"Du"-Cover mit Bruno Ganz Abb.: Du Kulturmedien AG

Die (noch wenige Tage) aktuelle Ausgabe der Schweizer Kulturzeitschrift “Du” beschäftigt sich im Schwerpunkt mit dem Schauspieler Bruno Ganz. Weggefährten wie Wim Wenders und Otto Sander kommen zu Wort, Ganz selbst natürlich auch, und es gibt viele wunderschöne Fotos aus seinen Filmen, von Dreharbeiten und Theaterinszenierungen. “Du” zeigt beim Durchblättern sehr beeindruckend, was eine gut gemachte Zeitschrift bieten kann: Überformat, gutes Papier, klares Layout, großformatige Fotos, die im Internet nie so wirken würden.

Nachteil des Ganzen: der Preis. “Du” ist wirklich nur für Besserverdienende bezahlbar, die bereit sind, für eine angenehme Lektüre auch einen hohen Betrag zu bezahlen. 15 Euro kostet das Magazin in Deutschland. Damit übersteigt es meine preisliche Toleranzgrenze leider deutlich. Acht, neun Euro ist das Allerhöchste, was ich in Ausnahmefällen bereit bin, für eine Zeitschrift auszugeben. Trotzdem schön, dass es solche Prestige-Zeitschriften in den Zeiten des Print-Sterbens noch gibt.

Londres a toujours eu la réputation d’être une destination chère. Les hôtels et les restaurants sont en effet parmi les plus onéreux en Europe.

Mais avec la crise économique, le cours de la livre a chuté de façon importante, et un pound équivaut désormais à peu près à un euro.

TBWA Brussels, a remarqué que la concurrence communiquait généralement sur l’expérience à bord et sur les promotions et, a décidé de s’appuyer sur l’insight suivant: ” les gens choisissent d’abord une destination puis le moyen de s’y rendre”.

Eurostar doit donc devenir le promoteur d’expériences nouvelles à Londres et, avec la crise les Belges n’ont jamais eu pareil pouvoir d’achat outre Manche.  Jouant sur ce sentiment de “richesse virtuelle” l’agence a développé un gigantesque jeu de Monopoly à travers tout le pays pour permettre aux gens de littéralement acheter Londres.

Je vous laisse découvrir le case study complet dans cette vidéo:

Et en prime les résultats sont bons, que demander de plus???

PHOTOGRAPHY, TYPOGRAPHY + BOOK DESIGN for poet, WENDY S. WALTERS and PALM PRESS. Set in Adobe CASLON, HELVETICA Bold, and manipulated BELLEVUE.

October, 2009, sees the release of LONGER I WAIT, MORE YOU LOVE ME, by WENDY S. WALTERS, through California’s PALM PRESS. 124 pages of long-form verse and prose available through SPDBOOKS.ORG and AMAZON.COM. This was a labor of collaborative love, threading themes like ROMANCE, COLDNESS, HUMOR, MYSTERY, SPACE, HURRICANE KATRINA, BRAZIL, and PROVIDENCE through the book’s interior and cover. Ms. Walters’s words are HOT-NESS. (pssst… CAN YOU FIND THE FACE?)

You may also be interested in our previous outing together in 2005 : the COVER for a chap book called BIRDS OF LOS ANGELES, also through Palm Press. If you happen to be a student at EUGENE LANG COLLEGE in New York City, TAKE HER CLASS.

SUBJECT-OBJECT.NET section : PRINT

TYPOGRAPHY + ART DIRECTION for TENNIS MAGAZINE FALL FASHION, 2007, with photography by SARAH WILMER.

So how surprising was it to open up the FEBRUARY ‘09 issue of COMMUNICATION ARTS MAGAZINE and find a feature on the very talented SARAH WILMER! (www.sarahwilmer.com) She was kind enough to share credit, including TENNIS’s Photo Editor, DAVID ROSENBERG.

But what’s REALLY worth mentioning about this shoot (ON FILM, by the way), is not the safari-like trek through the wilds of Prospect Park’s drug pushers, hustlers, or even the weeks worth of location scouting when we saw where DEEP THROAT was filmed, as well as a squirrel fall flat out of a tree like a rubber water bottle splat… Rather, we had a HATE CRIME COMMITTED! Near the end of a very long day, with every weather condition imaginable, in broad-ish daylight, witnesses galore, in front of the AUDUBON SOCIETY of all places, David got JUMPED by a gaggle of teens who apparently travel in packs looking to make assumptions and bust people up. POLICE, AMBULANCES, REPORTS, ARRESTS… Who said fashion isn’t BLOOD, SWEAT, and TEARS?

SUBJECT-OBJECT.NET section : EDITORIAL

Nina Born and Siff Pristed Nielsen, 24. Kolding School of Design, BA Textiles Graduates 2009.

-specialism: Print (Nina) and Knit (Siff)

Project title: 

Sinner

Inspiration: 

 We took inspiration from the 7 deadly sins (Wrath, sloth, greed, lust, gluttony, envy and pride). Both from a historical point of view and also by pursuing the sins in a more personal way. For example we made a case about “pride” 
where we had a party to celebrate ourselves without telling people the true purpose of the event. We put up full size posters of ourselves, and ran a slideshow with childhood pictures and stuff. In the end after going through all the sins we realized that it´s actually hard to expose yourself since the 7 sins still are feelings you don´t like to be associated with.
But making cases like this is a fun and good way of getting a project started since it´s a more abstract way of gaining research material.

Where do you get inspiration from in general?

 Mostly we get a lot of inspiration from history. Looking into old textile techniques and folklore from around the world as we try to put it into a more modern context. Often the folklore has a naive, graphic and abstract expression that really gives us the inspiration and wildness we want to put into our own products.

How is the process when you design?

We often start with a very theoretic approach, researching the subject both visually and theoretically.Then we go into the more abstract and intuitive phase. But it´s always nice to have some theory to back up a very abstract and conceptual project. It makes it more completed.

 
What do you find most difficult about the design process?

 Going from the experiment phase to the transformation into the product. Making decisions and agreeing, and of course to kill your darlings once in a while.

 
What are your strenghts?

 We compliment each other very well. The weakness of one person might be the strenght of the other person and that is when a teamwork gets much better than working on your own. When one is frustrated with something not going that well, the other part can take over the work and support and visa versa.

What are your weaknesses?

