benandcoblog

[benandcoblog]

Nashville's Next Sweet Country Belle w/ Melanie Meriney

Melanie Meriney is an up and coming urban pop country artist who is a hat tippin', boot wearin', word slingin', country singer-songwriter making big moves in Nashville, Tennessee. I was lucky to grab her before the end of the year to ask her a few questions before she receives her first Grammy for influential and inspiring music. During our interview she mentioned she needed some help with her independent companies branding, I offered to help define her art and production company logos. Nothing like collaborating with like minded individuals striving to make something through passion and dedication.

[Ben]: You were born in Pittsburgh, what were your first 15 years like as a youngster?

[Melanie]: I was actually born in Los Angeles, and we moved to Pittsburgh when I was just three. I had a pretty awesome childhood. My parents and siblings were always supportive of my music dream, and I spent a lot of my younger years singing in church choirs, local choruses, open mics, and talent shows. I played travel ice hockey as well as field hockey at school and tried to keep my grades up so I could come to Nashville for college!

[Ben]: When did you decide to move to Nashville? Were you inspired by someone or something?

[Melanie]: When I was in third grade, I went to a Shania Twain concert with my parents. I watched her from my dad's shoulders with binoculars and thought she had the coolest job in the world. The next day, I asked if I could take voice lessons and I've been pretty single-minded ever since. I picked up a guitar and began trying to write songs. I knew Nashville was my next step after high school, so I applied and got accepted to Belmont University.

[Ben]: Do you notice a difference in the communities between Pittsburgh and Nashville, such as midwestern hospitality? Or is everyone more or less the same?

[Melanie]: There are slight differences. I'm not sure Pittsburghers identify with the midwest so much as they do with the east coast. People in Pittsburgh are pretty straight-up, as in, they tell you what they think and don't try to dress it up, for better or worse. That's different from the south, where people can be sweet to your face while masking their actual feelings. Strangely, a lot of my closest friends in Nashville are from northern states—I think we just naturally gravitate towards people with similar attitudes.

Both cities give me a strong sense of community. I feel at home in Pittsburgh, and now Nashville is also home. I've been living here going on nine years, so I think I can pretty much call myself a local.

[Ben]: Parents have a significant influence on our lives… did yours push you to become a musician? Did they ever have a doubt you shouldn’t be in music and encourage you to pursue something else? Were they always supportive of your decisions?

[Melanie]: My parents were integral to my development of musical tastes and style—my dad would play all the '80s rock bands he loved, and my mom would always have country radio on in the house. Both have been my biggest supporters while keeping me grounded. I talk to them pretty much every day to let them know what's going on with music and get their advice. They're the best.

They (and I) want me to be independent and have the ability to get a job that supports my main career aspirations. So, I attended Belmont as a dual English and Songwriting major, and then went on to get my Masters in Education. I admire the whole all or nothing path that some of my peers have taken, but I don't ever want to be dependent upon someone financially if I can help it.

[Ben]: Was there ever a time in your life when you essentially almost hit rock bottom via money, job, emotions, and/or feelings? What happened, where were you in life, and how did you overcome it? (I ask because I’m currently at this stage, and on vacation for winter writing and interviewing awesome people!)

[Melanie]: Aw no! You'll climb out! I pretty much have a breakdown every other month, honestly. It's such a conundrum choosing a career in a volatile field like music and still needing some sense of stability and sanity. I occasionally get anxious and depressed when I feel like nothing I do is working or mattering, and I'm struggling to break even financially or can't afford career moves that I feel are important. It's easy to look at the highlight reel of other people's lives and think that everyone is doing it better than you. But I've found that life is more like a rollercoaster—when you're low, you have to know that you're going to go up again.

I try to surround myself with people who remind me of my worth. A good support system is my perpetual saving grace. Make a list of everything you are accomplishing (even if it doesn't feel like a lot to you at the moment) and then catch lunch with someone who cares about you and can keep you motivated, on the right path.  

[Ben]: Can you share a song you've written that has a hidden meaning or one that is emotional to you and your future as a growing musician/artist?

[Melanie]: I love writing tongue-in-cheek songs because I'm pretty sarcastic. One song you may have heard is the title track of my last EP, “Up in Lights.” It talks about the pressures of the entertainment industry, like the way we dress, act, perform, network, interview, etc., and how easy it can be to lose your sense of self. The song says ridiculous things like, "Nobody got anywhere by being just who they are," and, "You're only as good as they're saying; you may not be you, but your name is up in lights." I hope that listeners pick up on the sarcasm and understand that song actually means the opposite! As an artist, your most important responsibility is hanging onto the values and the tenets that make you YOU.

[Melanie]: I don't doodle when writing, although I always loved drawing and art when I was younger. Sometimes, to de-stress, I'll put my phone down for two or three hours and paint with watercolors. I'll show you [Or here is] a bird I painted a few weeks ago when I was especially stressed!

[Ben]: There are many musicians out there wanting to break into the industry. Most start their careers through social sites such as Instagram or YouTube. How were you found? Do you have advice for others?

[Melanie]: A solid fan base will always be the most effective way for an artist to become relevant. Finding your fan base can be easier with social media, primarily if you have limited resources and can't fund an entire cross-country tour. I've made a lot of great connections through live streams, DMs, and have been working on building my YouTube presence. We are creatures with short attention spans, so content is huge—I try to post at least once a day (sometimes I'm better at it than others) to keep a constant stream of engaging content going, whether that be music, videos, live streams, or pictures. Socials are a great way to start!

[Ben]: The holidays came and went like crazy! It seems like just last month we had filled our bellies with Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing, gravy, and Grandma Barb’s famous strawberry rhubarb pie. What’s your favorite holiday? Do you believe in Santa? And since Christmas just flew by, can you tell us your favorite present so far from a friend, family, or someone else?

[Melanie]: I have a tie for my favorite holidays, which are Christmas and the Fourth of July! I love Christmas because it's cozy and you're surrounded by family; and the Fourth of July because it's right in the middle of summer, providing some of my best memories. I believe in Santa in the spiritual sense—someone who brings together the most important things in life!

My favorite gift ever was my childhood kitty, Kristey. I got her in second grade. My parents put her in a cute little box, and she was my best friend until college when she passed away.

[Ben]: I’m a stickler for creative puns and jokes, though when it comes to music, it isn’t my forte. Puns like mine could get me in treble, they also usually fall flat, and people get tired, so I might give this sentence a full rest. Maybe if I had some sheet music, I’d take a lot of notes. Can you give us your best one-liner?

[Melanie]: (Laughing) I love it! Um... I'm definitely not the funny one in my family—that'd be my brother... hm... is your fridge running? If so, you better go catch it! (Best I got, sorry everyone.)

[Ben]: What’s next? Do you have a 3- and 5-year goal?

[Melanie]: My goal for 2019 is to put out new music and fill my calendar with tour dates! You can find them on my website at melaniemeriney.com! Even though I'm a planner, I'm finding this career path difficult to schedule. In five years, I would love to have a record deal with some solid radio airplay! Ultimately, I want to be financially secure and able to work on my music full time.  

[Ben]: You currently have a crowdfunding campaign; can you tell us more about it? Is it hard to fund new endeavors? Do crowd campaigns for an already established musician provide more exposure while your backers get something to take home?

[Melanie]: I do! The last day to donate was December 24th (Christmas Eve). Our goal is $10,000 for recording and marketing new music. It's definitely a grassroots endeavor and takes a lot of humility to ask for help. Luckily, I'm able to give back in the form of signed CDs, t-shirts, hand-written lyric sheets, Skype concerts, and backer-selected cover songs. Crowdfunding is a great way to find out who truly cares about your career, and it's not always who you expect! The support has been phenomenal.

[Ben]: This wraps my interview questions for you, would you like to add anything else for our readers? Any words of inspiration?

