Google, Strobist, You and Mavis
For the international readers, in the US today is Thanksgiving. It is a day in which we watch a big parade, pause to give thanks, eat turkey, watch football and take a breath to prepare for the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
First of all, thanks to all of you for reading the site and especially for contributing to the flow of information that helps us all learn how to be better photographers. There are also a couple of neat things going on behind the scenes that you might not be aware of. If you are interested in learning more about it, make the jump. If not, well, happy Thanksgiving -- wherever you are.
________________________
I wanted to take a moment to look both upstream and downstream from the vantage point of this website, and to highlight the people who make this possible. Also, I'd like to introduce you to a few unexpected people who are directly benefitting from your readership.
Google
Upstream, it all starts with Google, who provides a venue, bandwidth and full-time tech support for this site -- all for free. I had a phone conversation a few weeks ago with one of the honchos at Blogger. I was worried that we had outgrown our little free corner of the web, and I wanted to know if I should (reluctantly) plan to move the site to a different venue.
Turns out, you can't really get too big for Google. We do quite a bit of bandwidth -- about 50k pageviews a day including lots of photos. And Google is totally cool with that process continuing to happen for free. As far as they are concerned, anyone who is creating new content and broadening the knowledge base of the internet is cool with them.
So, if there are any of you out there considering blogging, I would like to offer a kick in the pants to get on with it. It's fun, free and you'll learn way more than you think you will just by doing it. And if I may offer a plug for Blogger as a good choice for a (free) venue, it would be this:
1. You will never outgrow them, and
2. I think Google will still be around in five years or so.
So, thanks to Google and the Blogger team. I can tell you with 100% certainty that without their free platform and bandwidth, this site would not be here.
Readers and Advertisers
From my own position, I am thankful for the people who show up to read this stuff, and especially to those who contribute. I know that I have become a better shooter as a result of what I have learned from you all. And I think we, as a group, are increasing the rate at which people learn about lighting throughout the world. Which is way cool.
Your presence matters. That's what makes a market for the businesses who wish to gain exposure to a herd of photographers. And by advertising, they fund the site and make it all work. So thanks to them, too.
Unexpected Beneficiaries
Looking further downstream from us though, a portion of the money generated by this site is diverted at any one time through a portfolio of microloans which are spread out around the world by an organization called Kiva. They facilitate interest-free microloans, using PayPal as a payment platform (who donate their services, without fees) to match up lenders with borrowers around the world.
I found out about Kiva through a story on the PBS documentary series "Frontline," and have been lending through them ever since.
This is Mavis Fuah, a businesswoman in Ghana who buys bales of used and surplus clothing and then sells them by the piece to support her family.
Literally, the fact that you are clicking onto this site and learning how to light for free has directly resulted in her being able to expand her business with an interest-free microloan. We were a major funder on her loan, which was for a total of $750.
That's not a lot of money by western standards, but it makes a huge difference to Mavis. Click on the pic for more info.
In addition to Mavis, our outstanding loan portfolio includes:
Odia Asikhia, Nigeria, (Movie rental business)
Bridget Agbon, Nigeria, (Plastics sales)
James Edaki, Nigeria, (Soft drinks retailer)
Shahodat Ismoilova, Tajikistan (Perfume retailer)
Tomas Hernåndez, Mexico (Restranteur)
Juliana Dede, Ghana (Plastic container sales)
Like the platform which makes possible this site, the Kiva.org microlending process is free, and can be accessed from any internet-enabled computer. They are really catching on, too. So much so that they have a temporary limit on the amount of money you can contribute to any one microloan -- $25.00.
But merely by foregoing the interest you would have earned on that $25 for a year (comes to 75 cents at a savings account rate of 3%) you can, from your desk, make a real difference to a family who will probably never worry about whether they should by a Gadget Infinity remote or spring for Pocket Wizards. I would note that I have a 100% repayment rate, with no defaults or late payments, which is not unusual for a Kiva loan.
So, if you are looking for one more thing to feel good about this Thanksgiving, I suggest learning more about Kiva.org.
And if you are even remotely inclined to play with a blog of your own, jump right in a Blogger.com. The water is fine.
First of all, thanks to all of you for reading the site and especially for contributing to the flow of information that helps us all learn how to be better photographers. There are also a couple of neat things going on behind the scenes that you might not be aware of. If you are interested in learning more about it, make the jump. If not, well, happy Thanksgiving -- wherever you are.
