CREATIVE BRIEFS #11

Welcome to the eleventh issue of CREATIVE BRIEFS, a list of links, news, and resources related to three of my favorite things: design, photography, and art.

“It’s through mistakes that you actually can grow. You have to get bad in order to get good.” —Paula Scher

DESIGN

Weekly News for Designers № 396 (Speckyboy) – One of the sites I recently found is Speckyboy and they’ve got a weekly list of design-related links, similar to Creative Briefs…but definitely more geared towards designers. It’s got some great resources I haven’t seen elsewhere, so be sure to check it out.

20 Beautifully Illustrated Alternative Movie Posters (HOW) – Fan art is one of my favorite things, especially movie posters by talented artists and designers. You might find yourself inspired by these unique takes on recent and classic films.

For Creatives: Online Treasure Troves Of Free, Downloadable Vector Art (Design TAXI) – I wish I could draw better. I wish I could illustrate all my own work. Alas, I have tried and I’m pretty reliant on stock and art created by others when it comes to illustrations. If you’re in a similar boat, here’s a few handy-dandy sites that will help make your designs stand out from the crowd. (Tip: Once you have the illustration, be sure to adjust it as needed…it will increase the quality of your work.)

PHOTOGRAPHY

John G. Morris, Renowned Photo Editor in the Thick of History, Dies at 100 (The New York Times) – The role of a photo editor is one as mysterious as it is simple: Get the best photo possible for the story. This simplicity and mystery are embodied in life’s work of John G. Morris. He may not have been a household name, but he helped make history by selecting the right image for the story, often allowing photos to tell the story, especially during World World II and Vietnam. If you’d like to learn more about John G. Morris, FilmRise has kindly posted Get The Picture, a documentary about his amazing life and career, on YouTube. I encourage you to watch it.

Why Full-Frame is Overrated (Eric Kim Photography) – A couple of years ago, I attended a Helmut Newton exhibition and was delighted to find out he was a “less is more” kind of photographer when it came to gear. His kit was relatively simple and his attitude was he could shoot with anything. As much as I love playing with new tech toys, I’m very, very happy shooting with a combination of my iPhone, my Sony RX100V, and my Sony A6000. Several fellow shutterbugs have suggested I go to full-frame and I just don’t see the need. The cameras are too big and too expensive…and my eye can’t see a significant difference in the final images.

A Toy Camera Shootout with $40 VTech KidiZoom Camera for Kids (Petapixel) – I’m way more apt to buy a $40 toy camera than any full-frame tank. Toys are for play, for art, for creation. Tanks are for fighting, for war, for destruction. Eh…maybe that’s not a fair analogy, but I do love seeing what professional photographers can create with tools designed for children.

ART

10 of L.A.’s Most Fascinating Art Crimes (LA Weekly) – Art crimes, whether it be fraud or theft, is reportedly the third biggest criminal activity in the world, after drugs and guns. And not all of these crimes take place in New York, Paris, or London. I happen to live in Los Angeles, so I was intrigued by a few of these crimes, most of which I had never heard of. If you buy, sell, or collect art of any kind, be sure to protect your collection.

When an Artist Calls the Shots: Mark Grotjahn’s Soaring Prices (The New York Times) – Emerging artists are probably well aware of Mark Grotjahn’s career trajectory. He’s one of the most successful living artists, with a careful business understanding and creative output. He could be a new model for the way artists work going forward. Or could be just an outlier. Time will tell.

Why do we care who Banksy is? (Salon) – The identity of the world’s most popular street artist has remained a well-guarded secret since he came on the scene in 1990. Through countless pieces in countless cities, he has made his mark not only on the streets but in the established art world. More people became aware of Banksy and his work through his documentary Exit Through The Gift Shop, a mockumentary as much as anything where the artist and auteur appeared with face obscured and voice altered. The mystery may have been solved. Or not. The real question is why do we care?

Thanks for reading! If you’d like to suggest a link or resource, please drop me a line.

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