[Melanie]: You are where you are in your life for a reason—whether it's to learn something, meet someone, or hear a good story. Embrace where you are knowing that as long as you are doing what you love, you won't look back with regrets.

[Ben]: Thank you, Melanie. That's excellent advice that I can certainly take to heart, and I'm sure others will as well. I've been loving your music since I first heard you, and know our readers will be just as inspired as your music continues to evolve and delight.

We look forward to hearing and seeing what you've got in store for us in 2019.

Melanie Meriney is an up and coming pop-country artist from Pittsburgh, PA now living in Nashville. She has opened for popular acts such as Little Big Town, The Commodores, Restless Heart, and Steve Augeri of Journey, as well as having been nominated for a Nashville Independent Music Award for Best Female Solo Artist. Her single, "Lifeboat," rocketed to #2 on both the UK HotDisc chart and Music Row (with the corresponding video receiving GAC rotation placement). Melanie is a "2018 Artist to Watch" on AXS and has received multiple mentions in Billboard, Country Aircheck, and Music Row Magazine. She is currently promoting her newest single, "Flame," with a music video release this month.

Follow Melanie Meriney on Instagram @melaniemeriney, Twitter @melaniemeriney, Facebook @melaniemerineymusic, and YouTube at /user/melaniemerineymusic.

For tour dates, you can find Melanie’s most recent touring schedule on her website at melaniemeriney.com.

[benandcoblog]

Young Entrepreneurship w/ Yuzhakov Vladislav

This month we have the pleasure of interviewing Yuzhakov Vladislav. Yuzhakov is a young entrepreneur becoming well known in his industry as the founder of Valkris Company, which focuses on transportation automation. As technology evolves, we are moving toward some of the most significant advances in autonomous automation, energy sustainability, and potentially a new digital economy called "blockchain." Yuzhakov will be answering some tough questions, as in our minds, he’s a "wicked smaht" kid.

[Ben]: Hello Yuzhakov, thanks for taking the time to spend with us. We noticed you on Instagram and thought, “How cool would it be to interview a young entrepreneur in Science, Technology, Robotics, and Automation?” Can you tell us about yourself?

[Yuzhakov Vladislav]: Thank you! I'm a 21-year-old engineer engaged in the field of AI and solar energy. I'm working on exciting projects such as the integration of self-driving trucks and the development of a 45 Megawatt solar power plant in the Czech Republic. I've also earned two master's degrees: one in Advanced Vehicles from Moscow Polytechnic University, and the other in Economic Mathematics from Dresden University of Technology.

[Ben]: When you were younger, did you always have a fascination with energy, electricity, and robotics?

[YV]: I have always been fond of robotics and energy. When I was 12- or 13-years-old, I listened to stories about automobile technology on the radio. When I was little older, I began to understand the technology of demand response in the energy sector. By 15 or 16, I had converted an old gas-powered car to electric. That project helped me understand the many problems facing the field of electric vehicles! But I didn't give up and am still working on an electric power motor—I have one ready now for a hypercar project.

[Ben]: Are there robotic universities where you live? Do you plan on attending college or are you self-educated?

[YV]: Moscow has established schools of mathematics and technical sciences, and many excellent technical universities teaching robotics. Unfortunately, their knowledge is not necessarily current. Although the basic education students receive is extensive, many university students graduate with information from 10 years ago.  

I was lucky to graduate from the Moscow Polytechnic University in the Transport Sciences Faculty where I learned the basics of engineering and design. I taught myself robotics, machine learning, and energy using the Internet. I've also been fortunate to have mentors who help me with problems I don't yet understand.

[Ben]: You’re a founder of Valkris Company. What does Valkris specialize in? What are your company’s short- and long-term goals? Would you ever plan to move to the USA?

[YV]: Valkris designs smart technologies for construction. For example, we manufacture solar panels with increased efficiency and develop robots to construct wooden frames. Right now, our headliner project is a self-driving system for trucks. We are already launching unmanned trucks at quarries and construction sites in test modes. Soon, my team will launch pilot projects with unmanned trucks in Europe. We already have income from these integrations because companies can see the value of automating construction projects and quarries. We are also planning a release of fully autonomous trucks in conjunction with a major truck manufacturer.

I've thought about working in the USA many times. This is a great place for development and expansion. But so far, it is only a thought!

[Ben]: From what we’ve seen on various media sites, Russian transportation includes very small cars and trucks. Do you think there’s a large market for electric vehicles in Russia and the EU?

[YV]: Russia has a very curious situation with electric cars. We have very cold winters which are tough on batteries. Not so long ago I was in Moscow, and could not replace the brake pads on a Tesla because it is a "machine from the future," and the mechanics were afraid to touch it. Fortunately, the situation is improving. Russians used to have to pull an electric extension cord from 4th-floor apartments to recharge their cars. Now charging stations are becoming common.

Now in Europe, the weather is kinder to sensitive batteries. Europeans are moving forward more quickly—from ubiquitous charging stations to tax deductions for the purchase of electric cars. The EU has every chance to become a big market.

[Ben]: Google has been a long-term player in the autonomous industry, though it seems that they are frequently having issues hitting other cars and even pedestrians. Can you explain what’s going wrong? Why wouldn’t sensors pick up moving people or inanimate objects?

[YV]: Various mathematical algorithms are used to determine objects in an unmanned vehicle. Algorithms are challenging to read and must take various parameters into account. So determining what should be avoided and what should be ignored is complex. Algorithms can't always successfully identify objects—yet. AI is not yet able to comprehensively perceive everything. To take all parameters into account, you need a sufficient number of cameras and fast image processing. Very often, a lack of computing power for RAPID image processing and object detection is the problem. You can imagine that if a computer has difficulties at the cognitive level how difficult cognition would be on the road, with potholes and oil stains and shade from trees, buildings, etc.

[Ben]: Sustainable energy is getting big in the United States. Do you think Russia has enough sun, wind, and other natural resources to power Russia with electricity exclusively?

[YV]: Russia has enough renewable resources… yes, we have enough sun. For example, in the Siberian city of Tyumen, where -13 degrees Fahrenheit is common during winter, the sun actually shines 280 days a year—enough to deploy an efficient solar power station! Hydroelectric power stations and tidal power plants are also being developed. Our biggest obstacle is the low cost of electricity produced from gas, oil, and coal. In this respect, indeed, the US has a big advantage!

[Ben]: As technology advances with autonomous electric vehicles, what do you think about hydrogen fuel cells? Are fuel cells a realistic option for electricity?

[YV]: Oh, hydrogen fuel cells as an energy source is quite promising! The obstacle there is extracting hydrogen by electrolysis on an industrial scale is not cheap. If scientists are able to develop infrastructure, to find a way of cost-effectively extracting hydrogen, and establishing procedures for the distribution of fuel, then we could forever forget about exhaust gases, oil rigs, and other problems resulting from our dependence on fossil fuels.

[Ben]: We recently made an attempt to understand blockchain technology. Do you think blockchain will overtake the world economy at some point? What are the strengths and weaknesses of this new digital economy?

[YV]: As a technology that eliminates intermediaries, blockchain is a necessity. Reducing the time and cost of transactions definitely gives the development of a digital economy an edge. Blockchain is also secure. For me, as a business owner, improving these parameters is essential. As I understand it now, the main obstacle is the number of operations per second—the value is missing by significant orders of magnitude [I have no clue what he means by this]. If this changes, blockchain will definitely reach a completely different level.

[Ben]: Do you think blockchain can be incorporated into autonomous vehicles?

[YV]: I am sure that blockchain will take its position in the transportation sector. Valkris is already using blockchain in our self-driving systems. The register keeps a complete history of truck trips for the entire cycle of use. Interesting models will be formulated when the register can record all information, such as the engine's operation during use, fuel consumption and so on. With this information, we will be able to build predictive models for using and repairing vehicles. And this is just the beginning. Blockchain can be implemented in such areas as logistics and insurance. Blockchain will also become very useful in autonomous transport systems where it is necessary to reduce document flow.

