You Guys Rock: Thanks So Much.
I woke up Friday morning to find in my email box a 10-minute long reader-created "Strobist commercial," orgainized and posted to YouTube and Viddler by reader Bill Millios. As embarrassing as it is in its gushiness, it is also very cool, funny, clearly heartfelt and Web 2.0 in its purpose.Getting past the weirdness of all those props being pointed upstream for a moment, the community that has been developed around this site is far, far better than the site itself. Seriously, thanks much, guys. I would say that I am at a loss for words, but you guys know me better than that.
So, if you are into fun, goofy (maybe NSFW-ish) user testimonials -- or just want to see and hear many well-known site contributors -- click the pic for the annotated video. And speaking of annotation, please register at Viddler if you want to leave your mark on the wall in the real-time, pop-up comments.
:: Video, via Viddler ::
:: Discussion, Bad Jokes, Etc., on Flickr Group ::
__________________________
(I, of course, am floored by this, as was my wife. Many, many thanks or everyone who took the time and effort to participate in this. And especially to Bill Millios for setting it all up and editing it.)
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Browse: Reader Photos | Strobist Gear on Amazon
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by David, at 12:44 AM.
40 Comments:
dear strobist,
i may not have much of a chance, but with you, i have a chance, period.
LGMBBL
I echo the sentiments expressed.
I'm not pretty enough for the camera though, so David please accept my heartfelt thanks by way of this comment.
David--
Thanks again for doing this blog!
Thanks,
ShelbyWhite
Hey, it's Forest Gump's brother!
as a late comer to this blog, I'm floored by your efforts. Thanks for the help, youve put the excitement back into shooting for me
Well deserved big guy.
Fantastic, you really deserve this!
Funny stuff, Chase saying Less Gear :P haha
I've seen the Light ... thank you!
Bill Morgan
Thanks!
As a full-time fine artist/illustrator (22 yrs.) and working with photography, I greatly appreciate your simple/practical technical and motivational help along the way to keep my photographic perspective focused on what's really important and getting out there and actually doing it!! ... and not waiting for "some day" when I have bigger & better equipment.
Your testimony is not found in your blog (which is great) but the community/movement it created.
I visit MANY photo forums/communities and this is TOTALLY different from all the rest because all the other ones mostly "Talk about" what equipment they have or want. Here they actually GET OUT THERE and take photos RIGHT NOW ...don't wait!! [no place for "pixel peepers" here!]
Thank you, David! Ive learned much about light from your blog!
Thanks!
As a full-time fine artist/illustrator (22 yrs.) and working with photography, I greatly appreciate your simple/practical technical and motivational help along the way to keep my photographic perspective focused on what's really important and getting out there and actually doing it!! ... and not waiting for "some day" when I have bigger & better equipment.
Your testimony is not found in your blog (which is great) but the community/movement it created.
I visit MANY photo forums/communities and this is TOTALLY different from all the rest because all the other ones mostly "Talk about" what equipment they have or want. Here they actually GET OUT THERE and take photos RIGHT NOW ...don't wait!! [no place for "pixel peepers" here!]
Strobist has helped in many ways to not only improve my photography skills, but more than that, It has helped me create the habit of challenging myself, to take risks, and see things the way others don't, and that is much more important than any one shot tip, this stuff lasts a lifetime
David,
I live too far away to had the chance to participate in this, but if I was on the other side of the ocean, I surely would.
So I am using this method of communication to say thank you once again for giving us so much!!!
And one more thank you for a new prize I have received in photography, with one image created by your teachings :) (remember, I am that Microsoft Future Pro Photographer from last year).
Thank You,
Alin.
-romania-
crap, I almost teared up with that video!
I think I need a bumpersticker with the tag line.
Thank you DH, you have improved my work too!
Nika
Best. Blog. Ever.
You're not allowed to retire, david.
Ill echo the same, mega thanks for this site and the great information you provide! A must read for me every day (and my time is quite limited!)
Ill echo the same, mega thanks for the site and the information posted, a must read for me despite very limited time available for internet browsing!
David that was awesome! It has really been exciting watching your site grow and the community grow. You're the man!
Duane...
At 4am this morning, I awoke with an "AHA!" lighting moment. I was so excited that I couldn't go back to sleep. Thanks to Strobist Lighting 102, I finally made a connection between my off camera flash, f-stops, shutter speed, and ambient light on a photo of a seed pod that I took 2 months ago. I understand how those things work while using only available light, but something wasn't clicking when I tried to blend ambient and flash.
