Recent graphic design project

A local actor recently hired me

to create an online portfolio and some promotional materials for him. Here’s the post card I came up with:

The front features our home city of Pittsburgh in a washed out photo as the background. It also emphasizes his build and history as a boxer.

The back uses a plain white, non-distracting background for sort of a minimalist effect. It also shows a few different look variations with the small images as well. I’m sure he won’t mind the contact info being out there, after all, that’s the whole point of promotion isn’t it?

I made sure to use a fairly interesting font but also tried to keep it simple enough to be easily readable.

Here’s the online portfolio I built on his behalf:

Support for Boston through art

MIT’s Green Building

In Brooklyn, a group of visual artists projected a message of solidarity on the side of the Brooklyn Academy of Music:

Sending Love to Boston

Praying for Boston

 

 

 

 

New book and another one coming

So as you may or may not know, my educational background is in the literary arts. And in 2006, a few years after graduating from college, I wrote my first book. Since then, I have added three more to that list. However, the newest isn’t a literary work but rather a visual showcase of artistic photography. And the next one will be an SEO guide.

I’d like to that this posting opportunity to provide a little detail on each of my books, starting with the most recent.

My books

Coming soon:

A yet untitled SEO guide for simple and effective website promotion.

Currently available:

“Attirance”

This is a visual piece focused on my work with model photography and showcasing several creative images built around the art.

“Making Beautiful Photography:  A Guide for the Novice and the Enthusiast”

This  publication (available in e-book format only) seeks to help those who have a passion for digital photography by offering basic photography tips and tricks that are sure to improve anyone’s understanding of this visual art.

“Shadows and Shade”

This book centers on the emotions and circumstances that we all come to experience at some point in  our lives.

“Wishing Wells”

In the amalgamation of three sections, the reader will be taken on a journey through the stages of life, the daily challenges of our world and the mysteries of our very own minds.

Five songs to make you happy

If has been well documented that music can effect the way people think and feel. With that in mind, I know that from time to time, we can all use a little pick me up. These five songs are a few of the many that do the trick for me, maybe they’ll be good for you as well.

Taylor Swift “22″

Skye Sweetnam “(Let’s Get Movin) Into Action”

Michael Franti & Spearhead “Say Hey (I Love You)”

Jessie J – “Domino”

Coblie Caillat “Brighter than the Sun”

Quick and effective method to remove pesky background shadows

Shadows are a double edged sword

In photography, they can be used strategically to enhance shapes and form or even the overall tone of the image. But at the same time, inconveniently located harsh and harsh shadows can just about destroy an otherwise beautiful photograph.

Some of the photos you may not want in your shot are those that appear on the background behind your subject. This can occur commonly in studio or other indoor settings.

But fear not, there is a fairly easy way to correct it with the use of Photoshop or most other common editing tools. (This works especially well with either black or white backdrops but may work adequately with other really dark or really light colors as well).

Once you’ve opened your photo and decided what shadows much be removed, select your Dodge/Burn tool in Photoshop or the equivalent in another program.

If you’re working with a white (or really light backdrop), you’ll want to use the dodge tool. The reverse is true if you’re image has a black (or really dark) backdrop.

You may need to adjust the exposure and brush size. It is best to start out with a relatively low exposure such as 25% too see how things look. You can always adjust it to a higher or lower level if need be.

Use the tool to cover over the shadowy part of the background that you want to remove and that’s really all there is to it.

It may take some trial and error but you’ll get there.

 

Unfinished Business exhibit by Art of Natiq

A few months back a young fellow with extraordinary artistic talent utilized my artist studio for rent in Pittsburgh. He was in the process of putting together some work for a huge exhibit in the heart of the city’s Garfield neighborhood.

The show coming up this April and I enjoyed seeing his work so much that I simply had to give him a shout out.

So, without any more delay, you can feel free to check out the details in the jpeg of the event postcard below.

Hockey masks as art? You bet.

This blog has featured a number of examples in the past showcasing how two seemingly separate career fields – art and sports – can collide in beautiful  and sometimes unexpected ways.

Sitting at home the other night watching the Pittsburgh Penguins (I am a Pittsburgh-based artist after all) take it to the New York Islanders, I took notice of the goaltenders’ helmets. I had forgotten just how interesting they can be.

Probably just about every goalie in the NHL wears a mask with a customized design that fits them as an individual. Maybe it showcases his personality, is a play on a nickname or has some other significance or even none at all, these masks are painted to be 100% unique.

Below are a few of the really cool examples from images taken by Sports Illustrated. A few are dated but still pretty awesome.

Some really interesting masks:

Worn by Vesa Toskala of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Worn by Cam Ward of the Carolina Hurricanes

Worn by Peter Budaj of the Colorado Avalanche 

Worn by Marc Dennis of the Tampa Bay Lighting

Last but not least…

Worn by Marc-Andre Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins

Three ways to bring out the color in your photos

As a photographer, I know that a lot of people are looking for ways to bring out the color in their shots to make their digital photos pop. Here are a few tips along with sample shots.

Making color pop

1. Make use of the saturation effect

- Use your photo editing software’s saturation tools to increase the saturation for more vivid colors. Be careful not to go overboard though.

2. Utilize the dodge/burn tool

- Most likely, your chosen editing software will allow you to either burn (darken) or dodge (lighten) specific areas of your photo. This can really help with bringing out the color in skies and nature scenes as well as washed out clothing or body art.

3. Go with a spot color effect

- Here, you take out the color in a photo and essentially make it black and white with the exception of the area in which you want to showcase a specific color. This takes a little work but is well worth it. My e-book “Making Beauty Photography” has a deluxe edition with links to video tutorial on several of these techniques.

Creative Dreamers honoring top blogs – “best blog awards”

As the blogger behind Creative Dreamers, I only think it is right to acknowledge and showcase some of the best blogs out there. So, based on the opinions of CD readers, and the wonderful work of others out there contributing to the ever growing blogisphere, I’m announcing the first ever Creative Dreamers Blog Awards.

Here’s how it’s all going to come together

Blog Awards will be given based on the categories below:

Favorite Photography Blog

Favorite Poetry Blog

Favorite Visual Design or Layout on a Blog

Favorite General Arts Blog

Favorite Drawing Blog

Favorite Subculure and Body Art Blog

Favorite Music or Video Blog

The categories should probably be pretty self explanatory but if you’re not sure where a blog might fit in, just ask.

Readers can nominate any blog of their choice by:

1. Liking this post.

2. Sending the URL of your nomination, along with the category you are nominating the blog for, to trcapromo@gmail.com.

You can nominate a blog up until March 1, 2013. Results will be posted by mid-March.

Winning blogs will receive free promotion on this blog as well as bragging rights they can include on their own.

The amazing artistry of Natiq

Recently, a very talented young yet experienced artist needed a place to take some photos to use as reference material for an upcoming art show to be held in early April. He found me online and  took advantage of my photography studio for rent in Pittsburgh.

He brought along with him a few samples form his portfolio and quite honestly I was blown away. I’ve always had a special admiration for anyone who can paint.

I’d like to share his work with my Creative Dreamers readers and I hope you enjoy his talent as much as I did.

Check out a sample of his work below as well as his Art of Natiq website.

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