Check out Photoshop Disasters for more fun here.
Or read more on Newsweek's article of Unattainable Beauty here.
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| Where's her leg? A photo from the Burberry Ad Campaign |
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| Nice clipping path. Cover for V Magazine |
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Photoshop Craze
Now that the new year has gone well under way, I've started up teaching classes once again at Community Darkroom at the Genesee Center for the Arts. And whenever a new session starts, I am always finding myself looking for new tutorials to teach, scouring blogs for the faint hints of CS5 news and more candidly, finding interesting articles on Photoshop manipulation. The other day, the BF found me some great sites that show advertisements with horrible Photoshop work done. It's quite fun to really look at an advertisement and see the mistake there. Sometimes it takes a good long moment to really see the mistake. I suppose that says something about society and how we accept certain fantasies as realities...but that's another Freudian post that I don't think I'll get into now.
Check out Photoshop Disasters for more fun here.
Or read more on Newsweek's article of Unattainable Beauty here.
Check out Photoshop Disasters for more fun here.
Or read more on Newsweek's article of Unattainable Beauty here.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
The sky's the limit
Shooting in a studio certainly has it's limits. Besides being confined to a certain area, knowing that you're indoors, and working with what artificial light you have, can be very restricting. And in the beginning, it can seem that way. But once you know your resources, master them, open your mind to other possibilities, the studio turns into a blank canvas with the freedom to transform ideas into images fairly easily. Yesterday was such a case. Having to deal with very unique and themed products, the studio can look intimidating. How can you show a hard to read product and introduce it's meaning besides a simple silhouette and white background seamless?
The answer is...visible cues. To the average person and buyer, visible cues are just the information surrounding a product that make sense in being there and belonging. To a graphic artist, photographer, art director, they're genius ideas relating to the product in making the whole image read easier, make sense to a viewer and ultimately, S E L L.
Using simple props and knowing how to emulate certain types of lighting, I was able to create such images. And in post process, I simply color corrected and dropped in simple backgrounds/scenes.
The answer is...visible cues. To the average person and buyer, visible cues are just the information surrounding a product that make sense in being there and belonging. To a graphic artist, photographer, art director, they're genius ideas relating to the product in making the whole image read easier, make sense to a viewer and ultimately, S E L L.
Using simple props and knowing how to emulate certain types of lighting, I was able to create such images. And in post process, I simply color corrected and dropped in simple backgrounds/scenes.
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| Plant Shelf |
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| Himalayan Salt Lamp |
Monday, January 25, 2010
Nunda Your Business
This past weekend, the BF and I traded the bustling noise and busy Saturday streets of Rochester and headed down South to the serene hills and farm-scapes of Nunda, NY. Yes, I ventured again out to another small town in hopes of finding some hidden treasures in the town's thrift store. The day was warm and sunny and very much dress appropriate. Sometimes it's nice to get away from all the daily commotion and experience a new surrounding. So after a nice and leisurely 45 min drive, we arrived at our destination, the Town of Nunda.
Side Note: Another peculiar thing about small towns is that there are as many pizza shops as there are Tim Horton's in Canada or Star Bucks in New York City. This town didn't disappoint. I believe that there were literally 20 ft between two shops on the same side of the street! Silly.
We ended up walking around the few blocks that the town could afford us and visited the thrift store. I ended up not getting a thing because the store held more knick-knacks and miscellaneous objects rather than the clothing I was looking for. But it was fun, nevertheless, to see toys from our childhoods and beyond.
On our way out, we did end up eating at a small diner right outside the town called, Poor American Cafe. With a name like that, one has to stop and eat there just to say that they did! The place was an oddity for sure. The building was more of a make-shift house surrounded by a yard of gravel and mud. A tall and brightly colored giraffe statue stood candidly outside, giving the whole odd impression. I find such places tend to always leave an impression after I leave. . .
We entered to find the place in an organized chaos. Mix-matched chairs, tables and decorations gave the impression of a theme of no theme. A Family with young children sat at a round table by a window and pairs of older couples sprinkled throughout the rest of the one large room with an attached kitchen. Thom and I sat by a window at a booth and looked over the menu.
Now I realize that people make impressions of others all the time. And perhaps it just comes naturally and we find ourselves making our judgments before we even know a poor soul. But that day, I found myself being sized up and down and judged. It was like the strike of a gavel. Our waitress came over, took one look and as quick as a strike, her faced changed from friendly to cold abidance. Maybe not as dramatic as I make it out to be, but there was a noticeable difference in how she acted from there in out.
We did receive our meals and drinks and eventually our bill but with as much avoidance as possible. We were like the magnets that repel when like poles are close to each other. Thom and I left thinking of people and how we're all different and the same. Odd. Nunda. People. And that's all I could really think about on our way back to Rochester. I guess we saw small town, Nascar and deer hunting folk and perhaps they saw a guy with a credit card and an odd girl in bright fushia tights with a camera.
