10.09.2011
9.05.2011
Waiting on a package.
I'm waiting for a shipment of prints. Maybe it will be here tomorrow.
I'm preoccupied with deadlines for MFA programs in creative writing.
I'm waiting on a writing prompt for tonight's bout of story troubles.
There was an article that said people who lacked confidence used "I" more often than those who had high self-esteem. Most of my time on the train is spent rephrasing sentences to remove the first person pronoun.
I'm preoccupied with deadlines for MFA programs in creative writing.
I'm waiting on a writing prompt for tonight's bout of story troubles.
There was an article that said people who lacked confidence used "I" more often than those who had high self-esteem. Most of my time on the train is spent rephrasing sentences to remove the first person pronoun.
6.09.2011
Revival
My friends,
I've been gone too long. But graduation and other silly school commitments got in the way. Now, I'm out, and of course, like many college graduates, looking for a job. It's not very satisfying to send out dozens of applications, resumes, cover letters only to hear nothing back in some cases. But it's still early. There's no need to panic, and luckily, I've got a number of chores and obligations to keep me busy for some time.
Tonight, I promised I would write a story about a spider stuck to the outside windshield of a car as it speeds up on a highway. It's called "It's worse for the spider, now." Maybe I'll post it. Open the floor up for some critique.
Hello to new followers and to those who are sticking around even though I've been the worst at updating.
I've been gone too long. But graduation and other silly school commitments got in the way. Now, I'm out, and of course, like many college graduates, looking for a job. It's not very satisfying to send out dozens of applications, resumes, cover letters only to hear nothing back in some cases. But it's still early. There's no need to panic, and luckily, I've got a number of chores and obligations to keep me busy for some time.
Tonight, I promised I would write a story about a spider stuck to the outside windshield of a car as it speeds up on a highway. It's called "It's worse for the spider, now." Maybe I'll post it. Open the floor up for some critique.
Hello to new followers and to those who are sticking around even though I've been the worst at updating.
4.18.2011
a cloudy day at the beach
Sometimes, the best days in the tropics (or subtropics) are not those filled with glaring sunlight that washes out color. Cloudy days, still warm and relaxing, allow us to open our eyes a tiny bit wider to actually see those plants that unfurl around us.
Here's a little bit of an homage to that and a hope that the Florida summer (where two of our artists now live) will be a little more forgiving this year:
Here's a little bit of an homage to that and a hope that the Florida summer (where two of our artists now live) will be a little more forgiving this year:
4.17.2011
photography tips from a photography beginner
My dad and my brother (the other shop owners of FourElephants) are great with cameras. Unfortunately, we don't live together while I'm away at college, and as a result, a lot of my own item photography has to be done by me in a poorly-lit dorm room with windows that only face north.
Here's a list of tips I've picked up from around the web, or invented myself to help me take treasury-worthy pictures. It's not at all exhaustive, but I hope it helps.
1. Never ever ever ever use flash. It always leaves a shadow and it's impossible to get rid of it without washing out the other brilliant colors of your items. Flash results in pictures that make your item look cheap or your background look too dark like this picture I took over a year ago:
2. Pay attention to what's in your background. Nothing is more distracting to a buyer than a strange object or dirt in the background of an item photo. Because of my unfortunate window situation, I spent a lot of time photographing items on my windowsill which is white and black (not necessarily the best color combination for my felt items). One day, I decided that what I had wouldn't do, and I set out to find a surface near a window that wouldn't compete with the item itself. For me, it was as easy as the top of a bookshelf I could clear off. For you, it might be easier to set up a permanent photo station.
3. Provide a variety of views. It's not just about filling in the five photo slots. It's about offering a slightly different feel for your item each time. I suck at doing this, and I know it's easier said than done. Some of the best jewelry photography can capture both how you can dress up or dress down an outfit with that particular pair of earrings. For photography, some sellers choose to show how a photo looks in a living room, to give our imaginations a kick. It's part of the way we compensate for not being able to have our customers feel our items.
4. It doesn't hurt to check brightness on another computer. For a few months, I thought my shots were sufficiently bright, until a seller in the critiques section said they looked a tad too dark. I checked it out on a friend's laptop, and unsurprisingly, I saw myself staring at a slightly grayer and blander version of the photos I uploaded. It never hurts to check to make sure that your settings aren't affecting the way you display your items.
Here's a list of tips I've picked up from around the web, or invented myself to help me take treasury-worthy pictures. It's not at all exhaustive, but I hope it helps.
1. Never ever ever ever use flash. It always leaves a shadow and it's impossible to get rid of it without washing out the other brilliant colors of your items. Flash results in pictures that make your item look cheap or your background look too dark like this picture I took over a year ago:
2. Pay attention to what's in your background. Nothing is more distracting to a buyer than a strange object or dirt in the background of an item photo. Because of my unfortunate window situation, I spent a lot of time photographing items on my windowsill which is white and black (not necessarily the best color combination for my felt items). One day, I decided that what I had wouldn't do, and I set out to find a surface near a window that wouldn't compete with the item itself. For me, it was as easy as the top of a bookshelf I could clear off. For you, it might be easier to set up a permanent photo station.
3. Provide a variety of views. It's not just about filling in the five photo slots. It's about offering a slightly different feel for your item each time. I suck at doing this, and I know it's easier said than done. Some of the best jewelry photography can capture both how you can dress up or dress down an outfit with that particular pair of earrings. For photography, some sellers choose to show how a photo looks in a living room, to give our imaginations a kick. It's part of the way we compensate for not being able to have our customers feel our items.
4. It doesn't hurt to check brightness on another computer. For a few months, I thought my shots were sufficiently bright, until a seller in the critiques section said they looked a tad too dark. I checked it out on a friend's laptop, and unsurprisingly, I saw myself staring at a slightly grayer and blander version of the photos I uploaded. It never hurts to check to make sure that your settings aren't affecting the way you display your items.
4.09.2011
Giveaway Treasury: Comment to Enter
The Treasury Friends Team on Etsy has started a giveaway treasury in conjunction with receiving a 300 dollar Etsy Team Grant to donate to the Red Cross for Japan's earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. All you have to do to win every item in the treasury is comment on it.
We do also strongly encourage you to donate if you haven't yet. The news outlets have stopped covering the tragedy in many ways, but efforts are still underway to aid those without homes and to rebuild the devastated areas.
We do also strongly encourage you to donate if you haven't yet. The news outlets have stopped covering the tragedy in many ways, but efforts are still underway to aid those without homes and to rebuild the devastated areas.
4.05.2011
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