My session for Bar Camp Berlin 3, centered on the use of Visual Imagery for Blogs, integration with Flickr and how photos can be used to create reactions in viewers.

1. Visual Imagery for Blogs
Mark Melnykowycz
An American Peyote Scribble
blog.americanpeyote.com
Blog Camp Berlin 3
October 19th, 2008

2. Goal
• Discuss the use of pictures on the web
• Integrate visual and text blogging
• Increase blog visibility
• Build new connections to readers/viewers

3. Blogging
• Create a reaction in the reader
• Communicate or invoke emotion
• Transfer knowledge
• Give value to the readers

4. Blogging with Text
• Efficient - readers scan and read text
• Google indexes posts via keywords, tags,
content, titles, etc.
• Easy to produce

5. Fear Adventure
Beauty
Love
Cool Hate
Dramatic Desire

6. Fear Adventure
Beauty
Love
Cool Hate
Dramatic Desire

7. Google
• Text based searching
• Flickr photos indexed in Google
• Links in Flickr description to your blog
• Good image search capabilities

8. Flickr for Photographers
• Ability to share images with an audience
• Fast posting (faster than text)
• Discussion forums (group interaction)
• The image stands on its own with little
context

9. Flickr for Bloggers
• Images indexed in Google/Yahoo
• Use as image server
• Post photos to groups
• Use images in group discussions
• Participate in group communities

10. Strobist.com
Flickr Workshops Blog Partners
Discussion Reader Blog
Photo sharing Interaction Network

12. Flickr Posting
Photo
Text
Post Link

13. Flick Photos
Blog Post
Flick Discussion

14. Key Points
• Use the power of visual images
• Understand reader needs
• Understand value of timing
• Provide unique value
• Create multiple connection points to content
• Engage in discussion outside of blog

15. Reactions to Images
• Context, text defines the base for the
image
• Viewer preconceptions about the image or
presentation form

19. Images
• Instant understanding
Reaction
• No translation needed based on your
• Emotional response experiences
• Open to interpretation
What is the
context?

20. Context
• A visual images means something because
of its context
• Context defined by your experiences
• Context defined by text content
• Images reinterpreted based on new context

22. Text
Text
• Photography as a Weapon (Errol Morris)
• http://morris.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/11/photography-as-a-weapon/

23. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed the U.N. Security
Council Feb. 2003

24. Is Truth Defined by
Context?
• Images are as flexible as text to lie with

25. Discussion