Side Note: Another peculiar thing about small towns is that there are as many pizza shops as there are Tim Horton's in Canada or Star Bucks in New York City. This town didn't disappoint. I believe that there were literally 20 ft between two shops on the same side of the street! Silly.
We ended up walking around the few blocks that the town could afford us and visited the thrift store. I ended up not getting a thing because the store held more knick-knacks and miscellaneous objects rather than the clothing I was looking for. But it was fun, nevertheless, to see toys from our childhoods and beyond.
On our way out, we did end up eating at a small diner right outside the town called, Poor American Cafe. With a name like that, one has to stop and eat there just to say that they did! The place was an oddity for sure. The building was more of a make-shift house surrounded by a yard of gravel and mud. A tall and brightly colored giraffe statue stood candidly outside, giving the whole odd impression. I find such places tend to always leave an impression after I leave. . .
We entered to find the place in an organized chaos. Mix-matched chairs, tables and decorations gave the impression of a theme of no theme. A Family with young children sat at a round table by a window and pairs of older couples sprinkled throughout the rest of the one large room with an attached kitchen. Thom and I sat by a window at a booth and looked over the menu.
Now I realize that people make impressions of others all the time. And perhaps it just comes naturally and we find ourselves making our judgments before we even know a poor soul. But that day, I found myself being sized up and down and judged. It was like the strike of a gavel. Our waitress came over, took one look and as quick as a strike, her faced changed from friendly to cold abidance. Maybe not as dramatic as I make it out to be, but there was a noticeable difference in how she acted from there in out.
We did receive our meals and drinks and eventually our bill but with as much avoidance as possible. We were like the magnets that repel when like poles are close to each other. Thom and I left thinking of people and how we're all different and the same. Odd. Nunda. People. And that's all I could really think about on our way back to Rochester. I guess we saw small town, Nascar and deer hunting folk and perhaps they saw a guy with a credit card and an odd girl in bright fushia tights with a camera.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Mustard Yellow
I really can't find a good logical explanation, but mustard yellow has got to be my favorite color of all times. And I realize there are so many other brilliant and beautiful colors out there but honestly, I'm sticking to it.
Perhaps the reason is because I notice so many things in that specific color. I find that like a big yellow school bus, the color just sticks out. You can't really miss it because it catches your eye's attention right away. Another idea that I associate the color with are sunny days and warmth. And being stuck right in the middle of Rochester's cold winter season, a person would want nothing more than sunny days and warmth.
And when purchasing items and objects that I like? Well you can assume that my first color choice will always be, mustard yellow.
Perhaps the reason is because I notice so many things in that specific color. I find that like a big yellow school bus, the color just sticks out. You can't really miss it because it catches your eye's attention right away. Another idea that I associate the color with are sunny days and warmth. And being stuck right in the middle of Rochester's cold winter season, a person would want nothing more than sunny days and warmth.
And when purchasing items and objects that I like? Well you can assume that my first color choice will always be, mustard yellow.
I swear by all that I am, that one day when I buy a house, the first thing I will do is paint my front door mustard yellow. I don't even care if the color looks mix-matched with the house. The house will have to fit with the color.
WARNING! Eye's might roll after reading this paragraph!
But my favorite dream car that I wish I could drive everyday for the rest of my life is...an El Camino. Yes yes yes! I know! Shush! I am completely aware that GM doesn't make this unique model anymore and that the cars get literally 5 mls to the gallon BUT, I absolutely love them! And of course, my choice color will be mustard yellow.
But my favorite dream car that I wish I could drive everyday for the rest of my life is...an El Camino. Yes yes yes! I know! Shush! I am completely aware that GM doesn't make this unique model anymore and that the cars get literally 5 mls to the gallon BUT, I absolutely love them! And of course, my choice color will be mustard yellow.
And of course, regarding all things clothes, yellow it usually is. And I've mentioned before about the color yellow and Asian skin tone? And really, I say boo to that. Who ever follows that white after labor day rule anyway? Not I. And I especially won't follow any silly color rules as well regarding my favorite color, mustard yellow.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
A picture is worth...
...one thousand words, or so they say. But what a picture really can do is change the way you feel about things. Photographs can really make a detrimental impact on how we relate to any subject matter.
Take our most current event of today. The disaster in Haiti. I know that on my part I have heard the call and watched the news. I've read the articles and felt the compassion build up inside me to reach out and help. If anything, I would love the opportunity to go down to Haiti and rebuild. But that's not what Haiti needs right now. What the country needs is money readily available to help send down medical supplies, food and water. And over these past days, I've heard that cry to help and donate money. But it wasn't until I viewed an article and looked at the photographs did I really stop to think and feel and finally, give.
