Forty-Four Links About Forty-Four Things

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2010-03-10T09:00:00.001-07:00

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iTunes Offering Print Magazines

2010-03-01T17:40:00.003-07:00

Update: Four years after first posting about the prospect of magazines in iTunes, Condé Naste has announced its magazine lineup for the forthcoming iPad. Check out a video of the future of Wired Magazine.

Originally Posted 08 June 2006

As reported on TUAW, iTunes is now offering downloadable PDFs of magazines. First up is The Fader. It's good to see traditional print media find a new outlet. Links and discussion at TUAW.

Birthday Celebrations

2010-02-22T08:45:00.013-07:00

Separated by 380 years, this week marks the birthdays of the original bad boy artist, Caravaggio, who among other things is credited with using an early form of photography in his groundbreaking work into Chiaroscuro, and the venerable Adobe® Photoshop® application, also capable of a little chiaroscuro, turns 20 years young. Lifehacker is celebrating with a list of favorite Photoshop tricks and tips.

Magnum Photos Sold to Michael Dell

2010-02-17T16:00:00.004-07:00

Magnum Photos announced the sale of its seminal photojournalism archives to Michael Dell (of Dell Computers) for $100 Million US (as reported on the NPR Pictureshow Blog and the NY Times)

Irene Pena featured on Production Paradise

2010-02-15T19:55:00.002-07:00

Fashion photographer Irene Pena was featured this month in the Production Paradise Lifestyle Spotlight. Golf, yoga, and other lifestyle images here, and her signature fashion images here.

Production Paradise also launched a mobile version of their site, where you can search photographers, reps, and production facilities from around the world. Point your mobile browser to: iphone.productionparadise.com

New Gallery at The monOrchid Building

2010-01-17T23:38:00.001-07:00

Wayne Rainey is at it again.

The owner of Holgas and MonOrchid can easily be credited as a major mover in the downtown arts scene.

And tonight he's debuting his latest art space, Bokeh Gallery, in the MonOrchid building.... Read more.

Be sure to check out the Bob Carey Opening on Friday, February 19th.

Hide Those Files!

2009-12-23T13:35:00.009-07:00

Here's a New Year's resolution that could save your identity, political career, or marriage. Recently, I was at an artist's house, fixing her Mac. Like many artists, her computer was a mess of files everywhere. I sat down to make a backup before the repairs, and I noticed she was hovering over me with a nervous look on her face.

"Don't worry," I assured her. "I'll find everything and make sure it's all backed up."

"I know you will," she replied, "But.... Don't look in the folder labeled, "Images from Peru".

This was a good point to stop the operation, and start a little Computing 101: Securing Files from Prying Eyes. The process is dead simple, and this website outlines the process on a Mac quite clearly. Basically, you use Disk Utility to create a Disk Image (you're already familiar with disk images - every time you download an application or update, you're downloading a disk image). Choose a size based on the amount of files you have to hide, and select AES Encryption from the drop down menu. Create a password, save the disk image, and you're ready to go. The new disk will appear in your sidebar - just like a flash drive or DVD. Copy the files over to your new disk, and hit the eject button. Now test to make sure you can open your archive before deleting the originals. Double click the Disk Image. It should ask for your password, and then mount again on your sidebar. I use this method to secure scanned copies of passports, credit cards, and a text file full of passwords. You can even use it to secure those images from Peru.

Lurzer's 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide

2009-08-23T20:10:00.023-07:00

Store 44 Illustrators Carlos Araujo and Giulio Iurissevich are both featured in Lurzer's 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide

Congratulations to our 10 contest winners who are receiving a free copy of the book: John J, Scott N, Gordon W, Nancy M, Christine O, Elisin T, Dan S, Danielle S, Britt B, and Mary B.

Pro Photography use of iPhone

2009-06-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

UPDATE June 20, 2009:

CreativePro.com put together a great list of iPhone Apps for Photographers. Includes tools for geotagging, exposure settings, and more.

Like you're just starving for another excuse to get a new iPhone, right? So here's an article listing 10 Ways Professional Photographers Can Use the iPhone. Gotta say it would make a good pocket portfolio.

The Photographer: Graphic Memoir about Docs in Afghanistan

2009-05-24T18:17:00.001-07:00

Boing Boing has a review of "The Photographer: Into war-torn Afghanistan with Doctors Without Borders", a collaboration between photographer Didier Lefevre, graphic novelist Emmanuel Guibert, and designer Frederic Lemercier.

Finding and Working with a Rep

2008-12-30T17:16:00.001-07:00

I'm often asked by artists and students about how to find and work with an Artist Representative. I have assembled this post in an attempt to link to some relevant articles on the subject, and I will update it as I find new info on the web.

UPDATE 12/30/08:

Here are a couple of articles from the photographer's perspective for artists interested in getting a rep:

Getting an Agent on Avisualsociety.com.
Photographer Nick Onken discusses his process of getting a rep.

