About these ads

Archive for March, 2011

CG At Its Best.


I used to major in 3D Animation before I decided to go the way of the pro-DJ, so whenever I see any effects, animations, or examples of CG (Computer Generated) I get excited about the process behind it.  The advertisement above was made entirely on a computer. It might look photorealistic and the details might seem too exact and the shattering objects too precise, but that’s the case. It was made by Alex Roman for Silestone, a company that makes countertops. The video was made by two people in two and a half months.  While the shatter effect is cool, the realism of the fruit really blows me away. Those lemons look stupid real.

After all, I understand how a mineral crashing into thousands of tiny pieces can fool my eyes, but seeing something commonplace, like the lemons or grapes, look that real in HD video is mind-blowing.  More of Roman’s work is available at thirdseventh.com where you can see other impressive videos highlighting architecture, flowing movement, and the use of photographic techniques in computer-generated video. For “The Third & The Seventh” he lists his software used as being 3ds Max, V-Ray (for 3ds Max), Adobe AfterEffects and finally Adobe Premiere Pro.  If you want some insights into Roman’s process, you can check out this excellent behind-the-scenes video he has made available.

About these ads

XXL Freshmen Roundtable Discussion.


XXL recently held a round-table discussion with the 2011 Freshmen.  They discussed everything from their views on the industry to the way the internet has effected their careers.  Check all 3 parts of the discussion out below.

Bianca Holland.


The latin model Bianca Holland, is originally from Boston, but now resides in Florida.  Bianca has not only worked with a wide variety of photographers, modeling companies, and magazines (including Got-Damn), but she also doubles as an actress.  On top of just being blessed with a gorgeous appearance, Holland keeps her body is tip top shape as the official spokes model for the women’s sports suppliment Heat X3.   Dedicated and ambition, it seems like there’s nothing she can’t do.  Holland has appeared in the Lloyd feat. Lil Wayne Music Video “Girls Around the World”, and been Web Girl of the Week King Magazine’s and has even been on the Reality Racing The Rookie Challenge Spike TV.  With a full range of talent, skills, and incredible looks, Bianca Holland is someone to watch out for.

The Snow Man.


So I’m not sure what area of what country you may live in, but in California you can ski and surf in the same day. I’ve never done both in the same day (in fact, I rarely ever ski) but by a strange turn of events I was invited out to Tahoe for a ski trip recently. So in preparation for the big weekend, I looked up some skiing videos, and below is one of the best ones I’ve found. Check the method below.

The Affinity Chair.


Ben Alun-Jones’ latest work is an attempt at the impossible: invisibility. ‘There is something of an ideology in chair design,’ he explains, ‘that really what you want to sit on is nothing – like you’re supported by air. That’s how I began creating a chair that, in a way, wasn’t there. A structure made out of light.’ The ‘Affinity Chair’ is unlikely to win any prizes for comfort, but it pulls off an impressive vanishing act.

Plastic acrylic sheet and one-way mirror film are used to create a structure that reflects and merges with its surroundings. The chair not only responds to and camouflages itself to match its environment, it also interacts directly with the sitter: sensors activate pulsing LEDs hidden within its frame that quicken like a heart beat as it is approached. The effect is eerie: as the chair is lit from within, its reflective surfaces becomes transparent and all its edges are illuminated. The chair’s disappearance is an attempt at escape; yet this strangely animate object remains rooted to the spot, it’s vanishing body revealing a further hidden space within.

Alun-Jones’ explains his work as using technology itself as an artistic medium to challenge existing perceptions. His materials are unconventional – LEDs, ultrasonic sensors, custom-built and programmed circuit boards. The result is new, challenging, and anything but robotic.  The Affinity Chair will feature at the Royal College of Art Interim Show (Wed 2nd – Mon 7th Feb) as well as appearing at V&A Connects with… ARTS THREAD (Tues 25th Jan) and the V&A Digital Festival (Sat 5th March), both at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

Where’s The MONEY?


The Game ft. Lil Wayne – Red Nation.


