Life's Little Adventures

To any of those that follow (or have tried to follow) this blog, my sincere apologies for not updating in some time. Been doing lots lately, but I would like to share two pieces of my latest work which I hope you'll enjoy.

Having this idea in my head for a few years now, but not having the right model or equipment put a massive delay on this project. Since learning how to think conceptually whilst in my Studio Photography class (thank you Craig!), I've really become attached to the story behind the photograph. I like a photograph that leaves the viewer asking himself questions and wondering what the story behind it is. Every time I've asked the viewer what the photo was about, I've always got a different answer - this is what intrigues me and keeps me motivated to make work like this.

Doing a project and researching Richard Avedon, I discovered that he would speak to his subjects about topics that were somewhat offbeat; topics that aren't normally discussed whilst conducting a shoot. With these topics he received some great natural reactions in his photographs (have a look at his famous portrait of Marilyn Monroe for a good example). Using the concept of natural reactions, I wanted to get some natural reactions out of my subjects, but using a different approach. I won't elaborate too much on that project since it was produced on a 5x4" format camera and the prints have yet to be scanned in digitally.

These two series catalogue mundane daily tasks that are not normally catalogued; nobody ever thinks of photographing these tasks because they're so routine. Routine is boring . . . now lets make it interesting!

Series one is titled 'Shitty Weather'. This series catalogues a man going about his daily poo, scanning the paper for a good article. Upon finding the article, he is disgusted with what he reads. Great natural reaction on this one.

Series two is titled 'Late Night Snack' and catalogues the same man, later on that night awakening to a hungry stomach in search of something to satisfy his craving. He is seen opening the refrigerator, having a look at what's inside and concludes with him making a selection.

For a look at larger (but still compressed and not quite hi-res) files, follow this public link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=215589&id=651127111&l=d2b46cc6a9

Photo-shoots

Right, so it's been about two months since this was updated and my attempt to keep a weekly blog has failed haha. Anyway, I'm finally posting the pictures from Arlene's photo-shoot that were taken in late May at various places throughout Sunderland. Since there are too many to post on here and it would take forever to upload all of them, please click on this public link to the facebook album. Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=215589&id=651127111&l=d2b46cc6a9

Digital Illustration Projects, Fall 2009

One of my favourite classes I've taken thus far has to be the Digital Illustration class offered at WCSU. Taught by Vicki Vebell during the fall semesters, this class can be taken in place of regular, analogue illustration. Since I am concentrating on Graphic Design, my advisor and I felt that this class was more appropriate for what I'd be doing in the future. Vicki was truly a pleasure to work with and motivates her students to stretch their work into areas previously unknown to them. As of writing, she is currently trying to expand this programme into a two-parter, with Digital Illustration II to continue on the principles taught in the first part.

Throughout the class, three projects were assigned, all with varied themes. The first was an illustration to coincide with an article about water conservation. The article explained that the world's most abundant natural resource is used to make many consumer items. The surprise came when a table was displayed showing exactly how much water was used to make something so simple. For example, eight gallons of water are needed to produce just one apple. For this project, I've hand-drawn and scanned in a cartoon version of myself, eating an apple, while my stomach inflates after consuming all the water needed to make that apple. My character is set in what looks like an outdoor grocery store, with a giant food tree sprouting from the chequered floor.

The second project consisted of making a poster displaying the "Best of Connecticut." Mainly a photo collage of various places in the state I've photographed throughout the years, this project stretched the normality of a regular photo collage a bit using various filters and modes. Set driving down I-84 and entering the state in Danbury, one can see the classic New England landscape of Madison Beach to the top left and lower right corners, the quaint restaurants of Bethel on the top right, as well as the industrial feel of the factories of Shelton to the left and the outside of historic White Hall on the back of the lorry.

The third and final project consisted of designing an album cover for our favourite music artist. Set to the dimensions of a 5"x5" compact disc cover, I've designed a cover for a fictional Duran Duran Greatest Hits album, showcasing their hits of the original line-up from 1980-85. Suggesting to look like a page of a fan's scrap-book, this cover makes use of photographs of the band, shown to look like they were taken on a Polaroid 600 camera. The photographs are left floating however, as the shadows are the only indication that a Polaroid picture is there. 35mm negatives flow downward to suggest more pictures taken whilst at a concert perhaps. Various lyrics from songs are hand written in lip-stick, crayon, oil pastel and Sharpie marker and lie on top of and behind the photographs.

