TOTSPUPS-PHOTO-BLOG

VISUAL POEMS

2011-12-28T10:40:00.000-08:00

Irene Suchocki combines her love of travel and place with a dream-like aesthetic to create visual poems that evoke a sense of magic, delight, nostalgia and romance. I am a big fan.

SAMANTHA CARLISLE

2011-12-28T10:34:00.001-08:00

I am a big fan of Samantha Carlisle's portraits.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2010-12-25T00:01:00.000-08:00

DUFFY

2010-12-02T20:51:00.000-08:00

I am waiting for Duffy's new album to come and I noticed her "Endlessly" single photo is gorgeous. I love the rim lighting on the hair and how it makes the moment magical.

DOG PORTRAIT CUSHIONS

2010-11-29T19:57:00.000-08:00

Sold by Naughty Dog

LILY

2010-10-26T02:00:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe that Lily is over 3 years old. She still has the sparkle that she had when she was a baby.

AUTUMN BY THE LAKE

2010-10-26T00:09:00.000-07:00

The cinematography is incredible but the music not so much. Contrast and details in the whites (highlights including the fog) and blacks (shadows) are magnificantly preserved. Insanely inspiring video. Keep it on mute to truely enjoy this short.

REMY

2010-10-25T00:07:00.000-07:00

I took a few months off and now I am back. Here is an adorable 2 year old Remy. His warm and bright smile is infectious.

Chikismiqui Issue #1

2010-09-21T06:18:00.000-07:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More art

zenit-b

2010-09-21T06:09:00.000-07:00

zenit-b by Annette Pehrsson

I LIKE YOU

2010-08-29T21:27:00.000-07:00

I am going through some personal stuff lately. This poster made my day.

Sold at printshop.urbanoutfitters.com

PURE MAGIC

2010-08-24T07:17:00.000-07:00

This photo put a smile on my face. Hope it does the same for you.

Photo by squidart

SEASIDE PORTFOLIO

2010-08-21T07:02:00.001-07:00

SEASIDE PORTFOLIO by Michael Hallett

INSPIRING PHOTOSHOP SKILLS

2010-08-19T05:46:00.001-07:00

The photographer's light leaks, bokeh layers, and various light filters done with Photoshop skills make me envious. Love the effects and I would like to explore it.

Photo by -dust-bunny-

MOVING

2010-08-17T07:31:00.000-07:00

I am in the process of house hunting.

BUBBLE GUM PHOTOGRAPHY

2010-08-12T04:41:00.000-07:00

Beautiful child photos by a Canadian photographer.

Photos by Bubble Gum Photography

WHAT DO YOU LIVE FOR?

2010-08-12T04:30:00.001-07:00

I live for moments like this. Incredible photo by Bruno Dayan.

I AM WATCHING

2010-08-08T15:28:00.000-07:00

I am watching the movie "Mine" right now.

MINE is a documentary about the essential bond between humans and animals, set against the backdrop of one of the worst disasters in modern U.S. history. This gripping, character-driven story follows New Orleans residents as they attempt the daunting task of trying to reunite with their pets who have been adopted by families all over the country, and chronicles the custody battles that arise when two families love the same pet. Who determines the fate of the animals —and the people— involved? A compelling meditation on race, class and the power of compassion, MINE examines how we treat animals as an extension of how we view and treat each other.

THE FUNNIES

2010-08-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

I enjoy the photos on AwkwardFamilyPetPhotos.com. You can submit your very own awkward photo and see if it made the cut.

In most of the photos, the people look happy but not the pets.

LIGHT PAINTING

2010-08-06T06:04:00.001-07:00

Light painting is a technique where the camera shutter is open for a long time in a dark setting. The light painter is a person holding a light source (flash light, small portable lamp, etc) who enters the frame and paints (moves around) with the light source. The setting must be dark so it doesn't overexpose and the light painter must wear dark colors so he/she will not be visible. This is a really fun one.

BLUE LEAVES

2010-08-04T22:23:00.001-07:00

Sóley - Blue Leaves

Kristof Luyckx

2010-08-04T07:55:00.000-07:00

I love that they incorporated animals in their lovely artwork. Don't you?

Artwork by Kristof Luyckx

MILESTONE: TOP + BOTTOM TEETH

2010-08-02T23:24:00.001-07:00

My favorite photo on the shoot is this one:

Well, the thing is that if you cry while I am around with a camera, the chance of capturing a photo like this is very likely:

BEES WAX PHOTO FINISH

2010-07-30T20:04:00.000-07:00

If you are crafty you can take one or many photos and create a collage with beeswax. Read the instructions

If you are in the Seattle area, OneLovePhoto holds hands on workshops.