Like said before we help each other out. When Nina panics Siff calms her down, and when Siff is compromising too much on the details, then Nina holds on to perfection.

Describe your collection with three words:

Textile techniques, conceptual design and historical references.

What techniques did you use?

 In the final styles we used: Digital knit, digital print, screen print, burn-out, cut-out in leather, hand-knit, shibori, dyeing fur, weaving, space dyeing, pompons, knots, foil print, palliet embroidery and fringes.

Which technique was the most difficult?

None of them were really difficult, they were just all very time consuming since we love making, e.g. thousands of little knots or wrapped sticks and so.

 
Do you have a technical or conceptual approach to designing? 

 We value both areas equally.

Which garment was the most difficult to make?

 The white burn-out trousers in the sin Sloth. We made burn-out on silk velour and it was rather difficult cause if you heath the fabric for too long it takes colour from the burn and if you heath it too little the velour don´t really want to come off and since it was our first time making burn out and we had to make a lot of fabric it took some time to figure out the technique.

Which garment took the longest to make?

The 9 meter of woven fabric in thin cotton for the pink Gluttony jacket.

Which garment is your favorite?

 Again the pink Gluttony jacket because it was so time consuming to make and we just finished it right before our examn. We were not sure about the outcome of it and therefor it was such a big achievement to see it fitting the model so beautifully.

What technique is your favorite?

Embroidery is nice and meditative.

How long did you work on this project?

For 3 months.

Is there something you regret not doing in your collection?

We woulld like to have accomplished all 7 sins instead of just 4, but since they all had so many details and different techniques and handmade approaches there simply wasn´t time enough for all 7 sins.

Which designer would you like to work for in the future?

We dream of continuing our collaboration in the future and make a nice inspirational company creating all sorts of textile products from clothing to interior and art installations.

Why do you want to be designers?

It´s the only thing we are good at.

What was your childhood dream job: 

Nina : senior citizen, Siff: superhero.

With one word, what is your best quality?

Siff: affection, Nina: determination.

What are your plans for the future?

We would like to conquer the world.

Contact info:

Nina Born: ninacecilieborn@hotmail.com, Siff Pristed Nielsen: siphph@hotmail.com

Povestea asta este o poveste trista… nu incepe cu “a fost o data” si nici nu se va termina cu “pana la adanci batraneti”… Este povestea ei… povestea unei Eve…

 Ca orice tanar om cu un suflet inca neatins de sagetile vietii, Eva facea primii pasi intr-un taram pe care pana atunci doar il citise… taramul dragostei… era destul de mica… inocenta si putin naiva… mergea in suflet cu povestile cu zane si feti frumosi… cu printese ce sarutau broscoii la miez de noapte si ii transforma in printi… Avea sa il intalneasca in acest taram pe cel ce in ochii ei de copila inocenta el nu avea defecte… era intruchiparea  printilor din basme, frumos, curajos si cu un suflet nobil… La inceput ea, Eva, nu intelegea ce se intampla… de ce simte un stol de fluturi in stomac… nu intelegea de ce plange fara motiv, se gande ca e bolnava… dar incetul cu incetul a aflat cum se numeste aceasta dulce boala… IUBIRE… Printul ei a facut sa simta cat de dulce poate fi aceasta “boala” pe zi ce trecea simtea cum  sufletul ei este tot mai prins de dulcea suferinta… au trecut veri insorite… si ierni geroase… pline de iubire… iar apoi, el, printul sa transformat brusc in  ceva ce Eva nu cunostea… nu mai era printul ei cu suflet nobil ci incet incet se transforma intr-un om rau… un om ce incepuse sa vada si alte Eve… un om ce nu isi mai saruta iubita cu atata pasiune… un om ce nu mai pricepra vraja ochiilor mari si negri ai Evei… fiindca incepuse sa vada si alti ochi…

Oh… si ce era in sufletul Evei… ce lacrimi amare varsa in ceasurile noptii… cata suferinta, cate intrebari fara raspuns… Ca orice rana… si rana din sufletul Evei incepu sa se cicatrizeze incet,incet… pe dinafara, inauntru inca sangera din cand in cand… sangera cand gandul o ducea in locuri unde fusesera doar ei… cand intamplator ii urechi ii sunau acordurile unei melodii ce ii amintea de noptile cu el… sau cand pe strada vedea un om ce-i semana printului ei…

Eva, care deja isi pierduse din inocenta si incepea sa se transforme in femeie puternica, isi gasi oarecum leac pentru suferinta ei… prefera sa nu mai simta boala, dar sa scrie despre ea… isi umplea timpul cu lucruri frumoase, ce-i imbogateau sufletul, era inconjurata de oameni buni, oameni dragi care ii alinau suferinta sufletului… In visele Evei incepura sa apara iarasi fluturi verzi… la inceput parca vroia sa ii alunge din visele ei… nu vroia sa ii viseze, se obisnuise cu visele ei monotone, simple, lipsite de culoare…

Dupa ce aparura in visele ei, fluturi se incapatanara sa apara si in viata ei… parca de fiecare data cand in viata Evei se petrecea ceva frumos apareau si ei… fluturii.

