I knew I had a noticeable camera for covering Paris Fashion Week Couture when the hotel staff told me to be careful walking around the city with a camera like this. The warning: Do not let that camera out of your sight. I took it to heart. The funny matter of the situation. At many events i got asked, “Are you a photographer?” I could have been in the photographers pit. I gained respect over my other colleagues carrying an iPhone. There is still credibility having a DSLR.
Felt good on my shoulder
The Canon EOS 750D feels and looks like a good professional camera at an entry level point. I managed to get some fast shots sitting front row. At 6fps combined with 24.2 pixels, I did not worry.
Perfect in a Low Light Setting
I got the pics
The Auto Focus was reliable. I used the control dial a bit depending on the lighting situation never sure whether to use the screen or view finder for a shot. I noticed I got better shots with using the viewfinder. The common critical thread about the viewfinder for this model is the viewfinder only covers 95%, not 100%. It means the user has to be careful when framing a shot or prepare for a surprise reviewing the images later.
Simple TouchScreen
Paris
Canon EOS 750D
The simple to use touchscreen flips making it easy for me to use the HD video feature. I produce walking video commentaries on the streets of the French Capital while dashing to a show. I mix producing both videos and pictures but need something light to carry around on the run. If the quality is good enough for streaming online immediately, I am happy. The 750D matched those needs.
A runway shot
Fashion Designers
I did not use the WiFi Connection for my tablet. There is a Canon app for controlling the camera remotely.
As a creative device The EOS 750D has good merit. There is no need to spend an arm and leg to go to the next level. There are enough goodies to stay in the content production game.
Many terms have lost their meanings. Once these words evoked heated conversations. Debates on solving the worlds problems. Raising issues ignored by the population as it goes about its daily life.
Today, when the words ACTIVIST, DIVERSITY, and INCLUSIVITY are used, I shrug. For me, they get lost in the modern translation. Diluted! The have been hijacked.
Let me start by saying, Mandela, Walesa, and Parks were activists. They risked their lives standing up to hostile social systems built on human repression.
A 2019 Self Anointed Activists smugly sits on stage to tell everyone who will listen, “I am an Activist”. There is zero risk. If Instagram and Twitter followers give a person the title “Activists”. That means this person is an Activists. Whatever the cause, pick one out of a bag. InstaMarytr!
We are all “Activists”
When a model or actor uses the “A Word” I chuckle. Madonna is a true Performer. Her impact on the presentation of music can never be denied. But at her last tour, a friend said, “I did not pay $299 to hear her preach self important political gibberish.”
“If a frog had wings it would not hope on its butt.” Those are words from my Grandparent when I complained the world was not a fair place. I believe in Diversity and Inclusiveness. But what does it mean? Life should be fair. Whine and complain on social media. Have these words become more about a sense of entitlement?
Diveristy/Inclusivity or Free Ride
When I read about Diveristy/Inclusive movements old fashion values such as working hard, paying your dues, or scarifice seem far way. Many industries have affintiy cultures. Exclusive, the same as genteel country clubs for a select few who can pass through the gate. Agreed, the cozy fraternity atomsphere needed shaking up. Diversity and Inclusivity should be about opportunity not a free ticket. The ladder to the top shouldn’t be replaced by a fast moving elevator with cushioned seats. Knowelegde, skill-sets, experience, and a thick skin are still valued for longterm success. I write this as an African American who worked in fields not “Different Friendly!”
I love saying the name PUCCI! It conjures the glamour and expressive color of the 1960’s. Optimism ruled. The sense of tomorrow will be brighter day. At Milan Fashion Week I stepped in to see what was new for Fall 2019. Prints and shaped colors continue to the unique aesthetic of the brand born in Florence during Post War Italy. Creative Director Peter Dundas still delights me by staying true to brand’s origins. In this day and age we need more optimism.
I attended the Sergio Rossi presentation during Milan Fashion Week. For Fall 2019 the Italian shoe label went for statement footwear. Knee high boots and red pumps formed part of the collection.
I recently had a conversation with a record company press relations head. We talked about his artists rosters. Many I did not know, but I am over the hill. As the conversation continued I said, “Today, everyone is famous. Either a celebrity, reality show, Instagrammer, YouTuber, 5000 channels, 10.000 programs, and whatever else. All you need is a iPhone. KaBOOM! Instafame!” We both laughed.
In 2018 if you swing a cat, you will hit a so called “famous” person. Famous for being Famous. Not a clue how or why.
Being famous in the past was an exclusive commodity. Reserved for those with talent or a gift from the heavens. Not anymore. Thanks to camera phones and Instagram, fame is the same as mosquitos during a hot summer. Pocket size digital devices replaced sound stages, recording studios, and cameras. As mass media continues to loose its grip on audiences, so too have the boundaries it once set collapses. Fame has become a true democracy, no talent required. There are “Kardashian Wannabes” lurking in every household.
