February 2012
5 posts
January 2012
2 posts
December 2011
3 posts
The can-do spirit
Indulge me enough to get passed the fact that I’m shoving yet another motorcycle-inspired example of creativity, design and authenticity down your gullet. But, Adam Cramer drops some honest pearls of wisdom in this short by Andrew David Watson found recently via @etsy.
I agree with Adam to a degree. Society does seem to be de-industrializing and his type of skills are becoming more and more...
1 tag
WatchMotocross racer turned graphic designer turned cycle builder turns out a killer cafe bike. Thanks to @CafeRacrsReturn for the tip on Derek Despain’s CB750.
November 2011
4 posts
WatchCool brand. Lead & Light is a small apparel company exploring themes of culture and life in it’s manually printed hoodies and tees by designer and creator @Sam_Kaufman
3 tags
WatchSomeday, I’ll hand paint a helmet like this. #design #creative
WatchOne of the subjects of an earlier post I made about fossil fueled design fascination; Twinline Motorcycles tell their story in this very well directed short film by Todd Blubaugh. The first episode in his series called, We R Winning.
Todd does some really creative things with cuts and titling in this piece. Budding documentary makers or photogs thinking of making the jump to motion, pay...
October 2011
1 post
This is how we do it.
No, I’m not kickin’ an old school Montell Jordan jam (as funky as it may be). In my last post, I mentioned how fortunate I was to be working like-minded-down-to-earth folk on our photo shoots. There have been tons of “anatomy of a shoot” articles, videos and web casts lately. There are also many different ways to make a shoot successful and just as much variety in the size...
September 2011
1 post
Work hard. Be nice.
It’s not often that you find sage wisdom nestled in a small gift shop in the Methow Valley. However, while on a photo shoot in Winthrop, Washington last week I happened upon just that. I found words to live by and ones that were more than apropos for the task at hand. I just didn’t realize it at the time. The words? Residing in an unassuming frame, “Work hard and be nice to...
August 2011
2 posts
Authenticity part two.
Last month I posted about reaching beyond your comfort zone, spending time on all sides of the camera and really knowing your subject matter in an effort to get better results from your talent and ultimately more authenticity in your work.
This time, I’m going to share a story about a couple of folk that are taking authenticity a step further. Scratch that, they’re arguably setting...
July 2011
1 post
Fossil-fueled design fascination
Back in June, I talked a bit about keeping your eyes peeled for opportunities to fascinate yourself. Essentially finding creative inspiration and outlets in activities or topics that interest you or simply catch your eye.
Lately, one of my fascinations has been motorcycles. The modern bike that I throw my leg over has a ton of technology built into it. It’s fast, safe and comfortable....
June 2011
5 posts
5 tags
Be brave, seek feedback.
In a previous post, I talked about getting beyond your comfort zone, mentioning Jordan Siemens and the benefits of his time spent on all sides of the camera.
Seeking feedback can be just as nerve-racking as jumping out in front of the camera for a photographer, sometimes more so. Heck, it’s tough on any creative type. The rub is that it’s often a key element of getting noticed and...
Personal discovery and off-camera flash virginity.
Earlier this week all 160 members of our marketing department had the opportunity to participate in Insights training. The goal is to learn about personality types, your personal strengths and weaknesses, and how to better communicate and work together. If you ever have a chance to participate in something like this, do it. It’s a real eye-opener and you’ll learn a lot about...
1 tag
3 tags
WatchI’ve always liked “old man” barber shops. I miss my old shop, The Depot Barber Shop in downtown Kent. I think it’s a dumpy smoke shop or something now. I also miss having hair, but that’s beside the point. Barber Shops are cool. They’re a dude oasis. I hope they’re around when my son goes bald.
Beautifully shot, cool story. Inspiring.
3 tags
Have a seat, make yourself uncomfortable.
In some previous posts and an interview on Chase Jarvis Live, my pal and creative collaborator, Jason Sutherland spoke about photographers getting noticed, authenticity and reaching beyond your comfort zone. Today, I was reminded of these when a couple photographers entered my ever-scanning radar…one through snail mail, the other a personal referral.
Both of the photogs who submitted their...
May 2011
4 posts
1 tag
4 tags
Street photography and other creative calisthenics
I’ve been obsessed with all things photography lately. Whether it’s campaign shoots, studio work, REI store grand opening events, time lapse, portraits of friends and family…I love it all.
As an art director, I think it’s the composing of a shot is what really appeals to me. The process is very “designerly”. Finding that balance, directing the viewer’s...
4 tags
Brand Knew
Tiptoeing through some bookmarks (remember those) a minute ago, I came across one of my favorite blogs…from the days when I payed attention to my bookmarks…ahem. Brand New. They chronicle and provide opinions on corporate, brand identity work and packaging. They cover redesigns, new designs and serve it all up with refreshing honesty, attitude and humor.
Great site to check our for...
4 tags
Put on your big boy pants.
Had a few interesting things happened this week that got me to thinking about emotional attachment to our work, and the way creatives can sometimes define themselves by it.
Part of my job is to innovate; to come up with creative solutions that deliver on strategic business objectives. Recently, my team and I had been developing a new campaign for the coming Fall. While I can’t share the...