Asa, Eva parca scapa de apasarea ranii din suflet, si incet incet lasa sa se vada ca rana ii este vindecata, si ca parca ar mai vrea sa incerce gustul dulce ce cu ceva vreme in urma ii otravise sufletul… De data asta nu isi mai cauta printul… isi cauta omul pe care sa il transforme in print… cauta omul serios, responsabil, foarte bine infipt in realitate… si-l gasi, ochii ei mari si fermecatori, sufletul bun, zambetul cald… il ademenisera… cu cat era mai mult in jurul Evei cu atat o dorea mai mult, cu atat mai mult isi dorea sa o faca parte din viata lui… la un moment dat, dupa multe seri cu luna plina in care el ii castigase increderea… Eva avea sa ii devina parte din viata… Era bine, era protejata, iubita, avea umarul puternic pe care sa se sprijine ori de cate ori avea nevoie… dar incetul cu incetul omul isi dorea sa o ancoreze in realitate, incepu sa ii taie calea spre visare… omul nu intelegea nevoia Evei de a visa, de a contura in momentele ei de tristete un taram de vis… unde dragostea era cea care guverna…Nu intelegea de ce trebuie sa viseze fluturi verzi ca sa fie fericita… nu intelegea de ce lucrurile imateriale ii aduceau mai multa fericire decat cele materiale… neintelegand lumea Evei vroia sa o scoata din ea… incerca din rasputeri sa o schimbe… a avut momente in care a reusit dar Eva era trista… nu mai avea licarirea aceea in privire, nu intelegea lumea omului, dar de dragul lui incerca sa o accepte, avea momente in care ii lipsea lumea ei de visare, ii lipseau fluturii verzi…iar cand simtea acest dor… se simtea goala, neputincioasa si ura lumea omului… dar de fiecare data omul stia cum sa o faca sa stea in lumea lui… Omul intelegand iubirea altfel decat ea, a vrut sa o faca sa fie mai mult decat parte din viata lui, a vrut sa o transforme in proprietate cu titlu cu tot… asa intelegand el ca trebuie sa ii demonstreze iubirea lui… si din pacate, sau poate din fericire… Eva a fugit, a fost speriata de gandul de a deveni proprietate… a ales sa se refugieze departe in lumae ei, in lumea pe care de dragul omului o cam uitase… O perioada ii fusese greu… nu ii sangera sufletul, dar din cand in cand simtea nevoia umarului puternic, a omului bine ancorat in realitate… simtea nevoia de a fi iubita… a incerct tot felul de surogate, dar nu erau nici printi… nici oameni, uneori incerca sa le afle povestea, chiar daca ei nu o vedeau pe ea ca pe un suflet cald cu ochi fermecatori… ci o vedeau ca pe niste ochi cruzi cu suflet inghetat… nu au incercat sa il dezghete, era o munca mult prea mare…

Eva se obisnuise cu aceste surogate din viata ei… era comod, putea sta in lumea ei, putea sa isi viseze fluturii, putea sa creioneze povestile de dragoste la care visa  fara ca cineva sa o intrebe ceva, pe ei nu-i interesa… ea nu vroia sa ii faca parte din lumea ei…

Mult timp o duse asa… pana cand atentia ii fusese atrasa de un… clovn, un clovn strident fardat… cu un zambet larg desenat pe chip… dar cu ochii tare tristi. Evei ii paru cunoscuta masca… parca din cand in cand o folosea si ea… nu la fel ce stridenta dar cu aceleasi trasaturi… clovnul ii parea Evei parca rupt din lumea ei… parea ca stie sa viseze, ca stie sa admire fluturii ei verzi… si mai presus de toate el, clovnul stia sa ii aduca zambetul pe chip… si-n suflet.

Eva cauta prezenta clovnului… tanjea sa ii afle povestea ochilor tristi… se tot intreba daca clovnul griji nu are… sau daca are viata personala… vroia sa ii vada chipul fara masca groasa… incet incet avea sa afle cum clovnul plange departe de arena, ferit de reflectoarele fierbinti… cum dragostea si-n el traieste intretinuta doar de rugaminti… Avea sa afle cum el in suflet si-a construit  un circ mare… si cum iubea razand… intamplator… 

Cu timpul Eva s-a incapatanat sa-l faca sa iubeasca, neintelegand ca iubirea clovnului e o pacaleala, ca nu poate fi decat un joc…

Cum din propria-i poveste ii parea decupat, ea a decis sa il lase in lumea ei… sa ii prezinte lumea ei… nu stia cum sa faca asta… nu o mai facuse de mult… drept urmare ea si-a pus sufletul pe masa, asemenea unei carti  deschise… clovnul a rasfoit putin… si poate sa speriat… sau ia fost frica sa nu devina si lumea lui… asa ca si-a pus iar masca groasa… si-a rupt fila cu fila cartea care ii fusese pusa pe masa…iar apoi filele in bucatele mici… cat de mici a putut el…

Dupa ce clovnul a rupt tot ce ea ii pusese in fata si ii daruise cu toata dragostea… Eva s-a simtit… goala, lumea ei devenise dintr-un vis frumos, brusc un cosmar… fluturii verzi se transformara toti in molii negre si urate… sufletul ii era rupt in mii de bucatele… pe care nu stia daca le va putea aduna vreo data pe toate la un loc si cu atat mai putin daca le va putea lipi… Cu ultimile puteri, Eva a inceput sa adune bucatelele, isi amintea de fiecare in parte… le aduna si le punea intr-o cutiuta, cu gandul ca intr-o zi le va aduna pe toate si le va putea lipi…Pe masura ce timpul trecea cutiuta incepea sa se umple, Eva care stia ca unica-i salvare e sa se apuce cat mai repede sa lipeasca bucatelele, nu o data a inceput… ci de zeci de ori, reusea sa lipeasca o parte din ele… parea ca-i pe drumul cel bun… si apoi brusc se sfarama totul… si dupa o clipa de tristete Eva incerca iar sa le adune si sa le lipeasca… Deja nu mai stia clar care le este ordinea… se agata de orice indiciu sau persoana care parea ca a trecut prin lumea ei… isi dorea nespus sa poata exista ceva, cineva… orice care sa o ajute sa isi recladeasca lumea, sa invie fluturii verzi…

Vazand totusi ca nu mai poate face aceea lume asa cum a fost, Eva, a hotarat ca pentru un om care are sufletul sfasiat in zeci si sute de bucatele ar fi mai potrivita o lume noua… o noua Eva… care sa nu mai arate nimic din ceea ce a fost, sa nu mai spuna nimanui secretul fluturilor verzi… o lume in care ea  sa consume senzatii… nu si sentimente… sa consume senzatiile placerii, ale jocului… sa consume alte surogate asa cum o mai facuse si ii fusese bine, doar ca de data asta nu mai incerca sa afle povestea nimanui, nu se mai vroia atinsa de nimic din ceea ce o data considera bun si frumos…

In incercarea de a-si cladi aceasta lume gri… Eva intalni si oameni care pareau a stii secretul fluturilor, ea totusi chiar daca pentru o clipa tresarea ii lasa sa plece, iar daca ei nu doreau sa plece… ii gonea, nu vroia sa ii mai cunoasca, nu vroia sa ii lase sa ii aminteasca de lumea acea din cutiuta…

Eva, dupa ce cunoscuse lumea basmului alaturi de printul ei… pe cea reala, la bratul omului… si lumea circului la picioarele clovnului… nu mai dorea decat sa uite, sa isi stearga amintirea acestor lumi, si sa traiasca in lumea ei noua si gri, consumand senzatii…dar totusi neavand puterea sa renunte la cutia cu bucatele… si poate sperand ca din multimea de surogate alaturi de care consuma senzatii, va aparea un magician care printr-un singur truc sa ii recladeasca lumea… si sa ii reaminteasca povestea fluturilor verzi…

Over the last year, much has been written and said about the 200th anniversary of the birth of one of this country’s greatest leaders — Abraham Lincoln. Many parallels were drawn to the election of Barack Obama and Abraham Lincoln. Many books have been written on the life and accomplishments of Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Obama is catching up fast. But little has been written up until now about some recently discovered artistic images of Abraham Lincoln. Since this year is not yet up, I thought I would draw your attention to some remarkable yet over-looked visual documents of this great president.

