Kate Alexander

Nov 14
2008
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Keeping within the imaginative boundaries of human life, without becoming overly outlandish, the comedy demonstrated in the play was often sardonic, lighthearted, and always entertaining.

The comedy revolves around a group of men and the conflict that ensues between them in the battle to win the heart of a wealthy man’s beautiful and gentle daughter, Bianca. These men disguise themselves, assume false occupations, and even hire others to deceive and charm young Bianca. Though this would normally be an easy feat of the daughter simply choosing a groom, a wrench is thrown into the gears. Bianca has a sister named Kate. A woman, who does not lack in beauty, but blessed (burdened?) with the disposition of a shark and a temper to match. It is the four men\’s misfortune that Bianca cannot be married until the storm of a woman Kate weds.

This man vs. man conflict is further accentuated by this horrible stroke of luck named Kate. However, a gentleman storms onto the scene, which I believe is named Petruchio, professing his love and adoration for Kate and, against her evil will, whisks her away and makes her his wife. Soon after Bianca takes her true love, and everyone laughs at the ill fortune of he who married Kate.

This is a wonderful build up for a lesson on deception vs. honesty. Though two of the men in cooperation to win Bianca’s love found and married beautiful, modest women, their relationships seem final and destined. Meanwhile, Petruchio takes Kate away and deals with his choice honestly, simultaneously flattering her, mentally aggravating her, and depriving her of food. Though this hell ensues for sometime, there is a day where Kate begins to lose her hatred and ill ways. Tough love, huh?

This play, at its center, is about accommodation. It is about the acceptance and understanding that has to develop to enable lasting relationships. Love, without a doubt, parallels life. Without the ability to adjust, accept, and even change something in you and others, one will perish. Too will the relationship.

One thing that many of us have a hard time understanding is the relationship between passion (desire) and wanting (immediacy). So often, we get so very excited about the prospect of having, owning, something, but when we have it, we soon tire. Passion is about wanting and desiring, much more so than owning. Petruchio found something he wanted, knowing he would not easily have it. He had to break her down over a long period of time. Loving her, but keeping her in check.

Also, this play is about the difference between a book and it’s cover. All anyone could see, and with good reason, in Kate was this angry, stubborn woman. Petruchio was different and took a chance and broke her down, teaching her that she did not need to be so hard-hearted.

In all, Taming of the Shrew is a wonderful play that greatly parallels life. Not only is life, as well as the people in it, much different than it may sometimes appear, but the difficulties as well as the beauties enrich the voyages we take. Many of the things we overlook, or worse, regard as burdens, are simply extra experiences that will enrich us in many ways. After all, getting there is half the fun.

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Another Now – Kate Alexa

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Colin Anderson

Mar 24
2008
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Micro stock seems to be taking over the world of stock. Not just in still photography either. In the last year more video content has been made available over You Tube than in the previous sixty years of material created by the big three television channels. Now it seems as if every stock agency is announcing new video collections. If you read the forums you’ll find out that a lot of the new “creators” of stock don’t even care that much about money! Many of them, and perhaps rightfully so, spurn the pressure associated with making money and would rather just enjoy seeing their images being used. Many more are quite content just earning enough to buy that new lens.

Many of those that see the potential of earnings are mobilizing to maximize that potential. Yuri Arcurs, for example, is a machine churning out literally more images than the Micro sites are willing to digest. I heard him say he puts out 600 selects a month…and that he could do more if the agencies would take them! The scary thing is that he does them so well!

Large producers and declining RPI

Most of the producers of Royalty Free photography, the larger producers who have made very high levels of income form their stock, have reacted to declining RPI (return per image) by ramping up their own production and streamlining their operations. It becomes a vicious cycle of over supply lowering prices and creating the need for said producers to create yet more images. Now they are eyeing Rights Managed images. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard big RF producers now saying that RM is the place to be. Oh boy, here we go again!

What’s a little stock producer like me to do?

The answer is to do what most of the others are not doing. The answer, or at least a big part of it, is to differentiate your self from the masses. Develop a new skill or vision, add a new dimension to your work, or find an entirely new market. Here are three examples of such strategies as seen in the first three photographers in the interview section of my web site.

In the case of Jack Hollingsworth, he has found a whole new direction. Jack is now helping other photographers deal with the new realities of the market place. He is utilizing his tremendous amount of experience and success in travel and stock photography to help others enter that market, and is also offering workshops for photographers to “re-invent” themselves for this new Internet age.

Marc Romanelli has successfully incorporated video into his stock photography business. He began that process a few years ago. Now that crowd-sourcing is entering this arena too, Marc is going to ramp up the quality of his video by moving to a higher end camera, such as a Red One or Scarlet, and shooting more RM video and less RF. I am taking a cue from Marc and have become dipping my toe into motion (though with an entry level Panasonic HVX-200). I now have my first clips up on Getty and they are selling well.

Colin Anderson already has a unique vision that sets him apart. He is further developing and enhancing this vision by learning 3D. He is incorporating 3D into his already formidable arsenal of Photoshop and photography skills. Colin, in a sense, is competing with few, if any, other photographers. His images are like those of nobody else!

Enjoy the challenge

The question to ask yourself is how can you differentiate yourself? I sincerely believe that to be successful at such an undertaking, you have to also enjoy the challenge of that new approach. I’m not ready to learn 3D, but I have enjoyed “playing” with motion. I have shot my motion in conjunction with others, teaming up with David Fischer, Shalom Ormsby, Drew Kelly and Sam Diephuis to produce footage. Find a way to differentiate yourself that you can approach enthusiastically and you will be on your way to securing your future in this incredibly exiting world of commercial visuals!

Stock Photos – business, lifestyle, animal, ethnic, and conceptual: Pictures of Animals Concept stock photos, Fine Art Prints, and printed merchandise.

Read John’s photography blog: Stock Photo Blog Concept stock photos, Fine Art Prints, and printed merchandise.

Ghetto Fingers – On The Move (Colin Anderson, Grand Theft Auto soundtrack) on guitar.

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