A few photographs took my compassion and sympathy and turned it into empathy. And I only hope that those out there that do feel how I did, can take a look and realize the disaster in that poor country and truly feel empathy for the country of Haiti and her people.
To view the article and photographs, please click here.
*Viewer discretion is advised due to the graphic nature of the photographs.
Reputable Donation Sites:
American Red Cross
Habitat For Humanity
UNICEF
UMCOR
Take our most current event of today. The disaster in Haiti. I know that on my part I have heard the call and watched the news. I've read the articles and felt the compassion build up inside me to reach out and help. If anything, I would love the opportunity to go down to Haiti and rebuild. But that's not what Haiti needs right now. What the country needs is money readily available to help send down medical supplies, food and water. And over these past days, I've heard that cry to help and donate money. But it wasn't until I viewed an article and looked at the photographs did I really stop to think and feel and finally, give.
A few photographs took my compassion and sympathy and turned it into empathy. And I only hope that those out there that do feel how I did, can take a look and realize the disaster in that poor country and truly feel empathy for the country of Haiti and her people.
To view the article and photographs, please click here.
*Viewer discretion is advised due to the graphic nature of the photographs.
Reputable Donation Sites:
American Red Cross
Habitat For Humanity
UNICEF
UMCOR
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| Courtesy of the Boston Globe, REUTERS/Carlos Barria |
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| Courtesy of the Boston Globe, REUTERS/Hans Deryk |
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| Courtesy of the Boston Globe, Getty Images/Marco Dormino/Minustah |
Sunday, January 17, 2010
She had the heart of a Lyon
So yesterday was a very warm and sunny Rochester day. And going on my thrift-ing kick, a friend and I made a trip to a small town called Lyons, NY to visit a new thrift store called "Be Thrifty". Little did we know, that when we got there, there was a vacant town and a mean little closed sign hanging from the store's window.
Now coming from a small town, I should have realized that certain general rules need not apply to the small town attitude. Certain situations like forgetting your wallet at the general grocery store and knowing that your word is good to pay it back as soon as you get home to retrieve that said wallet...only in a small town. Or how about the town grapevine and the tempting appeal of hearing about your next door neighbor? Be careful, it might turn around on you...but only in a small town. And of course the leniency of store openings and closings? If its a slow night and things are dwindling down, don't be surprised to find things closing before the 8pm closing time. Some things are higher on the priority list, like dinnertime and Sunday Night Football, but only in a small town.
So really, I should have known better. I wasn't all that irked to find the store I wanted to go to on Saturday closed and instead, I left with sentimental feelings and memories of my home town and it's quirky behaviors.
Now coming from a small town, I should have realized that certain general rules need not apply to the small town attitude. Certain situations like forgetting your wallet at the general grocery store and knowing that your word is good to pay it back as soon as you get home to retrieve that said wallet...only in a small town. Or how about the town grapevine and the tempting appeal of hearing about your next door neighbor? Be careful, it might turn around on you...but only in a small town. And of course the leniency of store openings and closings? If its a slow night and things are dwindling down, don't be surprised to find things closing before the 8pm closing time. Some things are higher on the priority list, like dinnertime and Sunday Night Football, but only in a small town.
So really, I should have known better. I wasn't all that irked to find the store I wanted to go to on Saturday closed and instead, I left with sentimental feelings and memories of my home town and it's quirky behaviors.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Shameless Shoutout to my wedding site
I know that this might seem a bit distasteful to put a shout out about my other website, but it's Friday and really I have nothing better to say at the moment.
Really though, my other website, Something Blue Photography, shows a lot of my and the other shooter's, Shinay McNeill, wedding work. We started to come up with the idea after shooting a friends wedding together this past October. It was so enjoyable that we've decided to partner up and shoot weddings into the 2010 year. And hopefully beyond...
What I like the most about wedding photography though it can be borderline cheesy, is always 100% personable. What I mean to say is that the work speaks so much of two people making a decision to stay by each other for the rest of their lives. And for us to be able to document that? To see emotions and help create such wonderful memories? It has always been a pleasure doing so.
There is no need to coax any emotions out of someone during a day like that.
Really though, my other website, Something Blue Photography, shows a lot of my and the other shooter's, Shinay McNeill, wedding work. We started to come up with the idea after shooting a friends wedding together this past October. It was so enjoyable that we've decided to partner up and shoot weddings into the 2010 year. And hopefully beyond...
What I like the most about wedding photography though it can be borderline cheesy, is always 100% personable. What I mean to say is that the work speaks so much of two people making a decision to stay by each other for the rest of their lives. And for us to be able to document that? To see emotions and help create such wonderful memories? It has always been a pleasure doing so.
There is no need to coax any emotions out of someone during a day like that.
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