It is not uncommon for framing services to discover unclaimed artwork in their store rooms. Frequently but rarely, customers will bring work in for framing, and then, after falling upon hard times, death, abduction, or just from chickening out, they fail to return to the shop to retrieve (or pay for) their work. Calls to the customer go unheeded, and the work falls into a dark, forgotten corner of the artistic framing business. So it was that two unusual images were left unclaimed at the Greenleaf Frame Shop just off Central Street in north Evanston, a village just north of Chicago ignominiously known as the birthplace of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. (The Greenleaf Framing service eventually closed and re-opened as the Great Frame Up, offering self-service framing options).

In 1958, Boy Scout Troop 2 offered to clean up the store-room at The Greenleaf to provide service points for Eagle Scout to be, Herbert Zinker. During the process, Herbert, an art student himself at Evanston High School, dog trainer and a member of the ETHS basketball team, discovered several yellowed, paper wrapped packages hidden behind two long unused french cut glass doors. Being the inquisitive type, Herbert opened them to discover two long forgotten framed prints (which he identified as either etchings, lithographs or mono prints). The owner of the shop, a Mrs. Nancy Kellogg Means, waved off the importance of the images, re-wrapped them in fresh paper, and stowed them in a broom closet. They were eventually sold at the ‘Evanston Maxwell St. Days’ sale in the summer of 1962 for five dollars each to a Mary Smith (obviously a pseudonym) of Hartzell St, a registered DAR (Daughter of the American Revolution), who fancied the obliquely patriotic nature of the pictures with Abraham Lincoln in them.

The pictures hung on the walls of Mrs. Smith’s first floor hall, just outside the bathroom until 1998. That year Angela Smith-Rotella, Mrs. Smith’s daughter-in-law and a member of the Kentucky Art League spied the pictures while attending a holiday affair (she had recently re-married to Dickie Smith, the prodigal son of Mary Smith). Knowing they held some value, she offered her mother-in-law 50 dollars each for the pictures. Having grown tired of the pictures, Mary Smith was happy to be rid of the pictures, replacing them with three mass-produced prints of puppies purchased at Pier 19. Ms Rotella-Smith plans to take the prints to Antiques Roadshow when they visit Holly Springs, Mississippi in the spring of 2012. Check listings in your area (PBS).

The first of the two images appear below, and is titled “The Lincoln Chair (Abe Lincoln as Chair)”

The Lincoln Chair or Abe Lincoln As a Chair - Artist Unknown

When discovered, Lincoln experts were baffled. Fibres of the paper put the date of creation between 1858 and 1932, but it could be as late as 1957. Commentators and analysts have kept mum to this point as to the meaning of the image which portrays the president as a chair. He appears to be pointing or pointing a gun at a glass which appears to hold some liquid and an ice-cube. The ice is compelling as ice was not widely available in the time of Lincoln. The facial expression is also very similar to one portrayed on Lincoln while giving his famous Gettysburg Address – leading unofficial experts to believe that the artist might have been in attendance at the address.

An orb hangs in front of the president – an echo of some very obscure texts that state Lincoln may at one time been advised by extra-terrestrial beings that lived in the garden of the White House. A line that connects outer space can easily be seen attached to the other-worldly orb.

Beneath his feet, a walkway of Egyptian cast stone is easily visible. This would likely be a typical embellishment of the time. Notice the echoes of the parquet floor and the checker board of the chair and table. Leading Arts and Crafts experts claim this places the images squarely in the Arts and Crafts period. Most serious art experts feel the Arts and Crafts experts are crackpots and hop heads, so little truck is placed in this theory.

The second image is below.

Abe Lincoln's 9th Birthday Party, 1818 - Artist unknown

This second and far less cryptic image portrays the 9th birthday party of a young Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln, as often is the case, is imagined as a full-grown man, making identification easier for the viewer. Gay and cheery elements of the party are present everywhere:

– A party member, Johnny Depp, is in the foreground, ready to take a drink of punch.
– A member of the party is apparently leaving in the rear.
– Abe appears happy with his new pet dog.
– Other friends are seen near him or on his shoulders.
– He appears to be wearing a shirt with his own image on it.
– An ominous sky does not seem to be casting any pall on the merry-making.

These intriguing images are a welcome addition to the Lincoln Legend.  If any viewers wish to add their comments or commentary, we welcome that. These things are pretty objective and subjective, and we welcome your objects and subjects.

Welcome to the Where’s Daddy Graphics blog.

I am Jarid Bloemker, the owner and operator of Where’s Daddy Graphics. I am also “Daddy”.  I am going to use this post to tell you a bit about myself and my experience as a graphic designer.

I have been a step-father for about 4-5 years now. My step-son has only ever known me as his daddy. That is what he calls me. I also have a step-daughter. She lives with her dad, so she doesn’t call me daddy. That is fine with me. I don’t want to come between her and her father at all. They have a strong bond. I also have a little girl made from my own seed. She is not quite 2 yet.

When I am working on my graphics in my home office I close the door so that the little one won’t try to climb me while I am trying to make money. While I work, I can hear her on the other side of the door, “Where’s Daddy?” So that is where I got the name for my business.

Now a little bit about my experience.

I got my first taste of the graphic design business as a teen. I was commissioned to produce graphics for a local christian rock band.  I drew pictures, they paid me for it. That was when I realized  that I wanted to be a graphic designer.

After high school I went to a trade school in Florida where I studied commercial art. I started in computer programing, but switched majors. My instructors had worked in the field.  They weren’t able to give me the focused attention they wanted to. I think this was due to the other student’s who had never drawn anything creative before. I ended up graduating with honors.

