Awesome 2012 Olympics time lapse photos

Check out these super cool time lapse photos taken by Reuters ‘bots.’ 11 robots armed with Canon 1-DX bodies captured athletes from some really incredible angles. All photos you will see were created in-camera….yes, you read that right…in camera. See photos and read the full story here.

Charm City Pinups in print

One of my favorite shots from the Charm City Pinups girls is being published in CMYK Magazine, issue #53! Check it out on newsstands in July.

Calling all font addicts

 

I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for good typography. Those who have spent any considerable amount of time with me have certainly heard me comment on the beauty – or beastliness – of typography I come across.

As a lover of type, I collect fonts. When I’m working on typography for a job and find ‘the one,’ it makes my day. Now…when I fine ‘the one’ for FREE…the sun comes out, birds chirp, my soul sings and I break out in a happy dance.

Recently, I stumbled upon the Lost Type Co-op. The fonts are free – and absolutely fantastic – but the font designers accept donations of any amount. As I have already used two of Lost Type’s fonts for commercial purposes, I will be donating soon. Paying what I can is also good for my soul.

Studio lighting and laser beams, YES!

 

I recently came across a very cool lighting technique used in a fashion shoot; it involves a red laser pointer. Reading about creative lighting like this really makes me want to shoot. Itchy…trigger…finger. Look out friends and family, Lex wants to shoot!

Paris-based photographer Ludovic Taillandier – very carefully – uses laser pointers to create some very interesting effects in his work. Check out the strobist article here.

I can’t ‘talk football’ but I love the commercials

I can’t speak intelligently about anything ‘football.’ I’m pleased with myself when I connect a team’s logo with their name, I impress myself further when I remember a team’s city and state.

In lieu of discussing blitzes, blocking, snaps, fumbles and Hail Marys (I absolutely had to Google football lingo for those words), I’ll stick to what I know – advertising.

If you can’t talk football….talk commercials and “sound smart.”

I still love seeing my work in print

I was flipping through Acoustic Guitar magazine this morning, when I came across one of my new ads. After years of writing and creating ads, I must say, seeing my work in print is still very cool. I really love this new ad, instead of blending in with all of the content surrounding it, the ad really  jumped out of the magazine.

I remember when my first ad hit a magazine; I went straight to Barnes and Noble to find it. Seeing may ad – out there for the world to read – made me realize the responsibility I have to my client or employer…it made me want to write better ads, to be a better designer. I’ve felt that way ever since.

I always make a point of flipping through magazines with my ads in them, looking for what happened to me this morning…for my ad to pop off the page, to make me stop and make me interested. My new ad is achieved all of those goals.

In the past there have been ads that didn’t stop me in my tracks; those occasions  just fueled my fire to improve. Write a more compelling headline, make it stand out, make the reader actually want to read my copy…that’s what I try to achieve in every ad.

 

How’s your eye for color?

 

My eyes ache and feel a tad scratchy, but MAN was that fun! If I was a kid at the fair I’d be saying ‘aww please mom, can I go again’?!

I scored a 7.7, can you beat me? Test your eye for color here, then get in line and do it again….you know you’ll want to.

Super cool (and very useful) gizmo alert!!

 

Helloooo smart, easily programmable sensor!

Water in your basement? Twine will text you. Refrigerator on the fritz? Twine will save your precious collection of rare cheeses by letting you know the temperature has dropped. A door open at your home while you’re away? Twine can send you an intruder alert.

I can think of so many uses for Twine. More information here.

Smashing through barriers

Luke Williams, a fellow from Frog has written several fantastic pieces about breaking through barriers that obstruct the formation of creative ideas.

Fast Company recently posted Luke’s article “The 3 Biggest Barriers To Innovation, And How To Smash Them”.

For a more in-depth read on breaking barriers and disrupting thinking (mentioned in the article above), check out Luke’s book Disrupt: Think the Unthinkable to Spark Transformation in Your Business.

Food can be sexy…

…and intriguing.

Photographer Ryan Matthew Smith has captured images of food like I’ve never seen it before. Check out the food cooking ‘cross sections,’ they’re way cool – as is Matthew’s personal work.

 

35,000 dustless dust jackets

“The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see.”
Winston Churchill

I’ve always enjoyed looking at design and advertising from times gone by – sometimes for design inspiration, sometimes because it just plain ol’ cracks me up! Here are some great older book dust jacket images.

Even cooler – prints of these jackets can be purchased here, sized to fit most any book. Lots of possibilities! I’m thinking of ordering some to get crafty with, or to cover some books for a photo shoot.

Infographics can be fun – or give you a headache

I’ve always been a fan of infographics. This image illustrates the thousands of decisions we’re faced with when we go to the drugstore to purchase medicine for a headache. Perhaps the graphic itself will give you a headache; I find it fascinating. Read the full article from Fast Company here.