On the topic of work, road trips & writer's block
Back After a Six-Month Hiatus
It has been almost six months to the day since this blog was last updated. This is inexcusable, so here are the excuses:
Busy Shop: The crush began in August (the last blog posting) and has been unrelenting ever since. The simple solution would have been to hire additional help to manage the workload, and to some extent, that was the solution. But as a business survivor of 2008 (remember Lehman Brothers?), you learn not to trust short-term business trends. So, you suck it up, put in long hours, and satisfy each and every customer.
RedWingDigital.com Success: Contributing to this work crush has been the success of new products at RedWingDigital.com. This new business model takes time to hammer out a smooth workflow. But if it were easy, everyone would be doing it. Look for new products soon.
Vacation: January is supposed to be quiet, so we closed the shop for ten days and took a long road trip to the most remote part of the United States we could find. However, this January was the busiest January ever, even with ten days removed from the calendar. It's not fair to have a customer wait for my vacation, so it meant even longer days once we returned.
Writer's Block: This stuff doesn't write itself, especially when you're tired and have convinced yourself you have writer's block.
That being said, I promise not to allow such a break in the blog pattern to ever occur again.
Our customers are rock stars!
A Business Built on Great Customers
This business is only as good as its customers, and we have the best customers.
Case in point: the busier we get, the less attention web administration seems to receive. But it's too important to ignore for very long. This morning, I was determined to bring the Video/News section of our website up to date. This involves the painstaking task of writing press releases, proofing them, and then re-writing them. I know it isn't as bad as breaking rocks for a living, but it is still a job that I do not look forward to.
At some point, you need to include testimonials to add credibility to the releases. And this is when I am reminded how good our customers are.
Thank you, Jeff Marcus. You have been a steadfast supporter for many years, and we appreciate it. Now go support Jeff. This is good stuff.
2011 Flyway Film Festival
Flyway Film Festival: A Creative Celebration
The Flyway Film Festival is one of our favorite events each year. This uninhibited creative endeavor spans three days in October. Each year, the festival has grown in size and scale, and this year promises to be especially exciting.
First, the Flyway Film folks received a generous grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, which will significantly boost marketing efforts. This extra funding will help expand the festival's reach.
Second, the festival graphic is noteworthy for its artist. Gaylord Shanilec created the original etching of the three pelicans used in the poster. Gaylord is undeniably talented, and pelicans are indigenous to this area, making it an exceptional image representing our region.
Lastly, a very limited edition of signed fine art prints will be available for purchase, with proceeds helping to fund the festival. We printed these limited edition prints on Hahnemühle textured 100% cotton paper, ensuring they will last for hundreds of years.
Mark your calendars for October 23-25. We can't wait!
The 1st Half of 2011
Reflecting on the First Half of the Year
The end of June marks the conclusion of the first half of the year. Last year was a good one, and so far, this year is ahead of last year. The business mix has evolved over the years, and we've been fortunate to be well-positioned to leverage these changes.
Red Wing Digital has been a significant time and financial investment. While there are still a few issues to resolve, the product inventory is now in place, and the product design details have been finalized. Orders have been increasing at a steady and realistic rate. We are currently addressing packaging and shipping issues and continuously seeking more production space.
This year marks our 10th year in business, and we've been tracking business patterns since the very beginning. Typically, the second half of the year is much busier than the first, for several reasons.
We owe our success to our loyal customers. Thank you for your continued support.
Reading outside weather
A Late Spring Brings Unexpected Benefits
This year, spring arrived 16-18 days later than usual. It was an especially long winter with heavy snowpack and a slow warm-up.
Typically, a late spring is seen as a hindrance to the economy. Crops are planted later, shortening the overall growing season.
However, there are benefits to a late spring. Postponed projects and maintenance issues can be addressed, and when spring finally arrives, we can sit in the sun and enjoy a good book.
Red Wing Digital is officially launched!
Red Wing Digital Launches Today!
It took longer than hoped and cost more than expected, but Red Wing Digital was finally launched today.
Red Wing Digital is a targeted business providing products for fine-art and passionate photographers. The initial product is the Panel Print, with more products to follow. What makes this website unique is its point-and-click selection of products and the print-on-demand nature of the interface.
The most exciting part of the website will be the guest contributors. These guests will provide inside tips for their specific photography niches, making the website a portal for photographers who are always striving to advance their skills. So far, contributors will include:
Stacy Bengs (Stacy Bengs Photographer) discussing sports photography and photojournalism
Barbara O'Brien (Barbara O'Brien Photography), a talented animal photographer
Clare Polencheck (Off the Cuff Photography), an especially skilled portrait photographer
It is a privilege to work with such talented and creative individuals, and this will be a lot of fun.
The above Panel Print is 'Red Wing Boathouses' by Dr. Jack Alexander and is on display at Red Wing Fairview Hospital.
Visit the new site at RedWingDigital.com.
Hole in the Wall
Supporting a Rising Filmmaker: My Niece's Journey
My niece is on her way to becoming a famous filmmaker. Recently, she won a grant from the IFP Minnesota Center for Media Arts, enabling her to film and produce her original screenplay, "Hole in the Wall." It's a short film that explores the intergenerational tension between a father and a son.
I had the privilege of shooting still set photography during the movie production. We shot the exteriors on the first day and the interiors on the second day. The interiors were filmed in a dilapidated house in Minneapolis with extremely small rooms. I used an extremely wide lens and shot mostly from the hip to capture the tightness of the set and minimize camera intrusion.
It was a fascinating yet tedious process. Everything was captured on real film, which presents its own challenges. A single overhead jetliner can ruin a shot, and you never know if there was a light leak until after the film is processed.
In the top photo, my niece Mandy is on the left, reviewing a shot setup. The bottom photo shows the primary room where the father confronts the son.