[Ben]: Can you tell us your best robotic joke?

[YV]: Sure! I am often asked what to do to immobilize an autonomous vehicle. And I always show this picture :)

[Ben]: Can you leave us with any inspiring thoughts, advice to young people wanting to get into robotics and autonomous technology?

[YV]: I started in my garage. I advise others to do the same—it trains us to have a purpose. My father once told me, "A problem is just a theoretical or practical task." He helped me realize that everything can be solved, especially when working in such areas such as robotics and AI. I would also tell young people to be prepared to work hard!

[Ben]: Thank you Yuzhakov for spending time with us and sharing your knowledge. We wish you much success moving forward. With emerging technology and "wicked smaht" people like you, I’m sure we’ll be seeing even more technological advancements in the not so distant future.

Yuzhakov Vladislav is an engineer, CEO, and Founder of Valkris. Follow him on Instagram @yuzhakovvlad, and Twitter @yuzhakov_vlad.

[benandcoblog]

Social Media and the Disconnect from Reality w/ Ashley Santangelo

This time is not the first that I’ve completely deleted all of my social media accounts. I’m sure many people go through this on a monthly or yearly basis. When my last attempt at promoting positivity fell flat on its face, I began to notice that friends and colleagues would “like” and/or respond to more of my negative posts than the positive ones.

I recently exchanged texts with a young woman to make plans for a potential first date. She proclaimed that feminism is the all-seeing eye and all men should bow down. Don't get me wrong—I totally support equal rights, but she went completely overboard. Unable to really push past the illogical conversation and persuaded I that was cheap, I figured I'd try a new experiment with social media.

The plan was primarily to see if a pre-made positive post supporting equal rights (especially feminism) would receive more positive feedback than a negative post against feminism and equal rights.

Can you guess which post received the most responses and actions? The negative one, of course!

I'm a sucker for psychology, the human condition, and why we behave the way we do. It's all relevant as I dig deeper into UX (user experience) and understand the way we think, act, and use products. Human behavior is the primary objective when designing new technology. Simply put, understanding human behavior helps us create a better end-user experience.

On this beautiful Wednesday summer morning, I have the absolute pleasure of speaking with Ashley Santangelo, a Licensed Social Worker and Professional Career Coach in New York City. I'm picking her brain on with complex questions about our behavior and why we are disconnecting from reality through social media.

[Ben]: I started questioning emotions and thought processes from this simple experiment. I'm hoping that you will be willing to discuss why we generally disconnect from positive experiences and react more to negative ones?

[Ashley]: That is pretty puzzling isn’t, it? So, when using social media, it's rather easy to drift into an “auto-pilot” mode in our brains. Even if we open these feeds with the intention of going to a certain page or reaching out to a certain person, before we know it, we are scrolling through the irresistible “feed!” And we do so with pretty small attention spans.

Did you know that the average time people look at a social media post is six seconds? If you have already entered the “auto-pilot” realm, you're not mindful, you are compulsively searching for the post that will trigger a quick reaction or be compelling in some way, and that decision is made in just a few seconds. When we are in that kind of mindset, positive posts (unless they have a very unique, captivating visual quality) can seem mundane, and a post that has the capacity to muddy the waters a bit seems more entertaining, sexier. So that is why, in those situations, people can be more drawn to posts that seem more negative.

[Ben]: Ever since I deleted some of my social media accounts, I keep catching myself wanting to post events that have happened to me. So, let’s say something interesting happens, I want to photograph it and then start “brainstorming” captions for my photograph, for a quick social post. Do you think this is a natural type of sharing behavior?

[Ashley]: I think it’s natural to want to share life events with others. Sharing the joys and oddities of being alive with others is completely organic and helps us feel connected to one another. However, I think that social media sites (particularly Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat) have made us feel more compelled to do this constantly. I remember being a teenager in the late '90s and early 2000s—this was even before MySpace! (Think AOL Instant Messenger era.) Once in a while, we would get a camera and take photos of ourselves doing amusing things and then have a good laugh when the photos developed (remember those days?). Or we would photograph scenery, concerts, etc. Basically, we would take a picture of anything we thought was worth sharing with others. Now, the bar of “what is worth sharing with others” has been set pretty low—I mean, would you have EVER thought of taking an avocado toast selfie for the world to see in 1999?

Perhaps people compulsively share photos of their dinner because that is how they express appreciation for the little things in life, or it’s their way of sharing pride and joy about cooking with others. There are many reasons why people choose to post photos from their life all day, but it is the branding aspect of it that is absolutely an effect of these sharing platforms. Not only do we feel compelled to post, we feel compelled to caption, hashtag, and connect our snapshot to current trends. Outside marketing, I don't remember this aspect of sharing being common at all before smartphones and social media became widespread.

[Ben]: Is our brain aroused by negative thinking and responding controversially?

[Ashley]: Well, I think we need to separate negative thinking and posting controversial responses. They don’t necessarily need to be grouped into the same category, although I get that they both can result in actions that seem off-putting. Let’s first focus on posting controversial responses. There can be several motivations for this. Perhaps somebody who posts a controversial or unpopular opinion is not posting it from a negative space. Social media, for all of its flaws, has become a popular medium for self-expression. Some people do not mean to be controversial; they are just more outspoken about what is passionate to them than others. Others do post controversial things to produce a reaction. Usually, these people exhibit similar behavior off of social media, and they use the internet as another mechanism where they can obtain gratification from eliciting certain emotions in others.

[Ben]: Why do couples need to validate relationships by adding their relationship status to their profiles?

[Ashley]: Well, our intimate relationships often become sort of an extended part of our identity. I'm not sure that the intention of making a relationship public is necessarily to validate it. I am sure it is with some couples, but like the controversial post example, I think the best way to gauge a couple’s motives for what they put on social media is to look at what their relationship is like off social media. Does it look the same? Are they looking for ways to validate their relationship in their everyday life? Remember, if you are seeking validation for anything, there must be some uncertainty attached to it. Otherwise, you wouldn’t need to seek it to begin with. So, if you know of a couple who has a rocky relationship but you wouldn’t know it from their Facebook pages—yes, perhaps there is some validation going on. Based on what I have learned about human behavior, my best guess is that they do this because it gives them a sense of safety. They want to hold on to what is good in the relationship (even if that is very little) and connecting with the positive images and good memories helps them feel safe.

[Ben]: Do you think it’s ultimately boiling down to individuals filling an empty void within their thought processes to self-validate?

[Ashley]: I definitely think that many of us use social media, and an array of other things, to fill voids all of the time. Humans do not like to feel uncomfortable, unloved, or unsafe. If our actions and communities on social media bring us a sense of (real or perceived) comfort, love, or safety, then we naturally will run to it with open arms. This isn’t an excuse to justify being on social media all day, or to sacrifice other responsibilities or relationships. Rather, it's a reminder we're human and when we're lacking something important we will want to fill that void. Self-validation may play a role in some of these behaviors, but I think the void speaks more to the root of it.

[Ben]: As millennials, we’ve matured to a certain point. I’m actually worried about Gen-Z and Alpha accidentally pointing the barrel of the social media gun at their heads. What are your thoughts on our future generations?

[Ashley]: Well, this is a little bit of a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, I have witnessed Gen Z use social media for excellent purposes. On the other hand, the terrible epidemic of cyber-bullying causing suicides in kids who are very young—we are talking like 13-years-old and younger. I saw a news article today that said that a nine-year-old committed suicide because he was bullied about being gay on social media. These unfortunate events are terrible. Yes, bullying has existed forever, but before social media, you had the option of going home and not be saturated by it. But these kids can’t escape. That makes me very worried.