 

Click the pic to hear "Red Nation"

A collab between Lil Wayne and Game is as dope to me as a collab between Wayne and Eminem, and although this isn’t the first, I personally feel like this is one of the best.  Wayne and Game’s single “My Life” was a dope single, and got a very good positive response from the listening public, but the track “Red Nation” is a whole different animal.  The beat, is a re-imagining of an old school classic (just like tons of other rap songs these days) but they lyrical delivery by both Game and Wayne is attention grabbing to say the least.  There’s a certain ferocity and angst that they both have in representing their set that makes the track pop, and they both manage to do it without dissing Crips, which I found interesting.  But click the pic above to take a listen to “Red Nation” and hear it for yourself.

Holler For The Dollar.


With their vertical format bills, Dowling Duncan have reignited interest in ‘The Dollar Redesign Project’. This is basically a re-imagining of the US dollar. It’s a very interesting project, and we all know that most people hate change (everyone whine’s and complains when the make a new change to Facebook.) So take a look at them, and just think to yourself that this is what you may be giving your kids when they ask for allowance. (Assuming your in your mid 20′s). Obviously people will have questions about these bills, so Dowling Duncan have already answered them for you below.

Why The Size?
“We have kept the width the same as the existing dollars. However we have changed the size of the note so that the one dollar is shorter and the 100 dollar is the longest. When stacked on top of each other it is easy to see how much money you have. It also makes it easier for the visually impaired to distinguish between notes.”

Why A Vertical Format?
“When we researched how notes are used we realized people tend to handle and deal with money vertically rather than horizontally. You tend to hold a wallet or purse vertically when searching for notes. The majority of people hand over notes vertically when making purchases. all machines accept notes vertically. Therefore a vertical note makes more sense.”

Why Different Colors?
“It’s one of the strongest ways graphically to distinguish one note from another.”

Why These Designs?
“We wanted a concept behind the imagery so that the image directly relates to the value of each note. We also wanted the notes to be educational, not only for those living in america but visitors as well. Each note uses a black and white image depicting a particular aspect of american history and culture. They are then overprinted with informational graphics or a pattern relating to that particular image.”

Now keep in consideration that this is just a project, a clever idea, don’t think that these bills will be in ATM’s round the country, but just imagine what if they were.

Travis Barker ft. Pharrell & Lupe Fiasco – If You Want To.


Click the pic to listen. (Courtesy of HHG)

 

The “I Am Music 2″ Tour is coming around soon and I already got my tickets, but I’m not so much ramped up for Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, or Rick Ross.  Travis Barker has fascinated me as a musician, and as a person for quite some time, (his tattoo artist fascinates me as well) but his new project “Can The Drummer Get Some” had me curious as to what direction he’d take a solo project in.  So hearing “If You Want To” featuring Pharrell and Lupe Fiasco was a great look into the diversity of his upcoming album.  Click the pic to take a listen.

Timba Smits Graphic Design Posters.


Timba Smits is an award winning Melbourne born / London based graphic designer, artist, illustrator, independent publisher, self confessed magazine addict and wannabe olympic ping-pong player.  He has a proper love of all things retro and kitsch.

  Most commonly though, Timba is known for founding one of the world’s art communities best kept secrets a magazine called Wooden Toy Quarterly: the only quarterly half book half magazine, to come out once per year. Smits publication and the rest of his work aims to document and highlight emerging and established creatives that have in some way been influenced by contemporary culture.   Design and art that Timba creates can be, and are, an influence or inspiration to others.

Kate Winslet Goes Nude.


In a brand new ad, Kate Winslet writhes on the floor, only scarcely covered by a satin sheet, to promote Lancôme‘s L’Absolu Nu lipsticks.  Winslet, who recently debuted a peroxide blond pixie cut in British Vogue, is still sporting her signature soft locks in the ad, which was shot by Mario Testino.  Actresses are seemingly less and less prudish in their beauty ads: just recently, Italian luxury house Bulgari released a campaign fronted by an almost nude Kirsten Dunst for its new fragrance Mon Jasmin Noir.  Lancôme’s L’Absolu Nu lipsticks ($29 each) come in 12 different colors that are a bit lighter and, thanks to mother of pearl fragments, more sparkly than the brand’s L’Absolu Rouge collection.  I’m just excited to see Kate Winslet in the nude.