Before I was done with my degree, I acquired my first “real” job in the field. It was at an art studio. The owner of the studio had worked in the industry for more than a decade. I went in and he threw me right into the fire. I actually botched my first project there. I botched it bad! He saw that I was eager to learn more and show what I could do.  He gave me almost complete control and access to the studio. I spent 3 years there playing with all the tools he gave me access to.

For the next few years spent in a couple of print shops. The first one I worked in the prepress department. This shop was a very fast paced shop. On most of the jobs they offered 24 hour turnaround.  We were printing about 60-70 pieces a day and up to 100 business cards every day. It was my job to lay the pieces out on the press sheets. Then I had to make the plates for the press. In this shop I spent quite a bit of time hanging around the pressman and asking him questions. I wanted to know everything about how to run a press. He let me help him out from time to time.

The next shop i didn’t work with the presses so much. I was the lead designer. It was my job to make sure the designs were done and fit the die cuts. Almost every job there got die cut. I had to make a few custom die cuts too.

While still in Florida, I got my first freelance catalog job. I helped the customer with everything from the photo shoot to the press checks.

I then moved to Illinois, just outside of St. Louis, Mo. I picked up some freelance work there too. One of my jobs was for the illustrations for a math text book. They had a 65 page book on how to dray them.  The specs were very detailed, from the size of the illustration to how far the text could be from the illustration.

I currently work in a local newspaper. I don’t really do much for the printing aspect of the newspaper. I handle the online functionality of the website for the paper. I also maintain the computers the paper uses to operate.  That is where my computer programing background comes in.  I now make the motion ads on the papers site, and manage when they are up and when they come down. I also set up the online contests that the paper hosts.

That about sums it up for me experience. Come back for my next article. That will be more about Where’s Daddy Graphics. To see the website for Where’s Daddy Graphics just click anywhere that i have mentioned the name of the company.

How to Photograph Up Close

Information on Macro & Close Up Photographing by Janice Sullivan

Introduction/ II: Cameras, Lens’ & Tripods / III: Fun Gadgets for Macro Photographing / IV:  Basic Macro Shots using Natural Light / V: Digital Darkroom Basics / VI:  Creative Techniques using Natural Light / VII: Alternative Lighting Techniques 1 / VIII: Alternative Lighting Techniques 2 / IV: Alternative Lighting Techniques 3 /  X:  Printing Your Close-Up Photograph

Hello everyone,

This is the tenth article of my series of How to Photograph Up-Close.  In this series of articles I have discussed various info to start you on a wonderful journey of photographing close up.  I hope that I have inspired you to go-for-it and enjoy the macro world.  Every time I shoot something new I learn something new.  Whether it be the subject or the process itself, it’s a wonderful feeling to learn something new everyday.

Before I start this post on printing, let’s touch on what I have discussed in this series of articles to refresh your memory.

I began my series of How to Photograph Up Close with an Introduction to discuss how the series would be  set up.  I said I would plan on discussing close-up photography and would give you links to read the technical information.  These articles will have various books, magazine articles, and links to help you learn this style of photography.  I stressed that to make a professional photograph you will need excellent equipment, patience and of course have fun!

The second article, Cameras, Lens, and Tripods, I talked about the digital single lens reflex camera, various macro lens’ and of course tripods.  I added links with technical info on the equipment and links to companies for you to check out, if you want to purchase these goodies.  The reading for this post was Hogan’s article on photography equipment.

The third article, Fun Gadgets for Macro Photographing, discussed equipment to make it easier while you’re shooting close-up.  I talked about some of my favorite gadgets…the focusing rack, ball heads for your tripod, the angle finder to help you focus, a cable release to help minimize the shake of the camera, and the ring light flash.  You can read all about these gadgets on this post.  Also, I wanted you to check out John Shaw’s book, “Macro & Nature”.  It’s an old edition but I like his concept of macro photo skills.

The fourth article discussed Basic Macro shots using Natural light. This post was a tutorial on using natural light and the importance of knowing the F-Stops, Shutter Speeds & the ISO.   I talked about how I start a project and how the depth-of-field affects your shots especially when you’re photographing close-up.  The reading material I gave you for this post is a wonderful book by Nicki Wheeler, “The Complete Guide to Close-up and Macro Photography”

The fifth article in this series, Digital Darkroom Basics, was a must… I discussed the software you most likely received when you purchased your digital camera and various formats like a tiff, jpeg, and raw files.  The reading material on this post is by Hoddinott, “Digital Macro Photography”.  Hoddinott has some excellent info on digital dark-rooming.

The sixth article, Creative Techniques using Natural Light, was on just that, techniques using natural light.  I also discussed some art rules and color info, (the rules of thirds & the color theory), and I focused on some fun macro shots with textures, water drops and backlighting.  The reading for this post Harold Davis’ article, “Focusing on What Matters”.

The seventh article, Alternative Lighting Techniques #1, discussed exposure, HDR (high definition range) and zone levels.  I gave you info on examples of light reflectors, flashes, and flash diffusers.  There are some examples of photographs shot with natural light and a flash to show you the difference between them both and again I talked a bit about the f-stops and shutter speeds.  The reading on this post was, “Closeup shooting” by Cyrill Harnischmacher’s.

Because I didn’t want to overload you with several lighting techniques in the seventh article, I decided to discuss more lighting in the eighth, Alternative Lighting Techniques #2. I talked about using a flashlight for lighting your subject and linked you to technical info on color temperature.   This article gives you a kit that works awesome for macro photographing. I also discussed strobe lighting, various grids, and snoots.  The reading suggestion on this post was an article by Urs Recher, on Light Lessons, and an excellent book on lighting is by Robert Morrissey, “Master Lighting Guide”.

The ninth article in the series, Alternative Lighting Techniques #3, had more information on lighting techniques using umbrellas and fun tools you can use with an umbrella.  I also talked about reflective surfaces and using a tent to help with this problem.  I gave you a link to help you make a tent if you didn’t want to purchase one and showed you some of my photographs using my tent.  This post gave you some of my favorite magazines for you to check out.

This article, Printing your Close-up Photograph, will discuss how to make that perfect print.  From this series you should be able to photograph a great macro shot…and how to print your work.  You have taken time to perfect your skills and now I would like to talk about the ending result…put a smile on your face and print your favorite work!