Overall, it does seem like Generation Z is fairly altruistic and I do think that bullies are the exception to the rule. But the impact of their actions has deadly consequences, and I think what makes or breaks the next two generations’ relationships to social media is this: Are they going to use it for positivity and innovation? Or are they going to use it to inflate their own egos by putting down others?

[Ben]: In fact, I’ve seen young kids comment on news and media sections with extremely crude language and hate speech. Should social media companies take more action to protect other young children and those sensitive to language from seeing comments like this?

[Ashley]: Definitely. Hate speech is not OK. And I think kids need to be educated between the difference of free speech and hate speech—especially given the direction of where our society is going. We have had some recent setbacks, but overall the arc is moving toward less social tolerance for hatred and bigotry. Social media companies are among the most powerful in the world, and with power comes social responsibility. They should absolutely take more action to restrict hate speech.

[Ben]: It’s nice to disconnect after a long day of work, but are we doing it the wrong way by logging into social media and giving our two cents to other people’s status updates and posts?

[Ashley]: Yes, it is great to disconnect! I don’t want to judge the way people chose to unwind as “right” or “wrong,” but I will leave you with this: Are people feeling relaxed after letting off some steam on social media or are they simply riling themselves up? Maybe some people do feel some relief after making a few controversial posts and then calling it a night. I probably would not feel relief after that, but we all have different personalities. The big question is this: What function is social media serving? Is it simply the 2018 way of letting off some steam? Is it part of a compulsion? Is it a desire to create conflict? To start a debate? The list can go on. Whatever you are doing—be it controversial social media posts, binge-watching Stranger Things, or playing with your cat—how is it serving you? If you need rest, is it restoring you? If spending time on social media serves you in useful ways, then go for it. But if you finish it feeling more riled up than you did when you started… you might want to find a more effective way to unwind!

[Ben]: Well! This discussion gives us a lot to process, and we sincerely hope that social media companies will be able to curb some of the terrifying situations kids and adults are creating with their platforms. Speaking with you was an absolute pleasure. I plan to write a few more articles about psychology and user experiences down the road.

Ashley Santangelo is a social worker, career coach, workshop facilitator, and writer from Staten Island, NY. She received her undergraduate degree in English from State University of New York at New Paltz in 2006 and her Master’s Degree in Social Work with a clinical concentration in May 2012. She has worked for institutions such as the Mental Health Association of New York City and New York University and currently works for the Freedom Institute as a Workshop Facilitator for adolescents. She is the Founder of Evolve Services, a small career coaching practice in NYC. Ashley has articles published on LinkedIn, Medium, The New Social Worker, and serves as the Mental Health Subject Matter Expert blogger on jenreviews.com. She is also a Facebook and Instagram user and has a history of boldly broadcasting her political stances on various social justice and environmental issues (but has recently toned this down a bit). At the end of the day, she likes to wind down by cuddling with her husband and cat.

If you're interested in finding out more, you can connect with Ashley on Linkedin and visit her Evolve Services website for personal coaching, resume writing, and lifestyle services.

[benandcoblog]

Reaching for the Sky w/ Derrick Bozkurt

Have a fear of heights? I’m pretty sure we all do, whether you’re on a ladder painting grandma Betty’s house or flying a drone and have that weird fight or flight response just seeing that imagery may scare you. Today, is a phenomenal day because I’m chatting with Derrick Bozkurt who has been a long time friend and colleague for various projects. Our first project together was with a company called Archon Games which was working on a first person shooter RPG called "TechnoWizard" ahhhh, the memories.

Derrick is also currently working in real estate but beating the status quo by aiding consumers with visuals in Virtual Reality (VR) and Drone Photography in both consumer and commercial real estate.  

Ben Libby: Remember the time we worked together at Archon Games, and you were the lead sound engineer? What made you transition from video games to doing photography, virtual reality and aerial photography?

Derrick Bozkurt: I do remember those days! They were great indeed, and we all had a ton of fun working on the “TechnoWizard” project together. Video games have always been my favorite form of visual entertainment, and I was excited to get to lend an ear to its soundscape. That was one of my first gigs coming right out of audio engineering school, and I had the opportunity to work on various other projects – Some with you as well – as a sound designer and composer as time went on. The Flying Cloud projects we were a part of were ahead of their time, and I’ll never forget some of the field recording sessions for our CGI monster, or overdubbing myself 100x to create a crew anthem. One of my other favorites was a game called “Z-Day”, which was an ambitious “Zombie-Survival MMO” back in 2009. Although some of these projects never saw a major release, I learned a ton, and made some great connections that I still keep in touch with today.

Photography has always been a passion of mine as well, and throughout my teens onward, I oftentimes had a camera in hand or nearby, documenting all sorts of adventures. While in college, I even got to take some classes back when they were still teaching them out of darkrooms. There is nothing quite like developing your first roll of film, and seeing the projected images literally appear before your eyes. I remember when my family got our first digital camera – It was a 1 megapixel Kodak, and it was amazing at the time. During my tenure at Apple, I was always impressed with the image quality increases year over year in regards to mobile devices. Seeing how the field has changed and adapted through the years has been very interesting, and when technologies that enabled feature rich virtual reality and flying 4k cameras became affordable, I had to be an early adopter of these new perspectives.

Nowadays, I use the skillset I have developed in these areas to also complement some of my other endeavors. Being able to apply these technologies in my own business has enabled me to provide a comprehensive set of products in the real estate and media services that I offer.

BL: DJI among others releases a lot of different aerial products, what has been your favorite so far? Can you go in depth about features?

DB: My first DJI drone was one of their Phantom series. I had been closely following the company during their earlier years, and was really impressed with what they had been able to accomplish in the arena of consumer drones in general - It’s crazy how far they have come just in past few years. My favorite ‘prosumer’ model from them is the Phantom 4 series. I honestly have not had the opportunity to fly their bigger rigs yet, but would love to get my hands on them. However, having recently picked up their Mavic Air model, I have to say that it is currently my favorite, largely because of the sheer portability of it. Even though the whole thing can fit in your pocket, you still get a 4k/60 FPS; 1080p/120 FPS camera with a 100 Mbps bit rate. Although the sensor is a little smaller, even the 12 MP stills turn out great, and being able to shoot in RAW is great. Furthermore, some of their secondary features such as pre-programmed video captures, 360 photography, and gesture controls really add to the overall package. Rumor has it, they will be releasing a new addition to their lineup this summer, so I’m looking forward to seeing that.

BL: When on a photography or video campaign up in the sky, have you ever lost a drone? If so, how did you feel?

DB: Fortunately, I have never lost a drone to date; the safety and location features of the ones I fly are actually very good. As long as one knows how to set them up, and fly with care, it’s actually pretty difficult to get yourself into much trouble. There have definitely been some adrenaline-inducing moments when the quad loses remote control reception and you have to rely on these safety measures, but I have not experienced any problems yet. I do also have a standalone GPS locator that I affix to mine whenever I feel the need, which mitigates the risk of a lost drone even further.

BL: Would you ever try to ride one of those human drones? (Apparently they use them in Dubai for filming). If you lost control, what would you do?

DB: Haha, I have seen a couple of those – Reminds me of those single-infantry flying machines the military was developing back in the 50’s & 60’s. Although the technology behind our modern products is great, nothing is ever perfect or truly fail safe. I doubt I would ever get on one of the current generation ones without enough altitude and a parachute just in case something did happen!

BL: You had a big transition going from Audio to Video / VR, what have been some experiences or failures you learned along the way?

DB: There are definitely some large and important differences between these fields and technologies. However, audio, music, video, virtual reality. . . They are all just components to the greater product or experience being created, and I am thankful to have the opportunity to learn and practice all of them. Taking into consideration how to weave visual aspects, sound design, and music all together can really make or break an experience. These components each draw upon our different senses, with the goal of creating a unified experience itself. The best creators I have seen are experts at knowing how to play these elements off each other, and this is something that I strive for myself in my own productions.

