How many people do you know who have seen Titanic… and I don’t mean the movie?

Jim Delgado prepares for trip down to Titanic, 2000.

Well, a new expedition to the site, 25 years after its discovery—some 2.5 miles below the ocean surface—is being undertaken by RMS Titanic, Inc. (the Salvor-In-Possession of RMS Titanic and its wreck site). In what is arguably the most technologically advanced scientific expedition to Titanic ever organized, RMS Titanic, Inc. has brought together a team of leading archaeologists, oceanographers and scientists including James P. Delgado, president of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA)… and that is the one person we know who has… and is about to again!

For the past five years, Blackberry Creative has been working with Delgado and INA developing their communications program, including the design & development of a comprehensive website (www.inadiscover.com) that launched last year.

As a child I was enthralled by science and exploration, and could hardly wait for that next National Geographic special to air on TV… the world of Jane Goodall and Jacques Cousteau held me spellbound. Jim and INA have been extraordinary to work with and it is truly a privilege to assist this organization in spreading the word… Titanic just takes it over the top for me!

Always something new here at Blackberry Creative!

One of the best things about our business is the diverse and interesting clients that we work with, and the wide variety of projects we undertake. Among other things over the last few months we have designed logos for a new restaurant (Smokin’ George’s BBQ) that will open soon in Nanaimo, and a mortgage broker based in Parksville-Qualicum; developed a website for renowned underwater archaeologist and President of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, James Delgado; and designed pro bono ads for a local Artisan’s Market. There really is never a dull moment here at Blackberry Creative!

Summer is here at last and it’s time to get out the camera to capture the best of what you and your business can offer the world! Yes, you probably have this year’s ad campaign well underway, and your rack cards and brochures are already gracing info racks at distribution points near and far.

Now is the time to plan for next year! The sun is out, the sky is blue… if you wait until February to think about getting those perfect shots you’ll be kicking yourself… unless of course you operate a ski resort or manufacture snowboards!

If you are a small business with an even smaller marketing budget, professional photography services may be outside your realm, although you might be surprised at what a little trade-barter approach can do for you!

Po Wan of Blackberry Creative, and photographer Cliff Craven, set up a shot for the Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce’s “Beauty of Small” campaign

At the very least grab your digital camera, set it to the largest file size allowed and start clicking. Take LOTS of photos… the more you take, the more likely you are to get a useable photo. And the emphasis is on the word useable here, because you simply will not capture the same quality of image that a professional can take for you… and why would you think you could?! There is art, craft, and even science behind beautiful, evocative photos and that is why the work of a professional photographer should be considered as an investment in your business.

But if you are doing it on your own, here are some tips…

Vary the angles, subject matter, and time of day for different light (avoid high noon and aim for morning, or early evening photo shoots).

Include both landscape (wide) and portrait (tall) shots… your rack cards and banner ads will require different formats.

Use a flash for BOTH indoor and outdoor photos. If you are inside get as much additional light as you can into the room…. under a skylight can work quite well.

Getting a shot in-focus requires a steady hand and eagle eyes, so a tripod can be very useful, especially for low light settings such as retail store interiors.

People enjoy looking at other people, so include yourself, your staff or your Aunt Milly in the photos… real people, smiling into the camera lens will help capture your intended audience. Take your time, take charge, and direct your photo shoot. Try different poses and setups and don’t be afraid to experiment!

And next year when you start planning your marketing materials for the upcoming season you will be able to draw from a wide assortment of images, all of them showing you and your business in the best possible light.

“As the media theorist Marshal McLuhan pointed out in the 1960s, media are not just passive channels of information. They supply the stuff of thought, but they also shape the process of thought. And what the Net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation. My mind now expects to take in information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles. Once I was a scuba diver in the sea of words. Now I zip along the surface like a guy on a Jet Ski.”

— Nicholas Carr, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” The Atlantic Magazine

I thoroughly enjoy a good read, but maybe those days are numbered as the amount of time I spend researching and working with my computer increases. If you can concentrate long enough to read it, this article  by Nicholas Carr is fascinating, as is the brain research currently being done. Our very malleable minds—I think sometimes my grey matter might just actually be Silly Putty—are being shaped and re-shaped by the things we repeatedly do over time. The up side being I may actually learn to play that ukulele I just received for my birthday, but the downside… well, I cannot imagine a life without reading.

It’s always great to be noticed! The Beauty of Small video developed by Blackberry Creative and produced by Cliff Craven of Target Multimedia received a shout out from a newsletter produced for Chamber of Commerce executives.

The “soothing female narrator” mentioned is yours truly…  hmm, I wonder if my kids find my voice soothing when I ask them to clean their rooms?