If you don’t have a printer you can use outside printer companies, which is nice when you have time for mailing etc… Of course you can go to Costco but I’m not talking about quick prints…I’m talking about professional prints.  These are the companies I have used and recommend… West Coast Imaging, Nations photolab.com,  &  if you want fun products with your images on them, check out Mpix.com.

But, if you are like me and really want your colors perfect using specific paper to add quality to your print, then you will need to purchase a printer.  I use Epson printers and I also use their paper.

If you want more details on various printers, check out this link I found, Printerinfo.com, so you can read up on printers before you invest your money.   As you will see, professional printers can be expensive.

I really need to stress that if you do have your own printer, please calibrate your printer to your monitor.  I used to go crazy and waste time, ink, and paper, trying to achieve what I saw on my monitor and what was actually printing.  Yes, there are techniques you can use if you know your color #’s but that’s for a later and more detailed post.

I would suggest using Spyder to calibrate your monitor.

Spyder

From datacolor.com

Check around for pricing… I found this site, Calibration-Direct.com…you can start with them for some bargain shopping  and you can always check out Amazon.

Ok, let’s go through some basic steps on printing your photograph… When you purchase your photo paper you will see instructions on printing.   READ THEM, it does make a difference!

Let us print this image:

Remember, if you want to look at these images closer, click on them…to get back to my blog use your back arrow key

First you will want to go to file > Page setup > select your printer and paper size>

Now select your paper size:

You can print from this but I suggest you use a program like Photoshop to print from. You will be able to set up your pages, printer, manage color…

Once you click on print you will see the info below:

Check the print management: do you want the printer to manage the color or do you want your program (Photoshop) to manage the color?  <click on print>

You will see this screen next:

You will see a bar “Layout” click on this to get to printer settings, see below:

This is the box where you need to make your changes, layout, paper, & make sure “finest details” is checked and that you have the correct paper type. Click around to learn… click Print and enjoy ☺

Today, I went over the various articles on How to Photograph Up Close and because you now have the knowledge to create an awesome close-up photograph… you will be able to print that amazing shot! Print your favorites and put a huge smile on your face to remember the steps you achieve to make this photo. A couple of things to remember when you print:

• Select your printer
• Select the size you want printed
• Make sure you have read your info on the paper you choose to print on.
• Select the correct paper, for example “Epson fine art paper matte finish”.
• Select if the printer or your software will color manage your print.
• Select the “fine” print quality. If your printer is slow, be patient…it’s worth it.

Also, I highly recommend you use a program like Spyder to calibrate your monitor with your printer.

I would like you to read this link on Printing Quality Photos and “Fine Art Printing for Photographers” by Steinmueller & Gulbins, check it out at Amazon.com.

Hope this helps you feel confident to print, print, & print some more. Happy Fall to you all and hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Cheers,
Janice

So I just got the wp app on my technology device. Just checking to see how it works! Stay tuned for more photos and updates on the happenings in the screen print guy / anthem screen printing world!

3 things:

Elle Moss

Tsuchiya Koitsu

Andy Goldsworthy

3 links:

Pitchfork’s holiday gift guide, including my writeups for Rosie music, Circa ceramics, Quiet doing, The small stakes, Furturtle printworks, Soundscreen design and Aimee Wilder

Powell’s holiday book catalogue

Tiny showcase art’s pre-Thanksgiving sale (lots of awesome prints!)

Today more than ever, consumers are overwhelmed with choices, and distractions. The cost of attracting users to your website continues to increase and keeping them engaged is more important than ever.

Engagement doesn’t end with an individual browser reading content or clicking on an ad. Rather, engagement is an ongoing process that results in loyal customers who come back again and again, becoming more vested in your web site.

How can you make sure you’re engaging and keeping customers?

In order to create a loyal following, there are some basic principles you need to consider. From first impressions to life-long membership, put yourself in the shoes of your browsers and make their experience a valuable one.

• Reduce Clutter. How many times have you visited a website only to be overwhelmed and confused? What is this site about you may have asked yourself. Or perhaps you found yourself asking, ‘Where is the information I’m looking for?

Don’t ask your browsers or potential customers to figure this out. Make your site clutter free and create a                      visual priority that emphasizes the information, resources, or actions your browsers want. By reducing                        obstacles you build trust among new web site visitors and allow for simple decision making – which                            benefits everyone.

• Make Navigation Intuitive. There are many ways to navigate a web page but intuition rules the day. Don’t try to get fancy with your navigation or overuse java script. Basic navigation that follows current convention is the best way to lead individuals through your web site to the information they’re looking for.

• Make The Initial Site Interaction Relevant. When a browser reaches your web site, you have less than seven seconds to get them engaged. Making your initial site interaction relevant to what individuals are looking for is essential for keeping them interacting long term.

If you are promoting your web site with Google Adwords, or any pay per click advertising for that matter, be                sure to create customer landing pages that are truly relevant to the individual who clicks-through your ad.                  Once you’ve established relevancy, you can move them deeper into your content, tools, and resources.

• Ensure That Your Content Is Up-to-date. Web site content that isn’t up to date does not serve your audience and browsers are likely to move on. One way to ensure that information is timely is by providing a feed of relevant news or information. If including static text on your web pages, try not to include specific dates. However, if you must publish dates, be sure to update this information on a regular basis.

• Start An Interaction With Your Users. Each time a browser views your web page, you have an opportunity to interact with them. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. One great way to interact is to offer something of value at no cost. This can be a white paper, access to an exclusive list, or simply a 30 day free trial. Be sure to capture an individual’s valid email address and include them on your mailing list. An auto-responder is best if you wish to engage these individuals on an ongoing basis.

• Provide Plenty Of Support. Don’t hesitate to offer support right from your home page. Prominently display your 800 number, support email address, and additional information for your prospects and customers such as mailing address. This information is viewed favorably by search engines and also creates a sense of legitimacy. Contact information builds trust among prospects and elicits interest in your company.

• Make Sharing Easy. Once you’ve made your web site easy to use, don’t hesitate to offer browsers the ability to share your web site with others. This can be in the form of a simple widget that allows users to bookmark your page, subscribe to an Rss feed, or submit your content to popular news sites like Digg.com.

Individuals are much more likely to visit a web site based on a friend’s recommendation versus some other type of marketing initiative. Leverage the power of viral marketing with easy sharing tools.

