Who & How to Help

Photos by Mark M. Hancock
© The Beaumont Enterprise

Our hearts are broken as the entire country mourns those sweet souls lost in the floods this month. While we can’t do anything to fix the past, we can help first responders who will arrive to help after the inevitable disasters of the future. 

You can volunteer your time, donate goods, or make a financial contribution. You can help the professionals and volunteers who arrive first to assist you and your neighbors.

Natural disasters are inevitable. Disasters are heartbreaking when they affect humans. During these times, emergency professionals can be the difference between life and death for many victims. We previously learned about Severe Weather Damage Help to care for yourself, your family and your possessions during and after a storm. Let’s discuss who is ready to help others and how you can help them.

As always, beware of scammers attempting to steal money, goods and gifts intended for legitimate charitable organizations. Check websites and online reviews before any donations.

Check a secular charity’s IRS tax-exempt status and search for its Form 990 (an annual information return). Churches and integrated auxiliaries are exempt from filing Form 990. These organizations may be organized as relief ministries supported or operated by several entities.

Donations are always welcomed by legitimate charities.
• Cash donations are ideal because cash allows the organization to leverage volume and charitable discounts. It also requires no transportation costs and can help the locally affected community. For example, cash can buy locally produced ice where there is limited or no power and transport is unfeasible.
• Volunteers’ time is invaluable. Specialized skills from engineering to public relations are always needed. Someone must drive the relief truck, distribute food, organize the logistics and perform basic construction. A volunteer is preferred.
• Goods are also accepted by most large organizations. Non-perishable food, toiletries, clothes and other items are accepted by most charities.

While most of the goods will be sorted and packed onto trucks headed to specific disasters, some items, such as furniture, may be sold at storefronts that provide jobs for the unemployed. The sales liquidate the assets to better serve the organization as cash after disasters. Call ahead to see what a charity accepts.

The Salvation Army is typically the first organization to arrive with food and relief. The Emergency Disaster Services teams stage in nearby towns when weather disasters are anticipated. Next, they arrive in easily identifiable trucks and fill immediate needs. They also help organize local distribution centers and are often the only option in very rural areas.
They accept cash, volunteers, most donated items, and more.

Team Rubicon “is a veteran-led humanitarian organization that serves global communities before, during and after disasters and crises.” Some of their services include: disaster response, hazard mitigation, home repair, volunteer management, emergency medicine, long-term recovery, community engagement, global impact, and veteran transition to civilian life.
They accept cash, volunteers, specific heavy-duty tools, and vehicle donations to liquidate.

American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization founded in 1881, dedicated to preventing and alleviating human suffering during emergencies, primarily through disaster relief, blood donation services, health and safety training, support for military families, and international humanitarian aid.
They have Disaster Action Teams to help with everything from local house fires to large natural disasters. The teams provide emotional support, financial assistance, and information to help families begin the process of recovery.
They accept cash, volunteers, blood donations, and specific bulk products from manufacturers.

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) is a cooperative partnership of churches and ministries within the Southern Baptist Convention. It provides immediate assistance to individuals, families, and communities affected by disasters. SBDR offers a wide range of services, including mass feeding, debris removal (especially known for chainsaw work), home repair, childcare, chaplaincy, and showers/laundry services, all delivered by trained volunteers.
They accept cash, volunteers, and local drives for particular items of need.

You can also view or download the whole Information Of Value or my other books for free here.

I've Got Your Six!

Mark M. Hancock, GRI, MRP, AHWD
REALTOR, New Build certified
214-862-7212 (call or text)
DFWmark@kw.com
DFWmark.com

#DFWmark #REALTOR #IOV #InformationOfValue #charity #donations #flood #tornado #hurricane #NonProfit

ETSU Art Dorm

 

The entire state of Texas mourns those sweet souls lost in the floods this week. I’ve also lost two friends for health-related reasons from two different phases of my life in two days.

I’m heartbroken for their families and friends.