"Wanderland" by Hermanos Inglesos feat. MeMe

2010-07-29T06:40:00.000-07:00

Directed by Kristof Luyckx & Michèle Vanparys.

Design: Kristof Luyckx & Michèle Vanparys
Art Direction: Kristof Luyckx
Editing: Stijn Deconinck & Kristof Luyckx
Animation: Michèle Vanparys, Michélé De Feudis, Dries Bastiaensen & Kristof Luyckx.

These designers/art directors are endlessly creative. Check out their reel:

GIFT IDEA: PERSONALIZE PET PORTRAIT

2010-07-28T07:17:00.000-07:00

A fresh gift idea to commission an artist to paint a pet portrait on a plate. It is more affordable than you think.

You can read her story about how she became inspired by her orphan cat.

Sold by ShebboDesign.etsy.com

PARENTS MAGAZINE PHOTO CONTEST

2010-07-28T07:02:00.000-07:00

Parents Magazine has numerous photo contest with various prizes including cash. Do you have the $1500 winning photo? Enter and see.

KIDS WITH CAMERAS

2010-07-27T23:26:00.000-07:00

I just watched this movie and I highly recommend it. It is a wonderful story about photography and how it can help.

Born into Brothels, by Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski, is the winner of the 77th annual Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. A tribute to the resiliency of childhood and the restorative power of art, Born into Brothels is a portrait of several unforgettable children who live in the red light district of Calcutta, where their mothers work as prostitutes. Zana Briski, a New York-based photographer, gives each of the children a camera and teaches them to look at the world with new eyes.

The film, released by THINKFilm, premiered theatrically at the Film Forum in New York City in December 2004. It has since opened in over one hundred theatres nationwide. It premiered on HBO/Cinemax on Tuesday, August 16th, 2005.

The film is now available on DVD.

The photographs taken by the children in Born into Brothels are available for purchase in the Kids' Gallery, and as a signed limited-edition portfolio, or as a compilation in our companion book. 100% of proceeds from sales of the children's prints go directly to support their education and well-being.

THE NEXT STEP

2010-07-26T23:39:00.000-07:00

ALEX, ANNIE, CANON 5D from The Lighthouse Film Company

I have been thinking and talking it for awhile now. I am leaping into short films. The inspiration are two 1 year old second cousins to my husband. They started to walk a few weeks ago and watching their faces enjoy this experience is priceless. I can't wait another minute for the next generation of Canon SLR to arrive in early 2011. I ordered the Canon 5D Mark II. It should arrive by Friday. I can't wait to explore this genre.

MEETING RAE

2010-07-26T20:34:00.001-07:00

This video footage is of a 4 day old baby on his first day home.

PERSONAL GIFT FOR A PRINCESS

2010-07-25T21:30:00.000-07:00

The chance of someone else bringing the same exact gift is zero, zilch, nada. This large 28x40 inch frame holds a 20x30 inch print. It is a definate crowd pleaser.

INSPIRATIONS

2010-07-24T13:37:00.000-07:00

Here are a few books to get inspired by.

portifolio by carol vinagre

2009 Art Book Project by pawsforcharity.blogspot.com

Holga Book by Julija Svetlova by Julija Svetlova

CHEER UP YOUR BLANK WALL

2010-07-23T07:15:00.000-07:00

Why post impersonal posters or prints on the wall when you can put personal ones? Here is a great solutions:

If you are crafty this can be a DIY project for the weekend - read the instructions.

TOTSPUPS MEMORIES VOL 1

2010-07-21T01:04:00.001-07:00

TOTSPUPS turned one in June and to celebrate I put all the memories I captured into one large 13 x 11 inch photo book. This book has two separate section including two covers for children photography and pet photography. When the book is flipped over and turned 180 degrees you can see the second section. This book will make more sense when you hold the physical copy.

Editing photos, color balancing each photo for Blurb.com, layout, text, and proof reading took 5 days to produce this 80 page book. Enjoy.

