Yomenz Design

I recently jumped into the DSLR market and bought a Nikon D90. I have been extremely happy with both the D90 and the 18-105mm lens that came with it. After spending quite a bit of time testing out my new gear, my photographer friend suggested I try out his 50mm lens. I am very much an amateur photographer, and had no idea the difference in tone you can create with a simple lens switch. I was amazed at the results. I have always loved rich still life photography with a very shallow depth of field. With the 50mm I was able to achieve that soft style I have always admired. The photos below are what came out of the experiment with the 50mm. I was quite happy with how they turned out. The full set is viewable on my flickr photostream.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand we’re back. That was quick. Less than a week of public outcry, Gap has hit the old undo on the corporate rebrand. Which brings up the big question of: Was this a serious rebrand attempt? or merely a ploy to see how strong their existing brand is. I would have to side with the latter. Aside from the website headers, I did not see any change to the store branding, tags, labels etc. that would lead me to believe this was a permanent solution. A friend of mine suggested it to be an experiment to see how strong their brand sits with consumers. I would have to agree with that. I have a hard time believing Gap would flip flop so quickly had they invested thousands of dollars in updating their entire catalog of branding materials. Until I see piles of rebranded tags sitting in a dumpster somewhere, I am siding with those that believe this is a huge marketing scheme. Regardless of the motivations, I am happy to see the old logo back.

Identity is everywhere. Logos bombard us from every direction throughout our daily routine. The general public could care less about what a logo looks like, how cool it is, or how appropriate it is to them; the customer. Designers on the other hand, are constantly critiquing every brand they see. Making judgements on concept, typography, color palette, the list goes on. These are natural instincts to most creatives. But every now and then, a logo redesign to a major brand pops up that attracts the attention of both the design community and the general public. This brings me to the main point of this blog post: The new Gap logo. Debuted on monday, the new logo features Helvetica bold with a blue gradient square behind the type. My first response was: this has got to be a joke. But, alas, i would be wrong. Since then, there have been numerous articles detailing the awfulness of the redesign, prompting several blogs to start design contests as well as others allowing you to “crap” your logo. There have also been several news sources saying that this could be a hugely successful PR stunt. I surely hope so because this new brand is not helping their cause. I would put this debacle up there with the Tropicana and Pepsi redesigns along with the 2012 London olympics logo. I can’t say that the original Gap logo was an example of logo perfection, but the equity it had built over time put it in the top tier of iconic, recognizable brands. Not that I am against a company wanting to redefine itself, but there are right ways and then there is this. Nothing about the new look seems logical or well thought out. I would really like to hear what the rationale behind the redesign was. Because at this point, it begs for an explanation.

I saw this today and had to share. Inception was my favorite movie of the summer and below is what the trailer might have looked like if it were released in the 50’s. It was really done well and I commend Cinematic Jackass for having the extra time to create a great trailer homage to the brilliant films of the 40’s and 50’s.

Get out your wallets, you are going to want to snag the latest and greatest from SRxMM. Soul Regiment x Motivate Movement have been a driving force for over 10 years delivering high concept culture-driven messages through quality apparel. Taking their love of art, design and music among other things, they have established themselves as a voice for positive change in our society. Contrary to most brands out there, SRxMM have a solid foundation of humility and respect. Using this foundation, they transcend the levels of just being a “brand” and rise to the height of a movement. Which is exactly their mission. “Our directive is to capture and preserve the essence that transmits the youthful spirit and purity for people’s love for culture. Our brand will never claim to be the best, but we will always stand by our dedication to deliver quality messages to you.” With all that being said, the execution of their message is where SRxMM shines. Check out the new summer collection below. And then head over to Fatlace in San Francisco to pickup your gear for the year!

SRxMM @ IN4MATION HI from SRxMM on Vimeo.

I stumbled across these updated movie posters while watching trailers on Apple’s Quicktime page a few weeks ago. Upon clicking on the link I found out that they are a part of the Rolling Roadshow Tour. Nine films screened for free in the locations they were shot. Pretty cool idea. Aside from loving the idea of screening these films in their actual shooting locations, the reimagined posters for the event were a great throwback to some of Saul Bass’s classic posters of the 60’s. These updated versions were designed by Olly Moss and are a great homage to Saul Bass’s iconic work. Nice stuff.

I have been meaning to post about this film for months now. A beautifully shot short film featuring perfectly integrated CG. When I first saw this, I was blown away by the cinematography and as the film progresses, some amazing CG effects that take it to the next level. According to the credits, the whole film is FULL CG, which surprised me at first because of how natural the setting and cinematography is. I had figured the settings were shot on location and the CG effects added in post, but according to the filmmaker, it was, “A FULL-CG animated piece that tries to illustrate architecture art across a photographic point of view where main subjects are already-built spaces. Sometimes in an abstract way. Sometimes surreal.” – Alex Roman, creator. I suggest you watch it in fullscreen mode. It really enhances the experience.

The Third & The Seventh from Alex Roman on Vimeo.

When I created this blog, my main objective was to comment on art and culture and keep my personal life out of the picture. But recent events have given me reason to do otherwise. A dear friend of mine, Chris, recently became a father for the second time. His son, Apollo-Max, was born March 8th, almost 2 months early. Unfortunately, he was only 3lbs. and had many complications, but he was a fighter. He built up his strength and was released a month later, only to be readmitted. Although he had fought for life for over a month and a half, on Monday, May 3rd, Apollo-Max went home to his eternal Father. It’s hard to put into words the thoughts and feelings I have had during this time for my friend Chris and his family. I can’t imagine the grief of losing a child and would hope no one would have to experience that kind of pain. While his time on this earth was short, the impact that Apollo-Max left is unforgettable. Apollo-Max, you brought joy to your family for 2 months and now you will bring joy to your heavenly Father. Chris, Roella and Miles, know that you are loved by us and we wish you peace and comfort through this valley in life.

Just like almost any guy growing up in the early eighties, I am a big fan of Star Wars. And especially Star Wars-inspired artwork. Cédric Delsaux is a photographer based in Paris, France who has taken his beautiful photography and merged it with Star Wars CGI. The result of this technique is truly visionary. Through his photography and with the help of Pierrick Gueneugue’s CGI work, he has re-imagined the Star Wars world as if it were happening today, on earth. I love the gritty scenes of construction sites and junkyards that he has chosen as his backdrops for this new universe. Much of the credit needs to go to Mr. Gueneugue’s seamless CGI work. The characters and machines blend perfectly as if they were originally shot on location. I really love how subtle everything is. You can find the full set of Cédric’s “Dark Lens” series here.

Ironically, I found these great photos on fffound! yesterday during my “inspiration time” and loved the concept. Taking famous actors and placing them in their most iconic rolls within a studio for Empire magazine’s 20th anniversary issue. My favorite is probably Mel Gibson’s warpaint and suit look. Looking at that photo I am convinced he cut off the head of the photographer immediately following the click of the shutter.