takes longer.   Megapixels and memory card storage are items to consider when using a digital camera, though those of lower caliber still work well in photoblogs.
• There are a variety of photoblogs out there in cyberspace; those contained on private domains, those on hosted blogging sites such as WordPress and Blogger, and those on photo-specific sites such as Flickr. 
• When using a blogging site such as WordPress, one should research and dowload the wealth of plug-ins which better display photo galleries and portfolios inside the text-based application.
• Photobloggers should use any application they can get their hands while searching for exposure.  Beginning with social networking sites, they can sharpen their skills and know-how with the gentle guidance of their friends.  After that, it’s go time. 
• Lastly, photobloggers should practice using their cell phones to take photographs. Depending on the phones, the picture quality can be quite fantastic. If they own phones with ability to send photos to each other and computers or better yet —  live stream to blogs, the photobloggers are ahead in the game. It’s clear that Web 2.0 technology is guiding artists and professionals alike to share with the world instantaenous moments of inspiration and information. Everyone is on the NOW train. Photobloggers need to make sure their work holds a passenger ticket.

Share This

Tags: cell phone technology, Flickr, photoblog, Web 2.0

This WordPress theme is on fire

I found a fantastic WordPress theme this week called Flambeau.  Now, the word ’flambeau’ is typically defined as a flaming torch, such as those used in a night procession. It guides people that otherwise wouldn’t be able to guide themselves.  And this WordPress theme certainly lives up to its definition. Not only does Flambeau make any blog easy to navigate, it displays a front-page photo gallery that doesn’t engulf.  The theme follows the rule of thirds, which makes it aesthetically pleasing and functional.  With Flambeau, visitors can quickly scan any homepage and with a one-click maximum, find exactly what they are looking for. The best part; it’s free to download.

I understand some may not like the brown and orange color scheme, but it is easily forgotten once the page is read.  Simply, the white characters just pop. In bold, white typeface are phrases everyone is familiar with: Home, About, Contact, Recent Posts, Categories, Tags, Blogroll, Search and Gallery. It’s all there, organized into one neat row and three tidy columns. This is very exciting, for visitors won’t have to muddle through anything.  Flambeau just screams usability.  And usability equals professionalism.

Anyone blogging for artistic or hobbiest reasons will absolutely enjoy Flambeau, if only for it’s polished yet vintage vibe. I’m personally a proud owner of a few antique cameras, (including a 70’s Polaroid Land Camera) and wish to display such photography within my blog.  I also wish to include mid-century architecture, and Flambeau’s gallery is capable of handling multiple artistic topics. 

Impressively, Flambeau’s middle third of the homepage is reserved solely for recent blog posts.  With wider boxes than its neighboring columns, the blog posts become the focus of the page.  In this way, Flambeau is straight to the point, for it sheds light on what is most important.  I’m hoping some of my visitors will pass this torch along. 

For more free WordPress themes, go to http://wordpressthemesbase.com/

Share This

Tags: downloads, Photography, WordPress