________________________
I wanted to take a moment to look both upstream and downstream from the vantage point of this website, and to highlight the people who make this possible. Also, I'd like to introduce you to a few unexpected people who are directly benefitting from your readership.
Upstream, it all starts with Google, who provides a venue, bandwidth and full-time tech support for this site -- all for free. I had a phone conversation a few weeks ago with one of the honchos at Blogger. I was worried that we had outgrown our little free corner of the web, and I wanted to know if I should (reluctantly) plan to move the site to a different venue.
Turns out, you can't really get too big for Google. We do quite a bit of bandwidth -- about 50k pageviews a day including lots of photos. And Google is totally cool with that process continuing to happen for free. As far as they are concerned, anyone who is creating new content and broadening the knowledge base of the internet is cool with them.
So, if there are any of you out there considering blogging, I would like to offer a kick in the pants to get on with it. It's fun, free and you'll learn way more than you think you will just by doing it. And if I may offer a plug for Blogger as a good choice for a (free) venue, it would be this:
1. You will never outgrow them, and
2. I think Google will still be around in five years or so.
So, thanks to Google and the Blogger team. I can tell you with 100% certainty that without their free platform and bandwidth, this site would not be here.
Readers and Advertisers
From my own position, I am thankful for the people who show up to read this stuff, and especially to those who contribute. I know that I have become a better shooter as a result of what I have learned from you all. And I think we, as a group, are increasing the rate at which people learn about lighting throughout the world. Which is way cool.
Your presence matters. That's what makes a market for the businesses who wish to gain exposure to a herd of photographers. And by advertising, they fund the site and make it all work. So thanks to them, too.
Unexpected Beneficiaries
Looking further downstream from us though, a portion of the money generated by this site is diverted at any one time through a portfolio of microloans which are spread out around the world by an organization called Kiva. They facilitate interest-free microloans, using PayPal as a payment platform (who donate their services, without fees) to match up lenders with borrowers around the world.
I found out about Kiva through a story on the PBS documentary series "Frontline," and have been lending through them ever since.
This is Mavis Fuah, a businesswoman in Ghana who buys bales of used and surplus clothing and then sells them by the piece to support her family.
Literally, the fact that you are clicking onto this site and learning how to light for free has directly resulted in her being able to expand her business with an interest-free microloan. We were a major funder on her loan, which was for a total of $750.
That's not a lot of money by western standards, but it makes a huge difference to Mavis. Click on the pic for more info.
In addition to Mavis, our outstanding loan portfolio includes:
Odia Asikhia, Nigeria, (Movie rental business)
Bridget Agbon, Nigeria, (Plastics sales)
James Edaki, Nigeria, (Soft drinks retailer)
Shahodat Ismoilova, Tajikistan (Perfume retailer)
Tomas Hernåndez, Mexico (Restranteur)
Juliana Dede, Ghana (Plastic container sales)
Like the platform which makes possible this site, the Kiva.org microlending process is free, and can be accessed from any internet-enabled computer. They are really catching on, too. So much so that they have a temporary limit on the amount of money you can contribute to any one microloan -- $25.00.
But merely by foregoing the interest you would have earned on that $25 for a year (comes to 75 cents at a savings account rate of 3%) you can, from your desk, make a real difference to a family who will probably never worry about whether they should by a Gadget Infinity remote or spring for Pocket Wizards. I would note that I have a 100% repayment rate, with no defaults or late payments, which is not unusual for a Kiva loan.
So, if you are looking for one more thing to feel good about this Thanksgiving, I suggest learning more about Kiva.org.
And if you are even remotely inclined to play with a blog of your own, jump right in a Blogger.com. The water is fine.
__________
New to Strobist, or lighting? Start here.
Now shipping, in DVD box set or download: Lighting in Layers
Connect: Discussion Threads | Reader Photos | Twitter
Posted at 9:10 AM.
17 Comments:
Great tip on Kiva. I never knew about them and will definitely be helping some people soon.
Happy Thanksgiving America! Happy Thursday rest of The World!
David,
You should have posted the info about Kiva, before the jump. I made the jump but wonder how many thousands didn't. HAVE a WONDERFUl Thanksgiving. I always look forward to the latest STROBIST info.
Thanks for posting about Kiva! Not sure how I missed them up to now...but it looks like a great idea.
a short wikipedia-consulting told me that you guys in the US are very funny people...
Thanksgiving is your most important holiday and most of the people use the following "black friday" to not to go to work :-)
You celebrate with your hole family and eat filled turkey...
