bryaun's

Jess engagement

2009-12-09T23:00:00.000-08:00

Jess engagement

2009-12-09T21:10:00.000-08:00

Jess engagement

2009-12-09T20:25:00.000-08:00

Judy

2009-07-29T19:33:00.000-07:00

Jessica

2009-07-27T16:42:00.001-07:00

Amy

2009-07-27T16:14:00.001-07:00

Alana

2009-07-27T15:56:00.000-07:00

Alana

2009-07-27T15:38:00.000-07:00

2009-07-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

whit 2

2009-06-13T09:59:00.001-07:00

Whit

2009-06-13T09:52:00.000-07:00

There are so many I broke it up so it wouldn't take forever to load.

2009-06-10T17:30:00.000-07:00

Alana Lee

2009-06-10T17:17:00.000-07:00

Don't tell me I never did anything for you. Here you go, in no particular order.

Final!!! Photojournalism

2009-04-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

Okay, so half way through this assignment I found out my sister has cancer. So, this might not be the most coherent response ever.
1. Should newspapers show violent images from Iraq?
Audiences prefer less graphic imagery then editors and photographers. Graphic images from Iraq and Afghanistan should be printed, but with constraint. Violence will loose impact when the viewer is bombarded with gore. Some photos communicate the same turmoil without being graphic. Like a burned teddy bear, rather than a burned body imprint on the ground. Not to say all of the horrible things people do to each other isn't newsworthy, but holding the audiences attention to provoke education/action/outrage should represent the primary communication objective. Journalists can't always be objective to the audiences point of view, because they have witnessed and lived in their story. A good editor while strive to find balance of picking images that tell the story, and spread the violence out to saver impact of the audience.
2. Should an editor and photographer be different people?
Yes. Boy, it saves a lot of work for me when I don't have to edit. Although, I haven't always agreed with Amanda's choices this semester it's provided a fresh set of eyes on my work. I am not objective. I don't even know where to begin to be more objective. What my shutter captures, I have experienced. I see the frames in context when I review. Only when I distance myself from the work for a long can come back and be more objective. There have been some times my most creative frame didn't run in paper, because it didn't make sense with the context of the story. But other times like Brett Adam's baseball feature the more creative angle did run. In that instance I wouldn't have picked the more creative image. Editors are great. They can help identify where work is lacking, because the photographers head was to close to what was going on. Personally, I do better when I have someone bounce ideas off of, and look at what went right or wrong in a image.
3. Given the power and contrast of black and white images, what argument is made that readers prefer color?
The audience according to the study cited in Kobre's book audiences see the world in color, and find color photographs more realistic. Color images are looked at more often, but black and white are remembered longer. I wonder if b&w are more memorable because it takes longer to see in gray scale. More times then not I am more attracted to b&w regardless of the subject matter. Modern audiences have been spoiled with loud visual stimulation, and to capture audiences attention color is more effective.
4. Discuss the photojournalistic ethics of honesty, decency and relevance.
Journalists are suppose to tell the story as objectively as possible to allow the audience to come to their on conclusions. Although, in modern news media personal agendas have corrupted the medium. It's nieve to think the medium hasn't always been corrupted. I would hope their were a few good months at least we as journalist can strive to duplicate. As a photojouralist framing to include or exlude information is a utlimately a judgement call. Is this information in the frame detracting from the story? Comes down to being objective to the subject matter, and allowing the story to tell itself. Relevance=So What? How would the affect the audience? Do you care, and why? Board of trustess meeting relevant. Conditioner is bad for your roots, not as relevant, but depends who you ask. GO LIFESTYLES. As a jouranlist the most important attribute is being open minded, and constaintly reminding yourself to do so. Having integrity as jouralist is the only way to provide honesty news.

