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| An Uncle Sam standup figure by Renate McIntosh |
As I prepare to write this column, I have to chuckle. I can use the first couple of sentences from Larry's column last month, word for word. I wonder, would any of you have noticed if I hadn't mentioned it?
"It's always fun to look back at how some things on BalloonHQ.com have evolved. Years ago, we wanted to encourage people to share photos." Now, there are about 26,500 balloon photos in the BHQ database. With so much content, finding the inspiration you need depends heavily on the classification given for each and every photograph. An accurate title with easily guessable key words ensures that your photos can be discovered in the future.
This month, Glynis sent a plea to the Entertainer's List. She asked that a life-sized, standing, human or animal sculpture be classified as a "standup." She furthur requested that everyone revisit their own photo contributions to revise the title or description entries to reflect this common term.
That's a great suggestion. Such revisions can only improve photo content searches for everyone, and help to showcase outstanding work. There was some talk on the Entertainer's List about the Slot Machine photo featured for June by Bobby Diamond. While Bobby was happy to have his work showcased, he's lucky that I found that picture to reference in the first place. With the upcoming educational events (Ballooniversity with a Las Vegas theme, and Summer Balloon Camp in Las Vegas), I got it into my head to choose the June photos with a casino theme. When searching the database for non-round and round balloon monthly pictures, I generally pick a theme and then try to find a well-lighted, close-up photo for each e-mail forum.
I challenge BHQ Members to do advanced photo searches for either title or description using the keywords "casino" or "Las Vegas" or " slot machine." You won't find Bobby's One-Armed Bandit. Luckily, Bobby had linked that picture to a related photo that did use the word "Casino." Otherwise, his sculpture would never have been picked as a feature photo.
Now, most Americans know that the phrase "one-armed bandit" is a euphamism for "slot machine." But frankly, I would never have gone searching with the keyword bandit. Oddly enough, that search turns up just three pictures out of 26,500. The other two were submitted by Glynis (a seedy looking bandit), which is a nice bit of coincidence. Are all the other bandits hiding with the "cowboys?"
This summer is turning out to be a busy one for the BHQ owners. Happily, our staff were able to clear their schedules to represent Balloon HQ at two of the upcoming educational Events. Debbie Piotrowski, the BHQ Advertising Director, will be attending Ballooniversity and the Decorator's Workshop in Athens, Georgia. Expect a full report from Debbie, with pictures of course, in the August BHQ columns. After that, both Debbie and John Barthelmes, the BHQ Administrative Assistant, will work to provide full event coverage for Summer Balloon Camp in Las Vegas. Please be sure to give em a pat on the back when you see them. It's always not easy to work for Larry, Mark, and myself. :-)
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| The story of Under the Sea, as created by the members of Balloon Angel |
KyoungSook CHUN, owner of Balloon Angel in Seoul, South Korea has recently been building a unique portfolio. Their eye-catching work mixes round-balloon decor and non-round scultpures.
See the Balloon Angel BHQ Portfolio.
