Black Rock Stocks
Black Rock Stocks
Death To Stock Photography Business Teams
One of the worst online practices is the use of stock photography for sales or marketing teams and organizations. You know what I mean. We’ve all seen them. The photo of a business team on a tech company’s website, their formulaic poses, hip looks and perfect teeth. Consider these images, available at any stock image service: the way-too-integrated business team, the orgasmic computer screen, and the high-five-we-just-saved-the-world shot. Most likely you already know what I’m talking about, but let’s break each down, just for fun.
Too Much Integration
I’ve been a part of business teams for twenty-five years and never — and I mean NEVER — has one of them looked like the United Nations poster for equality. In the forefront of this photo is always a strong male or female — black or hispanic — too nicely dressed, wearing a plastic smile. People who smile, according to research, are judged to be more sincere and sociable. But if the smile isn’t sincere do we turn the tables and judge them more harshly, or do we see them as cardboard cutouts? Most of us are capable of spotting a fake smile, but we we don’t always do it well. Real smiles are an unconscious act, an emotional release. When we smile for real, regardless of race or ethnicity, the orbicularis oculi and the pars orbitalis muscles around the eyes contract, along with the mouth and cheek muscles. Fake smiles require a conscious effort are usually limited to the mouth and cheek muscles. That black or hispanic guy in the front of your “team” photo betrays you with his fake smile. With smiles, it’s in the eyes — or not. Behind the lead guy in the silk suit with the perfect smile is the beautiful white chick — also impeccably dressed — with a low-cut blouse under her suit jacket. The blouse never reveals anything. It just makes you wonder. Then, of course, is the forgotten white guy. Drifting to the back of the photo, slightly out of focus, a forgotten prop easily dismissed. He’s needed for balance in the photograph and you are correct when you wonder if he is actually old enough to be in a business environment. The characters in the team shot may switch positions from time to time but one thing is always consistent. They are not from your office.
The Orgasmic Computer Screen Photo
Some photos should be outlawed. The only time your employees have ever stood around someone’s computer cheering was the day they discovered the embarrassing YouTube video of you. Seriously, it’s never happened — except maybe in porn addicted offices where the employer allows unlimited surfing of the web. And how many of those offices are there?
We Just Saved The World! Photo
You are electricians, plumbers, landscapers, and ocean bound oil clean-up and recovery companies, amongst other businesses. While you may have helped quite few people along the way did you really jump and high-five the entire office because you solved that customer service issue? All of your co-workers? All at once? Okay, if you run an ocean bound oil clean-up and recovery company you may have. I salute you and you are exempt from this rant. As for the rest of you I’m fairly certain the only cheering done at work is when leaving early for happy hour on Friday. Come on, people. Do these stock images really represent you and your staff, your company?
The Solution
It’s no fun ranting and making fun without providing a solution, or solutions. This one is easy. In fact, there are two solutions to the stock photo team issue. The first: consider getting out your own camera (or pay someone else) and taking some photos of your actual staff. They add realism and character. Use odd angles and perspectives. Let your staff’s personality come out. Let them shine. They’re real. And I’m betting they’re valuable to you and your customers. The second solution to the stock photo business people dilemma: take a completely different approach. Drop people altogether. Maybe, add some humor. Ask yourself these questions: who are we as a company or organization? Who do we want to become? Recently, I finished a design for a local church. They pride themselves as being a church accepting of people as they are. Before every sermon they say: “We are a real church for real people.” One of the pages on their site describes what they mean by this statement. (Click here ») Ten years ago I drew a funny penguin on my computer. He is wearing sunglasses, a hawaiian shirt, and a toe ring. I’ve wondered over the years if I would ever be able to use it in my work. This page for The Rock Church seemed the perfect opportunity. I found a photo of a group of penguins walking in a line — all looking the same, as penguins do. I dropped my guy into the photo — come as you are. No one at the church has complained. Everyone gets the meaning and it’s a completely different approach to the typical stock photography shot.