Top shots

2009-04-26T15:46:00.000-07:00

I picked the picture above because I the repetition of the fence, the short depth of field, and and the distortion in the right of the frame. I wish I had Erickson's art analysis paper we used to critique our photography. I've looked everywhere, if you talk to him get a copy please. I like the structure, and it's not typical view of the fence. If the v shape of the fence were flat this image would be a great deal more boring.
So, when I first say this photo at the beginning of class I thought it was a professional photographers work we would talk about in class. I was pleasantly surprised that the author of the image was our very own RONNIE! The color, cant and texture of the image never gets boring. I knew I would learn a lot this semester from my peers after realizing it is Ronnie's work. It was hard to pick a single image, and neglect Adam or especially Don's editorial. I chose this image because my first impression, not because any of the others were less technical or impactful. I'll never look at an umbrella the same again. Thanks bud.

Final!!!

2009-04-24T12:46:00.000-07:00

Part One:
I have hard time with font. I'm not incredibly affected by font. Images do it for me. Font boring to me. I don't spend nearly as much time analyzing font design in both style and placement as I do to other design elements. This attitude has crippled my designs because they are neglected. I can now identify how font can compete and bog down over all design if used improperly. I still don't dream about serifs like I would lenses, but I how font can bring design to another level.

Jeep: Bold, simple and to the point. Jeep's products are functional and casual. The spirit of the vehicles are exemplified in their choice of font. Jeeps are built for the "off road enthusiasts." On Jeeps website when each picture of different model are scrolled over vehicle will enters driving up and over frame. The two wrangler models have mud dripping off the tires a leaving tracks. As Jeep vehicles serve the function of being the off road specialists. Jeep vehicles are about the driver. It is merely a vessel to adventure. The font is bold and simple like the design of their vehicles. The best point Jeep makes with their font is it says Jeep (period).

Jaguar: Their font is fluid and has long strokes. The the shape of the J in Jaguar is reminiscence of the Jaguar's leg of their logo. The choice of white on black, and the use of upper case provides emphasis and clean. The font isn't bombarded with serifs and strokes. My sister had a Jag for a long time. They accelerate quickly and smoothly. Jaguar as an animal are graceful, fast and fluid. All of these attributes describe the font, and the car. There is a continuity with the companies icon, product and branding. The spirit of the company is reiterated in all of their artifacts. Jaguar's logo is black using the highlight to illustrate the Jaguar logo and font. The Jaguar vehicles pictured on their website are black shot on a black background. The highlight in the photograph shows the shape and detail of the cars.

Lamborghini: When I turned fifteen my sisters boyfriend bought a bright yellow Lamborghini. They are fast, loud and flashy (like their owners.) The font used by the Lamborghini company is crest providing a sense of stature, and is a loud yellow and a bull as a logo. The font and logo choice represent power. Gold and bulls are powerful. In contrast with the fast quiet speed of Jaguar, the Lamborghini is loud, irreverent and has brute strength. The font is boxey, bold in style and color, and it jumps off the the page.

Each company uses strength incorporated in their branding, but used in different ways. Jeep uses strength in having the power literally climb mountains. Jaguars in quiet speed, and Lamborghini in brute masculine strength. "Strong as BULL!"

Artifact One:
The So Cal is gorgeous. The texture of the smokey sky contrasting the blue clouds. The suns breaking through the smoke, and the bird returning to a dead tree built emerging from the ash is telling of the fire crisis in California. This example illustrates what your have been emphasizing; how font and imagery can evoke emotion. The line vectors in the image force the eye to remain on the center of the image at the bird clutched to a dead tree. There are three suns breaking through the smoke. I get the texture, font and how the subject is used to show the consequences of wildfire. I don't understand why three suns are necessary to illustrate the healing of the forest. I really like the style of the campaign, the print has been worn and weathered like the content; which, adds consistency in design.

Artifact Two:
The "ENDSUICIDENOW" campaign is very provoking. The hand graphic in the barrel of the gun really illustrates nipping it in the bud. I had a buddy shoot himself last year, and I think the direct approach to suicide (and pretty much everything, have you met me?) is head on. Tiptoeing around an issue isn't going to evoke change. The worest thing you can do about additiction and depression is pretend there isn't an issue. They're like weeds they don't even need water to grow. I like that the image is faceless, and uses the contrast of orange and black. The small graphic of the hand is the star of the image because it's white. The website is white. White=solution. The white pops on the dark burnt orange and black sillouette, becuase there is so liite it doesn't over power the over all image. I wish I could do our last assignment again. I would go in a different direction.