UPDATE 6/10/08:

I found this list of Visual Artist Representatives in our website referral list. It has a number of agencies geared towards the professional commercial artist.

Industry sites like AltPick, WorkBook, and Directory of Illustration have listings of artist reps available. The Alternative Pick has great interviews with Reps from around the world that shed some light onto how they think. Store 44 Reps was interviewed in 2005. Do you research, and see what is a good fit for you.

Selina Oppenheim Maitreya wrote a great piece, titled How to Find and Work with a Rep. I couldn't find the original article on her site, so link goes to cached version at Internet Archive. This article was last updated in 2000, so keep that in mind where prices are quoted. Selina is a portfolio consultant, and her book How to Succeed in Commercial Photography: Insights from a Leading Consultant is available on Amazon.

Joshua Kaufman, Lawyer and member of the Art Copyright Coalition, wrote an article that dismisses the analogy of an artist-rep relationship being like a marriage, and raises another point that can never be said enough: "Any artist who does not look after their careers in a business like manner, will eventually run into a great deal of difficulty and more often than not, fail as a professional artist."

For photographers, look to your local APA or ASMP Chapter. Required reading for photographers is the ASMP Professional Business Practices in Photography, which contains a sample Artist-Agent contract and additional information on working with a Rep.

For illustrators, Art Talk over at the iSpot has a couple of good threads on finding and working with a Rep. For further reading, pick up a copy of the Graphic Artist's Guild Pricing and Ethical Guidelines, which has a sample Rep contract, as well as more info on the subject.

Serious artists should also look to Tad Crawford, who has a cornucopia of books on legal forms for commercial and fine artists.

There is another facet to finding and working with a rep that I should mention, which is Portfolio Consultation. You can expect to pay a rep or portfolio consultant anywhere from 200 to 5,000+ dollars for this service, with varying degrees of intensity. Not every artist needs a full-service rep, sometimes a portfolio and/or marketing plan tweak can make all the difference. In this relationship, the rep/consultant is hired by the artist for a brief time to review the portfolio, recommend changes, new strategies, discuss market opportunities, etc. etc. 1 Port Authority, Shannon Associates, Chatterbox, and Bobbie Wendt come to mind. There are many other similar services, so do your research and make sure you're getting what you want. Store 44 Reps offers this service with an emphasis on portfolio creation and revision.

Face Swapping Software

2008-08-01T11:02:00.001-07:00

Coming soon to royalty free stock photography near you?! New technology makes it possible to morph two faces into one, for privacy protection.

Article via BoingBoing.

1000 True Fans

2008-07-17T11:19:00.001-07:00

Back in March, Wired Editor-At-Large and Cool Tools Blogger Kevin Kelly posted a business plan for working artists entitled, 1,000 True Fans. The concept is pretty simple. From the article:

"A creator, such as an artist, musician, photographer, craftsperson, performer, animator, designer, videomaker, or author - in other words, anyone producing works of art - needs to acquire only 1,000 True Fans to make a living."

How you ask? With a little more marketing, of course!

Article via BoingBoing.

Shoot the Day: July 20th

2008-07-16T09:27:00.004-07:00

Stock photography agency PhotoShelter, along with Apple, Nikon, and others are sponsoring the first ever "Shoot the Day" worldwide event and contest:

"Wherever you are on July 20th, PhotoShelter wants you to Shoot! The Day. The mission is to revitalize stock photography. Thousands of photographers worldwide will connect, take pictures, and learn. Together we'll make the stock photo supply fresh again... In doing so, we'll also create success for photographers who want to sell their work as stock."

Details and categories here.

Recycled Bags - Three Inspirational Brands

2008-07-06T16:55:00.022-07:00

Looking for a bag that says “me be hip, urban, and environmentally responsible? Vy&Elle, Freitag, and Baumm are three inspirational companies that use recycled billboards, truck tarpaulins, and seat belts to compose sharp, one-of-a kind accessories.

Based in Tucson, Arizona, Vy&Elle was founded in 2002 by British designer Nicola Freeguard. As of 2007 the company has reused over 100 tons of PVC billboard vinyl to create colorful totes, messenger bags, and other accessories.

Read more:
www.handbagdesigner101.com
Vy&Elle Bags, Treehugger.

If you've never seen a Freitag bag or surfed their ultracool website, just stop and click: Freitag. Around since 1993, the popular European brand offers an extensive line of graphically bold bags, computer and iPod cases made from truck tarpaulins, seat belts, and bike tubes. One of their newest products, the F84 Mac Sleeve Air is constructed from rooftop tarps and looks like a manila envelope.

The company’s keen eye for design is evident not only in its products, but also by its website. Be sure to play with the F-cut tool, which allows you to move stencils over a selection of truck tarpaulins and "cut out" your own bag.