Sunderland Book Jacket

So these last few weeks have been quite busy for me, and realising that I haven't updated this page in almost a month, I thought it was about time to get back on routine . . . until I leave for Norway this upcoming Bank Holiday weekend that is. Anyway, I figured I'd showcase a piece I've worked on for my Graphic Communications class here in Sunderland. The objective of the project was to create a book jacket which portrayed the city of Sunderland through my eyes, using only photographs of typography displayed throughout the city. Speaking of typography, this project was to be mostly typography based, but without the use of vectored typography available on the computer.

After collecting photographs throughout the city and talking with my tutor Keith Nevens (who really knows his stuff and is fantastic to work with by the way), he asked me if I liked living here. Truthfully, I do, and I don't think Sunderland's as bad as everyone makes it out to be. This negative image has come from all the visitors who hail from the surrounding cities, especially the Giordies from Newcastle who also don't like Sunderland due to the intense football rivalry. Keith suggested that it would be a greater challenge to go against my positive view of the city and create a negative piece however, and I agreed.

The photographs used in this project do not reflect on the way I think of the city of Sunderland, but I felt they were appropriate for the project.

Kristen's Autumn Shoot, 18/11/08

Going through my photography archives, I came across some of the first colour photo's I'd taken with my then new 35mm Canon Eos Elan II. Taken back in November '08, the pictures are of Kristen posing in the back of my flat. There's a beautiful little brook that runs behind the building surrounded by trees that change all sort of interesting colours in autum. We were a bit bored, so I talked her into coming out back for a few snaps. When the processing was finished, I was quite impressed with the results. The bottom picture was also an attempt at a painting (taken with a mobile phone camera) which was displayed at Building Blocks Art Gallery in Ridgefield, CT in April '09.

Surname Heritage Compositions

One of my favourite assignments from last semester's Typography class was that of using the heritage of your surname (and your first initial) to make an image. Whilst an image could be used, it had to be typography based. Since I am primarily of French heritage, I decided to choose some famous French landmarks to incorporate into my designs. Although the Statue of Liberty is synonimous as an American landmark, it is both a gift from France to the United States as well as a play on my surname which translates into English as "The Liberty."

Modelled after l'arc de triomphe

Newcastle/Gateshead Millennium Bridge

(Top photo courtesy Anthony Burns, Bottom taken by myself)

Upon seeing this magnificent structure for the first time a few months back when I had visited the Newcastle quayside, I was immediately taken back at what a stunning design it is. For those who are unfamiliar with the bridge, this isn't just any other stereotypical bridge. Opened on 17 September 2001, the bridge is used for pedestrians and cyclists to cross over the River Tyne from Gateshead into Newcastle (or vice versa). It is visually stimulating whilst being fully functional at the same time.

"Six 45 cm (18 in) diameter Hydraulic rams (three on each side

, each powered by a 55 kW electric motor) rotate the bridge back on large bearings to allow small ships and boats (up to 25 m (82 ft) tall) to pass underneath. The bridge takes as little as 4.5 minutes to rotate through the full 40° from closed to open, depending on wind speed. Its appearance during this manoeuvre has led to it being nicknamed the "Blinking Eye Bridge". ("Tilting bridge opens eye to the world". BBC News. 2001-09-17.)

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO WATCH THE BRIDGE IN ACTION:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q54VKT_mZfI

Chelsey Photo Retouches

Before departing for life in the UK, my best friend Adam Calderone was given a brand new Nikon D-SLR for Christmas. I'm not sure exactly what model it is (since I'm a Canon guy), but I do know that it is quite a piece of gadgetry. We had the idea of getting into business together, making a small company based around figure photography. Since I am away and cannot attend the shoots to make my own pictures, he's been doing all the photo shoots solo and sending me the files to edit for him. I have to say that retouching photo's is exciting for me, especially if they are good ones. I love the concept of being able to take a great picture, and bring life into it to make it better than it was to begin with.

