Photo Inspiration; 3D Contest and Easter Brushes
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Sunset Balloons by TiaraMia, isn't this a clever, simple and yet gorgeous photo? I love the colors!Pixel2Life has a tutorial online about taking photographs of aquariums. I could have used this last month when we took Braeden to the Baltimore Aquarium. I struggled with the lighting and angles at which I could get a good shot of what was inside the tank.
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Okay so aside for the balloons and aquariums, I admittedly don't have much inspiration in my brain today. But I did come across a contest on the web for those of you who dabble in 3D design. It is from the evil villain in the TeknoChronicles of Z, General ShadowFinger, and he has a contest "Benign Design Contest in 3D".
"Finding good design talent is almost as hard as getting 10,000 giant mutant crabs to obey you."
The deadline is June 30, 2009.
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And here is a link to E-maniacs so you can scoop up their collect of Easter themed photoshop brushes. You'll find bunnies, eggs, baskets and all other sorts of spring time Easter fun.
And here is a link to their Easter icons, much fun to be had with these cute graphics.
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Just found another contest type opportunity for you. This one isn't as intense as the 3D contest above. The company is looking for a logo designer who will be able to create an original logo for a new website.
They say, "You create the logo, we pick it and we will give you your fee."
The logo is for the Company: "Networking Works"
It must include the words "Speed Business Networking" in a smaller font.
Labels: 3D, brushes, contest, icons, logo design, photography, photoshop
Lolita inspiration, css trick and web tips
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Oooo I like this article/tutorial on dynamic buttons using CSS.The technique is very simple. If we want to have a dynamic-width button, we have to find a way to stretch it horizontally. We will accomplish this if we create two background images that will define the button: one for the left side and one for the right side.
Click through to Janko At Warp Speed for he complete tutorial >>
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I recently read yet another article about web design mistakes. I think it is important to at least look at these articles because sometimes I do learn something and with web development constantly changing it doesn't hurt to keep informed.
One mistake mentioned is not having a good page title. This is something I know and yet even still continue to forget from time to time when building new sites.
"A good title is critical for getting good search engine positions and the most vital thing - the click-through. With the title, you are always walking a tightrope. You need a title with your most important keyword near the beginning but it should still appeal to the human reading the results."
For the rest of the article head to ThaidoWeb >>
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Lolita is a visual inspiration-bank, full of fantasies, dreams - a filter of colors and shadows, a silhouette in the dark. Hopefully making your pulse beat, body shiver.. The hand-picked images put together are also the basis of the story about a young Lolita, living in Stockholm, Sweden - inviting you to take a walk with her, in silence..
Initially I stumbled across Lolita under a graphic design pretense. I found their "the process" animated graphic which had me cracking up.
But there is a fount of inspiration at this website which goes way beyond graphics. Some of the photography on here is just so thoughtfully amazing that I have spent a great deal of time looking through their archives.
So check out Lolita >>
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And have you seen photos of Britney Spears' new home? It is beautiful and elegant in every respect. There is a library I literally spent time drooling over.
The 7,500 square feet home sports a pool, spa, three garages, 10 bedroom, 10 bathrooms, a bar, cinema and a library.
In terms of architecture and home design this one is 5 stars!
Labels: architecture, css, home, inspiration, lolita, photography, web design
Japanese architecture and Deviant Backdrops
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Deviant Art is such a fantastic place to check out for inspiration and art on all realms and levels. Abduzeedo.com picked out 20 Fantastic Deviant Wallpapers for you to look at just to get your feet wet.*~*~*
How to Make Your Wordpress Themes SEO Friendly?
SEO is a common acronym used among website developers to describe methods used to to improve websites in the eye of search engines, primarily the big G. It stands for search engine optimization and can be as simple as adding those dandy little title tags to your header to as specific as making sure you have your post titles wrapped in h1 tags up as high on the page as you can get them.
Read more at "For the Lose" >>
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The Design of Japanese Houses
Traditional designs tend to think of the inside and outside of a house as a continuous element, not two separate environments.
In spite of modernization, Japanese traditions have not been eradicated. As with most Asian countries, removal of the shoes before entering a house is customary and in even Westernized homes, a room can be found with a tatami (Japanese mat) covering it.