Artifact Three:
United Nations Millennium Development Goals posters are clean in their design. I'm attracted to straightforward simple design. I like how the text is incorporated by a line from the subject. I think the images made sense for their representation except the first two. What does a pineapple have to do with priorities? I can't read the text so I could be missing an important communicative aspect of the image. In contrast the footprint and key are very affective in showing solutions and survival. I like how the design layout is consistent with lettering on the bottom, and having each image participate in the spelling of POSSIBLE. Each poster is different but cohesive by the background color palette and layout. I'm not confident as a designer to take risks with color yet. I have a love affair with gray scale and has prohibited me from branching out. I think this example is a great at using color intelligently, but mostly cohesively with using a broad color palette. The series need to be scene in its entirety to achieve the desired effect. I'm curious to know how the posters were displayed.

2009-04-12T16:10:00.000-07:00

Artifact

2009-04-01T10:10:00.000-07:00

My advertisement is directed toward a bus stop poster. I think with the artifact would work in as a print ad if I removed two row and two columns. In print the page is so small the design would loose impact. My goal was to provide a lot of information, but to organize it so its not too overwhelming. During my development process I was shooting ideas around with Dave Harris. He made a point the text needed to dominant and easy to see in a bus advertisement. Since he had worked for UTA he expressed identifying what people were looking at is at least as important than seeing the image. Visually I am creating a bit of a competition between my image graphic and my logo, but I hope it has sense of balance.

I'm using all of the gestalt principles, but i didn't use them all consciously.
Prangnaz: Small squares create on big square.

Similarity: Not only in shape, but the manner composition of subjects progresses. Whether being framed to the left or right.

Continuity: Because of the progression of color and gray scale, and composition the eye is suppose to directed across the page being push to the side of up and down.

Closure: I used this law in two ways: First creating a square using positive and negative space. Second, all of my images had to be cropped. While shooting I had to keep in mind how frame where I could keep the information I wanted to keep, not loose something important. Some images were shot to tight to use. The rectangle frame is constricting, but have to visualize square framing kept me on my toes. (And some weren't successful.)

Figure/Ground: Again, I do have some intentional competition here, between my images and logo graphic. I created a line separating them from each other to break up them up. The should be seen together, but as separate entities.

My purpose for this design is not only display a variety of photography, but to draw the viewer into image. A glance wouldn't be sufficient to process all the information, so I wanted to use contrast in color and layout to get those few extra seconds of attention. I used the center picture because it looks like it has been photo tinted, and I thought it would bridge the gap of color and black and white.

Soles of Vegas

2009-03-11T20:03:00.000-07:00

To clarify, the first image is my foot. It is also the only image taken from a different perspective.
"Soles of Vegas" is an editorial from my foots perspective.

Thought Lab!

2009-02-27T15:42:00.000-08:00

The ThoughtLab's website is a Utah web development company. Not only do they offer the service design, but search engine optimization, CMS: which allows clients to easily update sites regularly, and custom built software to manage any companies needs.

The content provides a clean, direct approach to illustrating and itemizing the products, and services provided by the ThoughtLab. In the "What we do" page defines the company's direction.

"The ThoughtLab combines unusual depth in technology and user-centric design to develop engaging, effective solutions for your business."

The ThoughtLab is intuitive design. Making the function of using their websites in an inherit fashion directing users candidly to a companies specific product and/or service. The best prototype of the capability of their company is through their personal distinguishing branding. The grid woven through the ThoughtLab is precise direction for users to experience their unique workflow. The site offers a conspicuous view of their passion and teamwork happening within this company. Not only does this company look fun to work with, but to work for.

The site is captivating by pulling the audience using interactive imagery from the white board through the animation of the brain images changing through the pages. The creative design from the duel pane design offering contrast between the olive green background to the white background for the text offering an easily read forum. The text is a few shades dark green offering seamless consistency. While contrasting with white. The emphasis of contrast careful, keeping content unobtrusive retaining attention. (I read everything on this site, Which, doesn't happen often because the relationship between imagery, and clever branding (ThoughtLab), all stand of the foundation of scrupulous content.)