For example, one might have limited options in making a certain transition or cut from one scene to another in a film. The mood, atmosphere, and general tone of the next scene may be radically different. In situations like this, transitioning into the next sequence by the creative use of sound and/or music can make subliminally prepare the viewer, making that transition much more pleasing and natural.

Some of the most interesting challenges that face the industry right now is implementation of audio in a virtual reality environment. When it comes to determining positions and spaces in the real world, our ears are incredible pieces of hardware, and rely on a complex balance of phase, amplitude, environmental physics, and even the dimensions of our own heads that ultimately gets translated by our brains. Emulating this same type of experience in a virtual world is one of the more interesting challenges of virtual reality. There are some incredible tools out there that are truly at the forefront of their respective fields, and it is exciting to see the changes and improvements as this field continue to evolve.

I think the most important failures I have learned from all stemmed from situations that arose unexpectedly that I did not have a pre-emptive recourse for. Situations like failing gear, bad weather, scheduling short sights or the like happen to the best of us. Of course, you cannot really account for every variable that you might encounter in the field, and there is also that aspect of spontaneity that you also need to balance. Being able to adjust on the fly in any situation is imperative, and keeping your post production skills up to speed is always helpful. Sometimes, these originally perceived failures can actually turn into some of your best work, so a lot of it is mindset and perspective. The best any one can do is take account for what they have control over, have a backup plan, and be ready to adapt in your work.

BL: For those who want to get more into aerial photography, what would you recommend to get started? Any specific drone models, hardware or software?

DB: For aerial photography and videography specifically, I recommend going with one of DJI’s Mavic or Phantom series. Both of these lineups have a few versions that pack various features, depending on what you’re after, and will be less risky that throwing a few thousand dollars-worth of hardware into the air for the first time. You can really get a lot out of the source material I post production; and Adobe has probably the best all around editing suite for photo/video. Personally, I use Adobe products for photography, and Final Cut for video in most of my work.

After getting started, if you have determined to make this a source of income, or take on some bigger projects, it is imperative to get your Part 107 sUAS license from the FAA. Firstly, it is a legal requirement if you are doing any sort of commercial work with your drone. Secondly, you will learn quite a bit about reading flight charts, contacting air traffic control, weather, and other factors that may have an impact on your operations. Education is key for so many things, and have definitely helped me avoid expensive mistakes, and recover from compromised situations.  

Derrick Bozkurt lives and works in Denver, Colorado, and spends his time working in the fields of real estate, UCAAS, and media production.  

https://www.linkedin.com/in/debozkurt

https://www.facebook.com/himcolorado/

https://twitter.com/HIMColorado

http://himcolorado.com

https://www.instagram.com/derrick.bozkurt/

[benandcoblog]

Breaking Boundaries w/ Matt Collamer

Have you ever wondered how to truly master photography, or maybe even enhance your photos to look like those found in National Geographic? All it takes is practice & patience. I actually read an article not too long ago that compared two photographers shooting together, though with one big exception; one with legacy equipment and the other with modern equipment photographing the same subjects. The results? They were nearly identical. Short story is, it doesn’t really matter what camera equipment you have, as long as you go out and practice with it and learn the editing software. A Lamborghini Gallardo advertisement stated “Every Weapon Needs A Master” and this holds true with your photography gear. Buy something cheap, get used to holding it, bring it everywhere with you, take lots of photos, and keep practicing. I’m telling you, that’s what I started doing and I achieved being pretty good, though I have a lot to learn.

This Evening, I have the fantastic chance of meeting another Boston based videographer, Matt Collamer who is an absolute phenomenal practicing cinema-like photographer who strives to break boundaries.

“Paving the path of your future is a long, hard road that will take everything out of you. Stick to the route. Follow it. Eventually it will lead you to the truth of who you really are. When you inevitably stray off course, it helps to remember that wherever you are is where you’re meant to be.���

— Matt Collamer

Ben Libby: How did you get interested in photography and videography? Have you ever worked with black and white film or even super8?

Matt Collamer: I first became interested in video production when a college friend showed me how to film on a smartphone and edit in iMovie. After that, I took a few video classes, and that’s where it all started. Ever since then, I become hooked on telling stories in that medium.

Not really. It’s been almost all digital for me. I’ve used a film camera with my friend once, but it’s definitely something I’d like to try out at some point. Understanding where it all began is certainly important, especially with how much it has changed in recent years with digital photo/video and the internet. Getting back to the roots would be a worthwhile endeavor.  

BL: What’s in your current arsenal of camera equipment? Tell us the details (body, lens, accessories, travel bags, suitcases, lights, etc!)

MC: I’m currently shooting on a Sony a6500 paired with the Sony 28mm prime f/2 and the Sigma 16mm prime f/1.4 lenses. Both lenses are fantastic for both photo and video. I love the diversity of my setup. I sometimes rent a longer lens for interview shots/portrait photography (most recently: Sony 85mm f/1.8). Additional gear includes a Godox flash/trigger setup, Rode microphone and a Matin = travel camera bag. New lighting and audio gear was recently added to my never ending gear acquisition list.

BL: When you’re on a shoot, what’s your favorite subject? Are there any subjects you aren’t quite comfortable with?

MC: I’ve experimented with quite a lot of different subjects and styles of both video and photography including landscape, travel and street. Recently, I’ve gravitated towards documenting people. With video, this has taken the form of my YouTube video series highlighting forging their own path in the arts — Artists in Focus. In photography, I’ve been inspired by a group of friends who are portrait photographers. About a year ago, when I first starting shooting portraits, I had no idea what I was doing, and I felt totally uncomfortable posing people. I learned to just act confident even if you’re not. Try it. It totally works.  I still struggle with it, but I’m definitely improving.

BL: “Art is Subjective.” Do you think this is true or false? If someone said “Photo / Video is subjective.” Would you agree or disagree and why?

MC: Definitely true. Photo/Video, like any art form, is all about how you interpret it and what you decide to create out of it. You can take it any direction you decide to and express yourself through it. This philosophy is not just how I view my photo/video, but it’s the lens through which I view my life as well. If you work hard and believe in your vision, you truly can create the life you want to have.

BL: Sometimes you have to be selective of your clients, has there ever been a time where you just had to end the relationship with / without burning a bridge? (Readers love a good romance story!).

MC: I wouldn’t saying I burned a bridge with a client, but I had to be firm with them. It was uncomfortable, but they were asking for a lot more than I originally agreed to do for them. The client requested additional editing that was not outlined upfront. It was partially my fault for not being clear enough in the beginning, but I definitely got frustrated with the back and forth and the low amount of money I ended up receiving in relation to the amount of hours I put in.  It’s all part of the process though I suppose.

BL: Photography / Videography is a hard industry to get into, can you throw us advice on how to become an expert? And, if you were a photo / video recruiter, what elements in portfolios would you be most interested in from an applicant?

MC: It all comes down to hours. If you’re willing to invest the time, energy and money, you will steadily improve. Sometimes you may feel that your growth is slow and not yielding results, but you have to just keep pushing for it. There’s always areas within business and your craft that you could polish. Struggling through the inevitable challenges, pitfalls and doubts will make you more resilient. With each hour you put into your craft, you inch a tiny bit closer to becoming an expert.

Final Thoughts

Keep following that inner voice that motivates you to strive for growth and connection with yourself and people around you. Instead of viewing problems and challenges as a negative situation, try to reframe them as a chance to learn and grow as an individual. With that said, your individual growth will end up dictating how much value you can provide for the people around you. That’s what really matters.

Matt Collamer is a Boston-based filmmaker/photographer.

