The Narrative Matters.

Posted on 02. Mar, 2010 by admin in blog

Literary theory aside, a narrative is a story pieced together by words, music or pictures. Why a narrative matters, though, is harder to define.

I personally feel the narrative is the most important aspect of a photograph. If the photo does not tell some sort of story through mood, facial expression or background, then the photo has failed you (i.e., the business owner) in broadcasting your message or brand to potential clients or customers.

Your message and brand is your narrative, sure it’s hard to sum up a storytelling photograph in 140 characters – that is a good thing. A good storytelling image will keep the conversation flowing, because people can relate or will make some sort of connection to a piece of your narrative.

You’re not just advertising or marketing your brand, but you are telling your story through the narrative.  The narrative does matter and photography is a vital and significant element that must be thoughtfully executed.

For example, let’s look at the atmospheric rise in photojournalistic wedding photography. The style is popular because the bride and groom want their story told. They understand that photography is an important part of the narrative.

It’s not popular because its cheap or easy, it’s popular because people are tired of being told what to see or feel when they look at an image. They want to look at the photograph and feel the flood of emotion. The photograph, in some cases, is the only slice of the story that pieces together the words, music and emotion from that specific narrative.

The narrative matters, so make your brand your own and see your vision through to the last pixel.

Cheers,

Nathan

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Twittering

Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by admin in blog

Twitter.  Twittering.  Tweets.

Just a few years ago, while chatting up a client at a cocktail party or meeting over lunch, if you would have said any form of these three words they might have thought you a bit unbalanced.

“Check please.”

Now those three words are so ingrained in our communications world and vernacular that some live and die by them.  Some simply use them to engage, to start a conversation, to let loved ones know that they are eating eggs for breakfast, the basketball score or to self promote.

Honestly, it took me a bit to fully grasp the idea of social media as more than a place to re-up with old friends or college roommates.  Social media to me means more than just sharing links, which I’m very good at, but to engage people that I would not normally have contact with.  Social media as a whole has been pretty good to me.  I get my message and photos out.

Freshwater Images was founded in March 2009.  My first tweet through @freshwatertweet follows:

launching a new brand, company and creative direction all in the same day, might need some more coffee.

2:21 PM Mar 8th from web

With those few words Freshwater Images took it’s first breath and tweeted it first tweet.  Now along with updating my blog, trying to update my Web siteand Facebook fan page with current and relevant information – Twitter has become my favorite tool to meet new folks and engage in my community.

While I still share lots of random links and self promote I also try to provide value to anyone and everyone.  I try not to simply climb to top of a tall building and scream, “Here I am.  Now pay attention to me.”

That example is like a car alarm.  Why do people even use such an annoying device.  No one listens anyway.  I have never gotten up and said, “Wow, some dude’s car is getting stolen around the block.  We should check it out.”  Be honest, have you ever checked it out?  I love my neighbors, but my neighbors also don’t have car alarms.  I value my neighbors not having car alarms.

>Social media, in a way, works in the same function.  A wise man, @tonyfelice, gave me the tip to provide value.  It totally makes sense and he’s right.

What is the point if you don’t give something of value?  You have such a small space to focus your words but an unlimited amount of ideas and thoughts that someone or many someone’s may build from or improve.  The hope is that someone or those many someone’s will do the same with their limited amount of space and provide you with something of value.

Below is a word cloud of just a few days of Tweets.  I’ve been experimenting with hashtags (shift+3) – small markers that include more information or metadata into your otherwise awesome Tweet.  Say you work on an organic farm and Tweet between chores.  A good example of using a hashtag would be:

Bright Ridge Farms is looking for some good ideas regarding #organic-farms and #organic-food for our next round table discussion.

That is almost 140 characters and provides a topic, a few hashtags and asks a question which may or may not engage your community.

There is no formula for being a genius social networker.  Some may disagree with that statement, but what can be agreed on is that there are many known unknowns – as someone once said.

Your job is to figure out the known unknowns, for your company or brand, and Tweet with the Twitter you are given.

Cheers,

Nathan

(Author’s Note: This was previously posted on a former blog of mine. You can berate me in the comment section for recycling a post, if you feel the need.)

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