The ThoughtLab accentuates their desire to produce deliberate work to raise the bar in internet marketing. Their purpose is about quality, not blind quantity. (They give a shit about their clients, and they can help them reach full potential.)

The ThougthLab is engaging because it immediately captures attention with the white board animation; which becomes interactive. It provokes interest leading the eye down to a brief description of the company's purpose to provide tailored design and software exhausting all technology possible to best serve their clients. The audience is drawn in to explore the other pages of the sit;, which, isn't overloaded with distracting imagery or content. Everything on this site has a specific purpose and function being intuitive and/or informational. The size of the website isn't daunting burdening the user while still achieving a balance of keeping the viewers enticing.

Satan. . .

Shoot Tight

2009-02-16T10:41:00.001-08:00

Font. . .again

2009-02-15T10:40:00.000-08:00

Bennett speaks in St George

2009-02-14T12:41:00.000-08:00

The republican party held celebratory breakfast in honor of Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday, on Saturday morning. Senator Robert Bennett flew all night from Washington, where he and other republican's fought to keep the over a 1000 page stimulus package from passing. The bill was passed without one representative either from the house or senate having read it in its entirety. The bill became available at eleven p.m. eastern time on thursday. In normal circumstances the bill would would require at least 48 hours, and pass through at least three committees before a vote would occur. But the recent rule changes in the house and senate allowed for protocol to be skipped over the biggest bill every passed by the United States government. The bill passed through both houses by 5:30 p.m. friday

There were several speakers, but none were as captivating as Senator Bennett. He expressed his frustrations with the stimulus bill and how the republicans were shunned from its development. He expressed his concern for our local and international economy, and ensures he will continue to act on behalf of utah and for our best interests. He spoke with passion and conviction.

Though both parties have been guilty of closed door legislation; it doesn't make it right for anyone to do it. It is shameful our government is comprised of 'mature' adults, and they can behave no better then students at any junior high.

Note: If you want to be a fly on the wall, don't lean against the wall and turn the lights off. People tend to notice. Thankfully Senator Bennett's son Jim, is a former teacher and director of mine and gave me a front row seat to the event.

Font

2009-02-08T17:04:00.001-08:00

This project was time consuming. Surprisingly I didn't hate this assignment as much as I thought until I got to W. W was rough. The tutorial provided by fontstruct is very helpful, but I struggled with defining the voice of the font. I cloned a font I liked and used it as a template. My font looks very different from the one I cloned, but it got me started. In class you discussed scanning our own hand in, but fontstruct didn't allow for it. Instead I tried to develop a font which could be handwriting. I purposefully left negative space in each letter to add noise to the script. When trying to make something inconsistent it's challenging, because your brain wants to organize and balance. I tried to find an equilibrium between spontaneous and ordered design.

A font can define a brand. Gatorade, Nike, Mac, and others can be easily identified by it's typography without needing to see the entire ad (if any) or brand name. Lettering is a powerful tool when used properly (like all things). The best marketing is clever and the style of font has the capability to exaggerate or simplify content.

Design

2009-02-01T11:40:00.000-08:00

Originally, I thought covering Dexter's ad campaign (which should be checked out!) for season three, but it was a mountain of material.

As an alternative commercials seemed to be a clever choice since the super-bowl was last night. I thought surely there will be something inspiring. Unfortunately, I found the line up devoid of brilliance. Nothing blew my skirt up. So, I resorted to the wealth of Youtube.

This advertisement for car sales is an excellent example of poor design. It's a local ad, which runs in Georgia. The demographic seems to young people with less than sterling credit. In an attempt to identify with the market base i.e. "homies" it achieves a condescending depiction rap as a art form and the hip hop community. The fact, that a white middle aged man is dressed in a black wig acting as a "pimp" named "Credit Macdaddy" should say it all. To contrast with the beat spiting pimp are two painfully enthusiastic hicks cheering Macdaddy on. (I think their cousins live on my block.) The graphic displaying the company logo and name is blue, bold and moving demands attention. The graphic the least as obnoxious as Credit Macdaddy's painful attempt at rapping. The commercial is shot simply enough, but the content and graphics are the deplorable. There has to be an alternative to patronizing rather than identifying with your demographic for attention.

