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April 3, 2012Photo Chops: Mark’s New ToysProducing is our speciality weather it’s photo or video and we frequently work on shoots that combine them both. Mark Wagoner has been at the forefront of video for the past 20-some years and we have recently had the pleasure of working together on his top secret project, which is sure to impress when launched. Until then, here are a few out takes from a commercial shoot this past December. Keep checking back because as soon as we get the “go ahead” we will be posting his new work!
March 29, 2012Phink-spiration: Pre-Raphaelites Past & PresentHere at Ink we like to look down a variety of roads for inspiration. One that came up in conversation yesterday was Grace Coddington, Creative Director for American VOUGE. (Yes, we saw 2009 documentary The September Issue, and yes, we couldn’t help but be in awe of Grace and her creative vision, and yes, we would like to meet her. Soon.) Coddington recently created a Pre-Raphaelite-inspired work of art titled, The Cult of Beauty, with photographer Steven Meisel for the December 2011 issue of VOUGE. My initial thoughts went immediately to a favorite photographer, Julia Margaret Cameron, but fueled by Coddington’s inspired thinking, we were led deeper into the past.  Photography by Julia Margaret Cameron, circa 1867 - 1872
The history behind the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood is a group of English artists founded in 1848. According to Wikipedia, “They believed that the Classical poses and elegant compositions of Raphael in particular had been a corrupting influence on the academic teaching of art.” They were anti-commomplace and wanted to, “return to the abundant detail, intense colours, and complex compositions of Quattrocento Italian and Flemish art.”  John Everett Millais, Ophelia, circa 1851  Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Proserpine, 1874 When comparing this traditional painting philosophy with Pre-Raphaelite inspired photographer, Julia Margret Cameron, it is easy to see the similarities. Cameron, picking up her first camera at 48 years old, considered herself a photo illustrator who often wanted her images to look like oil paintings. Beautifully referencing the complex compositions of the Pre-Raphaelite painters, color was not an option for Cameron at the time. But one look at the VOUGE images and you can see influences from both mediums. Yet another example of why Coddington is where she is today, and why ink will always look forward to each issue of VOUGE.
November 17, 2011Phink-spiration: Process gets processedThe Daguerreotype is a photographic process that has been used commercially since it’s patent was issued in 1839. The process has evolved time and time again and will continue long after I finish typing these words. Luckily, Ink was recently reminded of our love for this process thanks to a slew of beautiful photography released by Ralph Lauren for the men’s Fall / Winter 2011 collection.
We have done some digging and can’t seem to find out if credit is being given to one particular photographer on this series, so if you have any insight, please let us know! It is truly a beautiful and innovative collection of images and prompted us to think about our own style history (both photographically and personal style). After a little digging one Inkster found a photograph of her grandmother, Mattie, taken in 1928. Luckily (and beautifully), the handwriting is preserved directly on the image, “On top of Howards Knob, July 1928.” And for any North Carolina folks out there, Howards Knob is located in Boone, near the ASU campus.
Images like these are a personal treasure, but artist like Chuck Close are exploring (and altering) the Daguerreotype process to create fine art photography for all to see. Close’s latest exhibit, “A Couple Ways of Doing Something,” at the Loveland Museum/Gallery in Loveland, CO, features his own interpretation of portraiture. According to author Stacy Nick, “Daguerreotypes use a long exposure time requiring subjects to sit extremely still. Initially this created very stiff portraits but Close used high-intensity strobe lights to impart more life to the image; the effect also puts some facial elements in striking focus while leaving other features slightly blurred.” The following image of artist Cindy Sherman demonstrates this impeccably.