Luxury Interior Design Concept of Japanese houses >>
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And straight from the design forums someone is looking for an iPhone app creator.
"I am looking for a designer who can quickly build a prototype of an iPhone App for major U.S. publishing houses and bestselling authors. If the App is bought by my clients, and I expect it will be, it will be a lucrative payment. Please email me at jason(AT)precedentonline.com if you are interested in more information."
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My Fine Garden by photographer Shanon Gass has a great sale this week only on all photographs in her Paper N Stitch shop - buy one, get one (equal or lesser value) for 50% off!
"I love light and things that make me smile. My photography is like playing dress up. Sweet, imperfect sophistication."
Labels: architecture, home, japanese, luxury home, photography, wallpapers, web designshanon gass
Beer for women, PS brushes, design checklists
Monday, February 23, 2009
Beer for Women Ad Design ContestThere are an array of ads out there that are aimed at men as beer drinkers, and a disparaging lack of ads for women. At the Beer Babe, I challenge you to find creative ways to approach the growing ranks of female beer drinkers in the world through media!
Deadline is March 31, 2009
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850+ Super Cool Tech Brushes for Photoshop
Using circuits,linings,wiring or even blueprints could help achieve a better futuristic results but will take time doing all the details needed.
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Here's a link to a Common Sense SEO Checklist >>
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Signage and color contrast
Contrast between the foreground and background is one of the most important factors for the ease of reading. If coloured text is used on a bright background the contrast will be weak, for optimal contrast results is white text against dark colored backgrounds. In signage & wayfinding design color is the combining factor to harmonize the sign with the environment. Color programs will distinguish signs from each other and can offer an indication of the message without having to be able to understand the language of the sign.
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PSD Fan has a tutorial on designing a "Retro Futurism Space Scene," using a variety of lighting effects and photo manipulation.
It looks a bit rushed to me in terms of the final image, but the concept and potential is definitely there. It could create a cool backdrop.
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Here's a list of 99 Graphic Design Resources everyone should know about, you probably do know a lot of them, but it's always great to have one single page you can bookmark and return to later down the road.
And here is a link to 20 Typefaces To Start A Designer's Career.
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Spunk United Magazine, you might not be able to read it all, but you'll most likely be inspired but what you see from start to end. Definitely make sure to take time and look through the archives.
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For the most amazingly, beautiful landscape photography you will ever see, please go to DesignMags Landscape Photography Showcase. The images are just breath-taking. I'd pretty much like to step into all of them for just a minute.
Labels: brushes, contest, design, photography, photoshop, signs, typography, web design
Little poems for the eyes
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Irene Suchocki is a photographer of things which are every real entities, but once found in her camera's lens seem to turn into a dreamscape.Her prints have been displayed in galleries and exhibitions nationwide, including at the Sundance Film Festival. They can also be found in private homes all over the world. In addition, several prints were seen on Extreme Makeover Home Edition (Gilyeat Family episode which aired February 10, 2008.)
"I enjoy experimenting with different styles and techniques, both in-camera and in my digital darkroom. Faithfully capturing a scene is less important to me than finding that little bit of mystery or evoking a certain mood. I like to explore the ethereal, the surreal, the whimsical, the mysterious, and the beautiful. I enjoy creating little poems for the eyes."
You can find Irene's prints available on Etsy in her online shop of "Scenes, Dreams and Visions."
The print you see pictured in this post is called "Fireweed." The description says, "This haunting image of an abandoned house and a field of fireweed was taken in rural Prince Edward Island in Canada."
All prints are on premium acid-free, archival paper, which has a matte finish. Irene signs the back of each of them for a sweet, personal touch. You can contact her directly if you would like something printed on canvas.
With over 100 photos currently for sale in several sizes and feels I think everyone who looks through them will be in awe of what simple images Irene has turned into beautiful magic.