When I saw several people from my college posting photos I’ve made over the years, I knew something bad must have happened. I was right. However, I take comfort in knowing that my photos keep their spirits alive for those of us blessed to know these gentlemen.

I made a slideshow years ago for the East Texas State University Art Dorm residents. However, the slideshow was lost when I pulled down my photography website and became a REALTOR. Here are some images from that formative time in many of our lives. Farewell, dear friends.

Enough for now,

Mark

Client Pop-by Gifts

 

My clients and colleagues know I give little pop-by gifts to my clients when we tour homes or whenever I’m in their neighborhood. I also have smaller ones for open houses. Each one comes with a “cheesy” little saying about real estate or my services.

I had the fastest-ever hunt-and-kill for a new home. Consequently, I stacked up some gifts while we were inspecting their future home. They were amused and said I could share their video.

I’ve Got Your Six!

Mark M. Hancock, GRI, MRP, AHWD
REALTOR, New Build certified
KW North Country
214-862-7212
DFWmark@KW.com
DFWmark.com

#DFWmark #REALTOR #PopByGifts #Dallas #DallasCounty #fun #PopBy #gift #ClientAppreciation

Quick Tips & Know Your Rights

This is an updated repost of the information presented on April 4, 2008 at the New York Press Association Annual Convention.
While there is no way to "pin" a post, I have set the date to keep this post on the front page for new visitors. Please scroll down to see newer content as it's added.

video, narration, beats by Mark M. Hancock / © DFWmark.com
photos by Mark M. Hancock / © DFWmark.com, The Beaumont Enterprise and/or The Dallas Morning News

If you find the "Quick Tips" version to be visual hot sauce, please watch "Savory Tips to Improve Photos." It's the same presentation with more time to savor each image.

Additional information is located on the All PJ-related posts section of this blog. Underlined topics are linked to previous posts with detailed information about the subject.

Basics:
Read equipment manuals three times.
Have the right equipment for the job.
Know the difference between nouns and verbs.
Pre-consider potential visual problems and solutions.

Photo basics (see below for specifics) 
Fill the frame.
Have sharp focus.
Get the right exposure.
Time the images.

Fill the frame:
Get close.
Use long lens.
Crop in camera.
Get wide.
Back away when necessary.

Focus:
Stabilize the camera.
Focus on lead eye.
Adjust plane of focus / angle.
Use depth of field.
Adjust focal length for available light.
When focusing manually, use one finger.
Zone focus.

Exposure:
Zone V.
Hand meter the area.
Use alternative meter techniques: Sunny 16, palm, grass.
Understand the dynamic range.

Timing:
Have patience.
Look for repeated action patterns.
Anticipate the action.
Shoot at apex.
Shoot before collision - wind through reaction.
Get reflective shots (quiet moments)
Seek "timeless" images.
Time of day.

Composition:
Shoot horizontals and verticals.
Start with a clean background.
Have dark corners.
Place subject in background.
Use subject and foreground to cover unwanted elements.
Leave leading space.
Use Rule of Thirds/Fifths.
Build a strong skeletal structure.
Frame items within other items.
Avoid tangents.
Have clean edges.
Lead eyes with light and focus.
Layer the image.
Employ leading lines.
Employ repetition of pattern.
Block corners.
Juxtaposition (harmony / irony)

Where to crop:
Avoid cropping joints.
Contain subject within rectangle (Golden Ratio).
Avoid lights, reflections and voids.
Frame arcs and lines.

Before shooting:
Research stories - find those with emotional elements.
Verify location, access.
Double-check equipment.
Have business cards, pencil and notepad.
Refuse access contracts.

Upon arrival:
Arrive early. Stay late.
Shoot signs and rosters. Collect paperwork. Shoot name tags and numbers.
Shoot basic package: scene, normal, tight
Shoot story: lede, transitions, kicker, emotion.
Get cutline information (5W & H). Get sound if possible.


Selecting subjects:
Hunting techniques: shadows, oblique angle, concealment, pre-compose, pre-focus
Emotion
Activity
Color
Sound
Use attention span limitations.

