The 2006 NECC conference in San Diego started off with a bang! Actually, it was a multitude of "bangs"…three sets of glorious fireworks over San Diego Bay.
Wednesday's Keynote Speaker, DeWitt Jones
I have to admit I was skeptical about going to hear a photographer
talk at a technology conference. However, DeWitt Jones’s
presentation was a highlight of the conference. DeWitt talked
about passion, avocation, and vocation. He started with a story
about two men working in the hot sun chipping small pieces of
stone from a large piece of stone. A priest happened to pass
by and he asked the first man what he was doing. The man said
he was chipping stone. The priest then asked the second man what
he was doing. The man looked up and smiled and said he was building
a cathedral. These were two men doing the same thing. One had
passion and the other was earning a living.
He quoted this poem incredibly….
“But yield who will to their separation,
My object in
living is to unite
My avocation and my vocation
As my two eyes make one in sight.
Only where love and need are
one,
And the work is play for mortal stakes,
Is the deed ever really
done
For Heaven and the future's sakes. “
http://www.themediadrome.com/content/poetry/frost_two_tramps.htm
One of the keys for all of us is to make our vocation our avocation-
that is, making what we have to do what we must do, because of
our love for it. He lived this as he moved into his career doing
what he loved making films with National Geographic. When passion & creativity
are there, then discipline and commitment are not a problem.
He told about taking pictures in British Columbia. Seeing a
field of dandelions. Seemed like nothing. Intended to come back
but not in time. Came back to just “puffballs”. Lots
of puffballs. Started taking pictures from all angles. An incredible
photo from under a dandelion “puffball” looking directly
into the sun & the sun sparkles through the “puffs”.
DeWitt Jones had an ideal job. He was a photographer for National
Geographic. They sent him all over the world to take pictures
to tell a story. He did it exceptionally well. He took some great
images. Some people might think he was just in the right place
at the right time. The key is he worked at being in the right
place at the right time. He gave four guides to being creative
and doing well:
Hone your techniques – His skills were
in photography and he worked at it. His point is when opportunity
comes if you don’t have the skills you may not be able
to advantage of the opportunity.
Put yourself in the right spot – Do your research.
Opportunity doesn’t always knock on the door. You have to take risk
and make yourself available.
Open yourself to possibilities – the first right answer
isn’t always the best answer. Look for all the right answers.
Focus on the Vision – What is your goal? What do you
want to accomplish.
Kathy Schrock's One Hour Tour of Primary Resources
“A genuine morsel of history is a thing so rare as to be treasured forever.” – Thomas
Jefferson.
This is hardly a new subject to media specialists, however she covered it thoroughly,
with great organization. She included things in the mix of Primary Resources
that many might never consider to be primary resources. People tend to think
in terms of older historical material, but Kathy included more recent materials
as well like email, blogs, etc.
Her presentation included definition(s), textbooks, questions for analysis
of data for bias, selection of resources, and on and on. For a copy of her
presentation visit her website at http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/indexs-t.html