Your web site can be your greatest asset. Unfortunately, many marketers and website owners are so focused on increasing traffic that they lose site of the audience that’s already visiting their web pages but are simply not converting.

Don’t make the same mistake. Improve the quality of you site through relevant content that is up-to-date and easy to find. Once you’ve engaged users, encourage them to share. Doing so will make your site perform better, increase conversions, and deliver value for all involved.

www.RaziCommunications.com

info@razicommunications.com

Razi Communications is an Identity Company offering full-service public relations, advertising, marketing and Internet-based programs. We work with clients to help them discover their strengths and the things that make them unique and then help communicate those strengths into effective marketing campaigns. We bring your story to life in language that inspires and motivates utilizing traditional and new media.

Art is the one subject that is constantly changing, changing in the approach of its various artists, changing the meaning from viewer to viewer, changing in style and movements and critique. Art is fluid; Art is capricious. Modern Art is one of the most discussed and controversial
movements.

One question always presented is the meaning of modern art, with abstraction heavy in the movement, sometimes it is hard, almost impossible, to find the artists’ true moods and meaning behind each work. So, is Modern Art meaningless? Maybe the question is more along the lines of is Modern Art past meaning, is it purely Art?

A qualification of being Pure Art is to have meaning. To be independent of the necessity of explanation is to be so raw in emotion that no reference is needed; to immediately have an emotional response so strong from the viewer that the viewer doesn’t need to know the reason behind the piece of work, they just need to feel the raw emotion of the artist. No story is needed, the viewer doesn’t need to know who the subject is, what they did in history, or the myth accompanied with the setting of the work. – Doodle Art Posters –
Vintage Posters Art
Vintage Posters Art

Original Art created from my “one of a kind” graphic designs.

UNIQUE IMAGES Letters A – Z and Numbers 1 -9 (CURLZ FONT)

♥YOU WILL NOT FIND THESE DESIGNS ANYWHERE ELSE ON ETSY!♥

Digital Collage Sheet – 1 x 1 Inch SQUARE sized images.

*You don’t have to worry about where these images came from because I own the copyright to all of them, They are created by me.

Perfect for glass, wood, metal pendants, scrabble tile pendants, bookmarks, art cards, crafts, gift tags, magnets, jewelry, graphic designs, greeting cards, and more!

Each image is 1″ x 1″ SQUARE and is sent to you on an 8.5 x 11″ sheet. Please contact me for custom sizes.

The Resoultion is 300 dpi JPEG File for best printing. – the watermark image will not appear in your file. Print the sheet out as many times as needed.

Your Digital Collage Sheet will be e-mailed to your ETSY E-MAIL ADDRESS within 24 hours of your PayPal payment. BUY NOW FOR $3.99

If you want to print a poster or banner using a small printer (I use Canon iP1980) in Ubuntu, try Posterazor. To install it, use Synaptic, or Ubuntu Software Center, or type this in Terminal:

$ sudo apt-get install posterazor

How does it work? Posterazor will make a PDF file containing several pieces of a high resolution image (bigger than a Letter/Legal page size). Since it needs more memory, I recommend you to print one page at a time.

In ein paar Tagen beginnt Advent und mit dem 1. Advent auch eine Aktion hier  im Blog.

Eure Ideen und Wünsche würden mich vorab interessieren:

Nehmen wir an,
1. Ihr hättet einen Wunsch frei für ein Rezept,
2. das nur für Euch ganz speziell entwickelt wird
3. und für das Ihr 1 oder 2 Aromen oder Zutaten benennen könntet
4. und wählen könntet zwischen
a) Vorspeise
b) Kuchen/Gebäck
c) oder Dessert

Anhand der Auswahl wird das Rezept von mir entwickelt, zubereitet, fotografiert und Rezept so zusammengefasst, dass Ihr es problemlos nachmachen könnt?

Beispiel:
Benannt wird Wunsch “Dessert + Zutat Zimt +Kardamom”.
Oder Wunsch “Vorspeise + Kürbis + Fisch”
Dann wird daraus und weiteren geeigneten Zutaten meiner Wahl ein Rezept daraus entwickelt.

Bitte um rege Beteiligung !!!!
Eure Wahl?
Es dürfen ruhig mehrere Beispiele pro Person genannt werden.
Gern auch Wunschbeispiele, die Ihr für jemand anderen zubereiten würdet, als Überraschung oder Geschenk.

Bei Allergien oder Abenidung von einzelnen Lebenmitteln oder Zutaten bitte dazu schreiben, was keinesfalls drin sein darf.
Das Rezept soll ja schmecken und auch vertragen werden.

Ich bin gespannt.

Just when it seemed like London’s freesheet industry had died, along came theblogpaper!

This is a fantastic, innovative idea – a crowdsourced newspaper compiling the best blogs.

People submit blog articles to the website. They’re rated by readers and then the top articles are published in a newspaper.

My definition of ‘printernet‘ has now been widened to include the mutual crossover taking place between print and online media. Theblogpaper is a great example of the constant blurring between ‘old’ and ‘(relatively) new’ technology.

The first issue came out on Friday 20 November (after a pilot in September) and was available at Stratford, Bethnal Green, Old Street, Angel and Holborn train stations.

It’s not yet available outside of London, but theblogpaper has kindly sent me a copy in the post. Can’t wait to see it.

Did you pick up a copy of theblogpaper? What did you think?

A little deer and a cute squirrel - Zeng

Para aceder aos respectivos links, basta clicar sobre as imagens.

Arte mixed media

Arte fotográfica

Candies and Butterflies - Tiny Bazaar

Arte digital

Eve with golden apple - FleurBonheur

Vi har nå fått inn mange nye belter med print og nagler. I tillegg har vi fått påfyll av en rekke populære belter som vi har fått eller ingen igjen av. Beltene har god kvalitet og koster kun 199kr per stk. Husk at vi har gratis frakt!

Du finner utvalger her: www.rockdenim.no/belter

Erschienen im Weser Kurier 

Von Meike Lorenzen

Bremen. Gesprächsrunden für Väter, die ihre Kinder nur eingeschränkt sehen dürfen, sind in Bremen gut besucht. „So liberal die Stadt auch ist, in Sachen Sorgerecht für Väter ist sie sehr konservativ“, sagt Fredo Behrens vom Haus der Familie Mitte und belegt seine Worte mit Zahlen. Demnach haben 2007 nur Bayern, Baden-Württemberg und Berlin seltener das Sorgerecht an Väter vergeben. 2008 befindet sich Bremen immerhin im unteren Mittelfeld der Statistik.