We are always reminded how imagery can lead you on your own personal journey, and I do thank Ralph Lauren and their artistic team for taking us there. November 12, 2011Pin-it-to-me: NovemberPintrest is a style seeker’s dream. A dream that can take hours from your day, but inspire you to create at the same time. Here at ink we use Pintrest as a tool to create mood boards for projects. Find an idea online? Just pin it to a specific board and it is automatically a shared resource. Brilliant! Here is a quick look at a few of our November Favorites, so far… Lauren:
Natalie:
Kelly:
November 10, 2011Phink-spiration: Holiday CardsAs the holidays are quickly approaching, one thing that is on my To-Do list is to find/order/address/mail out our Christmas cards. I absolutely love getting cards in the mail each year around this time – seeing photos of old friends, reading quick notes about what family members across the country have been up to, or just simply being reminded of the warm fuzzy feeling of the season, while filling up every inch of blank space on my refrigerator. On my hunt for the perfect card, I have been reminded of the importance of good design. Whether your personal style is funky and bright, or classic and clean, there are so many great customizable options out there! Check out these festive favorites… From tinyprints… From ChampagnePress on Etsy… Phink phaves: The Soap DishInk is very proud to introduce to you The Soap Dish.
This blog comes to us from Good Health Natural Products, and we are so honored to be weekly contributors! The Soap Dish is all about “living a cleaner lifestyle”. And don’t think it’s all about keeping a tidy home – here you’ll find tips on health, beauty, home, family and more that will keep you focused on the most important things in life, and won’t cost a fortune either! Share this blog with your friends, and follow it daily for inspiration and ideas. Check out Ink’s first post at The Soap Dish – Here’s some American flair for an English Invention. It actually makes me excited for post-Thanksgiving meals!
November 9, 2011Phink Phaves: Bluum and Subscription CommerceDuring our recent trip to New York we met with the Creative Director at Bluum Mom + Baby, Joel Edmondson, to learn more about this company and how their membership based service know as “Subscription Commerce” works. According to an article written by Courtney Boyd Myers, “What is better than receiving a box full of great products every month? Receiving that box when you’re a mom-to-be or new mom who doesn’t have an hour in the day to discover great, new products, let alone eat, sleep or shop for new products.” We couldn’t agree more, especially because of our expecting inkster, Natalie. We recently signed her up to receive the 12 months of, “Ooh! I feel like it’s Christmas morning!” so that we could see for ourselves what was involved.
Natalie’s first box arrived just in time for her baby shower (definitely consider this gift potential, friends) and it was truly a hit. Guests were very interested to see what would emerge from this little box and it did not disappoint. Luckily our friend Sara (of Sara Lyn Photography) was one of the hostesses, so this shower was well documented – note to self, future blog post about the importance of good baby shower photos.
November’s Bluum Box was right around the corner, holding a very expensive sample of the coveted StriVectin cream, along with 5 or 6 other goodies that will be so fun for Natalie to try before AND after her baby arrives. We are so glad that we were able to connect with Joel and truly wish his company the best in the future! November 8, 2011Phink Phaves: Old is New Again!
I am dying to see someone at our office typing on an old school typewriter like this USB typewriter featured in the Anthropologie holiday catalog. Any takers? November 7, 2011Phink-spiration: Windows to the OutsideDoing a little surfing and found the site Freshome.com this morning. It had an article titled, “Warming your Outdoors with ‘Floating Windows’ Designer Claudia Schmutzler,” that caught our eye… this is a really lovely effect that helps truly define an outdoor space as a room. Nice work!
November 5, 2011Phink-spiration: Funded Street ArtThis amazing projection was produced by KLIP Collective, the inventors of Video mapping, to celebrate, commemorate and generate funding for New York’s Bethesda Terrace. According to KLIP’s website, by using their mapping process, “any surface can become a video canvas without distortion and with seamless integration.” Tim Nudd of Ad Week interviewed Terri Coopersmith, VP of Development and External Affairs at the Central Park Conservancy. Coopersmith is quoted as saying, “Something so technologically savvy on something so historic – it told an old story in a new way.” Looking forward to learning more about video mapping from KLIP… the possibilities are endless.
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