So thanks David and thanks to the guys who made the commercial, you said it so much better than I can!
Great video, especially towards the end. David, you are the God of small flashes in my book. Thank you!
I'm not sure how many times you can hear the words, "Thank you" and they start to become background noise, but I feel like I have to say it. I owe it to you for helping me change the way I look at my photography.
On an semi-unrelated note, I'm curious if you're going to watch the new season of The Wire starting Sunday? The main premise this season is The Sun, and I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on their take. I think it's going to be fascinating. However, they can't seem to do any wrong on that show.
Thanks again, David!
After 35 years of shooting, this year was the breakthrough for me thanks to your efforts David. Nothing is those years comes close to the positive impact your blog and this community has had on my shooting in 2007.
Thank you!!!
Wonderful video!
And its not only the photographers who are getting way better images; the recipients of the pics (family members, friends, clients) are getting better stuff that they will cherish for years.
Thanks David. My goal this year is to get a bunch of crazy people like in Seattle but here, in little Sherbrooke, Quebec. I've converted a couple people around me to Strobistism. More followers are coming. Thanks again.
Pierre
Strobist fan from Canada
David you totally deserve all the accolades! The Baltimore Sun came up in a conversation the other night and I actually had to say, "Hey, one of my favorite photographers works there!" Thanks for your infinite knowledge!
J. Walker
Thanks a lot, David! No words can express all the appreciation for all you done. Thanks again!!!
David, I know this will come off as an over-the-top sentiment, but your blog is perhaps the best thing to happen to photography since the advent of mainstream digital cameras.
Like digital cameras, you and your blog have made quality photography seem (and indeed become) reachable to an untold number of people.
Just about every other resource leads people to think about photography in almost purely technical terms. I know a lot don't mean to, but they all end up making people think of f-stops, meter readings, rules of composition and pixels. Instead, your simplistic approach has let this amazing community prove that they are artists and can now express themselves in ways they only dreamed of before. People know now how simple it can be to just set it up and let the magic of light happen.
We see people playing with light instead of wrestling with it. Like a painter with a brush, we see people just using their cameras and speedlights virtually without a second thought and concentrating on their final vision. An extension of their imagination.
The winners and honourable mentions in this year's SPOY contest proved that. Indeed, the entire pool of 66,603 photos and 19,761 members (at this moment) proves that.
You've improved and, in fact, changed lives. Like thousands of others, thank you.
Thank you!
Jonathan Ng
Before I found this site I felt trapped, and over the last year learning I feel I've been released.
So thanks, not sure where I'd be without this site.
No more than you deserve man, that´s for sure.
But I can´t stop laughing at Chase stating "less gear"!! huahua He is still the man though!
Hope 2008 brings you and your family even more happiness and success!
Free hugs, from a Brazilian fan and you might say student.
The strobist site has been the main reason I decided to go w/ off-camera simple flashes instead of wireless TTL that is so popular nowadays. My photos have been much better than what they could have been w/ only one flash, so thanks, David.
We are your young Jedis...
Thank you David!
Thanks for En-light-ening all of us!
Thanks for sharing David;
your skills and street-wise techniques as a flash photographer are second to none,
but your talent of blogging writer, communicator and human qualities eclipses all the strobes you could through at...
The best light is coming from your text and from your heart.
Best wishes for the new year !
I just picked up Scott Kelby's Digital Photography Book 2 which came out today. Lo and behold, Chapter 1 is called Using Flash Like a Pro, and is all about getting your flash off-camera because on-camera flash is evil. Sound familiar? Read the fine print in the front of the book: David Hobby is listed as an Editorial Consultant.
You've got to acknowledge the impact this little hobbyist website has made in the photo (and photo publishing) industry. Strobist has taken lighting to the streets.
I like Kelby's new book, but I feel a little dirty giving him my $25 for a lot of content I found here first for free.
David, I want to repay you for all you've taught me; when are you coming out with those DVDs?!
Damn, no one asked me to do a video :( bummer.
Congrats Dave, thanks for everything!
Thanks a lot for your work!
I recently discovered the Strobist community and am truly impressed by the possibility of using off-camera flash.
I just bought my first part of equipment and am beginning to feel the addiction :)
I agree with the comments. Thank you.
Although I'm unable to spend as much time studying Strobist, the little time I was able to spend reading it has helped a lot.
Thank you.
Gene
Great video. I can't help thinking though that when one logs onto strobist they should hear Bert saying "less gear, more brains, better light, welcome to strobist.com"
best commercial ever =)
thank you!
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