Obliterate the term 'Black Film'

     Often I listen to kcrw/npr for their music or actual news (news beyond the local thief, a botched election, or selective news about the 'world').  Today's NPR program #Morning Edition inspired me to continue the dialog on this subject.  Please listen to, and or read the following, then feel free to leave your commentary following.  http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2014/11/14/363793023/director-gina-prince-bythewood-its-time-to-obliterate-the-term-black-film

Fathers featured in Laundry detergent commercial...(it's ABOUT TIME)

FINALLY! I have now seen 3 tv commercials for a Laundry detergent featuring a father (no Mom in the commercial).  Though, the 1st one (from Tide) to me somewhat groundbreaking (about time), they definitely focus on the fact he is a Father rather than just allowing that to be the norm.  they stress the fact HE can do the same things as 'she' (aka Mom).  I'm not sure I like the fact they are calling it 'Dad Mom'.  why not just simply, Dad.  This is still subconsciously stating it's a 'woman's job' but a Man can also do it etc.  The other two commercials, on the other hand seem a bit more well rounded.  Not focusing on the fact he is a man, but instead he just happens to be taking care of his kids (just like the 'mom' commercials of the last oh let's say 55+ years? ....
unfortunately I could only find links to the 'Dad MOm' version and at least oneo f the other versions but not the one I most recently saw while watching World cup 'pre-game' commentary.  If any of you can find that commercial please feel free to reply with a link to this post.
Here are the two link:

http://youtu.be/RDZ0SdlKPXU

http://youtu.be/xCYwAOCLiTA

visual 'tricks'. #ogilvy, #cocacola

If some of you have seen my website, there is a section on 'Cinemagraphs' alongside the conventional photography portfolios.  These are dressed up animated .gifs to combine the moving image with the still.  Ogilvy (for a recent CocaCola campaign) has gone steps further with their optical illusion imagery in use of negative space.  See below (the leaves appear to be moving, yet they are actuallyhttp://designtaxi.com/news/366383/Coca-Cola-Unveils-New-Negative-Space-Ads-Will-Trick-Your-Eyes/ still).

Animal Selfies? #NationalGeographic

to Promote the catalog of National geographics images of animals, they have released a campaign featuring 'animal selfies'.  If you recall a little while back (I think it was last year, there were images trending on the net of monkeys taking self portraits with a photographer's camera.  There is still speculation as to the authenticity of those (monkey) photos but you have to admit they sure were entertaining...

http://designtaxi.com/news/365526/National-Geographic-Ads-Feature-Animals-Taking-Selfies-Of-Themselves/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2011051/Black-macaque-takes-self-portrait-Monkey-borrows-photographers-camera.html

Artist talk: #AlbertWatson , what a beautiful evening reflecting on work both past present and looking toward the future

#RootStudios NYC (also known as #DriveInStudios) hosted an artist talk sponsored by #PhaseOne and #DigitalTransitions last Wednesday night (May 7th 2014).
Of course Albert's work needs no description, however for those of you maybe needing your memories woken up a bit, here are a couple of examples (text continues below)

BB King

50 Cent 

Alfred Hitchcock

Mick Jagger (& Leopard)

Steve Jobs

As stated above, Albert needs no introduction.  Most if not all of theses images above were shot on traditional film, yet I did state this talk was sponsored by #PhaseOne (#CaptureOne) a high end Digital capture company, and to me the leader in quality for digital capture.

Albert spanned most of his career pre-digital.  As my personal experience as been split (1st half my career in film 2nd half digital), I have witnessed several film photographers gripe about the onslaught of change into digital.  I've also sadly seen several photo labs close, people change careers and so on.  It was a true blessing to listen to Albert discuss his switch into the digital age with the lp of #PhaseOne.  He (Albert) is a true artist, so gave examples of his exploration into other realms of image making from film, to the darkroom (of course) then to paint and inks on antique papers, and other experimental forms of visual expression.  It was truly an inspiration rather than many functions being a showcase of fear in regards to current change in our industry.  This talk was a reminder that after all we are image makers, story tellers, so whatever technological advances may come our way, we should embrace then, experiment with them keeping our work fresh for many years to come.  