Through videography, photography and traveling, he has shaped a business around helping people craft their story and share their message. In early 2016, Matt launched a YouTube channel and a website dedicated to this philosophy. Shortly after this, he moved to Korea to teach English to middle school students. While in Korea, Matt was able to immerse himself into the culture and learn about the world and himself in the process. After his one-year contract ended, he backpacked Southeast Asia for four months before returning home to America. Matt is now back in the Boston area and continuing to grow his business and serve others with his skills and passion.

You may view and follow Matt's social media below.

Website

Instagram

YouTube

[benandcoblog]

Product Design at the Boeing Company w/ Liz Juhnke

The first airplane successfully flown 115-years-ago by Wilbur and Orville Wright in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina has always inspired me. To this day, inventors and engineers are still pushing aerodynamics to the limit with modern aircraft that ultimately provide safe transport from airport to airport. Not all landings go smoothly; I witnessed some terrifying landings in Germany due to crosswinds. How do pilots combat that? Integrated but complex interface systems and user/computer experience.

“Boeing has some of the most complex systems in the world. And for a good reason—hundreds of thousands of human lives are in our hands every day.”

— Liz Juhnke, Data Scientist & Product Designer, Boeing

Today, I have the absolute pleasure of chatting with Liz Juhnke, the Senior Product Designer and Data Scientist for The Boeing Company.

Ben Libby: You absolutely love what you do. How did you get started? How long have you been doing it? Were you a nerd in high school?

Liz Juhnke: I’ve always loved computers. In high school, I was the co-editor-in-chief for the yearbook, and I digitally cut all the music for my drill team (upgrading us from cassettes). I went into college intent on studying oncology, but chemistry quickly weeded me out. Next, I tried computer science. I understood the concepts but didn’t quite feel like I fit in. Then, I tried Informatics. As luck would have it, I found my people. We are the extroverted engineers.

I was attracted to the technology aspect and how Informatics focuses on people and how they think. While I’ve learned over 10 different programming languages, I don’t particularly love coding. I would rather be talking with real people about their problems and needs, and visually validating solutions.

Ben: Data science and designer infographics go really well together. Have you ever given data science to a graphic designer so he/she could build/design an infographic?

Liz: Hmmm, well, Data Science and User Centered Design (UCD) skills do go hand in hand. I’ve been uniquely fortunate to study both. UCD skills help build context around a user population and a problem. Assuming that you have access to related data, the data science methods help you more quickly come to insights and/or recommendations about something. However, it’s only worth spending the time and money if you’re going to take action on the results.

If I were on a business operations team, it would definitely be good to work with someone who has an eye for design to make sure the business information I was providing was coming across as accurate, easy to read, and unbiased. The value of combining the two disciplines is more about what the data is saying and that it’s easily understood.

In my line of work, I work closely with data scientists to develop features. Consider the Amazon “recommended items for you” feature. Data Science works on figuring out what items are related to the product you’re looking at. It’s my job to figure out how you would best recognize and understand those recommendations, and how you could most easily take action (purchase!).

Ben: Human Computer Interaction (HCI)—do you think there are two different sides of this, such as one part being the psychology behind the interface and the other visuals that stimulate the brain?

Liz: Essentially! Psychology is the study of the mind—how humans understand and interact with the world. The mind dictates user behavior, motivation, emotion, reaction, perception, and on and on! HCI takes this study and applies it to all things technology. The user’s mental models are shaped by the user's past experiences and learning. All of these fascinating user characteristics is what UX professionals seek to understand! When I put a design in front of you, I'm using a visual to validate my assumptions about your expectations. I am seeking to learn your problems, needs, and triggers for action. I am seeking to understand what will motivate you to choose my particular call to action. Visuals are more than just pretty pictures that stimulate the brain. Visuals are a huge part of this quest because they bring teams to a shared understanding of a solution. Prototypes are so powerful because we are talking about something concrete, and iterating on it together based on our own ideas instead of talking at each other abstractly.

Ben: What’s one insanely complicated design challenge you faced (that’s not confidential), how did you approach it, and what were the results?

Liz: Boeing has some of the most complex systems in the world. And for a good reason—hundreds of thousands of human lives are in our hands every day. I am fortunate to be able to sink my teeth into some really high visibility engineering challenges with the best folks. It’s been an awesomely diverse range of projects too, from standard web apps to RFID scanners and HoloLens concepts.

A recent design challenge was for the safety of our mechanics at the Delivery Centers, where finishing touches are put on our beautiful planes, and loose ends are tied. This means they could be working on literally any system. They are also working in one of the most hazardous environments in the world—a powered plane. If you imagine what it would take to replace the garbage disposal in your house by yourself, you have an idea of what our mechanics might be tasked with day-to-day.  

I was asked to help evaluate the safety of our Lock Out Tag Out Try Out (LOTO) program. This rigorous process ensures that the plane can be fully powered so that some mechanics can work/test in one area of the plane, while other systems are “de-energized” so other mechanics can work on other areas safely. Needless to say, it’s complicated! I gave a paper at MIT last year on our evaluation process using STPA. All rigorous processes come with cognitive friction, so I set out with my team to discover what was causing the friction and how we could minimize it.

Observation is king. Step one is always to understand your end user’s environment, tasks, and concerns. I brought a user-centered aspect to the safety analysis. During the research study, I was also tasked with hosting monthly check-ins with the LOTO focals. This ended up being an excellent forum for focals to bring up concerns in a safe place. This feedback ultimately helped me build trust with the mechanics that would later evolve into user adoption of the prototype we built for them to manage production operations better!

Ben: You’ve been with Boeing for a long time, have you picked out your favorite airplane they’ve produced over the years? (I’m totally going with the B-2 Stealth Bomber, I want a ride someday.) When you retire, do you think Boeing will let you take home one of their airplanes (if you had room in your garage)?

Liz: Haha. Yes, eight years has really flown by! I love summers in Seattle, and during Seafair, the Blue Angels always put on an amazing show. Top Gun is also one of my favorite movies. So naturally, the F-18 is one of my favorite products. I hate to “choose sides” amongst our commercial fleet because they are all amazing planes, but I really love the 787. The Hazardous Energy project allowed me to spend a lot of quality time with the mechanics and the planes. On the 787, almost all of the circuit breakers are digital—accessed from the flight deck with computer-like, multi-function displays. 787s are also really impressive with electronically dimmable windows.

Ben: For those wanting to get into Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience, what would your advice be? Any great books that you have on your shelf?

Liz: The Bible for the Boeing Product Design practice right now is Lean UX. During the past year, we’ve put an extra focus on lean design and doing just the right amount of design and research. It’s been a challenge for me being classically trained in whole systems design. However, it’s helping me to laser focus on listening to users and making sure that the feedback and ideas are coming from their side of the screen. Other books we love: Communicating the UX Vision, Just Enough Research, Don’t Make Me Think, Start with Why, Creative Confidence (also David Kelley's TED talk is amazing).

If you’re just starting college and think this might be a possible career, check out the Informatics program at UW or a similar school. If you like computers and people, telling stories, drawing and communicating visually; if you are fascinated with how the mind works, how people interact with technology and how you might be able to make people’s lives easier—this might be the career for you. Alternatively, some aspects of the job, which David Kelley mentions in Creative Confidence, are scary: working in the messy unknown, talking to strangers, losing control of what you want in favor of what end users need, public speaking, being artistic, creative, and sharing incomplete work. If these are situations where you would not run out the door screaming, you might be able to thrive in this job!

Things I’m doing to build my design career—engaging with my peers on the Seattle Designers Slack channel, following a lot of companies and colleagues who post great articles on LinkedIn, and attending local meetups (my favorite is the Design Thinking Seattle Meetup)

So many great opportunities for Product Designers are out there right now. If you are seeking that dream job, make sure to verify that it aligns with your core design values. For me, right now, a fulfilling job looks like making end users more productive, faster, smarter and happier through productivity tools. I believe my fulfillment comes from building great relationships and delighting users. Delight is a Zen state that few designers stick around long enough to achieve—delight is a state far past useful and usable that most product managers fail to prioritize because those features are not “must haves.” We are advocates for the end users. No one else will advocate for delight.