TOTSPUPS MEMORIES VOL 1 by TOTSPUPS

Vanishing Point

2010-07-21T00:49:00.000-07:00

BIRDS

2010-07-21T00:38:00.001-07:00

FLUFFY MC CLOUD

2010-07-21T00:26:00.001-07:00

ABSOLUTE FAVORITE

2010-07-18T02:32:00.000-07:00

These are my most favorite illustration portraits of pets. There is only a few pencil strokes and they collectively expresses their personality. Making something simple like this is actually harder because every pencil strokes counts. This may be mistaken as amateur work but it takes skilled professional to create it.

HOW WONDERFUL

2010-07-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

SWATCH MTV PLAYGROUND COMPETITION

2010-07-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

Swatch MTV Playground is the place to discover exciting new artists and ideas. Its mission: to activate and empower the world's next generation of creative talent. Enter the Swatch MTV Playground Creative Competition 2010 for a chance to win an amazing trip to Shanghai, China.

Win a five-star, all-expenses-paid trip to this extraordinary city for you and a friend, including VIP tickets to the 2010 Expo and an immersive taste of the city’s unique and thriving art scene.

Use a classic Swatch as a canvas for your creativity. Swatch MTV Playground's online design tool will help you bring to life your very own Swatch-shaped masterpiece. Create your unique watch design using our bespoke watch-builder tool. Submit your design before Aug 31, 2010.

Go to Swatch MTV Playground

GLOW 4 BROKE

2010-07-17T05:24:00.000-07:00

HAPPY WEEKEND

2010-07-16T05:39:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to enjoy the little things in life. Happy Friday.

Photo by Little Thoughts

GOOD OR BAD? BLOWN OUT HAIR DETAIL

2010-07-16T04:26:00.000-07:00

Emotional perspective: Gorgeous portrait.
Technical persepective: Blown out hair = bad technical execution.

Depending on who you ask or what point of view, this is good or bad.

This is one of the hardest advice/questions to answer. What is technically bad can be emotional good. In this case/context, I think it works. It is a judgement call.

Personally, I can technically control the exposure to not make it blown out. I would have preserve the details in the blown out area. I wouldn't make it too dark, just dark enough to see more details. In photography every detail counts.

My personal approach to photography is to make sure all the details are preserved in the original photo. At the time of digital color processing, I will make certains details lighter and other darker. This way I have the choice at the end.

BTW, looking at the catch light in the eyes tells me a flash with softbox was used for the front of the face. The greater the amount the flash was turned down, the less blown out the hair would be.

The choice of clothing is questionable. The styling of the face and hair is a modern simplified version of Marie Antoinette. But she is wearing a fishnet body stocking which normally gives a trashy vibe. These are two clashing style messages. Personally, I would have her wear a tube top so the shoulder will appear bare in the portrait.

Photo by Rayan Ayash

BLURB PRESENTS: FREE PHOTO SECRETS ONLINE CLASS JULY 21

2010-07-15T23:48:00.000-07:00

Clear some time on Wednesday, July 21, and join the free “Photography 101 and Blurb Books” class available on the web.

Dan Milnor, pro photographer and ace Blurb bookmaker, will lead the webinar. He’ll cover some super helpful tips and often overlooked essentials to help you capture stunning shots for your next Blurb book. You’ll learn:

Composition secrets
Great light and how to get it
Creative risk taking that pays off
Photo-editing basics

They are offering two sessions, so click on the one that works for you and sign up today (spaces are limited and fill up fast):

Session 1:
1pm EDT (10am PDT / 5pm GMT / 6pm BST)

Session 2:
4pm EDT (1pm PDT / 8pm GMT / 9pm BST)

SUBCONCIOUS PORTRAITS

2010-07-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

These photos remind me of the reoccurring dreams I have. A great portrait should evoke the emotions or feelings comfortable and not comfortable. Although these imagery are dark they do stimulate thoughts and mystery - which captures my attention.

These remind of me of scenes from scary movies. My all time favorite psychological thriller movies are Funny Games, 13 Tzameti, and most recently Paranormal Activity. Blood and gore are not as scary as stories set in real life every day situations.

Photos sold at Frankenkitty.etsy.com by Mari Lowery Photography

TOY STORIES

2010-07-15T07:10:00.000-07:00

Photos sold at WildLifePrints.etsy.com by Jeff Friesen

JEWEL TONED LANDSCAPES

2010-07-15T06:31:00.000-07:00

I am rarely inspired by landscape photos but using jewel tones makes them exciting again for me. Above is the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Below are common places I travel to; Downtown Los Angeles, freeway getting to Downtown, and Santa Monica Beach. It never occurred to me to interprete it in this manner. Great job Campbell-Zurek

I TRY TO APPLY COLORS

2010-07-15T04:35:00.000-07:00

"I TRY TO APPLY COLORS
LIKE WORDS THAT SHAPE POEMS
LIKE NOTES THAT SHAPE MUSIC"
- JUAN MIRO

This is a video made by Yonil and Alteroy for the 9th issue of A5 magazine. The issue entitled "Remix" and is a collection of artworks inspired by various songs.

