Mike Villa Visuals: The Next Generation

Ok, so maybe the title’s a bit dramatic, but it’s here! I finished the new blogsite!

So from now on, all blogging will take place on the new site. If you have this bookmarked, RSSed, homepaged, whatever, I suggest you move that on over to http://www.mikevillavisuals.com.

Peace.

Amanda & Joe [Engagement]

Blue skies, white fluffy clouds, and Tempe Town Lake. Beauteous. We’re tentatively labeling this set as “to be continued” since we were cut short due to out of control wind. Oy. Anyways, enjoy the lovies:

Rollout.

Reason #732 I Hate Newspapers

There’s a reason newspapers are falling out left and right. There’s a reason that my major (journalism) is currently filled with so much doom and gloom. There’s multiple reasons actually, and I’m sure that there are people who are way more qualified than I am who could explain them to you. But given the recent announcement from the New York Times to start charging for access to their website (under “certain conditions”), I’ve decided it’s time to voice my superbly pessimistic view of the dwindling industry that I have no desire to be a part of.

Before I start my rant, let me just say that I have great respect for the journalistic ability of the New York Times. There’s a reason they’re one of the most recognized newspapers in the world. I’m sure their staff is full of some of the top journalists, photographers, and editors in the nation. There’s no doubt in my mind about that.

Despite that, they’re clearly still struggling, just like all of the remaining papers. So why not charge for online access to their paper? They have to make money somehow right?

Something tells me that’s not  going to help. Why not? Because it’s the same thing they’ve been doing for the past 100 or so years. The current business model of newspapers – pay a subscription and in turn recieve a daily news source with stories and some photos – is terribly old fashion. And it should be; it’s been around long enough. There are fewer and fewer people every year who want to pay for that kind of service. And why should they? We all know we can just flick on the computer and get all of the same services free of charge.

So what exactly will this new model of charging for internet access change? Nothing. You pay a subscription, you get news and a few photos. Sound familiar? Of course, the news will be updated more often than once a day, and there will probably be a few more photos available for you to browse through in all of their htmled, 640×480 glory, maybe even a few “interactive resources”. Like polls. But in all reality, that’s just about it.

Maybe the newspaper diehards will subscribe to it, they’re the ones who are currently allowing the industry to limp along. But other than them, I’m not seeing a whole lot of potential income coming out of this. Example: Kelsey and Rachelle (Oh snap, call outs), you two don’t currently subscribe to the New York Times (that I’m aware of), but you’re congratulating them for finally trying to make some money. Will you two pay for that service? If two culturally in-tune, naturally curious journalism majors don’t think it’s worth their cashmoneyflow, what are the chances the rest of America will?

I tried to get more information about this drastic change the New York Times is making, but I wasn’t able to finish reading the article (because I don’t pay for a subscription). So did I immediately subscribe to the Wall Street Journal? No, I went to a different site that gave me the same news for free. Weird.

Why newspapers refuse to be creative, I have no idea. They have everything to lose (and nothing to gain) by simply throwing in digital versions of a business model that no longer works. Want more proof that they’re stuck in the past? Here we are, about to be invaded by the “media tablet” (I’m calling it now: January 27th, Apple, 10.1″ multitouch display, music, movies, games, internet, and a freaking sweet new way to read magazines), and this is the best that the New York Times can come up with (granted, it will probably be in color on the Apple tablet). “Let’s put our content on this”. Sports Illustrated sees the same device and is going to do something like this. “Let’s use this to revolutionize our content”. Done and done. Guess who I’m going to bet files for Chapter 13 first.

So that’s my rant. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe the New York Times will make millions off this venture and save the face of newspaper. Doubtful.

Rollout.

Here

I wish I had something else besides boredom to blame this on, but I’m afraid that’s all there is to it.

Peace.

Boardom

The reason I haven’t been blogging lately is completely due to my boardation. In the past two and a half weeks that I’ve been home, my board hasn’t spent more than 4 consecutive days locked away in the storage room. So at a minimum, I owe you guys a few shots of my winter break:

More to come.

Rollfest.

Losses

Three things that are most definitely not unbreakable: Snowboards, iPhones, and hearts.

All three are injured. All three are still working.

ReBlog/Reesers [Family Shoot]

Welcome back folks. It’s been awhile, but I’m finally up and rolling again. Thanks to the lovelies over at State Farm, this Mikerophonity is coming to you straight from my shiny new MacBook Pro’s keyboard. Insurance is by far the best investment I made this year… Err… Last year.

Yup, yup. As you may have noticed, it’s now 2010, which means I should probably look back to this post and give you an update on the resolutions made there [spoiler alert: the results are surprisingly similar to most other people’s]. A new year isn’t all bad news… I’ve got some exciting stuff for your lovely eyes to check out coming up soon. I have my good buddy/Javascript genius Josiah whipping up a spifferific website for me, and a full on rebranding on the way.

I also need to throw up some Scotland shots, the results of my final photo project, and some fun snowboarding action. Needless to say, I’ve been busy.

But for now, I’d like guys to meet the Reesers; a supremely photogenic and fun family that I shot on the day after Christmas. You’ve already seen Brandon and Breanna strut their stuff in their ridiculously cool 30’s shoot. This time, they brought along the rest of the family for the party.

Rollfest.