michaelmistretta.com

A series of hyperlinks led me to re-read the excellent interview Shawn Blanc did with Cameron Hunt earlier this year. When asked about how cameron.io has changed from it’s original conception to where it is today, Cameron responded:

I’m not sure how to answer that question. In my mind, cameron i/o doesn’t change. I change. This website is a representation of myself on the internet, my endeavors and passions. I change over time, and my website reflects that, but my website will never change in it’s extension of me.

I think the same can be said about michaelmistretta.com.

REDmas - The day that RED totally shook and redefined the film industry. Still overwhelmed by the announcement? Dorkman’s got a good write-up.

Stu Maschwitz on video-capable DSLRs, like the D90 and the Canon 5dMKII -

Along come these video-shooting DSLRs, with enourmous sensors, the wrong form-factor for video, and none of the features that turn an DVX100 into a battle-ready companion. They make awesome images, but they do so at the expense of the operator. When you only see the images, these cameras seem like they must be the best thing going. But the images are the result of a process, and that process is painful. It’s up to you to decide if sexy DOF is worth giving up control.

It’s a sensitive topic among filmmakers. Which camera is better—the one with sexier images or more control? That’s not to say a D90 is unusable for shooting a movie (Judson Collier and a couple friends are shooting a short movie for a film festival on it), only that it isn’t ideal. And when we get into the world of professional videographers, ideal is everything.

There is a reason there haven’t been a convergence of video and DSLRs until the last few months. Not because of a technical limitation, but because it’s impractical. The form factor for photography is completely different than that needed for videography.

Photography is more than simply image quality. It’s about capturing an image on the spur of the moment that says something. And that takes a photographer that is completely in control of their camera.

This Thursday, when RED reveals their new cameras, I’ll be looking at features and specs along with everyone else. But I’ll also be evaluating whether these cameras seem to be filmmaking companions that allow me to craft an image intuitively and effortlessly. The camera should disappear, leaving only me and the images that, for better or worse, I created.

I’m intrigued as to how they will overcome the challenges that Nikon and Canon are facing, and how their products will work for professional photographers and videographers.

Chris Bowler on The Switch -

There seems to be a lot of confusion as to what GTD is—people are mistaking the culture that has sprung up as a true representative for GTD. A lot of times that is just not the case. I’d like to get back to the fundamental concepts of this methodology as well as other productivity ‘systems’. I hope I’m not beating this dead horse, but if we can help people improve their habits instead of their systems, than reduced stress should be a result.

And that’s why I hesitate to mention the term “GTD” on this site—not knowing whether it represents a cult-like following of tinkerers, or people that just want to be productive.

I like the new direction we’re seeing from Chris and others like Merlin.

A collection of excellent pictures that really show the emotions of President-elect Obama throughout the campaign. Political photojournalism—I kind of like that.

(Via SimpleBits)

“He who works with his hands is a laborer.

He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.

He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.”

-St. Frances of Assisi

The Pulse of Tomorrow - An Interview with Michael Mistretta -

Chris Bowler and I have been exchanging emails over the past three months, resulting in a 7000+ word interview with yours truly, covering everything from blogging and GTD to photography and Africa.

It’s fun to watch my writing progress over the course of the interview. The last six or so questions and responses are my favourite.

Engadget published their extensive review of the T-Mobile G1. In summary: the hardware is pathetic, the software is mediocre, and the battery life is one-third that of an iPhone. Still, it’s open. That’s gotta count for something, right?

All the tech pundits seem to be giving Android a free pass. Reading through the review, negative after negative is listed. But still, the majority of the comments are somewhere along the lines of: “Android has potential”, “it’s gonna get better”, and “it’s not bad for version 1.0″. The G1 may have been acceptable in a world of Treos from 2004. But times have changed. The iPhone 3G at $199 has raised the bar and set a new standard for which the G1 has to reach.

From what I’ve seen—not just heard open-source fanatics talk about—the Android hardware and software have been massive failures up to this point. Sure, an open platform would be nice to have, but at what cost? It’s not even about the experience anymore—I just want a phone that will work.

I still believe there’s hope for the Android platform, but the G1 is definitely not it.

Apparently I’m a little late to the game (read: 4 years) with a lengthy article from Hugh MacLeod of gapingvoid on ‘How to be Creative’:

6. Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.

Then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away and replace them with books on algebra etc. Being suddenly hit years later with the creative bug is just a wee voice telling you, “I’d like my crayons back, please.”

Four, ten, seventeen, twenty-four, and thirty are my favourites. If you have a lot of time on your hands, grab ahold of the full 10,000 word PDF version.

Jony Ive on Apple’s philosophy for the new MacBooks -

I love the way that we don’t reserve our very best ideas, for our very highest end products. Our very best ideas—all of our innovation—we bring to the most popular Mac that we make.

When you start using it, when you start putting your photographs on it, when you start working on your personal projects, it becomes so much more than just a collection of parts. We’ve refined and refined every detail in the service of the user. Just to get rid of complexity. If something doesn’t need to be there, it’s not there.

I don’t know how we can make anything more essential, any simpler, than the new MacBook.

Jony seems to be the person at Apple most in-tune with Steve’s obsession over simplicity and design. That may be positive of negative, but it has definitely set Apple apart from the “Made in China” phenomenon so common among consumer electronics today.

And by that, I don’t mean that Apple’s products aren’t made in China—they just don’t feel like they’re made in China.

Hugh MacLeod interviews Seth Godin -

Success is now the domain of people who lead. That doesn’t mean they’re in charge, it doesn’t mean they are the CEO, it merely means that for a group, even a small group, they show the way, they spread ideas, they make change. Those people are the only successful people we’ve got.

What can I say? More thought-provoking ideas from Seth Godin.

Seth’s Blog is one of those places you go to get thoughts. Pure, unadulterated thoughts. He is a master at communicating his ideas in as few words as possible, adding a new appeal to brevity in blog posts. It’s the kind of thing you look forward to reading every day even if it doesn’t apply to you.

From his latest post today:

And that’s the key to the paradox of effort: While luck may be more appealing than effort, you don’t get to choose luck. Effort, on the other hand, is totally available, all the time.

Dan McCullum tipped me off to Silver Efex Pro from Nik Software, a plugin for Aperture and Photoshop that gives you extensive control over editing black and white photos. I tried out the 15 day trial, and was blown away by the results. While it won’t magically turn your photos into something seen on National Geographic, it will definitely change the way you shoot.

And while I’m at it, I should plug all of Nik Software’s amazing plugins. They’re quite heavily-priced, but they do a phenomenal job at helping you tell your story after you shoot.

I sense a $600-dollar hole burning itself in my pocket…

‘Totally Awesome’ -

I love reading design geekery like this.

Reverie: First Real-World Testing Of The Canon 5D MKII -

Blown away. I’m speechless.