CROP

2010-07-14T19:07:00.000-07:00

You don't have to include the entire face to create an beautiful portrait.

Photos by Flickr Members

PHOTO INSPIRATIONS

2010-07-14T06:17:00.000-07:00

These photos move me. The color schemes adds inspiration and calming emotion.

Tec Petaja | Thresca

LETS COLOUR PROJECT

2010-07-14T06:01:00.000-07:00

Embrace color. See the impact of painting some walls.

Film shot by Adam Berg in Brazil, France, London and India.

So do you want to know what I noticed from this video?

The wall color starts from purple/lilac and ends purple/lilac.
I love the transition from going through the door to window.
During the night the wall colors are yellow/beige for maximum contrast. Darker colors would not be as effective.
Night to day transition was achieved by continuous painting to the next day.
Love the dramatic clouds when painting the red rectangular staircase spiral structure.

THE CHAP

2010-07-13T07:05:00.000-07:00

PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK NOW CONTEST

2010-07-13T04:22:00.000-07:00

Blurb Photography Book Now Contest Grand prize is $25,000! Entry deadline is July 15 - two days left.

Am I entering? Right now I don't have a suitable book to enter. In a few years, I hope to compile the best photos to create a story/memory book.

See the entries and get inspired.

Make a book by July 31 and save 20%.* Just enter the appropriate promo code for your location at checkout and you’re set.

USD $ promo code: FLICKRTRAVEL
(minimum purchase of $29.95)

GBP £ promo code: FLICKRTRAVEL1
(minimum purchase of £16.95)

EUR € promo code: FLICKRTRAVEL2
(minimum purchase of €24.95)

CAD $ promo code: FLICKRTRAVEL3
(minimum purchase of $31.95)

AUD $ promo code: FLICKRTRAVEL4
(minimum purchase of $39.95)

UNICORNS DO EXIST

2010-07-11T07:16:00.000-07:00

European researchers have found a deer with a rare abnormality - a single antler growing from the middle of its head. See with your own eyes the unicorn video by the Discovery Channel. This is not a hoax.

Plushies sold by penguinandfish.etsy.com

Glove dogs + Sock monkeys

2010-07-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

If you are crafty you will be a inspired by the book 'Glove Dogs + Sock Monkeys' (ISBN: 4-579-11061-7). It has a variety and detail of glove and sock animals you can make over the weekend. So popular, the book is now available in English.

There was an exhibit in Kyoto, Japan showcasing an array of sock monkeys. How fun it is to take a hobby and share it with everyone.

Article first posted by Felt Cafe

LET'S COLLABORATE

2010-07-08T07:39:00.000-07:00

This video is beautiful, well directed, and delivers the message in a playful way. One day I hope to produce a video equally creative and inspiring.

The message is:
"Let's think of something beautiful
Not something you would buy
Not something trendy
Something cheerful and personal
Something colorful
Something important
Something insiginificant (maybe for others but not for you)"

Give me a buzz and let me make a one of kind and personal gift for you.

Video by Jean-Sebastien Monzani

PROPOSED WEB DESIGN

2010-07-05T10:06:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: InfinityBeautySalon.com is up.

The first draft of the proposed web design for Infinity Salon got approved.
The client asked for:

Black, white, gray, and charcoal color scheme.
Desire to change the accent color (currently red) every 6 months. The red is used sparringly and in area where it can be changed with 2 code updates.
Address, phone, and Facebook info displayed on every page.
No vertical scroll to view page content.
Photo centric website with less words.
Clean and very simple design and feel.
Incorporate infinity symbol tastefully in the background.
Target monitor screen resolution is 1280 x 600.

You may know that I don't graphically design the website but I give art direction, organize/analyze, and determine the data structure before it goes into the design step. The information listed above is digested and factored into my recommended before the designer starts the design process. This saves time for us and in turn save money for our clients.

Next Step: PartidaSolutions.com recieves the approved design and initiates the coding phase. When the approved text content of the website is delievered, the website will go live.

