My Top 5 Resources for...

Throughout my time as a student here at the AIP-OD I have done a lot of research and ordered a lot of equipment.  It felt a little old-school writing papers again and doing all of this personal and academic research made me feel a little nerdy at times, but as a professional it is very important to take a keen interest in the things you do and always put in your best effort.  "Google-it" is not always the answer so I have put together a list of my top 5 places for...

 

  ...finding what I want and need to exceed.

 

Research & Purchases

 

5.  http://snapsort.com/

       If you're like me, purchasing your first DSLR was confusing and frustrating.  With all of the different brands, specifications, and prices out there it can be difficult to know what you want and need.  The best suggestion I learned about choosing a camera is to hold it; each manufacturer designs camera bodies differently and will feel differently in your hands.  If you're loyal to one brand or another or just curious, this website will help you look at the differences and similarities between cameras as well as what they recommend for you in regards to your particular requirements.

4.  http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

     This is a very popular site for shopping for gear.  What I love about them is their student discount membership and huge variety of equipment.  They have a great Used section where you can find deals on certain products and most of the time I can get free shipping--bonus!!  You can also "trade up or cash in" your used gear--a great feature for when you outgrow your gear and are looking to upgrade!

3.  http://www.adorama.com/

     Another very popular site and arguably the best next to B&H.  They also offer student discounts, free shipping, and have a Used department where you can sell your old gear too.  Both Adorama and B&H allow you to subscribe to email notifications for sales and discounts and I have taken equal advantage of their great deals.  What do I think makes Adorama just a little bit better?  They offer you the option to rent equipment which makes it easy to try out a new lens or DSLR, rent a camera body while yours is being serviced, or rent lighting equipment...just something to consider before investing in gear you aren't sure about.

2.  https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

     The Photography program will undoubtedly present you with classes in which  you will have to write papers and answer discussion questions that require citations in MLA format; it's daunting, but essential.  "Why?" you might ask--two reasons: plagiarism and copyright infringement.  Both can get you caught in legal and academic disputes and that is very unprofessional.  OWL, the Online Writing Lab, is my go-to for writing a correct citation for the many types of resources I use which brings me to...

1.  The local public library.

    Yes!  I go to the library and you should too.  It is not only a great place to check out books on photographers you might be studying in classes like Photo History I and History of Photography II or for your own personal interest, but there are also books to help you learn how to make money for your photos right now, learn tips and tricks, and *wink, wink* I have also seen a copy of the textbook for those two classes at my local library.

"Outstanding past work in photography, and in fact in all the arts, is very important to today’s photographers. But it should be used for inspiration and not for imitation. These works should be something to be built upon, not to be repeated."--Alexey Brodovitch  (Benigno)

Do you have a favorite go-to for your resources?  Did I miss something?  Please leave me some feedback in the comments section below!

Works Cited

adorama. Adorama Camera, Inc., n.d. Web. 2 June 2014. <http://www.adorama.com/ >

Benigno, John A. "Famous Photography Quotes." mastersofphotography.blogspot. Blogger, 11 July 2012. Web. 2 June 2014. <http://mastersofphotography.blogspot.com/p/famous-photography-quotes.html>

bhphotovideo. B & H Foto & Electronics Corp., n.d. Web. 2 June 2014.  <http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ >

owl.english.purdue. Purdue University, n.d. Web. 2 June 2014. <https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ >

snapsort. Snapsort, Inc., n.d. Web. 2 June 2014. <http://snapsort.com/>

"Used Department." bhphotovideo. B & H Foto & Electronics Corp., n.d. Web. 2 June 2014. <http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse/Used-Department/ci/2870/N/4294247188>
    

Conducting Research in the Twenty-First Century

                                                                Saturday Ambassador

I was born in 1969. I grew up with 8-track tapes, vinyl records and books printed on paper; I was the remote control when anyone decided to switch between the three television stations we received. Kids walked everywhere or rode bicycles, and we employed our imaginations when we required entertainment. Obtaining information for a term paper or project meant visiting the library – the computer age had not yet arrived, though the first phenomenally-expensive consumer computers hit the market in 1977. For example, the Apple II circa 1977 cost $1298 with 4K RAM or $2638 with 48K RAM. The average cost of a new car that year was $5814. (Computer History Museum)

 

"Apple II became an instant success when released in 1977 with its printed circuit motherboard, switching power supply, keyboard, case assembly, manual, game paddles, A/C powercord, and cassette tape with the computer game "Breakout." When hooked up to a color television set, the Apple II produced brilliant color graphics." (Computer History Museum).

Libraries are wonderful places filled with the philosophies of great scholars, a wealth of technical manuals, newspapers and historical publications and the exquisite imaginings of writers from all genres. You can immerse yourself in history, drama and all manner of exotic subjects. Sadly, these magical realms are becoming somewhat obsolete with the advent of the Internet.

Although libraries will forever maintain a special place in my heart, research was a rather slow and tedious process. Today's internet is a potent tool which places information about nearly everything at your fingertips – literally. Use it! This age of fast, powerful computers and internet availability provides a tremendous advantage. Yet, the pervasive spread of corrupt and incorrect information is staggering. Don't contribute to the problem: Verify your facts, use reputable sources, compare information from multiple sites to confirm validity of the sources, read at every opportunity from a variety of genres, learn from the experience, grow and revel in the power of the printed word.

 

The Reader, Jennifer Zwick, 2005, Archival pigment print, 40" x 32"

~Saturday Ambassador

Sources:

"Timeline of Computer History". Computer History Museum. 2006. Web. September 27, 2013. <http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/?category=cmptr>