Hey thats like in The Bill Cosby Show :-)
In Germany we call Thanksgiving --> "Erntedankfest"
But I thought It'd be the forth thursday in november???
Anyway,
Thanks to Google, Kiva, David and any other organisation, Girl, Guy that make this thing possible... Strobist is my favorite website, no day without a visit.
respectfully yours
Svlad Cjelli
P.S.: I'm blogging too
Thanks for sharing such great information.
My friend had pointed me to something like Kiva (may have actually been Kiva) and I LOVE the idea. Helping poor families create a self-sustaining income. I hope that charity trends will eventually begin to point more in this direction.
Happy Thanksgiving to all you Americans, we celebrate thanksgiving in October (but it's not nearly as big of a deal in Canada). I do get to eat turkey today though(having American friends makes for 2 Thanksgivings)!
Hopefully some good football on TV today.
David, thanks for taking the time to thank those who play a part in your amazing success, and for being willing to contribute to others some of the goodness that has come your way. That's beautiful, and is as much a reason I'm a "strobist evangelist" as any of your high-quality lighting tuts. Thank YOU.
mark at blackgecko
Thanks for sharing about Kiva. Some farmer across the world now has $25 to feed his cows. Do they have a way to just give money away? It seems simpler than this loan business and I'd rather not think about complication of managing the funds when they come back etc.
Al
While there is no Thanksgiving here in Ireland, today I did something different. I buried my Father in Law. It's not all sadness, it was an end to suffering for him, so that is cause for cheer.
Top notch David Hobby!! Congrats for yet another excellent year and post! Hope you are spending an excellent and more relaxed time with your family -which is part of the plan right? I am under 20 cms of snow and much closer to the holidays than you at this point ;) gobble gobble
Chris (aka b1gw1ght)
Due to personal and religious beliefs,I can't borrow or loan money (even @ 0% interest). Is there a way to donate money to entrepreneurs in developing countries?
Kiva is great. To those who wish to donate money; there are lots of organizations that accepts donations. However, if you read just a little about Kiva you will quickly understand how giving away money is not what they are about and would go against the whole meaning behind it.
David, we're past thanksgiving now - being an English guy I was in blissfull ignorance. But in the spirit of it I want to thank you for taking time to share.
I have learned so much over the last year since I found your site. Some of the favourite shots that my clients see are now Strobist influenced.
Your Thanksgiving reflections are awsome. Kiva is, to use your lingo "way cool". You are an amazing guy to take the time to share with all of us and, as has been said before, Mrs Strobist has got to be a great lady to allow you to come and play with us.
Belated, "Happy Thanksgiving" to the Strobist family. Thank you.
David, thanks so much for the Kiva tip, what an amazing organization. Make sure you write a whole post about them, more people need to know.
Thanks,
R
Hi David,
Thanks for sharing about Kiva. They're a great organization. If you ever want to talk about micro-credit opportunities, I'm in your neck of the woods in Columbia MD and I've been involved with micro-credit in the Philippines in the past few years.
I help run a small non-profit with my sister over in the Philippines (www.tapulanga.org) and it's amazing how much of a difference micro-credit loans can make in people's lives. Our programs are inspired by the Grameen system and our loans range from about $100 to $2000 and just last April when we were in the Philippines we met with some of the partner-borrowers and one lady said that her loan helped her buy equipment to start a bakery business and her business has grown to the point that it now supports 3 families. It was very humbling to hear the borrowers share their appreciation especially since some of us living in first world nations couldn't really imagine that we can start businesses for such small amounts.
Our borrowers are mostly women and in a male-dominated society like the Philippines, this has also promoted empowerment among the women. And the good thing we learned too is that when women earn from their micro-businesses, they channel all of their income back to their families ... while with male borrowers, some of their incomes go to vices (alcoholism and gambling is rampant in poor communities in the Philippines).
eBay just launched a micro-credit enterprise as well ... check out www.microplace.com.
Continued best of luck on Strobist. My brother is a photographer in the Philippines and I've shared your site with him as well. Take care!
Robin
Never heard of Kiva until this post, but now that I have, I've just loaned money. It really sounds like a great program! I've never donated (or loaned) money before, but when I looked over the Kiva site, I just had to.
Thanks!
Hey David:
An awesome service, both the blog, and the micro loans. Our hats are off to you. Keep up the great work! We've posted your entry on the site to spread the good word.
RC
Layers Magazine
Post a Comment
<< Home