Thank you for encouraging my behavior.

Connect with Liz on LinkedIn or at a Design Thinking Meetup!

Liz Juhnke is a recognized thought leader in human-computer interaction and mobile design. Her specialty is making interfaces invisible, deciphering user expectations and managing emotions. At present, Liz is focusing on growing the user experience capability at Boeing by pairing with product designers from around the company to collaborate on designs in their new Digital Transformation Environment. She also leads the Boeing User Experience Community of Excellence, hosting monthly learnings and community usability consultations. She has delivered numerous web and mobile productivity tools and facilitated many “Design Thinking Workshops” for teams across major Boeing programs, including Commercial Aircraft, Manufacturing and Quality, Regulatory Administration, IT, and Rotorcraft.

[benandcoblog]

Why Fitness is Important in Your Sedentary Setting

The weekend is usually filled with get-togethers with family, friends and colleagues. Sometimes, you’ll be out at bar, restaurant, a cookout, or even just heading home so you can watch Planet Earth II on the 4K. Summer is here, and it's incredibly warm, while we all know the routine of humidity, which makes us tired so we tend to do less.

As a graphic designer, you’re mostly sitting at your desk for 8 hours a day, which means you’re also a sedentary designer. If you aren’t physically active it can host a number of problems. Especially for your lower back and wrists.

Today, I’m co-writing an article with Erica Sideri, a high school friend who is insanely fit, beautiful and healthy (this is the type of girl you want in a relationship, guys and girls) and who also enjoys the sweet life of working out at Cross Fit West Vegas. She has some solid advice for anyone who is piloting a chair during the weekday like me, so take it away Erica!

Hey there everyone!  My name is Erica Sideri and I have been involved in the fitness industry for, well, my whole life! I was a gymnast for my entire childhood / adolescence and my pursuit for health and wellness continued throughout my twenties after that. It hit its peak around the age of 28 when I discovered CrossFit – and I haven’t come down from that high yet, haha! To me, fitness isn’t just about looking good, it’s about FEELING good and being healthy on both the inside and out. Of course everyone wants rock hard abs and toned arms/legs, but it’s extremely important to stay healthy and active so you can live a long and happy life while maintaining your independence - I know I want to be up and about, able to take trips, and try new activities well into my 70’s, 80’s, and beyond!

One of the most important aspects of health and wellness is NUTRITION – “You can’t out train a bad diet.”  This is 100% true in the fitness world.  CrossFit explains that the base for all of your fitness goals is your diet – try to follow an 80/20 rule, meaning: 80% of the time you are on point with your nutrition, and 20% of the time you live your life and enjoy a cheat meal, some drinks on the weekend, etc.  Just don’t let one bad meal turn into a bad day, and then let that bad day turn into a week…a month...etc!  People get easily frustrated with changing up their diet because they think it’s an “all or nothing” 180 degree change – if only it were *that* easy.  If you change too many things at once, nothing will stick and you will resort to bad habits.  Set weekly/bi-weekly goals and start small. We all know we shouldn’t eat fast food 5 days a week, so start by cutting down to 2-3 days a week and learn how to meal prep! Not only will you be healthier, your wallet will thank you.

For those of you who sit down all day for work, you are especially at risk for injury and illness.  The human body isn’t meant to be stagnant for long periods of time. Paired with proper nutrition, making a point to stand up, stretch, go for short walks throughout the day will help you out in the long run.  Here is a small 5 minute routine with some basic calisthenics and stretches to help keep you mobile and break up your day a bit:

��      10 opposite toe touches per leg (20 total)

·      3x samson stretch per leg (alternate and hold each for 5-10 seconds)

·      5 “around the world stretches” per side (nice and slow)

·      3x standing quad stretch (alternate and hold each for 5-10 seconds)

·      10 arm circles forwards

·      10 arm circles backwards

I know some of you ladies out there may be wearing skirts and dresses to work…so modify the movements accordingly. And yes, your co-workers may look at you funny but that’s when you tell them WHY you are doing what you are doing, and then invite them to join – spread the wellness!

Ben Libby: Everyone has goals in life and some of those are becoming more fit and healthy, what made you decide to participate in cross fit?

Erica Sideri:  I was bored with my workout routine at the time and I was looking for something new.  My sister had started CrossFit almost a year before me and she wouldn’t shut up about it, so to make her stop bugging me I finally took a class… and the joke was on me because I ended up falling in love with it!

BL: Before moving to Las Vegas, did you think about other places? Why Las Vegas?

ES: I was living in Atlanta after I graduated from college, in my early 20’s, ready for new adventures.  I honestly didn’t think of anywhere else at the time – I had visited Vegas the year before I moved and I was in the hospitality industry at the time.  It seemed like a no brainer to come out here. Ten years later and I am still loving it!

BL: Have you ever thought about nationally competing in lifting contests? Or what about those fit swimsuit completions? (I’d totally vote for you.)

ES:  I have competed on larger stages in the CrossFit world, and nationally as a gymnast, but right now I am happy working on my fitness for me – it would be cool to train and do an Olympic Weightlifting competition one of these days though!  And no – I get mistaken for a figure competitor/bodybuilder ALL OF THE TIME but that’s not for me.  I struggled with an eating disorder as a gymnast and while I am very healthy and I have a great relationship with food now, I have no desire to be that strict with my diet!  It is impressive what those people do for sure – but I’d rather lift heavy weights, eat carbohydrates, and still look good 😉

BL: Depression and Anxiety are common in young adults, do you think it’s a good excuse to not hit the gym?

ES: I believe depression and anxiety are real things that can be absolutely detrimental to a human being – I have been there with depression and believe me, it is a nightmare.  I do, however, believe that being physically active can help with these issues.  They may not be the solution to the problem at hand but focusing on your body can in turn help you focus on your mind.

BL: Ever since getting in great shape, have you personally felt more amazing both in your confidence and appearance?

ES: I’m not going to lie – I love being fit, I love the way I look, and it does make you feel amazing and confident!  But what has made me the happiest is finally understanding that YOU are in charge of YOUR happiness – not sweating the small stuff and trying to be present and live in the moment is the key to true happiness.

BL: What’s your daily meal plan like? Can you give us a “Day in The Life of Erica Sideri”? Do you also use pre/post protein shakes?

ES:

·      Breakfast: Eggs (usually 4 whites, 2 yolks), sautéed peppers and onions, avocado, oatmeal with honey and cinnamon.

·      I typically train after breakfast, so I do have a protein shake mixed with water and a supergreen supplement afterwards (a GREAT way to get another serving of veggies for the day – I know that’s a tough one for some people).  I use “Syntha-6” whey protein and “Amazing Grass” chocolate flavored supergreens.

·      Lunch: shredded chicken or pork (or some other type of protein I have prepared in my crockpot), a green veggie serving (asparagus, spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts, etc.) rice (I actually eat white rice mostly!)

·      Dinner: same as lunch typically but I switch out the protein and I try to have another form of starch (sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, corn tortillas, etc.)

·      Before bed: casein protein shake and a bowl of cereal 😊

I may add a protein bar, yogurt, and/or piece of fruit somewhere in between for a snack – especially when I am at work!

Thanks so much for co-writing this article with me Erica, I'm sure we'll be able to inspire those who are commanding a chair force one at their desks to realize that health and fitness is incredibly important while designing and developing visuals for the consumer and commercial world.

Erica Sideri is a Bayhost at Top Golf and a coach/personal trainer at CrossFit West Vegas.  She is a people person who truly loves helping others achieve their fitness and wellness goals.  Erica was a gymnast for many years before becoming a highly certified trainer.  She really enjoys lifting heavy things and being upside down! Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Erica has also lived in Atlanta and has resided in Vegas since 2008.

