I mentioned in a prior post that my site allows me to track statistics about visitors. This is a fairly common feature for web hosts these days, and it is very useful information. It lets me know how many visitors I’ve had on the site, but not always how they got there. I’d like to recommend a new way to view this blog, especially for the smartphone users of the world. It’s called RSS, and while this is not meant as a ‘how to’ post, it should be enough to get the wheels turning.

There are many avenues for downloading an RSS feed, and they vary based on what device you use. For a personal computer, your website’s browser (read: Firefox), or Google Reader, are excellent ways. Simply clicking on the orange icon on the left side of my blog will pull up the feed, and your browser should let you add it right away. But what if you are on the go, and want to keep up with me? On the iPhone, there are many RSS readers available in the App Store. The one that I personally use (shown above) is called Free RSS Reader (link to App Store). Other applications also exist that include push alerts whenever a new post has been published. I do not not own a Blackberry, Palm, or Android device, but I’m sure that if you look around there is an RSS function available on those as well.

So why, if you have a smartphone with a web browser, would you want to use RSS anyway? For one, speed. The posts will download much more quickly this way, even on a basic 3G connection. Once they are downloaded, you will be able to read them even if you lose your connection. This is great for air travel, or other trips that you want something to do on but can’t access the internet. If you want to add a comment, or use a link within the post, there is a button that you can press that will send you quickly to the web browser for the full experience. It’s handy, and probably my favorite app to date on my own iPhone, so give it a try!

In an effort to reach out to more of you fans, I’ve finally gotten my act together and joined a few more of the social networks that grace our fine interwebs. As you can see from the little buttons on my side bar that popped up a week or so ago, I’m now a fleeting member of the twitterverse, and sport my own Facebook page. Clicking one of those will send you on over to the respective page, where you can add me to keep up with the latest happenings, and newest hot-off-the-digital-press photographs.

Also, my PBase galleries and flickr galleries are now more accessible than ever through the new links. Hop on over there when you’re through reading this blog to see even more of my work, and leave me a comment or two while you’re at it.

Last but very far from least is RSS. More to come on that in my next post.

Currently, I do a lot of my own advertising. I submit posts from this blog to stumbleupon, digg, etc., and I do some shameless promoting on the different social networking outlets (more on that later). But I was pleasantly surprised to see that others had stepped in for a change to show me, and my portfolio some love. MotorsportPhotographers.com is a website with the goal of spotlighting photographers that specialize in racing, tuner, or other general automotive subjects. It works on a submission only basis, and sites are reviewed by the administrator before making it to the limelight. I am honored to say that my portfolio was submitted, by an anonymous fan, to this site, and approved. If my stat tracker’s hit count is any indication, this probably happened around January 11th.

I encourage all of you this to give the site a look. There are many artists there whose work will simply make your jaw drop. Because I’m a generous guy who likes to spread the love too, I’ll even name a few personal pals to get you started: Brad Wood, Jeff Creech, Scott Chu, Steve Demmitt, Scott Dukes, Easton Chang, and Rick Dole. If you like their work, be sure to vote for it!

This is going to be good. In what was shaping up to be a race that Audi would (again) dominate, Scott Dixon driving the new Acura ARX-02a LMP1 car for De Ferran Motorsports has just shaken things up by taking pole today. He will be followed by an Audi, and Peugeot in the 2nd and 3rd spots respectively when the 12 hours of Sebring get under way on Saturday morning. Be sure to tune in via Speed Channel to see how it all unfolds.

(Photo above taken of an Acura LMP2 car at the 2008 Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta)

2008 was a great year for some, not so much for others. I luckily fell into the former category as more assignments and reasons to pick up my camera came along in the last 12 months than ever before in my life. Inspired by these guys, I decided to commemorate the new year by creating the three images above, cascading previous images within them. Soon I’ll go into detail about some of my favorite photos of 2008, and also let you in on what’s planned for 2009.

For now, head on over to my portfolio and check out the update which I also made to it tonight with new photos from the second half of the year in motorports, music, and everything else.