BIKES: CRASHING INTO LOVE

2010-07-03T23:40:00.000-07:00

Words from the director, Raoul Paulet:
"A metaphorical short video about bikes, movement, freedom and love. Every day mind tries to get the better of heart. Space and time have always existed and we can’t stop them. Throught the movement we discover ourself. Speed is like curiosity. A crash between two bodies. To remember us that we are not alone."

Main tools: Adobe AI, PS, AE; Apple FCP; Maxon C4D; Sony Ex1-Cam

ART BOOK: MACIEJ BUSZEWICZ

2010-07-03T20:31:00.000-07:00

Originally blogged by Kavka Design:
"This is limited edition book by Maciej Buszewicz - great polish graphic designer and professor of Fine Art School in Warsaw. The book is beautiful designed (like all of his projects) and so funny! "

I AM MARU

2010-07-02T18:29:00.000-07:00

Maru won the Japan Youtube award for the famous video. I love animals who are shameless in front of the camera. Here is a collection of "The Best YouTube Videos.

Photos by I am Maru Blog

PATH OF A DOLLAR

2010-07-01T06:51:00.000-07:00

I enjoy the message and the art direction of this short animation:

MEME

2010-06-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

If I have a cat this cute, I would dedicate a blog for him/her too. Meme makes the sweetest and saddest face at the same time.

CUTE OVERLOAD

2010-06-30T21:05:00.001-07:00

Video provided by Cute Overload

AT-AT

2010-06-30T21:04:00.001-07:00

Video and story by Patrick Boivin

PAPER + STRATASTENCIL + 12 WEEKS

2010-06-26T21:52:00.000-07:00

Words direct from the creator:
"I got the original concept of creating a cutout animation for art made with a single sheet of paper and the stratastencil technique.

I wanted the animation to have a dream like quality exploring the reality and space in which the dream exists and felt that the cutout technique fit this idea. Color was another consideration that I built into the design of the animation to help enhance the dreamlike qualities of the film. From here the idea grew and as I did studies involving birds, umbrellas, water, trees, and other things I was able to refine my idea and break it down to find the core essentials of the film.

Once I had my subject matter down and I was able to start animating. Most of the animation is hand drawn (the tree was drawn by hand then animated in Adobe After Effects). Once I had the animation drawn, I filled it all in with black marker, shot it, and brought it into Adobe After Effects and ran an auto trace on it to create that cutout effect.

To create the final look of the film, I started with a basic mockup frame that I used to make rough style frames and an animatic with. Later applying the animation over the animatic to create a fine cut, while using it to do render tests and get a feel of how the workflow was going to work out. From there I made the final frame and created 7 colored backings for it, which I swapped out while hanging the frame in different places on the wall. I lit the frame to give it the shadows in the image and used these pictures later, compositing them together so that they were all hanging on the wall at the same time.

After that it was matter of compositing in all the animation, adding a drop shadow to the paper to make it flow better with the look and feel of the frame, and lots of rendering.

For the sound I partnered with a student from the Berklee School of Music in Boston named John Nolan. I explained to him what I was looking for and through different sound tests and experiments he was able to narrow down specific instruments to use. With every edit to the sound I would provide some notes, feedback and things I thought would help add to the sound as well as strengthen the animation. John took those ideas and applied them with other elements to create a really beautiful final soundtrack.

All of this came together over a 12 week period to create this final film."

Kenneth Onulak

GREAT MESSAGE + ART DIRECTION

2010-06-25T18:20:00.001-07:00

PAINTED WALL AS BACKGROUND

2010-06-25T17:54:00.001-07:00

I love love love it when the clients' home has painted wall(s). It instantly adds so much energy and character to the photograph. Gretchen Easton also uses them as backdrops like so many other photographers do including me.

Photo by Gretchen Easton Photography

BEEZ PHOTOGRAPHY

2010-06-25T17:37:00.000-07:00

Aussies really appreciate and understand art direction and photography. Here is another photographer who's website art direction intrigues me:

I found Beez in Maeve Magazine

WHITE BALANCE LENS CAP

2010-06-25T06:51:00.000-07:00

"You may think automatic white balance is good enough. But if you've ever had to fix dozens (or even 100s) of photos with just slightly different colors, one-by-one, you know the true meaning of pain.

The White Balance Lens Cap leaves you no excuse for not properly white-balancing every situation you encounter.