Sorgerecht Vater Sven Tietjen (die Namen der Väter wurden von der Redaktion geändert) sieht seine Tochter alle zwei Wochen für vier Stunden beim Vätertreff in Walle. Nachdem sich seine Freundin kurz nach der Geburt des Kindes von ihm trennte, sah er seine Tochter sieben Monate gar nicht. Erst dann machte das Jugendamt die Treffen möglich. „Das wird mir ewig weh tun, dass ich diese Monate verpasst habe“, sagt Sven Tietjen. Er hat mit der Mutter das gemeinsame Sorgerecht. Dennoch sieht er die Dreijährige kaum.

„Gemeinsames Sorgerecht und inhaltliche Sorge sind zwei verschiedene Dinge“, erklärt Pädagoge Behrens. „So viel Sorgerecht kann mir kein Gericht geben, wie es mir das Lächeln meines Sohnes gibt, wenn ich ihn abhole“, sagt Matthias Schmidt. Bereits während der Schwangerschaft ging die Beziehung zu seiner Freundin in die Brüche. Danach durfte er seinen Sohn alle 14 Tage für zwei Stunden sehen. „Das ist lächerlich“, sagt der Vater. 

In so kurzer Zeit könne man keine Bindung zu einem Säugling aufbauen. „Das ist die alte Schule“, kommentiert Behrens die Entscheidung des Jugendamtes. „35 Mal sind die Treffen schon ausgefallen“, beklagt sich der Vater. Mal ist der Sohn angeblich krank, mal ein Urlaub geplant, mal eine Familienfeier. Noch heute wird Schmidt nervös, wenn das Telefon klingelt. Die Angst ist groß, die Mutter könne wieder ein Treffen absagen. Seit einem Gutachten vom letzten Oktober darf er seinen Sohn einmal acht und einmal drei Stunden in der Woche sehen. Viele Väter ertragen die seltenen Treffen mit den Kindern nur schwer.

Beim Vätertreff in Walle sind die vier Stunden am Vormittag schnell vergangen, erst zwei Wochen später sehen sich Vater und Kind wieder. „Oft setzen sich die Männer nach der Übergabe des Kindes in ihr Auto und heulen sich erst einmal aus“, sagt Behrens. „Mir gelingt es bei der Übergabe nicht einmal, traurig zu sein“, sagt Hannes Müller. Nur wenige Meter Luftlinie wohnen seine beiden Töchter von ihm entfernt, trotzdem besuchen ihn die Kinder nur alle zwei Wochen am Wochenende – für 48 Stunden.

Wenn die Mutter die Töchter bringt, traut er sich nicht, die Mädchen herzlich zu begrüßen. „Für die Kinder ist der Moment furchtbar“, sagt er. Oft würden sie regelrecht in ihre Zimmer fliehen. In der Vätersprechstunde hat Müller gelernt, dass die Kinder sich in einem „Loyalitätskonflikt“ befinden. „Die Kinder lieben Mutter und Vater“, sagt Behrens. „Um keinem weh zu tun, ziehen sie eine klare Trennlinie.“

Vätersprechstunde ist jeden zweiten Dienstag ab 20 Uhr im Haus der Familie Mitte, Fehrfeld 7. Alle 14 Tage sonnabends von 10 bis 14 Uhr betreut Fredo Behrens den Vätertreff im Haus der Familie Walle, Waller Heerstraße 229. Günter Jader veranstaltet donnerstags zwischen 19 und 21 Uhr in der Dünenstraße 2-4 eine Vätergruppe. Nähere Informationen sind unter der Telefonnummer 0421/3618284 erhältlich.

Malak El Ezzawy, one of our favorite local evening wear designers, tributes the “Little Black Dress” this fall with her limited edition collection.  What I love, is that it is a perfect addition to my LBD post (posted a couple of weeks ealier, click here).  As mentioned before, the LBD transcends time and trends and is the perfect “throw it on and still look chic” dress.  A staple in every woman’s wardrobe, just like a man’s white chemise.  Below is a sample preview of her limited edition collection, more on this Facebook link, and in store at the Melodies Atelier at 24 Tharwa St., Mohandeseen, ground floor.

Malak’s LBD collection is full of lace, as we call it in Egypt, dentelle.  The dress below worn by Menna Shalaby is a dentelle top with a chiffon and tulle skirt and a sexy low back.

Menna Shalaby wearing Malak's LBD

This LBD is the perfectly structured tube dress, which I believe, will be flattering to many.  The dress is very futuristic (which I don’t usually like, but this is cool).  I also love how the designer utilized both polka dot and stripped prints on one canvas.

Polka Dot & Stripped Structured LBD

This matte paillette, aka sequined, one shoulder LBD is IT! The fall season is all about embellishment & sequins, in addition to asymmetric dresses.  I guess this LBD is an ALL-IN-ONE must have!

Matte Paillette One Shoulder LBD

I decided to end this post on the perfectly simple, yet sexy, LBD.  The uniqueness of this dress comes not only from its simplicity but its texture.  Velvet is a material that faded away for a while, but is back it style and feels very rich.

Perfect Velvet LBD

I got in the mail yesterday my commission from Jim Lawson.  I asked him after the interview for this stellar drawing.  It only cost $60, and the money was more than worth it for this beautiful piece that is now my favorite in my collection.  To be just a super creep, I attached the stickers that Lawson wrote my address and his address on to the print on the back for when it’s framed.

I forgot to turn my camera’s resolution up, so some of these pictures are (crisply) blurry.

Some Show and Tell!

Doesn’t that look fantastic!  I was so happy when I took this out of the cardboard that I just stared at it for a good ten minutes despite having guests over that I hadn’t seen for a year!

Close up on Leo.

Lawson did such a kickass job on this commission that I’m really considering another one.  Maybe I’ll convince my sister to buy me one since she owes me a couple presents for various things.

Oh, I also got a print by Albert Rothstein off of eBay in the mail yesterday.  I ordered a bunch of artwork off of eBay in addition to this that I’ll soon be getting in the mail, and I ordered a Michael Dooney Leonardo Sketch!