Did You Feel That?


As we all know, there have been several devistating earthquakes over the last few months.  What you may not know is that there have been hundreds of smaller earthquakes all over the world that many people may not even have felt.  Some may ask why its important to know where quakes are if you cant feel even feel them.  The answer is, because you never know when a small one may indicate a big one is coming.  Click the pic to check out the U.S.G.S. official earthquake map.

 

Self Updating Earthquake Map

Eminem’s ”Recovery Of Detroit”.


“Recovery of Detroit” is a dope, and actually unexpected mini-documentary by Eminem and his people about his newest concert series in Detroit staring Eminem, D12, Drake, Jay-Z, and Dr. Dre.  The core of the 6 minute film is set around Em obviously, but also takes a look at the economic status of his home city and how people are looking on the brighter side of things when it comes to the city’s “economic resurrection”.  I’m a huge Em fan, so obviously I was enthralled, but all in all the mini movie gives an interesting insight into Eminem’s physical recovery, and the “Revocery of Detroit.”  Check the method.

The Saga Of Biorn.


A fantastic short film with top-notch art direction, animation and sound design. The ending is great, too. We have Benjamin J. Kousholt, Daniel D. Christensen, Mads Lundgaard Christensen, Jesper A. Jensen, Jonas K. Doctor, Steffen Lyhne, Pernille Ørum-Nielsen, Frederik Bjerre-Poulsen and Jonas Georgakakis to thank for putting this together.  It’s ridiculous how sick the concept, the animation, and the script are all exceptional.  Well done.

The Real Life ”UP”.


The National Geographic Channel has taken Pixar’s animated film “UP” to the test, and created a real-life version of the floating home… balloons and all.  I saw the movie with one of my best friends, and have loved it ever since, so when the NGC released exclusive footage of their experiment, after a testing it out over the weekend it excited me.  On Saturday, a team of scientists, engineers, and two world-class balloon pilots successfully lifted a house, using only 300 weather balloons. The house was 16x16x18.  The house reached an altitude of more than 10,000 feet, and “flew” for about an hour.  The experiment set a new world record for the largest balloon cluster flight that has ever been attempted.  The experiment and footage is part of a new NGC series called “How Hard Can It Be?” which will air in the fall.  (But don’t actually try it Kristy).

You Need SLEEP.


In this industry, sleep is a luxury.  Both my assistant and I are no stranger to sleep deprivation, but after reading a study on sleep and its benefits, it’s changed my mind.  Check the method below.

The West Coast Customs Tron R8.


Tron has inspired a lot of new projects and probably the best one is the Audi R8 that was recently presented at the CES 2011 . Tuned by Pimp My Ride and with a chrome-plated new design from West Coast Customs, the ride features glowing vents and rims. See it shining in the video below.

MB&F HM3 ReBel Watch.


Part of MB&F’s HM3 (Horological Machine No. 3) design, the watch was done in partnership/kinship with Laurent Picciotto (Chronopassion, Paris).  The HM3 ReBel is a limited edition of 18 pieces in black PVD-treated white gold, blackened movement and 22K gold rotor.  That’s “ReBel” as in R for right (hand), B for Black (case). According to MB&F, “The black PVD-coated ReBel is a distinctive, rock ‘n roll mirror-image of the HM3 designed to be worn on the right wrist, as a few individualists out there want to do.”

Black PVD-treated white gold case, charcoal-coloured movement plates and bridges, 3-D horological engine designed by Jean-Marc Wiederrecht/Agenhor (Girard-Perregaux base), 22K gold battle-axe shaped ‘mystery’, sapphire crystal cones and both display backs with anti-reflective treatment on both faces.  The HM3 ReBel comes on a black hand-stitched alligator with 18K white gold and titanium custom designed deployment buckle.