Black Rock Speedway (Street Stocks 4/5/09)
|
|
Old Stock Certificate BLACK ROCK & PACIFIC COMPANY New Jersey 1882 Mining A+++++ $365.00 |
|
|
1/6 Medicom RAH 550 Black Rock Shooter 12‘’ In Stock $299.99 |
|
|
PAISTE VINTAGE 20″ 2002 JAZZ ROCK HEAVEY RIDE BLACK LABEL NEW OLD OLD OLD STOCK $289.00 |
|
|
SIDESHOW Medicom RAH Black Rock Shooter 12″ Figure IN STOCK NEW SEALED $259.95 |
|
|
Medicom RAH BLACK ROCK SHOOTER 1/6 Figure IN STOCK $244.99 |
|
|
Nendoroid 106 Black Rock Shooter!! NEW!! IN Stock!! $46.88 |
|
|
K&M Black Collapsible Stock Mount with Rock Lock in Heavy Duty 6 POSITION $44.96 |
|
|
Black Collapsible Stock Mount with Rock Lock in Heavy Duty 6 POSITION $44.99 |
|
|
Vintage Jersey rock Black Sabbath Tour T-Shirt Dead Stock Size M $30.00 |
|
|
Vintage Jersey rock BLACK SABBATH Tour T-Shirt Dead Stock Size M $30.00 |
|
|
*1985 CHICAGO* vintage black rock band concert tour t-shirt (L) 80s Dead-Stock $29.99 |
|
|
50′S 60′S ROCKABILLY DANCING ROCK/PETTICOAT/SKIRT/TUTU Stock white&black&red $29.00 |
|
|
50′S 60′S ROCKABILLY DANCING ROCK/PETTICOAT/SKIRT/TUTU Stock white&black&red $29.00 |
|
|
50′S 60′S ROCKABILLY DANCING ROCK/PETTICOAT/SKIRT/TUTU Stock white&black&red $29.00 |
|
|
50′S 60′S ROCKABILLY DANCING ROCK/PETTICOAT/SKIRT/TUTU Stock white&black&red $29.00 |
|
|
50′S 60′S ROCKABILLY DANCING ROCK/PETTICOAT/SKIRT/TUTU Stock white&black&red $29.00 |
|
|
50′S 60′S ROCKABILLY DANCING ROCK/PETTICOAT/SKIRT/TUTU Stock white&black&red $29.00 |
|
|
50′S 60′S ROCKABILLY DANCING ROCK/PETTICOAT/SKIRT/TUTU Stock white&black&red $29.00 |
|
|
ZIPPO Stanley Mouse Lighter Black STEPPEN Rock Art Mint Tin NEW OLD STOCK $27.95 |
|
|
ESTATE ANTIQUE MINERAL SPECIMEN BLACK TOURMALINE 68 CT NEW OLD STOCK ROCK STONE $25.00 |
|
|
mens *1996-97 RUSH* vintage black rock band concert tour t-shirt (M) Dead-Stock $19.99 |
|
|
AEROPOSTALE BLACK T-SHIRT DEAD STOCK SIZE SMALL MENS RETRO PUNK ROCK HIPSTER $19.99 |
|
|
Demolition Derby STOCK CAR RACING BLACK T-SHIRT ROCK Zz $19.50 |
|
|
Demolition Derby STOCK CAR RACING BLACK T-SHIRT ROCK Zz $19.50 |
|
|
Demolition Derby STOCK CAR RACING BLACK T-SHIRT ROCK Zz $19.50 |
|
|
Demolition Derby STOCK CAR RACING BLACK T-SHIRT ROCK Zz $19.50 |
|
|
Demolition Derby STOCK CAR RACING BLACK T-SHIRT ROCK Zz $19.50 |
|
|
Demolition Derby STOCK CAR RACING BLACK T-SHIRT ROCK Zz $19.50 |
|
|
ESTATE ANTIQUE MINERAL SPECIMEN BLACK TOURMALINE 11 CTS NEW OLD STOCK ROCK STONE $15.00 |
|
|
ESTATE ANTIQUE MINERAL SPECIMEN BLACK TOURMALINE 18 CTS NEW OLD STOCK ROCK STONE $15.00 |
|
|
ESTATE ANTIQUE MINERAL SPECIMEN BLACK TOURMALINE 18 CTS NEW OLD STOCK ROCK STONE $15.00 |
|
|
ESTATE ANTIQUE MINERAL SPECIMEN BLACK TOURMALINE 20 CTS NEW OLD STOCK ROCK STONE $15.00 |
|
|
ESTATE ANTIQUE MINERAL SPECIMEN BLACK TOURMALINE 21 CTS NEW OLD STOCK ROCK STONE $15.00 |
|
|
ESTATE ANTIQUE MINERAL SPECIMEN BLACK TOURMALINE 26 CTS NEW OLD STOCK ROCK STONE $15.00 |
|
|
SPECIMEN AMBN Stock Certificate: ‘BlackRock Term Trust’ $14.99 |
|
|
The Erie & Black Rock Railroad Stock Certificate RR $14.99 |
|
|
SPECIMEN AMBN Stock Certificate-BlackRock Florida Trust $14.99 |
|
|
18__ Erie & Black Rock RR Stock Certificate $14.95 |
|
|
BILL BLACK’S COMBO Redneck Rock b/w Yakety Sax STOCK 45 M- $9.99 |
|
|
HI RHYTHM Black Rock b/w Save All My Lovin’ STOCK 45 M- $9.99 |
|
|
Rock 45 BLACK GRASS Lock, Stock, & Barrel on Shelter $8.00 |
|
|
Shadowland $4.90 Pulling out all the Nashville stops, k.d. lang’s 1988 album is a meticulously crafted work, her bid for mainstream country acceptance, and an homage to her idol Patsy Cline. Surrounded by the brilliance of Owen Bradley’s string-laced production and a host of legendary pickers (Buddy Emmons and Pete Wade) and singers (Kitty Wells, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn), lang’s voice soars and moans like a dove…. |