Simply flip your camera into custom White Balance mode, snap a photo with your White Balance Lens Cap on, and your camera creates a perfect profile of the actual lighting in front of you.

Best of all, unlike a gray card, the White Balance Cap takes no extra room in your gear bag. Just replace your existing lens cap with this one and you'll always be able to white balance with no additional equipment.

Squeeze the White Balance Lens Cap's side tabs for easy attachment or removal, even with a lens hood in place. The center pinch-release mechanism prevents it from accidentally being bumped off, while in your bag or shooting in a crowd.

Each White Balance Lens Cap comes with both a neutral and a warm color dome. Pick whichever you prefer and give all your photos perfectly consistent white balance.

Available for lens thread sizes 52mm, 55mm, 58mm, 62mm, 67mm, 72mm and 77mm. (Don't know your thread size? Just check the outer rim or bottom of your lens for one of these numbers.)

Note: You may look a little silly setting your white balance by taking a photo with your lens cap still on, but the results are worth it."

I ordered mine and you should too.

Shop at PhotoJojo.com

BLU

2010-06-20T20:22:00.000-07:00

This is Blu and he is scheduled for a photo session in July. As you can see he is natural in front of the camera. I can't wait to meet you.

SHARON MONTROSE

2010-06-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

It is rare to find great animal portraits. When I first saw Sharon Montrose's series I thought they were taxidermy animals which horrified me. But they are not. The series are powerful yet simple moments. I enjoyed the video interview at the bottom. I am a big fan.

See how she became inspired and what happens inside her studio as she captures these portraits:

Shop at SharonMontrose.etsy.com

BEAUTIFUL SHORT FILM ABOUT WINNIE

2010-06-18T06:41:00.000-07:00

"A video about the best day of my life. and the first day of hers.

Winnie Eloise Hogan
5-10-2010
4:31pm

Music: "Those To Come" by the Shins"

Love the work of Jared Hogan. This film made my day. Happy Friday everyone!

EDWARD THE HAMSTER

2010-06-17T21:20:00.001-07:00

VOLO - LE DIMANCHE

2010-06-17T20:25:00.000-07:00

Can't understand the lyrics but the video is incredible.

WITHOUT PHOTOGRAPHY

2010-06-16T19:30:00.000-07:00

Without photography on the weekends this is how my work week would feel:

Very interesting way of telling a story. There are multiple frames on the same screen. Without photography, I would feel so bored.

CAN YOU SEE COLOR?

2010-06-16T07:24:00.000-07:00

When determining the color scheme for the photo (meaning choosing clothing, props, and background), dissect the color elements in your mind. This will help pre-visual the outcome of your photo session. (BTW, this takes years of practice.)

We also extract the color of photo for web design. The photo and the web colors must compliment so this is how the analysis of color happens.

Not everyone can "see color", ColourLovers.com is a great place to see color swatch suggestions. Here is a fun animation from ColourLovers.com.

THE EYES SAYS IT ALL

2010-06-13T23:46:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: The photo below got over 200 hits in less than 24 hours. That is very impressive.

The eyes says everything and children are not able to filter out how they feel - which is one of the reason I choose to specialize in this field. "D" from Wilmington, CA has that extra charisma or sparkle in her eyes. Her eyes are piercing yet soft - something even most adult models cannot pull off. I found this same trait in her mom and her aunt. Some people just got it. These are just a few photo I pulled from photo session this afternoon. You will be seeing more photos of "D" in the future.

GRUMPY

2010-06-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

A show-quality Persian has an extremely long and thick coat, short legs, a wide head with the ears set far apart, large often piercing eyes, and an extremely shortened muzzle. Persian cats photos I find online have 3 distinct looks:

Grumpy
Deer in headlights
Mean or evil

It is time for me to do to a study on them to show a more softer side.

Photo by Flickr

DULAR LIFESTYLE BLOG

2010-06-12T00:30:00.000-07:00

Finalized design for the Dular Lifestyle blog. Mandy is a realtor, an artist rep, and a foodie. She has combined all her passions into one blog:

Realty is for real estate related posts
Taste is for food, and wine related posts
Style is for fashion, and art related posts

I took this portrait of Mandy about 5 years ago. It is being used on her business cards, newsletter mailers, and now on her blog. The photo captures her energy and personality.

The color scheme for the blog was chosen after the photo was selected. This is the best way to go so that the photo and the rest of the website doesn't clash.