A 20thcentury invention by mass media, fame evolved over the decades: First, the mass hysteria of Valentino, The swooning for Sinatra, blonde Goddess Monroe, the cultural force of The Beatles, and the seismic shift of Michael Jackson,. These artist shook the world with appeal and talent.
The 21stdefinition of fame means: Multi-talentless has appeal. Something of no value has a warped value. The generational gap continues, modern fame skill-sets are lost on many parents. Can anyone over 35 understand why the under 25 crowd follows daily selfies? However, my Grandparents, considered Madonna a Flozzy. HA!
While not begrudging those seeking fame. I bemoan the old rules of being famous. Until recently, it meant something.
At IFA 2019, I met Tamy Ribeiro at the Shift Automotive Conference. Tamy spoke on the subject of the changing automotive field. New technologies have risen challenging the classic models of transportation. As an expert on topics and trends shaping mobility today and in the future, her opinion is valued in an ever changing industry.
What peaked my curiosity was the fact a female executive talking about both technology and automotive subjects. Both industries are highly male driven with only a few women getting a corner office. After a chat, I asked if she could answer a few questions on the obstacles a woman faces in these worlds. Mrs. Ribeiro said, “Yes”.
Tamy Ribeiro
The Interview-Part One
Women are speaking out in other fields, has the tech area been slow to respond?
I think this is a very broad issue, and sexism is prevalent in almost every industry on the planet. It’s common knowledge the tech industry has been dominated by men essentially since its inception. It does bother me to know companies like Amazon rarely offer information on how female employees are treated at the workplace or how many are in leadership positions. I believe that transparency is the first step towards a fairer future.
Nevertheless, progress is being made. It’s my job to spread awareness for the tech company I work for. I’ve made a career for myself in a male-dominated industry. I’d love to see more women doing the same in the future, and it’s going to take a team effort for us to get there!
A Presence in 2 Fields
Why did you choose both tech and automotive as a career field?
My journey into mobility was not the traditional path. First, I started my career in travel and then after over a decade of work I had a mid-life crisis and I decided that it was the best time to start my life over again by moving to Germany to raise my kids. I joined Wunder in 2016 to do a one-month internship and conclude a course without expecting a long-term contract – I was actually enjoying going back to this student life. I planned to keep studying after concluding it.
However, I fell in love with the company and its mission. Moreover, I saw a great opportunity to learn by doing. I had the support of my leadership team to gain the experience and skill sets I desired. Luckily, I had the chance to grow with the company and see it expand its portfolio and presence worldwide. Both industries are challenging for women, but to be honest, that’s why I loved it since day one.
Advice
What advice would you share with a woman starting in this field?
Always believe in yourself, even when it seems impossible. You are more capable than people would have you think. Your opinions are valid, and you are just as smart and knowledgeable as the other men on the team. Don’t let their bravado fool you! Often it’s the ones who talk the loudest who know the least. Don’t be afraid to speak up and have your voice heard.
Do you get asked certain “woman” questions?
If by “woman” questions you mean things relating to my appearance or how I could possibly juggle all my work with motherhood, I’ve been fortunate – most people just leave me alone about that. When and if it happens, I think them so insignificant and I feel so embarrassed for the person that I don’t waste my time feeling bad, I feel sorry. Instead of putting myself in the victim position, I feel privileged for having more clarity and access to information than the person who is asking me the question.
Sexism is Real
Sexism, how would you explain the experiences?
I consider myself strong and well prepared to deal with sexism. One of the reasons is because tough challenges are key to my personal motivation. There is nothing more rewarding than listening to a sexist comment and proving with numbers and facts that the person is wrong afterwards. I’m not saying that it doesn’t affect me – I had several moments in which I smiled at the situation then turned to the next page and kept working. But afterwards, I had to hide myself to get my breath back.
However, when you start seeing it as a challenge to overcome and you end up accomplishing what you had in mind, no words are necessary. Nothing makes me prouder as a woman than looking back and seeing how many sexist voices I could shut up by simply continuing to achieve my goals – I truly believe that this is the most effective way to make them notice their failures and reconsider their way of thinking.
Melissa Myer and Meg Whitman made it to the top of big tech companies. Can they be used as examples of the tech field being diverse?
Melissa Myer and Meg Whitmann are both hard-working, highly intelligent women who deserve to be in the positions they’re in. Nevertheless, I would be careful of using them as “examples”, seeing as how they’re both white women from privileged backgrounds. The tech field is not diverse – to say anything to the contrary would be sort of ridiculous. Women make up 59% of the total workforce, but they only make 30% of the workforce in tech companies. To make matters worse, of the 41 Fortune 500 tech companies, only five of them have a female CEO. So while I applaud Melissa and Meg for their contribution to the industry, I don’t think they signify diversity in tech.
Tamy Ribeiro is Chief Mobility Evangelist & Head of Partnerships for Wunder Mobility based in Hamburg, Germany
In nature, Sexual Cannibalism involves the female devouring male during or after mating. Why many species gleefully go their death is a great mystery. The highest species on Earth is a bit the same. Why do men risk it all for moment of pleasure and a few ounces of fluid? Love for a moment is usually at the top or near the top of the agenda. Men have affairs. Deal with It! Eyes wide open means not being surprised.