|
|
Paul Simon And Friends: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song $11.18 Commemorating the first awarding of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song to Paul Simon, the Library of Congress arranged for a spellbinding array of Simon’s peers to perform in a remarkable live concert tribute in the nation’s capital. The program includes performances by Simon, Art Garfunkel, Stevie Wonder, Alison Krauss, George Harrison (from 1976), James Taylor, Lyle Lovett, and others. 110 min…. |
|
|
Jimi Hendrix – Live at Woodstock $12.99 Live at Woodstock, Jimi Hendrix’s headlining appearance at the most famous festival in rock music history, is rivaled only by his set at Monterey Pop for sheer legendary status. But the two are very different. The rock guitarist was a virtual unknown in America when he delivered his literally incendiary performance at Monterey in 1967. A little more than two years later he was an established star,… |
|
|
A Knight’s Tale (Special Edition) $3.25 There’s no rule against rock anthems from the 1970s in the soundtrack for a movie about a medieval jousting champion, but if you’re going to attempt such jarring anachronisms, you’d better establish acceptable ground rules. Writer-director Brian Helgeland does precisely that in A Knight’s Tale and pulls off this trick with such giddy aplomb that you can’t help but play along. (Upon witnessing a cr… |
|
|
New – Rude Boy – 17295192 $64.00 Rocks Off Rude Boy Male Prostate Silicone Vibrator Black. As we rotate stock, everything with an expiration date will have at least a 2 year shelf life (unless otherwise specified)null… |
|
|
Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Baby’s First Blocks $5.55 Ten bright blocks are ready for baby to drop into the open bucket or through the shape-sorting lid. Baby will love filling the bucket with blocks, dumping them out, then starting over again. Great for eye-hand coordination and other early skills. Then baby can move on to sorting and stacking and learning about identifying and matching shapes. Includes plastic shape-sorting box with take-anywhere h… |
|
|
Beyblades JAPANESE Metal Fusion Battle Top Starter #BB99 Hell Kerbecs MR145DS Includes Light Launcher! $11.88 This Japanese Beyblade Starter comes with one complete Beyblade and includes a launcher and ripcord!… |
|
|
Fisher-Price TRIO DC Super Friends Batcave $23.99 Easy to build, so many waysâwith two sides of play for twice the fun and adventure. Over 100 Trio easy-click bricks, sticks and panels, plus a Batman play figure, make building Batcave adventure a snap. Pieces are sized just right for kids to build big, fast, easy and strong for play, with built-in action features and double-sided picture panels that let them choose and change the adventure…. |
|
|
Polk Audio DB651 6.5-Inch Coaxial Speakers $53.49 6-1/2″ 2-way car speakers (pair) supplied adapter rings allow for fit into 6-3/4″ locations Dynamic Balance polymer/mica composite woofer with butyl rubber surround 3/4″ liquid-cooled silk/polymer composite dome tweeter Neodymium tweeter magnet Kapton voice coil ABS wheel-design grilles Stainless steel mounting hardware Certified for marine use Power range: 6-60 watts RMS (180 watts peak power) F… |
|
|
Rockford Fosgate Prime R1693 6 x 9-Inch Full-Range 3-Way Speakers (Pair) $51.99 These 6-by-9-inch Prime full-range speakers offer Rockford Fosgate sound quality at a fantastic value. Perfect for replacing factory speakers, they feature Mica injected polypropylene cones and a mylar balanced dome tweeter. Includes grilles so they look as good as they sound. The Rockford Fosgate Prime Series A new generation of performance geared toward the “novice” car audio e… |
