It's Geeky Fun

Checking in from legendary geek-fest Gnomedex. The Raincity Studios squad of Francis Pilon, Kris Krug and I arrived yesterday in time for the kick off party (naturally) and seeing old friends and making new ones.

So many people here doing remarkable projects across many disciplines. But rather than name checking everyone (i'll get to that eventually), this dispatch is to say that RCS' KK kicked off the event with a great preso about making better photos.

The tips were augmented by charming examples from his massive portfolio and he'll likely be busy the rest of the con-fab with his offer of a photoshoot in exchange for tasty links to his Vancouver photography studio.  

His presentation will be posted somewhere sometime soon with a CC license for your sharing goodtimes. Stay aware and i'll be sure to link it up.

UPDATE: Kris Krug "making better photos" presentation

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Meet the Candidates!

Rolling along with the SXSW Get the Vote Out campaign, today's possible panelist is Kris Krug.

Krug is fresh off presenting at a social media Symposium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Social Tech Training, nextMedia, Bridging Media, Telefilm Content Creators workshop, Federation of Post-Secondary educators ... and more - See "Catching up with Krug Tour in Banff" for info.

Another multi-year veteran of SXSW, Kris puts forth two panels for Interactive 2009 covering topics he's well known for discussing: doing business in China and photography - check the blurbs:

For your Consideration:

1) International Business in China for Fun and Profit - Kris Krug + panelists

There are myriad misconceptions about doing business in China, but with a massive market, talented workbase and intriguing culture, there are also many compelling reasons for entrepreneurs to consider expanding their enterprises to Asia. Practical questions are answered by a panel of ex-pat entrepreneurs.

2) Become a Semi-Pro Photographer in 10 Easy Steps - Kris Krug + panelists

Think your shots are good enough to pay the bills? A panel of emerging photographers discuss how they've turned their passion into a paying gig after beginning as (sometime self-trained) amateurs and reveal the tactics they've used to build portfolio, grow audience and increase exposure.

Meet the Candidates!

Rolling along with the SXSW Get the Vote Out campaign, heeerrrre's Robert Scales.

Robert Scales is the CEO and Founder of Raincity Studios, a consummate biz-ness-man and an international man of "open everything" evangelism.

A multi-year veteran of SXSW, he is pitching two panels for Interactive 2009 covering some of his dearest subjects: Drupal, Social Media, China and the Olympics.

For your Consideration:

1) Using Drupal to Manage, Publish, and Promote Your Content - Robert Scales + a collection of Drupalista panelists

Drupal is a fast-growing content management system built by a loose knit community committed to making a highly usable and infinitely extendable publishing platform ideal for individuals to enterprises. Learn how to use Drupal to organize content, publicize your message, and activate your audience.

2) Social Media and the Olympics - Robert Scales + panelists

Coverage of the Olympic Games is dominated by IOC's contracted rights-holder and accredited major media conglomerates however some feel there is a role for grassroots documentation of both sporting events and the cultural context. The related conundrums are discussed by social media makers who covered several Olympics Games.

In this installment of the Beijing Summer Olympics social media report, we join Robert Scales and Kris Krug as they spread their on-the-ground reportage around the world. Indeed, their barrage of videos, photographs and words are deepening the coverage for fans, pundits and athletes' families as their coverage is picked up by social and mainstream media outlets.

Coverage Highlights

BBC's Canadien Correspondent

Robert Scales' second entry from his Olympic diary is up on BBC - this time he talks about the opening ceremonies (video) and their venue reconnaissance (video) with visits to the Birds Nest' national stadium, the 'Water Cube' aquatic centre, the fencing hall and the Yukeson basketball stadium while fortified by snake, silk worms, scorpian and salamanders (videos).

Beijing's Faces in LA Times

Krug's Olympic photos are in the LATimes blog with a photo essay called the Faces of Beijing - the candid photos show KK's skill of relaxing the subject to be themselves - you can almost feel the humidity in the photos.

Cross-posted from: BBC Sport | Olympics | Beijing Diaries

Background: Raincity Studios CEO/Founder Robert Scales and Pres/Ambassador Kris Krug are on the ground in Beijing to document and study the 2008 edition of the Olympic Games. They are publishing dispatches to a variety of news outlets including the venerable BBC. Here's Scales' first installment of his Olympic diary.

ROBERT SCALES, MONTREAL, CANADA

Robert runs a web development company based in Canada