Video Editing Project Ahead!

It's been awhile since I've posted on my blog and I would like to blame social media for that.  But I'll save that for another post.  ;-)

Socialite, Projects Moving Forward, & A Small Blog Update

I drew this free handed on the Paper App for iPad.  Pretty neat huh? :-)

Ok peeps, what's good?  Hope everyone is doing good.  It's been a while since I've updated my blog in a bit and I also have a bit to talk about.  I'll spare all the huge details so that we can get back to our lives.  But I have a lot of good stuff to talk about.

Local Socialite

A bit has changed when it comes to my social networking skills.  I've been putting them to use and have received some really good results.  I recently became New Media Director for a political campaign.  One that proved to be very challenging and also very insightful.  I helped make history and strides in progress. Even though we didn't come through as successful winners in the end, we made history featuring the first black county board candidate for DuPage County.  It drew a lot of attention and also showcased our candidate's profile in the Daily Herald.  I might be on to something good here. 

Projects Making Way

There are details still being worked out but it is a musical project, and I'm in the creative center along with a few others.  Hopefully, this will be finished soon and be out sometime soon.  I can't speak too much about it out of respect of those involved but will tell you that it's also been a good challenge for me.

Small Update featuring Storify!

I attend all kinds of events and outings.  Some are of a personal nature, others pertaining to my projects, and also some involving social networking with companies and entrepreneurs alike.  I've been making a point to try and filter these when posting on my blog and found that Storify does an amazing job of doing it.  So I've included a new link bar above the main posts on my blog.  It's broken into 3 links.  One for the main page here, linking posts pertaining to my projects and personal thoughts, and now Storify Posts, for when I attend any social networking events and the such. I'm also going to be show casing my flickr #Project365 Gallery as well.  I have 2 posts up for viewing from Storify already for those interested in seeing how future posts will look in the coming months.  It's all good stuff. 

Other then that...that pretty much sums it all up for me right now.  So enjoy your Passover weekend, and help the kiddies with their Easter Eggs.  Until next time...

Keep It Funky, Keep It Fresh, and I'll catch you on the Flipside!

~S~

Follow Me on Twitter ---> @SaulBHP

RavenHeart Coffee #TasteNTweet Social Networking Event

“Actually, this seems to be the basic need of the human heart in nearly every great crisis - a good hot cup of coffee.”  - Alexander King

A lot can be said about coffee.  For some it's a great way to get started on one's day.  For other's it's a necessity to get through the stress of the day's daily grind.  Coffee is what relaxes the nerves and eases the soul.  In my family, like any other family, we always have coffee brewing when we socialize and talk with relatives or friends after a nice dinner.  It's sets off the evening in just the right way.  Coffee brings people together, to socialize to speak to each other.  Now, you won't exactly find me whittling hours away getting pumped full of caffeine every day of the week.  But when I do go out for a good ole cup of Joe, I go local.  RavenHeart Coffee is by far one of the best spots in downtown Elgin.  They recently had a #TasteNTweet in promotion with the Elgin Area CVB and Downtown Neighborhood Association Of Elgin.  It gave the local peeps in the area an opportunity to meet each other aside from their twitter handles.

@bishomi @SaulBHP Nice meeting you and putting real faces to avatars! #tastentweet
— Crysta Anderson (@elginista) February 17, 2012

 Feel free to check out the photos from Downtown's Neighborhood Association's flickr set.

Highlights

If you happen to travel the twitterverse, please give me a follow. @SaulBHP

Keep It Funky, Keep It Fresh, and I'll catch you on the Flipside!

~S~

Social Media Junkies Need Intervention

I laugh in amazement how some people over extend themselves in the digital world. Don't get me wrong, I have a Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Flickr, and my own personal Blog, but I use those in their own environment and try not to over extend them. Doing so gives life to each service. For example, Twitter is a great method for me to get my thoughts and ideas out there while meeting new people who either share the same interests or give their insights on mine. Facebook is use more for people I actually know and am currently administrator of 3 Facebook Pages, but I try not to over extend them UNLESS there is a common purpose behind it. The main reason why I'm voicing my opinion on this matter is that I've seen many people out there on YouTube, and other social sites trying to "Make It" or get noticed, and seen more downward spirals VS successes. Now I'm not saying don't peruse your dream but what I am saying is that you need to know your audience and you need to be EFFECTIVE to your followers. ENGAGE them, help them promote what they are about, and keep a solid network in motion. I have this Blog as my personal space on the inter webs to rant and rave on what I feel about at the moment and know that any of my awesome followers appreciate that I take the time to write and give insight on what I am working on. Speaking of what I am working on for 2012, there are many new projects in my lab, which will be posted about in a future post very soon. However, my Project365 has taught me a lot about being effective in social media and I intend on taking what I learned and move forward into more successes. So here is how I usually break it down;

Twitter: The whole point of twitter is to share information, so have at it! Yea, sometimes you get followed by spam bot pushing porn, or follow people that seemed level headed in their feed, and then all of a sudden late and night their posting borderline pornography looking for compliments. But hey, it is what it is. I am doing a new social media method on twitter by following a new user at least once a day.

