Generic Blog Name: 08.10

2010/08/24

2010/08/22

All My Favorite Frames…

Are trash.

I’m sorting, sorting, sorting last summer’s project. It goes like this:

Drop 600 frames in a folder.
Find the best ones.
Put ’em in a contact sheet in InDesign.
Decide the “best” ones really don’t tell any story at all.
Throw them away.
Repeat.

Take this picture, for instance. I find it poetic, an allusion to work, time and humanity – notice the faint boot-prints. (The serpentine curves are from a electric cable that sat in one spot long enough to show gathered dust.) The color isn’t too bad, either. It’s a nice stand-alone, but doesn’t work with any other frames from the story.

This is the most bothersome thing, I’m finding, when trying to get pictures to speak in unison, tell a story, do something together. It’s frustrating to no end, because all my favorite frames won’t make the cut.

Editing for story is a grand adventure. You paint characters, you are cinematographer and screenwriter. You can’t get too attached to anything, your story will be better for it. But, be an artist: create, find something good. Run with it.

I say this not knowing what, exactly, I’m doing. Ah, but, isn’t it fun?

2010/08/17

No Idea Who This Is…

Editing material from last summer, I came upon this bloke. No idea who this is, where this was taken.

I don’t care much for the frame, our smoker’s slit eyes don’t say much, except, perhaps, that he’s enjoying his smoke. He’s cheeky about it, too: “Look at how cool I am, smoking.”

But, it demonstrates a point. A good friend told me I need get closer to subjects. “I want to see pores.” I’m always so removed. This is a step in the right direction, but closer – closer still. Something to work on.

2010/08/13

Art Direction

Working on some art direction for Inksie. I like to write out thoughts before moving to the computer. Hand-drawn type is also fun. (Click for a larger, better view.)