Goals:
Tell the story.
Get main subjects.
Get emotion.
Shoot 100-frame minimum.
Use each lens.
Shoot each angle (left, right, high, low).
Shoot reflection / refraction.
Shoot silhouette / isolation.
Shoot blur.

Before leaving:
Understand the story.
Be able to tell the story in one frame, three frames, five frames, 20 frames.
Have all cutline information.
Have 100+ images.
Count equipment.

Advanced:
Find new word.
Make unique (rare) images: access, subject, news value, combination.
Multi layers
Multi meaning

Artificial light:
Use flash whenever it's helpful (no light, too slow).
Use flash from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. outdoors (fill light).
Get flash off the camera.
Understand what causes red-eye.
Try to keep flash angles from 45 to 90 degrees.
Diffuse light.
Color balance artificial light.
Learn to light large areas.
Use multiple lights to add depth.
Be ready to manually calculate exposure (guide number).
Understand inverse square law of light.
Speed techniques (stop action).
Light painting with mixed light and flash (holiday lights, fireworks, lightning).
Increase depth of field with artificial light.



 video, narration, beats by Mark M. Hancock / © DFWmark.com
photos by Mark M. Hancock / © DFWmark.com, The Beaumont Enterprise and/or The Dallas Morning News

Do you know your rights as a photojournalist?

Please watch “Know Your Rights as a Citizen Photojournalist.”

Know your rights (most is covered on this link)
It's best to be courteous to defuse confrontations.
Don't be belligerent.
The First Amendment provides the right for anyone to make photos.
Anyone can shoot in public places, streets and sidewalks.
Anyone can shoot where access is granted.
Property owners have the right to deny access.
Understand trespass law by state.
Generally, PJs can shoot until asked to stop.
Exceptions include military facilities and some areas within nuclear plants.
Model releases aren't required for editorial use (but pubs may still require).
Celebrities, politicians and emergency workers limited their right to privacy (injected themselves into spotlight).
Felony criminals have no right to privacy until in prison.
The right to privacy is seriously limited in public places.
The exception to this is medical facilities (which include ambulances in some states).
Business security isn't sufficient to prohibit photography.
Trade secrets aren't in public view. Trade dress doesn't apply to photojournalism.
Police may limit access, but can't prohibit photography (prior restraint).
You aren't required to explain the purpose of your photography.
Coercion and harassment by private security is a criminal offense in all states.
Private parties have limited rights to detain and could face criminal and civil charges.
Without a court order, private parties can't confiscate film.
Ask what law was specifically violated.
Ask for this person's name, and who they represent.
Report rights violations to police. Call before the offender does.
Enough for now,

Expand Your Portfolio

 

Skillman St., Unit 304C
Dallas, Texas 75231
Listed at $200,000 - BAC 3%
MLS# 20818558

This is a perfect property for your investment portfolio. The tenant signed a 12-month lease starting 1 Feb. 2025. This ground-level 964 sq. ft. condominium in Dallas has 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, clothes washer and dryer, refrigerator, and a covered and fenced porch with outside storage. It’s ideally located near shopping, transportation, employment, dining and entertainment inside the desirable Richardson ISD.

Luxury vinyl plank flooring in the common areas and carpet in the bedrooms were recently installed. The interior was freshly painted. The kitchen features Kenmore appliances, large stainless-steel sink, loads of storage space, a pantry and a window for fresh air. Bathrooms feature new cabinets, sinks and faucets. The community mailboxes are located to the west of the building and the community pool is to the east with sidewalks connecting to both. The Lake Highlands Trail and Jackson Branch Creek are located behind the complex. The trail connects to White Rock Trail about a half mile from the complex.

I’ve Got Your Six!

Mark M. Hancock, GRI, MRP, AHWD
REALTOR, New Home certified
214-862-7212 (call or text)
DFWmark@kw.com
DFWmark.com

#DFWmark #REALTOR #condominium #JustListed #Dallas #RichardsonISD #DallasCounty #condo #LakeHighlands #ForSale