Facebook: My opinion of Facebook is simple. It's for close friends and family members, anything more is a ploy to promote a product or view. Every wonder how much drama wouldn't exist if you didn't add everyone on Facebook? Well, I'll tell you, you don't get any!

Google+: This is such great idea on privacy and sharing features, the only issue is that the user base isn't that large, yet. But I can add anyone on my Google+ profile and feel OK about sharing my posts.

So keep your eyes peeled for an update on my projects for 2012. And as always...

Keep it Funky, Keep it Fresh, and I'll catch you on the Flipside!

~S~

My Project365 is Complete!

It's been a while since I have posted on here, especially regarding myself.  But there is much to talk about! Mainly, my Photo Project 365 is finally completed!  It was a long and hard journey but in the end of it all, it proves that anything can be completed if you really stick to it.

So now that I'm done, I now have a more respect for the professionals and those who make it a full time hobby.  I loved taking the time to turn something into a nice image or "art piece" so to speak.  I came across some really nice favorites of mine that will end up making their place on my walls in my home.  As far as the whole set of photos?  I get many questions about what I'm gonna do with all those photos?  Where to put them?  So I am making a photo album with all my photos intact. A real physical hardcover album.  This will be interesting to do.  Let's see how long that takes me! :-P

Where You Can Find My New Photos
No I will not be doing a new photo project this year. However if ever inspired, I will be posting any new photos I take to "quench" my photo thirst on Instagram.  It's a good way for user to post nice touched up images and provides an easy way to share to twitter & Facebook. You can find me there under: SaulBHP It's only on iOS devices but it will be making it's way to ANDROID soon. However, you can always follow me on twitter or friend me on Facebook to see them as well.

Well I hope everyone has a productive year ahead of them. I know I do.  There are some projects that I'm wrapping up and others that I will be starting this year. But that's for another Blog post.

Keep it funky, keep it fresh, and I'll catch you on the flip side!

~S~

Project 365: A Closer Look (Behind the Scenes)

Nature's Natural Reflection By: Saúl B.H.P.

I've been meaning to write a post about more details about how I am executing this flickr project. I get lots of people complimenting me on my photos and often get asked what kind of camera tools, editing features and filters I use to produce most of these images.  It's really amazing sometimes when I take a look back most of these photos, I too am pulled away at the colors that pop out, or angle certain photos are in. So, I wanted to make this post more about the tools I used for this project then the actual project as whole.

Camera:
For this project I am using my Apple iPhone 4, it's 5 Megapixel camera serves a great purpose for this project and even records in HD video.  By now it's no surprise that the iPhone 4 has taken the top spot as the most used device on flickr®.  It serves as a great device to use as a stepping stone into photography and one is also even able to create some really good masterpieces with the addition of Apps from the iTunes App Store.

Apps:
The best and most enjoyable part of creating the photos is using photo applications that can bring out the "flavor" of your photo, in fact some may even help make the image you shot better then before.  The following are the Apps I use to create the awesome images that you see in my photo spread today.  Some Apps I use more then others.  However, nothing beats a traditional camera shot with no editing or need for touch-up.  It doesn't hurt having these at your disposal either.




•Camera+ ($0.99) - This App has it all.  I love the filters and the option to make subtle touch ups in regards to cropping or just plain give your photo a full filter change.  An all around really good App.

•Photogene ($1.99) - This App is great for adding banners or making simple background enhancements to your photos.  I use it all the time when I wanna make funny signs or when I need run some attempts on what I want my image to look like before I finalize it for uploading.

•Luminance ($0.99) - This is the perfect photo app that lets you adjust the color exposure on your photos and gives you a very intimate and detail control over it.  Otherwise, you can't go wrong with it pre-selected filter options.

•FX Photo Studio ($1.99) -  This is for the "Way Out There" ones.  This app has a crazy amount of filters, it makes Instagram jealous! ;-) You can also randomize the filters too, and get a complete mash-up of filter and color options on your photo.

