Archive for the ‘Photography’ Category
Six reasons why I love Mad Men.
Jim Antonopoulos | 20.09.2009
I was watching a few episodes of the second-best show on televison* recently and a few key scenes had me punching the air in celebration of a group of creative talent who are just so good at their craft.
Here are six screen grabs from recent episodes and a short reason why this show is amazing.
Composition
This shot is simple, two would-be fathers sharing a bottle of Johnny-Red as they wait in the waiting room for their resepctive wives to give birth (as you do). As one pours the other a glass of whiskey, this beautiful, yet so simple, composition appears before us. Don looking straight at the pour through the arms of the person pouring. Beautifully framed.
Leading the eye
The next frame flips around and we’re presented with another simple but clever composition which leads the eye directly back and forth between the two people in conversation. Don’s arm stretches from foreground towards the secondary character. Simple. Perfect.
Fusing reality with the surreal seamlessly
Many times throughout this show, dream sequences are a simple extension of a current scene – as a viewer, for a split second, you aren’ sure if you are witnessing the scene from another point of view, or the character’s thoughts/dreams. Nice.
Dramatic storytelling that lets the user put the pieces together
Don Draper’s wife Betty was just told, at her front door step by a police officer, that her father had passed away – this was done in full view of her young daughter (above). As Betty composes herself, turns around and walks inside, paying no attention to her shocked daughter, she closes the door. This leaves an all too young girl in solemn tears walking back slowly to receive some comfort – only to find the door is locked. Profound drama that says so much about motherhood, parenting and the elegant balance of storytelling and a nod to an intuitive audience.
Love the bad guys / Seeing positives in failure
Now we all know that Don isn’t a saint, but when Sal walks in to acknowledge his failure at a recent shoot for a television commercial (his first go at it) which has lost the agency a client – Don acknowledges the failed attempt by promoting him to the new role of ‘Commercial Director’ – Sal walks out beaming. People management at it’s best and just like the other show* by this team of writers, you just can’t help but love the bad guys.
* The Sopranos was the best IMO.
Visit Mad Men here.
Tags | artdirection, madmen, television, Video
Categories | Inspirational, Photography, Tank
Drawing with light
Jim Antonopoulos | 23.06.2009
LIFE photographer Gjon Mili visited Picasso in 1949 to show the artist some of his photographs of tiny lights fixed to the skates of ice skaters jumping in the dark.
Picasso was inspired by this and this wonderful series of photographs were born.
Categories | Found, Illustration, Photography
Transparency
Jim Antonopoulos | 10.06.2009
We love a bit of visual foreplay and this is just outstanding by Khristian Mendoza.
visit Khristian’s folio
via TodayandTomorrow
Tags | cutout, graphicdesign, paper, transparency
Categories | Found, Graphic design, Inspirational, Photography
Stop motion with wolf and pig.
Jim Antonopoulos | 10.05.2009
Aren’t the most amazing things amazingly simple?
From the horse’s mouth:
“At first I photographed stop motion animation. And I displayed the photographs in my room and photographed it again. I used 1,300 printed pictures. Enjoy a connection with the world of the room and the world in the photograph.”
Tags | Photography, stopmotion, Video
Categories | Digital, Inspirational, Photography, Video
Tim Simmons, photographer
Jim Antonopoulos | 27.04.2009
The stunning and surreal photography of London-based Tim Simmons.
Tags | Photography, tim simmons
Categories | Photography