Last but not least, Baumm is based in Buenos Aires and, like Vy&Elle, uses old billboards as its material source. Interweaving the arts with environmentally conscious product design, Baumm collaborates with artists and has also has entered the realm of furniture design. Especially clever is their concept “B-own,” whereupon Baumm designs bags with a company’s billboard campaign and gives them back to the same company as a new marketable product.

Read More:
Baumm Recycled Advertisement Bags, Inhabitat.

Animated Mural

2008-07-03T13:08:00.003-07:00

Italian artist Blu and his crew put together this excellent stop motion video called MUTO. Captured in a series of stills, the characters in the mural move across the walls and streets of Buenos Aires. Must see not-TV, for sure. I also enjoyed his sketchbook series entitled, Four Suicides. Paperwork. It's a killer. Found on Gizmodo.

Turf Tube Protects Tushes

2008-06-29T22:20:00.006-07:00

Live through an Arizona summer and you’ll quickly learn that the most innocuous objects – flip flops, cell phones, patio furniture – can transform into searing weapons. To protect our rears from burns, Michael Dollin and crew from Urban Earth Design have invented Turf Tube, an indoor/outdoor seat covered in artificial turf. In contrast to materials such as concrete, steel, wood, or plastic, which can heat from 10-45 degrees above ambient temperature, artificial turf increases a respectable six. The turf's rapid heat dissipation makes it ideal to withstand the Arizona desert heat, where summer ambient temperatures range from 100 to 120 degrees. In addition to their burn-free surface, the no-frill Turf Tubes are durable, customizable, and manufactured locally. The designers envision a host of turf-topped possibilities including coolers, grills, lounge chairs, trash cans, lights, bar stools, swings, and pillows.
See also: Phoenix Home & Garden - Turf Tube

100+ Cool Business Cards

2008-06-04T20:31:00.001-07:00

I am just about out of business cards, and I found two great sites full of inspirational designs: 42 Awesome Business Card Designs, and 70 Amazing Business Cards.

Flip a Strip - Rethinking the Strip Mall

2008-05-20T12:31:00.007-07:00

Challenging designers to "transcend the non-descript status quo" of the Strip Mall, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art organized a part invite, part open competition requiring participants to "Flip a Strip." The competition received 95 entries from teams in 46 cities and 6 countries. SMOCA recently announced the top ten finalists, which included three Phoenix architecture firms: Architecture-Infrastructure-Research, Scottsdale AZ, Gould Evans, Phoenix AZ, and Marlene Imirzian & Associates, Phoenix AZ. Work by these and other finalists will be the focus of an exhibit at SMOCA running October 4 through January 18 2008.

The Dangers of Stock Photography

2008-04-20T12:38:00.002-07:00

I'd be smiling too if I had that many laptops. Remember to scope out your competition before buying stock photography.

Business Software for Photographers

2008-04-19T12:56:00.004-07:00

ASMP put together this handy list of pricing guides and back-office software for photographers.

Work for Hire Contracts

2008-04-18T11:02:00.004-07:00

I was asked recently to assemble a post about Work for Hire contracts to give artists and students the opportunity to read about this process and educate themselves before entering into one with a client. Generally it's considered a bad idea for an artist to sign a Work for Hire contract because it strips the artist of all rights and claim of ownership. There are exceptions of course, and ultimately it's up to you whether you sign it or decline it, but you should know what you're getting into. Let's start with a good 'ol Wikipedia definition of a Work for Hire Contract. Now let's take a look at an essay by Attorney Lloyd J. Jassin titled, Working with Freelancers: The Work for Hire Doctrine. In it, he represents the client hiring the freelance artist. Now for the artists point of view: Photographers should check out this primer on Work for Hire contacts by ASMP (The American Society of Media Photographers), while Illustrators and Designers can review this article, What does "Work for Hire" mean for designers? by AIGA, the professional association for design.

Photoshop Express

2008-04-01T09:41:00.002-07:00

After a few months of teasing, Adobe has released Photoshop Express to the masses. Gadget blog Gizmodo has a write up, alongside Adobe's press release. This new online version of photoshop will sync with myspace, facebook, and eventually - flickr. The idea of free Photoshop for every myspace user is a little scary, but I guess when it's estimated that 60% of your product is being pirated, you have to make some changes to the business model.

Jumping From Space

2008-02-29T09:04:00.004-07:00

A friend recently shared this video with me. Although the event itself occurred almost 50 years ago, making it older than the internet, it's still pretty incredible. I guess they had video cameras attached to him, and the balloon. The result is magical. I think the song is by Unkle, but I'll leave it to the music snobs to correct me.

Branding Obama: A Designer's Breakdown

2008-02-28T09:52:00.003-07:00

Newsweek has an interesting interview with designer Michael Bierut in which he breaks down the elements of the current presidential campaigns, paying particular attention to Senator Barack Obama's cohesive branding across print, event, and the web. Judge for yourself with these links to the current candidate's websites: Clinton, Huckabee, McCain, Obama, and Paul.