If you have been keeping up with the blog you may know that the main website uses darker color schemes. I wanted the blog to be different than the rest of the website. The website is about the business meaning stern and serious. The blog is about the person meaning less serious and in this case, express her sassy personality.

Next step, PartidaSolutions.com will develop the site. If you haven't guessed we provide all the creative or art/design work for Partida Solutions. Allison Lehman is our designer.

AN EMAIL AWAY

2010-06-10T07:22:00.001-07:00

The incredible thing about the internet is that I can sit in my dining room with a laptop and experience art from all over the world. I found Joanna Gwis, an illustrator and graphic designer, living in Poland in old house with husband, 2 dogs and 3 cats a few weeks back. Her illustration feature pets tell an fun story about a tea party. I emailed her to let her know how much I appreciate her work. I received this custom illustration about TOTSPUPS this morning and it is wonderful beyond words. One thousand thank yous are not enough to express my gratitude!

If you see something wonderful online, drop an email to the artist. They would love to hear from you.

See Joanna Gwis Blog

EXTREME POODLES

2010-06-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

I have always been facinated with dog grooming. Here are a few extreme examples:

Taking photos of incredibly groomed dogs is on my to-do list.

HAMSTERS

2010-06-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

How can I resist cute hamsters in this funny commerical?

The digital effects are amazing.

STORY VIA SKETCH BOOK

2010-06-06T06:35:00.000-07:00

Flipping through a Moleskine sketch book is like watching a short film.

Got your own sketch book? You can participate in the Sketchbook Project. Thousands of sketchbooks will be exhibited at galleries and museums as they make their way on tour across the country.

After the tour, all sketchbooks will enter into the permanent collection of The Brooklyn Art Library, where they will be barcoded and available for the public to view.

Anyone - from anywhere in the world - can be a part of the project. To participate you must have The Sketchbook Project send you a sketchbook for $25. Start by choosing a theme on their website.

Sign up by: Oct 31, 2010
Postmark book by: Jan 15, 2011
Tour starts: Mar, 2011

Go to The Sketchbook Project

OH DEAR, ANOTHER HOBBY

2010-06-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

My designated office space is now storage area due to all the different hobbies I have. My choice was to either give up some hobbies or move to a 5 bedroom home. Even after giving up a few, I found that it wasn't enough space so I actually use my dining table as my work space. But the one genre that I haven't yet tried is furniture reupholstery. It is always lingering in the back of my mind. I am sure I would have done it if I had my own garage. A video like this one makes me want to flirt with this idea:

ANTHRO PHOTO ESSAY

2010-06-04T10:44:00.000-07:00

I recieved this newsletter from Anthropologie today.

Great email campaign because they got my attention by tugging my emotions.

ELLS OJALA

2010-06-04T09:01:00.000-07:00

I found these wonderful photos on Flickr and it seems the photographer has no formal training. She should considering photography as a profession. Some people just have it.

Photo by Ells Ojala

SERENAH PHOTOGRAPHY

2010-06-04T05:49:00.000-07:00

It is difficult to find great pet photography. I look for inspiration everyday. When I saw Serenah's work I knew right away it was legit. She is an multi award winning photographer. Her portraits of Ralph, the small dog, capture candid every day moments that tell a story.

Work by Serenah Photography

CHICKAPUG OR PUGADEE?

2010-06-03T08:26:00.000-07:00

Photography by Kelly Brown

PROBLEM: DARK COATS

2010-06-03T06:37:00.000-07:00

If you ever attempted to take photos of pets with dark coats you may have realized it much more difficult to get good results. Because they are dark, you must first overexpose slighting to see the details. Second, the background you place the subject is very important.

There are a few tricks for non tabby, almost solid dark coats:

1. Use their silhouette to create shapes and interesting composition:

2. Use solid colored background or environments (with a hint of pattern) to make your subject pop:

3. Notice the yellow chair is against the cat rather than an all white background. This makes the cat pop:

4. The white background has many shades of light gray (with bluish cast)- this is called white with details. If the rest of the house has a busy background and distracts from the subject, look to the floor. You maybe able to find the clean simple background you are looking for:

For tabby cats or cat with many shades of color in their coats, it is important to keep the background extra simple:

For first time cat photographers, find a place that is simple with very little clutter. Cats tend to move around a lot and it is easier to capture with less props/stuff in the background.

Flickr Dreamcats

WATERCOLOR TYPOGRAPHY

2010-06-02T00:30:00.000-07:00

Watercolor and typography are two constant themes I enjoy. So this is a beautiful marriage of them. I would imagine a stencil was used to keep the edges clean.