Affect: Umm, I'm horrified. . .This local ad makes me thankful for our lame, but at least not rapping or throwing a pies in our local ads.

Cognitive: What did I learn? Other than never go to Georgia? For $799 the credit "Macdaddy" can get me out of the haze.

Psychomotor: The commercial got me me to first laugh, want to turn it off, and share my the horror.

Contrast with the Law of Proximity: If you dress like a flavor flav, drive like flav, talk like flav, it doesn't make you flav. (Sub clock for dolla' signs.)

Honestly, who hasn't been in a public place with a kid like this? From a storytelling stand point it's effective because it transports you to the perspective of the parent (depending on your skema) or the annoyed bystander painfully observing the outrageous behavior. The color temperature of the picture is nice, the use of depth of field, and I specifically like the angle looking down on the kid when he is rolling on the floor. The story telling in this commercial is concise, authentic, straightforward, savvy and hysterical. This commercial is successful because it is IDENTIFIABLE!

Affect/Cognitive: A loud awakening to the importance of birth control. I can't help but notice how the father struggles suffers from exhaustion and/or patience. (Besides it's not "pc" to spank him in front of all those people.) Just a helpful reminder to be ready to be a parent, because it is a struggle.

Psychomotor: Every sex education class needs to air this commercial! I'll think twice about amount at least on of the many consequences of unprotected sex. I think I'll use a condom next time. What about you?

Law of Closure: None of the adults need to verbalize their frustration, annoyance and horror, because their face says it all. (In my opinion the greatest drama is silent.)

Law of Pragnanz: Sex=Children

Behold, the Birth of the Communications Building

2009-01-31T11:53:00.000-08:00

Shooting wide exclusively was challenging because I had to constantly remind myself shoot wide...shoot wide! My hand would lazily reach for the zoom lens. The camera and I got dirty (it was the camera I was concerned about not my out fit), got hit by small shards of brick, a big brick almost hit me, but I'm really happy with the angles I achieved. The demo crew were really great they pulled out the grinder for me to shoot, and told me they were tearing down the outside wall. I think shooting wide for this subject matter worked better. The few shots zoomed in didn't convey the drama as well.

Gestalt

2009-01-21T14:21:00.000-08:00

Law of Pragnanz

As a result of the the close perspective of the leaf, and it's relationship with the sun burning through forces the eye to first notice the shape the veins and there connections to each other. The leaf is dried out and has breakage creating gaps, and contrast of texture. It took a moment to pull back and see past the detail of the veins to see the steam, and realize I was seeing a leaf. The water or frost is reflecting light.

Law of Continuity

I know this is a piece of architecture. I think it is the top corner of a building with windows or gaps flooding in light.. This image displays the Law of Continuity because the angular shapes pull the eye to the right, but in contrast the shadow pulls to the left. The dark shapes at the bottom of the image pushing the eye back in repeating the previous motion.

Law of Similarity

The arches of the bridge mirrors itself in the river. The reflection is so crisp it is easy for the eye to link the arch of the bridge with its own reflection producing circles. The photo's hues and contrast have been manipulated making the distinction between the river and the bridge hard to differentiate the separation.

Law of Proximity

The girl's hand is reaching out, because of perspective it looks as if the rainbow is coming out of her palm.

Law of Closure

This image might be a stretch to apply to the Law of Closure. Although, the delineation between magazine and the person is obvious; it's successful because of the context. The placement of the magazine page on the face of the subject blends together to represent a single person. This image makes an interesting comment how women see themselves, and the portrayal of women in media. The "elegant" headline is a nice touch emphasizing social definitions.

Figure/Ground Relationship

I'm not grasping these principles very well. I thinks this applies because of focal planes. If I'm off mark here let me know. I think I'm making this harder then it is.

