Forty-Four Links About Forty-Four Things

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.

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.

1000 True Fans

2008-07-17T11:19:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-06T16:55:00.021-07:00

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.

Getty Images Bought by Private Equity

2008-02-25T09:17:00.002-07:00

If you were ever wondering how many stock images you could buy with 2 Billion Dollars, then private equity firm Hellman & Friedman has your answer: All of Getty Images. I have nothing else to add, except to brag that I guessed "private equity firm" when I was talking about the pending sale of Getty with food photographer and former Swanstock exec Jackie Alpers.

101 Ways Designers Can Change the Earth

2007-10-15T07:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a great list, courtesy of The School of Visual Concepts, Seattle, in cooperation with AIGA Seattle and Aquent, entitled, 101 Things Designers Can Do to Save the Earth. The list includes some sites to visit, books to read, and things to ask your printer.

Are You Being Greenwashed?

2007-06-01T14:43:00.000-07:00

Interesting article about companies trying to appear green, and what designers can do ensure they really are making socially responsible decisions, and not just "greenwashing". From businessweek.com via Phoenix Ad Club

A Photo History Find

2007-05-22T12:38:00.000-07:00

The New York Times Art and Design section writes of a recent photo find, featuring the 100 year old work of Edward Steichen, famous for his early color photographs, winning an Academy Award for best documentary, and serving as Director of Photography at New York's Museum of Modern Art. More recently, he made news when one of his early 1900's platinum prints, "The Pond - Moonlight" broke the record for photography auction at Sotheby's with a price of $US 2.9 Million.

Record Setting Nude Photo

2007-05-07T12:01:00.000-07:00

Artist Spencer Tunick staged a record setting group nude photo in Mexico City's Zocalo Square. 18,000 people posed for the photograph, as police and no-fly zones kept the onlookers at bay. Tunick is famous for similar shoots in Germany and Spain.

And while we're delving into NSFW territory with a little nudity, here's an interesting blog submitted to me by an artist simply titled, "Sex in Art". 18 and over only, please! The site does contain some graphic imagery, and as a precaution, I'm linking to their disclaimer page.

Copyright Tools

2007-05-07T11:24:00.001-07:00

Copyright Navigator: A Digital Annotated Concept Map of the Fundamentals of U.S. Copyright Law by Professor Lionel S. Sobel is a pretty awesome interactive flowchart that lays out the fundamentals of copyright law, and how it pertains to things like enforcement and fair use.

Ready to register those works of art? The United States Copyright Office has the step by step instructions and required forms for copyright registration of various flavors, including visual arts, literary works, performance art etc..

Creative Commons has a new "Termination of Transfer" tool based on the US Copyright Act that assists artists in reclaiming copyrights given away long ago. 35 years, to be exact. via boingboing.

Here's an interesting article in The Wall Street Journal about some new tools that can scan the web for violation of copyright. Attributor and Copyscape are the key players right now.

UPDATES 5/2/08

Attributor just raised 12 million and has the support of Condé Nast.

Photographic Forgeries

2007-05-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

Awesome article in Science News about detecting photographic forgeries with software and math. You may recall this past year a Reuters Photographer was given the boot for cloning some smoke in an image of the war in Lebanon.

More on the forthcoming suite of photo authentication tools from Adobe via Wired Magazine.

UPDATE: CBS News looks at The Art Of Image Altering.

Kodak Rolling out New Products

2007-05-07T10:23:00.001-07:00

Kodak's been busy with a few new product rollouts. Shown above, is the 100 Year ink cartridge for their new line of printers.

And check out this new mini printer with a built in camera - The Zink. Is this the return of the instant Polaroid?

Review of Super Bowl Commercials

2007-04-23T14:36:00.001-07:00

Bob Garfield of AdAge reviews this year's Super Bowl commercials; Worst, consumer generated, best, and the biggest blunders. His take? Lots of slapstick violence with a dash of sexual insecurity. You can watch all the commercials at AdCritic.

Geotagging Images

2007-03-14T09:37:00.000-07:00

AKA Geocoding, AKA GPS Photo Tagging, AKA I'm not sure what we're officially calling this yet, is the method of using GPS (global positioning) to Tag images with location specific meta-information. Software for iPhoto and linking to Google Earth here, and more options including Flickr and Aperture here. via TUAW.

UPDATE: Review of GiSTEQ, a device that syncs to your camera's clock and records you location for three weeks. via engadget.