A Late Night Look At The Sleepless City.


I wasn’t raised in the great city of New York, but whenever my sister and I would get bored on the weekends, we’d drive the short 20 minute into Manhattan and chill with her friends. So having been around NY for a while, I’ve seen it at all hours of the day. I was intrigued when I read that the Wall Street Journal sent several photographers out overnight to shoot the city during the hours when most of its citizens are sleeping. Here are photos of those awake when most of the city is not.

Carmel Candy.


I’m not sure if I’m just on an extra European phase right now, or what the case is, but it just seems like all the women catching my attention now a days seems to be from across the Atlantic. The model known as “Carmel Candy” is no exception. This 23 year old UK beauty is a classically trained actress and also sings, dances and has a degree in Media and Performance. Shes an intelligent aspiring model with natural curves in all the right places, Candy also says that she has the personality to match. She also says that the States are in her future plans and that the market for modeling opportunities are far more abundant on this side of the pond.

Clue TV w/ Wiz Khalifa.


It seems that when rap’s new Freshman come out, most of them are done with their run before they get a lasting spot in Hip Hop.  Wiz Khalifa however is just the opposite, check his interview and freestyle in the 12 minute video by Clue TV.

Julian Callos’s Illustrations.


Julian is an illustrator based in Los Angeles, where he’s surrounded by inspiration. He says his influences include comics, cartoons, pop culture, and much more.   I personally am a fan of his work because of the unique styling and vibe of every different picture.  The composition and the subject matter is very diverse which is always a good thing, (I hate when illustrators draw the same type of thing over and over again).  Callos was born in the Philippines in 1987 and moved to Los Angeles when he was three. He’s lived in or around L.A. ever since. In May of 2009 he graduated from Otis College of Art & Design.

If Facebook Was Around From The Begining Of Time…


I come across funny emails, and random posting all the time from fans, friends of people who try show me something they think is funny enough to be on this blog.  But when I got an email from a fan about Facebook, and what life would be like if it was around from the beginning of time.  Check the method below, courtesy of Davis Elgin and Cool Material.com.

Trina ft. T Pain – Ghetto.


Click the pic to take a listen.

So over the course of the weekend, caught word of Trina making waves in the music industry again.  I know that artists don’t ever go away until they die, (And even after death Pac managed to put out more albums than Drake), but her collaborating with T-Pain on this one seems to be the reason people are a-buzz about the track.  The whole song is like the opposite of the ‘Blue Collar Comedy’ tour, so if any of the things Trina lists sound like you… You may be ghetto.  But regardless of the song content, I personally like the song, and I’m also a huge T-Pain fan, so click the pic to take a listen to “Ghetto”.

A-Cero’s Villa.


Spanish architectural firm A -Cero designed a dwelling of generous proportions, developed over a single storey to facilitate the indoor-outdoor connection.  Surrounded by meadows, tree groves, chestnut, pine and oak trees and wildlife represented by stags, wild boar and roe deer, the edifice establishes a recognised link with the traditional architecture and vernacular customs.  Stone, tile, wood have been used in its construction.  The sense of the architecture is to formalise the space and layout of the rooms besides representing a clear tribute to rural villages. the consequence is an open, u-shaped dwelling with a large central courtyard that shares out the uses. the principal wing houses the living rooms, dining room, tv room and children’s and playrooms.  In the east wing is the kitchen, laundry room and cellar and in the west wing the master bedroom.  Semi-independent pavilions house the installations, riding facilities, stables and the guardians’ dwelling.  Two immense awnings frame the landscape.  Through an apt play of symmetries visual perspectives are created.  A painstaking study of the light allows it to come in through courtyards, grooves, windows, skylights and façade openings.  The courtyards help minimise the conditions of the extreme climate, provide colour, freshness and hold the ponds that reflect the serenity and musicality of the water.

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 2,774 other followers