Balance

2009-01-19T15:24:00.000-08:00

Epsonality
The Epsonality website utilizes the interactivity available in internet use. The website represents the technology of the products produced by using humor, floating graphics, audio, stimulating action; meaning, the cd's spinning and the man working in the background of the sites page. From a consumers perspective the site's technology can only reflect the ability of Epson's products. 'If they can do this with their website, what can their printers do?'
Aesthetically the design of the website is balanced. The page is broken up into thirds. A graphic is on each side of the screen. The center is the Eposonality test or the featured product displaying a moving graphic for each function. The display of functions is symmetrical.
The audio provides an entertaining vessel to educate consumers on their products and individual functions without having to read a page of text. Reading about printers is entirely more boring then the British tech supplementing information with his humorous anecdotes. This site is successful because it's entertaining, interactive, cutting edge in web design, and its purpose is to find the right Epson product for each individual consumer. It's comforting when a company isn't trying to sell their products for sales numbers, but directing the perfectly balanced product for each consumer. Though by providing a personalized printer would increase sales. Hence, Epson just sold another printer.

Pretty Loaded
The rule of thirds is used in "Underworld Evolution" by the liquid graphics being dropped on the right, left and middle of the screen. The breaking water graphics reveals the loading time which has elapsed. When the screen switches to a different loader it was genuinely disappointing.
Asymmetry is displayed in the "JBL Destination Anywhere" by the tour bus giving a sense of motion diagonally across the screen. The passing road signs on the right show the elapsed time of loading. Funny.
Symmetry is used in most of the pre-loaders whether it is the Ford Fusion acceleration dial, Nike Air, Bacardi, etc. They are cool, but expected. "The detective" has a finger print being brushed and reveals more of the print as loading progresses, this is innovative thinking.

Meet Douglas Gubler

2009-01-19T12:49:00.001-08:00

Doug Gubler contracted HIV in 1986, he was 26-years-old.
After giving blood to the Red Cross in Dixie College’s Institute building, Doug’s family received a certified letter. Doug was in Honolulu at the time so his mother opened the letter, and had to tell her son he had been infected with HIV.

Doug says surprised. “I think I’m going to out live my mother. For a long time I thought I would die first, but since I’ve been on the drug cocktails my health has improved so much.”

“In the fight against HIV new drugs, called protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, have brought hope to many infected persons. When combined with older drugs like AZT, these 'drug cocktails' are very effective in suppressing the amount of HIV virus in the body. However, new research suggests that even when suppressed to almost undetectable levels, the HIV virus remains in the body for a long time, perhaps even for life.”
About.com:Biology. “HIV for a Lifetime” [Online] 19 January 2009
http://biology.about.com/library/weekly/aa050699.htm.

Q: Do you know who infected you? How many sexual partners did you have until you contracted HIV?
A: Nine or ten. Yeah, I’m pretty sure. I was really drunk and someone forced themselves on me.

“That’s why I feel people need to know by getting drunk, getting stupid, getting drunk, gets you
infected.”

“Can you see what the HIV has done to my eyes?”

“Because HIV attacks the body's immune system, eye infections are common in people with the virus. Incidence of eye infection is high in people with T-cell counts of less than 250.”
CNIB. “What is HIV/AIDS?” [Online] 19 January 2009. http://www.classroom.com/community/connection/howto/citeresources.jhtml.

Q: How long did it take to have positive outlook on life?
A: I didn’t feel worthy to be Christ-like for a long time. I had to make amends with god and myself. I was 44-years-old before I could love myself.

Q: Are afraid to die?
A: Yes and no. The best way to describe it is as long as I continue to surround myself with good people and work with the youth to try to stop the spread of HIV, I’m happy. So I’m not scared because I have a purpose. Making amends with the man who created me has given me a place her at Dixie.

Q: What legacy do you want leave here at Dixie State?
Laughs. . .
A: To love one another. My goal is to spread the principle of equality of all kinds.

"Right now my ultimate goal is to stay healthy. Otherwise there’s no reason to go to school, I’ll be dead."

Contrast

2009-01-15T11:21:00.000-08:00

The soft round shape of the moon in contrast to the breaking waves is surreal. How do take a picture like this? The dark shadows of the waves in emphasized by the highlights radiated from the moon. The contrast of of the motion of the wave about to crash into the still water a few feet in front cradled by the light of the moon creates real drama. I don't think this photo would be as successful in color.

The contrast of the burning match with the smooth and soft smoke highlights the difference of it's color. The warm vibrant flame is exemplified by the change of motion of the smoke in the image. Interesting how bright life is, and the dark of death. (I learned in science fire is considered a living organism.)

