The visual media has been fully ramped during SXSW this week.
We have seen more image capturing devices in one place in ever before.
But where do all the images go?
Shared with friends on a social networking platform, emailed, print pubs, or maybe just on a site like this.
This is becoming the norm.
Every photographer carries the sharing tools: still, video, laptop, smartphone.
The bag gets heavier and the designs have to change.

The question of what is essential does arise, though.
Is this photographer’s gear creating any lesser of an image?
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Or should the working pro be fully loaded like these guys?

[photopress:_SXS1629.jpg,full,centered] Jay West
[photopress:_SXS1633.jpg,full,centered] William Dunn

Well, the answer is actually tied to your usage.
Last night, we were at an event when an internet superstar showed up. The point and shoots, cell phones, and yes, a few DSLRs went off like crazy.
The crowd, who would be accessing these photos, will be perfectly happy with their lower res, slightly dark, probably unsharp images.

And why? Because they are authentic. They were there, and these photos prove it.

The point here is, as we said, usage.

We’ll be rocking our Nikon D700, with a sweet 24-70 2.8mm. Because we want to bring you the goods. And let you know how that rig works in a setting like this. Mixed light, fast moving opportunities, lots of humanity.

Yep, the blended media usages, are fast shifting sands.
What’s in your tool box?

Seriously, we have seen more folks twittering, shooting stills, rocking Flip Mino’s, emailing, texting, and yep, good old fashioned pen to paper, getting the word out about the events at SXSW.
And we’ll admit that, although we have been tweeting, the posts have been slower.
The days have been starting at 10 AM and downloading pix at about 2:00 AM so bear with us.

Hmmmm.. enough paper in these bags?

Every sq. in. getting used

Pepsi build pop-up environments to let you communicate with the world

Alex Bogusky of CPB

He was presenting a city rental bike service, to cut down on emissions. More on that later.

Getting the word out

Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos delivers amazing keynote

Waiting for the SWAG drops

What the local pros are shooting with.

Where’s Waldo?

In the press room.

Well, it’s off to the Convention Center for another day. More images will be posted as we go, and a full gallery near the end.

Last week in Las Vegas, FS Distribution was showing plastic cameras amidst all of the latest technological photographic products.
Stuck out in the crowd like crazy. Good crazy.
We were drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
C’mon who out here hasn’t used a Holga?
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Really? You, over there? Dang! Well, there will be a giveaway coming soon for a Holga. You absolutely have to try to get this one.

Ok, take a look a this:

Whether you get a classic black model, or one of these new trick deals, it’s an experience you have to try. Shoot film, get it scanned to a disk and rock on.

Nope, its not that new super-fast 1.2 lens you’ve been hankering for.
Nor the newest 31.0 megapixel DSLR, making it’s way down the pipe.
Heck, it’s not even that sweet lighting set-up that folds into a backpack, and creates a full-up fashion studio on location.

This is for your protection. And sharing. And family harmony.
It’s what we’ve been waiting to see: a server that can operate wireless, and take care of a household of mixed computer platforms. Yes, we know that 93% of the world is on PC and 90 % of the pro photo market is on MAC.
This should take care of all of you.

Remember that you must have a PC somewhere in the configuration to have this machine work. You must use it for set and maintenance.

We always knew that a server was the logical step for the home or business: a storage device that would let you download from the web, store and back up your media, and send it wherever you wanted it – HD TV, mobile devices, and audio systems.
And here it is.
Maybe the next gen will be just for MAC.
And maybe the phone companies will start offering you server space on their systems and charge you a monthly fee depending on the amount of storage you have. Seems to us that they are in the perfect position.
It just may happen.

Not just any travel pack!

The official photoinduced.com travel pack including a Lowepro 20 AW camera pouch, official photoinduced.com lens cloth, one classic Moleskine ruled reporter notebook, a Cross Ion Metal pen (about 3.5 inches long) with 6 colored inks, and a Giottos mini tripod.
Just about all can fit in the pouch. The tripod may be a little longer.

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We carry this set-up everywhere we travel. Sometimes, the pouch holds the external drives used for back-up with a cool front pocket for the cables. The mini tripod is a quality unit for the old point and shoot, when you need a little extra stability.
And the pen and Moleskine combo…well…we all need to make notes sometimes, right ?
And of course the ever popular lens cloth that has a clip for your camera strap, and stuffs into it’s own little neoprene bag.
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Here’s how to get this set-up, exclusively for the subscribers of the NEWSLETTER

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