Ghost Phones by #Stephen Mallon

This beautiful image to the left by #Stephen Mallon, may be unrecognizable to the very younger generations, yet triggers a sense of nostalgia to the rest of us.  The slang 'To Dime someone out' was a term used in reference to telling on someone of a deed (usually negative) they had done.  It references using a dime in a pay phone to call the cops or someone else (fill in the blank).  Well as years went by that 'dime' quickly became 2 dimes then 25 cents and possibly 50¢ in some areas. During the black out in NYC 2003, after walking home from being stuck inside the F train, I found that out landline (not digitial) worked just fine. I was able to call my out of state Mother and let her know I made it home.  Post Storm Sandy (another partial blackout), I was able to go to a payphone, drop 50¢ and make phone calls to get the things done I needed to that day. The neighborhood where I made these calls, not even the traffic lights were functioning. Though the progress of technology is rather great, at some point, where is the back up? If we rely ONLY on cell phones, digital land lines, electronic windows in cars without a manual option, where does that leave us?
What is our back up plan?  I supposed we shouldn't look backwards in time for answers, but perhaps forwards where we can run on more solar and wind, to be a more reliable power source so when the big storms hit or a transformer blows for some reason we can still go about our day.

3d Printing to the next level: Should Beauty industry professional beware?

Fist off so you knwo what Iam referencing, click on this link, and view the video/demo from #TechCrunch & #GraceChoi at the bottom http://www.businessinsider.com/mink-3d-prints-makeup-2014-5#!JDmZB

The idea is brilliant!  Though, If this thing takes off, then the salaries of both make up companies and others whom financially benefit from make up sales may suffer.. EX: retailers, make up counter workers, advertisers, how many jobs does that pile up to? From that standpoint, it makes me nervous.  The deeper conversation aside, this idea is kind of bawler. Right down to the part where she states she wants to collaborate with printing companies as she states 'they are going out of business'. She has a point. this would open up a whole new market for printer manufacturers and companies that manufacture inks. 

I suppose it's yet another example of tech taking over.  As an image maker, rather than complain, and focus on (pun intended) the negative like losing a client base (for those on the beauty end of the business), we need to move forward and think in terms of how can we also make this work for us.  

Perhaps the salaries potentially lost from this game changing invention would be gained in a different sector, such as those creating their own custom makeup colors and selling the color online to be printed at home.  The makeup counter person could now do a tutorial online for a nominal fee (online subscription to their video tutorials kind of like Lynda.com).  Maybe because of this, it will kickstart one of us into creating a way to color our 3d printed projects with a type of airbrush pen, as the current 3d printed art tends to be monochromatic.  

Painters were nervous when the camera was invented, photographers were nervous when the moving image came along, silent picture professionals gasp when sound came into play, black & white lent itself to color, film to digital and so on. One thing is certain, we need to embrace change, and focus on the possibilities it can bring to us rather than what it is taking away.  

3D drawing.... I wish I had stayed in that drawing class, ouhy vehy.  maybe it's time to sign up again.
this pen does appear to be ridiculously cool, yet whomever produced their video should reconsider their career as a director.  Lighting isn't bad but My God, the direction is a joke..

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/04/lix-the-worlds-smallest-3d-printing-pen-lets-you-draw-in-the-air/

#3dprinting, #3dPen

#Calumet PHotographic Closes it's (US) doors after 75 years in the business.  If you are in need of some studio items..... they are liquidating everything go hit up the retail stores and see what deals you can find before it's all gone.  If you are in NYC, go to 22 West 22nd Street before 6pm during the week and check out what deals you can take advantage of.  I plan on going over there tomorrow.
For a bit more on the story, See links below

http://blogs.wsj.com/bankruptcy/2014/03/13/chicago-based-photography-retailer-to-liquidate/
http://blogs.wsj.com/bankruptcy/2014/04/08/calumet-photographic-finds-a-buyer/
http://www.brightsideofnews.com/2014/03/13/calumet-photo-stores-file-for-chapter-7-bankrupcy-and-immediate-liquidation/