The relationship of the biker and the walk bridge (?) gives the view a real sense of space. He is flying up there. I can only wonder how many times he fell before he could sore with such grace. (The concrete below is awfully hard.)

The purple and blue hues reflected in this child's eyes and tears evokes profound emotion. The contrast of his dark complexion and dark eyes highlighted by his tears really makes me feel his pain.

This image is fabulous example of the power of lines. The sparks vector over the entire circumference of the image. It draws the eye in then around. The shape of the grinder blade parallels the shape of the greater image. The man in the image is crisp, and his dark skin and dark clothes contrast nicely with the bright yellow of the sparks.

The texture in this image emphasizes the emotion portrayed my the model. It's like her entire being is crying. The contrast in of the black back ground and her fare skin highlights the detail in the water sliding down the glass.

Get the Glass

2009-01-12T10:29:00.001-08:00

The game Get the Glass has beautiful 3-D graphics, and the objective of educating the player about calcium defiency promotes milk in an innovative way. The crime files have the criminal and medical history of each charater. Which cover every democraphic: women, men, girls, and boys. The game cleverly identifies how calcium can effect bones, teeth, menstral cycles and the health of hair and nail growth. As the game progresses and the Adacie van lands on either misfortune, fortune or mastermind card. Each card allocates an interactive task or provides information related to calcium health. Get the Glass is an excellent avenue to test and explore personal knowledge of the effects of calcium.

Visually the game is pure eye candy. The graphic detail in Get the Glass is breathtaking, and looks very expensive. After reading a few blogs evaluating the site I have been converted to the thinking the game itself should be more dynamic. The game gets boring to play multiple times because you end up playing the same cards and challenges consitently. One of the responses to a blog I read (don't remember who and now I can't find it) made a valid point indentifing that the creators spent so much money producing the game why isn't the game more dynamic to make you want to play more then once.

Argueably creating a great game is easier said then done, but after spending so much money on aesthetics how much more work would it have been to add a few more mastermind cards to change it up a little. After playing a while I only continued because I wanted to take a closer look at the graphics not because the content propelled my interest forward.

On a final note the Adaci's and their quest to Get the Glass is histerial. The attention to characterization is what makes this game work. Putting the Adaci's in the context of the game makes the jokes and the self promotion of milk quarky and informational. I forgot calcium helps ease the aliments of PMS and sparked conversation (which I assume was the point of this promotion). Get the Glass is a gorgeous peace of interactive art work. The content could be enhance to prolong the life of the participent playing the game.

2009-01-11T16:33:00.000-08:00

I watched the film Nine Lives over the weekend. The acting is astounding. It took me back to my roots in acting. All the hours of the "importance of subtext" is required in producing authentic and honest performance being drilled in my head. A great performance isn't about what a character is saying; but rather, what they aren't saying. This film is a great example of what a performance should be. Any aspiring actors or directors seeking to direct actors is a must see film.

I paticularly found Robin Wright Penn's performance in the grocery store inspiring. How the simple act of pushing a cart can show her character's anxiety, excitement, responsibility and unbridled love without saying a word.

The third sequence, starring Lisa Gay Hamilton's performance is unmatched by anyone in this star studded film. Watching her wait for the impending confrontation with her father is complex and honest. She shows us their history and we don't ever see them speak a word to each other. I was moved.

The theme of the film is death. Noting not all death ends in grave, but still wears the same weight. Refreshingly this theme wasn't shoved down the audiences throat. Instead breezes past it and if your not listening like the characters in the film listen you'll miss it.

2009-01-08T11:26:00.001-08:00

The first image here is edited with lightroom 1.0. Notice the detail lost in the snow in the second image, which I edited with photoshop CS3. Photoshop forced me to make to two layers so I could bring the exposure of the stone up. (Which totally sucked because I had to spend a ton of time outlining the division of layers.) Lightroom is so much smarter! What took me a good hour in photoshop (partly because I had never done it before) took me seconds in lightroom.

2009-01-08T10:49:00.000-08:00

2009-01-08T10:43:00.000-08:00