If you dig this article, you should follow and tap to love some IG photos on her Insta; Erica Sideri

[benandcoblog]

Through The Looking Glass

Photography is one of the most amazing mediums and careers one can have (especially if they are talented). I picked up my first DSLR in 2015 which was a Canon T3i and experienced a lot of fun with it. Recently, I upgraded to a Canon T6i and has been really interesting capturing both photography and videography, I still have a ways to go but it's always amazing to reach out to those who have really good skills. From novice to experts, there are plenty of photographers out there, but only the true experts rise in my 5% book, and one person I need to mention in my blog is Gleb Budilovsky, a multi-subject photographer who specializes in wedding and entertainment shoots.

Ben Libby: Back in high school, did you have a dslr or mirrorless camera? I don’t think we even had iPhones yet! Did you also take high school yearbook?

Gleb Budivlovsky: Back in high school, 2001-2005 (damn we're getting old!), I didn't even have a point and shoot camera to my name. I wish I took a photography class then just so I could've gotten some experience with film, which I still lack. I also regret not participating in putting together the yearbook, since it seems like a perfect skill building opportunity.

Up until I got my first DSLR in 2009, my only experience with cameras was taking the occasional photo using my parents' point and shoot while on vacation somewhere.

BL: After Masconomet, where did you attend college? What was your major? Did you ever think about going to Photography school?

GB: I attended Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, followed by the University of Massachusetts in Boston. While there, I realized that even if I got my Ph.D., I would still most likely be paying off my college loans for the rest of my life, so I began to seek a different career path.

During my time at UMass, I was an avid music festival and concert goer, sneaking my newly acquired Canon Rebel T2i into any show I could to share the incredible experiences with friends who weren't there. Eventually, I had a portfolio that was decent enough to get press passes to shoot events for various blogs. Shooting EDM shows was my photography education, along with Youtube. I learned how to get shots in some of the hardest to shoot environments out there; dark clubs with low black ceilings. I eventually was asked to photograph a friend's wedding, which terrified me to my core, but I enjoyed the challenge. This led me to the path I'm on today.

I honestly don't think photography school is necessary, and for many people, a waste of money. I can't tell you how many people I've met that went to photography school but can barely use their camera on manual. I'm not sure what schools they went to, but my advice is that if you choose to go to college for photography, make sure you're going to learn more than just how to critique a photo or work in a dark room so you can make a living from the skills you learn.

On the flip side, I know some people who went to school for commercial photography and now they either work for a large production house or own a photography business themselves. They have told me that what they learned in school can also be learned online (as with most things), but the connections they made there were invaluable. I'm never looked at a curriculum for a photography school, but if they don't include a business class on how to run a photography business, then there is a good chance the students would be missing a huge piece of knowledge that is required for a successful photography career.

BL: Tell us your setup, what’s your absolute go to when it comes to gear, especially traveling?

GB: Currently, I'm shooting with a Canon 1DX Mark II and a newly purchased Sony A7RIII. I use all Canon L glass that covers me from 15mm to 200mm. For weddings, I shoot with primes (24mm f1.4, 50mm f1.2, 85mm f1.2) as much as the environment will let me. The 70-200mm f2.8 is sometimes my go to if there is enough room. I currently use 3 Canon 600EX-RT flashes on location or 2-3 Paul C. Buff Einstein E640 for more studio type settings.

After traveling with the 1DX Mark II around Europe a little bit, it's size quickly became a burden. The attention you get drawn to yourself once you take it out makes you an instant target, which is why I got the stealthier Sony A7RIII. The Metabones adapter makes all of my Canon lenses compatible with the Sony camera. I'll usually bring my 24mm f1.4, 50mm 1.2, 24-70mm f2.8 and a 70-200mm f2.8 if I'm going on an extended trip where weight isn't a factor. For backpacking, the 24mm and 50mm is a great combination.

BL: Can you tell us a crazy story when you were fulfilling photography out in the field? (To show readers what can potentially happen out there as a professional).

GB: One of the craziest things that has happened to me was at a wedding last year. The first thing you shoot at a wedding is the bride getting ready in the morning with all of the bridesmaids. I had my 1DX II hanging by my side while moving a flash stand. The flash wasn't fastened on tight enough to the stand and fell off hitting my camera then the floor, spilling batteries all over the place. Luckily the flash hit a carpet covered floor, so it survived with minimal damage. While cleaning up the batteries from the flash, I noticed my camera's LCD screen looked a little funky. I turned it on and realized the flash had completely smashed the screen, making it unusable.

Fortunately, I had a backup Canon 5D Mark III, but it was still devastating to think that I could not use my 1DX II. I could still take photos, but I couldn't review them, so it was like the old school days of film. Using only the light meter within the viewfinder of the camera, I was still able to use the camera throughout the whole day to nail the wedding. It was a great unexpected exercise.

The important lesson here is that neither the bride or groom knew anything went wrong. Nothing could've gotten accomplished if I brought it up except to needlessly freak out them out.

BL: What’s your absolute favorite subject to photograph? And, are you trying to reach other dimensions of photography?

GB: It’s hard to pick a favorite subject to photograph since I enjoy so many things because of my ADD mind. I mainly love a challenge, something that can't just be photographed with a smartphone. Astrophotography is something that has always amazed me. Even though I can obviously get better in all aspects of photography, I'm currently trying to develop a better skillset to get truly breathtaking shots of the Milky Way. I'm also just getting into photographing cars as a way to combine a few passions into potentially paid gigs.

The best part about photography is that once you learn how to do something within one subject, you can apply it to many others. Everything I learned from covering music festivals is directly applied to shooting weddings, and vice versa.

BL: When you finish a photography shoot, you head to Lightroom, can you give us an overview of how to properly edit our photos with Adobe Lightroom?

GB: After a shoot, I create a Lightroom catalog for the client (for weddings it's the couple's name) and import the photos in. I go through the images and tag the keepers with 1 star. I have a variety of presets that I either bought or created myself and apply that specific preset to every image. I then go through every photo to adjust the exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, whites and blacks. The tone curve data is usually in the preset, so I rarely play around with it after. If it helps the image, I'll enable profile correction. Occasionally I'll apply a touch of post-crop vignetting to focus more attention to the subject. For photos of concerts, I have a little more freedom in playing around with the split toning.

For skin smoothing, I used to use photoshop, which was time-consuming, until I found the plugin, Color Efex Pro 4. The dynamic skin softener within that plug-in is quite powerful. Color Efex Pro 4 is part of the Nik Collection, which I believe used to cost up to $500, until Google bought it and made it free. Also, the detail extractor within Color Efex Pro is occasionally mind blowing. It is definitely a great compliment to using Lightroom that many photographers can benefit from, especially if it's free.

When it comes to editing, I've learned one important lesson over the years; less is more. Over editing/skin smoothing, is something that plagues most novice photographers. The better I get, the more nuanced my editing becomes, or at least that's how I feel.

BL: Where do you think you and your photography will be in 3-5 years?

GB: I feel like I'll always want to keep doing weddings since few things are as gratifying than capturing someone's most memorable day in their life in an artistic way, but now I'm starting to want to work with professional models in a studio setting. I'm hoping to break into more of the commercial side within the next 3-5 years. Maybe you'll see my shot on a billboard someday soon! :)

And, I'm sure we will!

Any last words Gleb?

Photography is not about the gear you have, but what you do with what's in front of you. That's referring to not only the gear at your disposal but also about the scene in front of you. Change perspectives; get low, get high and get out there!

If you're interested in seeing his work, check out his facebook, instagram, and portfolio website below. And as always, if you love his work, make sure to like and follow!

www.glebbudilovsky.com

Facebook: Gleb Budilovsky

Facebook: The Raging Muffin

Instagram: Gleb Budilovsky Photography

Instagram: The Raging Muffin