This shoot photographed Chelsey who has a few years of modelling experience under her belt and looks great on camera. She's a natural for modelling.

For further information about Adam and his work, you can have a look at:

• http://adlarphotography.blogspot.com/
• http://www.modelmayhem.com/1500120

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADAM CALDERONE ---> original photographs are on the left.

Alfa Romeo MiTo Logo

Since I'm both a car-nut and a sucker for great design, I couldn't help but not notice the latest logo to hit the streets on the rear-end of the new Alfa MiTo. Few vehicles that I can think of have it's own logo for the name of the car, excluding of course the manufacturer's logo. It's something that certainly stands out to me, but maybe I just focus on the little details too much :)

While Alfa Romeo has been churning out some of the sexiest looking vehicles for quite some time now (including my favourites, the 156, 159, Brera, and GTV) the MiTo follows Alfa's latest nomenclature for it's new models which are to abandon the numeric names. Where exactly does the name "MiTo" come from though? Alfa came up with the name as an abbreviation of the two cities in which the car was both designed and where it is currently being built: Milan and Turin (Milano and Torino in Italian). The name is also a play on the Italian word "mito" meaning "myth" or "legend."

The final MiTo logo, in my opinion, is very clever and almost follows the theme of a 'found contour' drawing/painting. The "i" is read as both the letter "i" and also as the right stem of the "m" before it. The crossbar of the "t" dots the "i," and the "o" is broken up and almost looks like a backwards "c", but reads as an "o." If you can understand what I'm talking about, you'll see why this is such a successful logo design in my book. In the picture above, you'll also see some other designs that were considered.

Health, Promotion and Exercise Club @ WCSU

In March 2009, a friend of mine who I had taken a drawing class with a few years prior, had inquired about me designing a new logo for one of the clubs on the Western Connecticut campus. She stated that she was an active member in the Health Promotion and Exercise Club (HPX for short) and that their logo at the time was quite bland and dated. A meeting was arranged between myself and the president of the club at the time to discuss what exactly they were looking for. Some of the requirements are as follows:

• A design incorporating a bright use of colour
• A design that gives the impression of movement and activity
• A design that will read "HPX Club

The final design is the image you see above. In it, you will see that the typography is sans-serif, italicised coupled with breaks in the letter form to emphasise the feeling of speed and movement, albeit looking more modern and slightly sportier than that of a serif typeface. The dark blue of the "H" is well known throughout the WCSU community as this is the school colour. The "P" and "X" are coloured bright blue and pink to symbolise that the programme is co-ed and both men (paired with the colour blue from birth) and women (paired from birth with pink) can join this club. The word "club" is of a bright orange hue to offset the dark blues while adding to the warmth and brightness of the pink. The finished logo also appears on the banner which adorns any HPX Club events held by current president Valerie Caraluzzi.

CAR Magazine interviews Patrick le Quément on Renault design

Retiring in April 2009, Patrick le Quément has catapulted himself to worldwide fame within the automotive industry for his designs at French car maker Renault throughout the years. While his designs may not have been the most practical or beautiful, they have certainly been influential and even ground-breaking.

In this interview at the end of his 22 year tenure at Renault, he discusses his personal favourites and flops throughout his career, how automotive design is changing in the 21st century, and many more topics.

Radical at the time of release and still to this day, the Avantime, Vel Satis, and Megane II in my opinion are perfect examples of both courage and polarising design. They are unique from anything else motoring around on European roads, maybe even too unique for markets such as North America in which the Renault brand is not even marketed (outside of Mexico). While the first two might have been commercial flops, it shouldn't be considered an excuse for a well executed design. The Megane II on the other hand, is a common sight and had been in the UK's top 10 sellers for it's entire model run from 2002-08. The "ass out" design and the mixture of geometric lines, planes and shapes had worked their way into half of the Renault range by 2004 and although viewed by some as "ugly," I honestly think the concept behind this design language is fab. Not only does it maximise boot space, but it has made for a memorable piece of modern art.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO READ:

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/Industry-News/CAR-interviews-Patrick-le-Quement-22-years-as-design-chief/