Emerce E-Day Conference in Rotterdam

I was this last thursday at what turned to be a very interesting conference: Emerce E-Day (http://www.emerceeday.nl/).
It was about new online trends (crowdsourcing, user-generated, co-creation, ... ) and the bussinesses around them.

I got into some good lectures about my current line of work: Innovation ... what is it, how to make it systematic, application to a bussiness. From those, two highlights:
- a quote: "Research turns money into knowledge; Innovation turns that knowledge into money"
- and a source of materials: http://www.innovationfactory.nl ... a good starting point for reading material

Oh, but the best ... the last keynote speaker: Lawrence Lessing, from Stanford Law School, on "Economics and Culture". A reaaaally great presentation on how the last half of the 20th century turned our culture from a "RW - Read write" culture (everyone created and distributed media content) in a "RO - Read only" culture (creation and distribution was one way only, from the media companies to the people), due to the changes in technology. But these same changes have taken us so far today that everyone can create, remix, reuse, modify and distribute "culture", making it more egalitarian and democratic and open.

One great and hilarious example: "Bush and Blair - Endless Love"



See you!

Kumite IX - Kickbox Gala - Hilversum

Last weekend took place the Kumite IX Kickbox gala in Hilversum (The Netherlands), organized by Everybody Gym (it happens to be where I do my trainning :D ).
This time I helped organizing (it became a veeery long day), so I got to be a bit closer to the show ... and take some shots. It was my first such attempt at photographing such sports event, which proved to be much more challenging than I thought at first.

Hope you enjoy the shots and ... maybe see you in the next one!

Cesc

Mostra del Correfoc, Manresa 2008

I'll write this in english, let's see if we can promote our local festivities internationally :)
Every last weekend of august, Manresa (Catalonia, Spain), celebrates a one week long festivity, as do most towns around here. It is called the "Festa Major".

Among many cultural activities, some fun stuff takes places. For most, like me, the summit is reached in the "Correfoc" (Fire Run), which takes place in the old part of town, through crooked streets. In it, all sorts of figures (daemons, dragons, dwarfs, ...) throw all sorts of fire directly to the people (from firecrackers to springs of fire), making it a lot of fun with a tat of danger. Good protective clothing is needed, a lot of adrenaline is released, a lot of fun is what you reach.
I attach some pictures from the pre-show, which takes place a couple of days before the actual event and is rated for all publics. In it, in the town hall square, all figures dance to the music and fire, making it an impressive event.

If you'd like some live video, you can follow this link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N9-1vtLDxU) to some youtube videos ... they are out of this world!

Cesc