By Sasha Prood

PROPOSED DESIGN: DULAR LIFESTYLE

2010-06-01T07:47:00.000-07:00

Here is the proposed design for Dular Lifestyle, lifestyle based realty company:

If you have been following the blog, you know that chandlier is the motif, and the tagline "Style, Taste, Realty" were essential part of the branding. There are hundreds of real estate websites and using a home icon is not memorable. This design is clean and elegant. But most importantly people will remember the chandlier and tagline associated with Dular Lifestyle because it sends a powerful message that it is not just about selling home but selling a lifestyle. The realtor's personal blog will discuss open houses, realty tips, food, wine, fashion, interior decorating, and staging homes. Remember, the client is a foodie, art dealer, and fashionista so incorporating her personality will make her stand out from the crowd.

Below is the client approved color swatch given to the web designer as a guideline:

BTW, the client's face light up when she saw this for the first time. She approved it immediately. Next step is the interior page design, and blog design.

ZINE: IMAGINATION

2010-06-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

ONE MINUTE PORTRAIT

2010-05-31T17:41:00.001-07:00

I had a camera when I was at visiting a friend's home. He started to cry but his eyes were so beautiful when they were full of tears. In a few seconds, he it was replaced with a bright smile. You can see his first teeth developing at the bottom. Babies are incredible.

CHARISMATIC DOG: MERRY

2010-05-31T15:20:00.000-07:00

Every morning when I get up I wonder who I will find online. Today I found Merry and she would make a great subject for my next Charistmatic Dogs Photo Book series. Purebred pug, model, aspiring author and diva, Merry lives a very pampered life in the urban jungle of Toronto, Canada. She eats only holistic dog food and all-natural treats, drinks only filtered water from fine glass dishes, and has a larger wardrobe than most people. Her favorite word is dah-ling (natch), though to human ears it comes out sounding like a bark. She is the face for Pampered Puppy. She is photographed by her mom and professional photographer Angie McKaig. The only thing is that Canada is a bit far. I hope to find subjects in the Los Angeles area.

3D TYPOGRAPHY

2010-05-31T14:01:00.000-07:00

Although my education is photography, I am moved, inspired, and titillated by other genres like architecture, design, painting, and typography. Here is a typographt that give the illusion of 3D by Ellen Zhao.

Via Sketchup Type

INCREDIBLE ART DIRECTION

2010-05-31T12:12:00.000-07:00

The most incredible ad campaign that combines jewelry photography and watercolor. Each piece is absolutely perfect and there is nothing I would change - the highest compliment I could give. Gorgeous! This work will win plenty of awards, I am sure of it.

Artwork by HollyIllustration.com

CLOUDS OF THOUGHTS

2010-05-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning is my cleaning day. Before I tossed magazines, I flip through it quick just to make sure. Nomoco's work caught my attention. She plays with inks and its organic movement.

When I feel a wave of creativity passing through, my brain feels like this:

See more at Pocko

FUWARI = SOFT + FLUFFY

2010-05-30T06:44:00.000-07:00

I am getting ready to take photos of cats so while researching online I found Fuwari. Fuwari means soft and fluffy in Japanese. Her personality shines through and the Junku's photography is simple and clean. His photos are the best cat photos I have found so far.

Photos by Junku

Also check out Cat on Fridge Series

CAT INSPIRED ARTWORK

2010-05-29T13:15:00.001-07:00

It is difficult to find inspiring or new take on cat portraits. Here are the two:

AMELIE ALICE PHOTOGRAPHY

2010-05-29T08:12:00.000-07:00

There is something very magical, sweet, and innocent about Amelie Alice's work.

Photographer's words:
“My two biggest inspirations in photography are little children and the sense of wonder they have, their expressions and curiosity, so capturing those childlike moments… I love childhood, and especially preschool moments… and secondly, literature and fairytales, from books and film as well.. and this stems from all the books I read with my children, and dress up play we do, especially with my two boys, Amelie’s brothers, when they were little. Pirates, Peter Pan, forest children, Alice in Wonderland… I adore costume details in film, and clothing details, and photography with a touch of ‘fairytale’ or classic look to it (Secret garden was another favourite children’s movie with costume details I loved), or a dreamy light look. I also very much love whimsical touches too, so that’s another influence.”

See more at AmelieAlice.com