Why do male partners stray? For the same reason the sun comes up in the morning. Life happens! For men, they tend to put relationships in different categories.
There is one for long term reassurance. Then there is the one or more for sexual fun. Sadly, reconciling these two categories into one person is the same as winning the lottery 2 times in a week.
The “nesting” category is usually simple. A type the family and friends would approve. All looks good on the surface.
The sexual fun category varies but can be more stable and more varied for different reasons. The expectations change. Many guys stay with the sex partner longer than they stay with the nesting partner. The truth hurts! It may not make sense in the brain but it feels good on the head.
Stay Tuned for our podcast series on relationships
The battle over the state of modern cinema took a funny twist recently. Director Martin Scorsese weighed in by saying Marvel Cinematic Universe is not cinema. The backlash was swift. Do not attack a cultural movement. Martin, like so many others in Hollywood, has been left wondering what is his place in the new franchise driven film business. A critics darling, Scorsese has never been a box office magnet. His most successful films drew on the star power of Leonardo DiCaprio.
The Irishman
As his latest film, the acclaimed “The Irishman” premieres for Netflix, the helmer has taken aim at modern cinema. The free market economy does not count when it comes to buying tickets. “Marvel films are theme park attractions”, said Scorsese. Theaters should stop booking hem. According to this logic, as an exhibitor is better to choose “his idea of artistic integrity” over making a billion dollars.
160 + 209
Budgeted at $160 million “The Irishman” has a running time of 209 minutes. Translated; if this were a feature film, there could only be 2 theater screenings per day. It would need to earn $500 million to recoup production costs. Plus, an addition $50 million for marketing and prints costs. Martin Scorsese’s highest grossing film to date: 2006’s “The Departed” with Leonardo Di Caprio earned $291 million. No small wonder why the director had to turn to Netflix for financing his latest mobster film starring frequent creative partner Robert DiNiro. As the economics of the film business shift to even bigger tentpoles, Scorese’s view of cinema has been sidelined.
A filmmaker of the 70’s auteur movement, when studios gave directors autonomy over their work. Scorsese did not move into the blockbuster realm. Nor did he crash out like Coopola, DiPalma, or Bogdanavich. His was a world of dysfunctional characters on tee edge. Even his family friendly work, “Hugo” from 2011, a great look, but a times came across like a puzzle with missing middle pieces. Lacking an emotion. I felt no empathy for the characters. The film lost over $100 million at the box office.
Do not attack a movie genre for being successful. If the theater going public pays $20 per ticket, the film earns $2 billion at global cinemas. That is cinema.
As the shopping experience changes, so must retail reinvent itself to stay relevant. On a recent visit to Paris I decided to pay a visit to the new Galeries Lafayette on Champs Elysee. The great boulevard’s stores have changed. In the 90’s this former Virgin Records Super Store offered every genre of music. I discovered Senegalese Jazz there. I remember popping listening to the new release wall.
In 2019, what is a record store? A question we will ask about department stores. As taste and consumer needs move forward, retailers need to respond. Galeries Lafayette’s new store borrows from the concept store in a bigger setting. The 3 floor layout features new brands as well as established labels. Concessions and inshore interior changes regularly while avoiding the shelf clutter of traditional stores. The obvious focus is to keep the buyer curious with a “What’s New” strategy.
Only in Paris!
Two Cafes and restaurants situated on the first floor and in the basement are designed for being seen as well as attracting the shared space working clientele. I bought a cafe and pastry then took a seat to check my schedule on my tablet.
As I have stayed a few times. Department stores continue to feel like a place where our Grandparents went to buy stocking after World War 2. Galeries Lafayette gets a good mark for bringing mass retail into the 21stcentury.
Galleries Lafayette is located at 60 Avenue des Champs Elysees, Paris
There was a “protest” at the last Paris Fashion Week. Marie Benoliel crashed the stage. The YouTuber confronted Hadid at the Grand Palais. The stunt was boring. Her excuse: “Fashion makes people unhappy”. Get over yourself Marie!
Fashion makes me happy. If I were unhappy with the state of it I would not protest on the Chanel Runway. The big houses are machines with bottom line pressures. The world works, the way the world works. Secondly, Chanel is an iconic brand with a classic aesthetic.
I support smaller brands. Independent labels where creativity has a chance to blossom into success. Traveling to Milan or Paris, I make it a point to attend the trade fairs as well as presentations. It gives me the chance to meet designers and go over their pieces. Fashion creators with genuine enthusiasm are infectious. They explain the vision behind the collections. I get a sense of their story; the past, present, and future.
When a person goes to a big fashion to protest. It is more about themselves getting attention than a matter of making a statement. Next time, someone should tell Marie instead of making a grandstanding nuisance of herself, why not post a picture of an unknown designer you like on your Instagram account?