Labels: Etsy, Irene Suchocki, photography
Design is kinky and other links
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Design is Kinky is a online Graphic design magazine acting largely as a gallery of artwork. Also includes commentary, interviews, profiles, mug shots. There is a portion of the site where you can connect with other designers and register yourself as an artist.*~*~*
Creature Comforts posted a great, inspiring photo on their site this morning. It is a photo of a girl taking a photo and she is standing in front of a huge poster which states "Replace fear of the unknown, with curiosity." I love it!
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DIY store B&Q sells prints and canvases of retro portraits and scenes for you to decorate your home or office. They're a great place to shop if you are running under a tight and slim budget. They also sell more intricate items you might need for working on your own projects at home. They offer great tips, ideas and inspirations to those of you who like to get crafty whether big or small.
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For our web gurus who use Dreamweaver, there are so many resources out there for adding extensions to the software which make y our life easier. Who do you listen to and where can you find them for free? Easy, head over to Woork's web site and they have a list of 16 Outstanding Free Dreamweaver Extensions with explanations of why they rock.
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Last but not least today we have a font post from Sitepoint. There is a discussion on user friendliness, different font categories, lists of options and talk about hierarchy in terms of visual flow. Eight font stacks are listed, combining Windows, Mac, Linux, and Adobe fonts in groups that are relatively similar among themselves.
Labels: b q, creature comforts, design is kinky, diy, dreamweaver extensions, fonts, magazine, photography, sitepoint, woork
Warping photos
Friday, November 2, 2007
This photo disturbs me, but I'm fascinated by the work that went into retouching it. Christophe Huet has done some amazing work with retouching photos and creating new photos by combining multiple images.If you go to his website you can see how he made some of the photos. It will show you multiple steps. He doesn't tell you how he does it, but you see the original shot and then you see through time how it was warped. It's really interesting and I admire his talents.
In this particular photo the original shot was of a man laying on the floor. It appeared the man's skin was peeling in places. It looked kind of like glue peeling off your fingers you know what I mean. And then it was morphed into this shell of the man. It's really quite phenomenal to see some of the steps that were taken.
You should check out his site if you're interested. I warn you some of the photos are not rated G and some of them are just disgusting, but it's still pretty cool.
Labels: photography
Kathleen Connally: Photos of Durham Township
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Kathleen Connally might not know this, but I subscribe to her feed of photographs of Durham Township, Pennsylvania. All of the photos she takes (unless otherwise noted) are within a ten-mile radius of her home. Yet somehow she comes up with all these fantastic and unique shots that inspire a great deal of creativity in me. Her website claims we are witness to a permanent work in progress, but I feel that she is absolutely extraordinary and therefore quite modest.
Someday I hope to own a better camera and to be able to photograph weddings and/or other celebrations in my local area. I love to take pictures and as I practice I feel I get better at finding unique angles. Though I will tell you right now, I'm nothing like Kathleen Connally, especially when it comes to landscape photography.
This morning when I saw the photograph entitled "Fog Lifting on Spring Hill" I immediately knew I needed to post about her talents. I have been keeping my love for her photography secret for far too long.
You can order her prints and she will sign them all; you have the option of having it matted or framed. She prints three different sizes, the smallest being 8x10. They really are gorgeous photos so I may have to save up some money to order this one matted. Enjoy!
Source: Photo by Kathleen Connally
Labels: photography
Halloween Picture Taking
Monday, October 15, 2007
Today while doing some "catch up" on my daily readings that sort of seem to fall by the way side on weekends, I came across an article on taking perfect Halloween pictures.Photojojo is one of my favorite photography blogs. I check it frequently, if not daily, and often find fantastic tips on improving my amateur picture taking.
It seems the most important things to remember when taking scenery/spooky photos on Halloween is that you most likely won't need your flash AND you need to keep the camera as steady as possible.
One of the tips I found particularly intriguing was to put a "red or orange gel (or colored cellophane) on the flash to match your natural lighting and eliminate artificial flash tones." It seems simple enough and yet it is something I wouldn't have thought of on my own. Just so happens I have red plastic wrap at home and am going to be trying this out ASAP.
Find the rest of the tips here.
Labels: photography, photojojo
The Strange
Name: Christy Mannering
Appreciating and dancing around to all types of music. Movie mania! Reading fiend! Design queen!
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