Storage for my Project 365 Gallery: flickr
This was a definite no brainer as a choice for storing my photos.  I was a little caught off-guard by the yearly or bi-yearly subscription service when one has uploaded more then 180+ photos, but it's a great site for photo viewing and sharing.  So many amazing photos can be seen on this site and I wanted to contribute.  The best part about this site is that you can edit exif data if need be.  Or you can use it to share via other social networks.  All in all, this is a beautiful site for anyone who is serious about photography.


The only thing missing is lots and lots of dedication, and an open mind, and also a good eye for things.  It's amazing how something like this can be created out of just a thought.  Well, that's it's for my behind the scenes look at my Project 365.  I didn't give out all my tricks of the amateur trade, but it does give you a good start.

Here's to looking to complete my Project 365 by the year's end, December 31st, 2011.  Keep It Funky, Keep it Fresh, and I'll catch you on the Flip-side! ;-)

Google+ VS. Facebook - My Social Test RESULTS!

So it's been an official 72 hours instead of a week focusing only on Google+ profile instead of Facebook.  And I feel I've learned enough to share my own thoughts on the differences between them.  Other then this post on my blog I've also taken the time to send Google this exact feedback as well, so what you guys are reading, they are reading as well.  So let's get down to business and get through the details.

Sharing Posts/Videos -  Google+ gives you an awesome layout to post relevant content relating to a specific group of friends or family members.  The best part is that your friends won't ignore your shares because you spent the last 10 posts talking about your cats or your thoughts on your little nephews first baseball game.  However, that also means you put yourself out there as a social friend as well.  Why do I say that?  Well it's simple, if you hang out with a group of people you workout with a lot, and you only talk to them about working out, then in a Google+ world they might have added you to a "workout buddies" circle and only share relevant stuff in that circle.  So that means, you do miss out on learning new things about them, or limit your chances to finding out more about these new friends.  In another case the good side to this is that you can share drunkin' photos with your best friends and no one you've added from your work will ever see them...just as long as you don't add them in a circle that can see said photos that is.  Other then that the upload process for images and videos are awesome and way better then Facebook's upload process.  The only gripe I have with this feature is that the first image instantly becomes the photo album cover, which I don't like.  I would love to be able to select a specific photo for the album cover.  It doesn't hurt to also include that ability to block people from re-sharing your posts to their profile, or you can block comments from taking place on a specific post too.  These are good measure that Google has taken at their shot of the social network spectrum.

Notifications -  Initially when G+ launched, they had an issue with their notifications service.  After a user checked up on their notification, they would still get a notification saying the same exact post, friend addition, or photo you were tagged in hasn't been address.  This caused a lot of frustration but, since it was still a new service not many users were really affected by it.  Since then, the notification system is perfectly fine.  However, what I do not like is getting notified for every single post that my friends puts up.  It's like a constant nagging and very annoying.  Now, a user can definitely remove these notifications in the update, but by default it's all on.  So, unless you spend a good amount of time in the settings, you just might end up annoying some friends or they might end up annoying you.  :-P

Mobile Sharing -  This actually strikes a cord with me the most.  Most people are on the go and don't have the time to sit in front of a computer and share information like we used to back in the day.  If there is an important piece of information that needs to be sent to a group of people, doing so with pre setup bookmarklets for easy sharing on Facebook or Twitter are a must.  Think about it, whole countries have organized riots, and revolted dictatorships using social networks and messaging services.  So, where is my Google+ Share button?  Most of my social networking happens in front of a small cellular screen or iPad, while I'm on the go.  I know that not everyone is that way, but most the world is.  So I would definitely get better use out of using their mobile app or using a share button to my Google+ page.  There just needs to be one from the get go and I don't feel that was a good move on Google's part.  But in my opinion, it puts the nail in the coffin for me.  Facebook here I come!

In the end really, it's up to the users and their friends.  If most of their friends aren't using Google+ because their friends are not on it or don't care to use it, then you won't have much pull on it.  It's still in it's Beta, so let's hope they add more features soon!

Google+ VS. Facebook - My Social Test

It's no surprise that it has come down to a test of sorts when it comes to using either one of these social networks.  I've listen to some saying that there are completely two different social machines in the form of promoting a business model (Facebook) and the other more grounded with privacy in mind (Google+).  So I'm closing down my Facebook page for AT LEAST one week to focus more on Google+ and how it can fit into my social networking hobbies.  Other then my auto feeds from twitterfeed, and flickr.  I will not be posting on Facebook for the next 7 days to focus more on using Google+.  I hope to gain a better understanding and also a good feel of use for this social site at then end of this test.  I'll collect my thoughts on a new blog post and share my feelings afterwards.  My goal is to not really pitting one social network against the other, but to gain a deeper understanding of the differences for myself.