Well, this would mean my long stint from my blog may be over. I need my outlet back and I still want to do my big re-design. In time. In time. For now, here’s a tilt-shift photo from my iPhone.

Working in the graphics design/publishing field I come across at least 10 photos a day that could use some drastic help. Washed out, overdeveloped, under exposed; These are all things that we’ve all had to deal with with our photos. Well, Here’s some simple processes you can follow to punch up those colors and get your images back to looking the way they should, GREAT! Inspired by the new little ducklings that have recently hatched in our back yard, we snapped some shots on a point and shoot Canon. As you can see from the original image, it’s good… but i thought it could be better. The following steps to enhance your photos shouldn’t take you any more than 5 minutes, and once you learn the procedure you’ll be editing your photos in no time!

Click through to see the full tutorial. Read the rest of this entry »

I know I’ve said it, tweeted it, promised it and even hoped for it… but it’s a new year damnit, and i need to light my own fire to get my butt in gear. So, in (hopefully) the first of many portfolio updates to come, here’s a really quick sneak peak at some Tilt-Shift photography edits i made earlier today. Thanks to Brandon Jaime, i’ve been given a crash course in how to make my (or photos found on compfight.com) really stand out and gain a sense of uniqueness. You can take practically any tired old photo and within minutes *POOF* perfect, shiny and new… Rode hard and put away wet!! (That’s a little tribute to one of my old-school favorite bands, Diesel Boy)

Quiksilver, a Huntington Beach-based lifestyle and apparel brand, held a flashback to the 80s contest on Saturday, Dec. 6, in conjunction with Tony Hawk and his newest business venture, shredordie.com, a Web site where everyone from top athletes to everyday users can post their favorite sports clips.

Launched in October 2007, the site had very little press coverage – until now, that is. The All 80s All Day Vert Challenge, held at Quiksilver’s headquarters, featured 21 well-known skaters of the 80s, such as Huntington Beach native Christian Hosoi, Steve Caballero and Bucky Lasek. These skateboarders – now successful business people – were decked out from head to toe in 80s garb.

Hawk flashed back to his roots with his blue shirt – worn in the 1987 skate film “The Search for Animal Chin” — highlighted hair and, of course, his bright pink skate deck, which he got out of storage specifically for the daylong challenge. Hosoi outfitted himself in spandex pants and a cutoff T-shirt, finishing off the ensemble with a wig. Pink highlights, ripped denim and high tops were some of the other flashy fashions worn during the event.

But the skaters weren’t the only ones who dressed up. More than 800 people attended – and they were required to don clothing popular during that time period. Side ponytails, bright pink high heels and hoop earrings were in abundance – and that’s just the girls! Guys wore torn T-shirts, big hair, suspenders – the works.

Amidst all the 80s mayhem, a skate competition ensued. The 80s-style vert ramp and skate decks proved to be a challenge for the skaters, but they were determined to skate to the best of their abilities.

“We gotta ride the real deal here,” says Hawk. And they certainly did. With 80s punk bands like The Ramones and The Clash playing in the background, the skaters competed in three challenges: Vert Challenge, Big Air Session and Jam Session.

Cash prizes were awarded to the first through 11th place winners, and Hawk took home the first place prize of $1,980, which he distributed amongst the skaters who didn’t place. Other awards include the Overall 80s, which went to Hosoi, and the Big Air, which went to Bucky Lasek.

The only video allowed at the event was from shredordie.com, which will release it, relying on the viral lure of Internet video to get the word out about the site’s features to action-sports buffs.

Quiksilver also debuted some of its Spring 2009 collection – with an 80s theme, of course. The brightly colored, printed and patterned vintage fashions were on display in the company’s expansive headquarters. The vintage outfits will be available in January.

Preview Video and photos after the jump.

All photogrpahy is copyright Luke Hodsdon @ ninethreestudio

Written by Kristen Schott @ ninethreestudio

Please contact Luke Hodsdon or Kristen Schott @ ninethreestudio if you would like to use any of this material. Thank you.

Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s how the game works. First, and foremost, there’s a certain sense of boredom that plays a huge factor in the conceptualization of the images. Secondly, there’s also gotta be a lull in work, or a downtime. Lastly there’s that silent “wait until they open their e-mail” factor you have to be ready for… or in some cases when it’s just too good to be true, a little prod of “hey, buddy, you should probably check your mail” will suffice.

Rules:

Rule 1: All images must be SFW (Safe for work), unless you plan on sending these to a personal e-mail address of the Bingo Bango victim.
Rule 2: Search, scour and google creative keywords to find the funniest pictures.
Rule 3: Build a network, share the images you create in the workplace with other co-workers, just keep the spam to a minimum.
Rule 4: No holds barred. Be creative!
Rule 5: BE LIGHTHEARTED! This is just to help the time in the day pass, and it’s a great way to learn some quick photoshop tips and tricks!
Rule 6: And the most important rule of them all… do NOT neglect your work. Thanks!

Artist: Luke Hodsdon (e-mail)
Title: Art Director
Company: Churm Media (link)

Artist: Brandon Jaime (e-mail)
Title: Graphic Designer
Company: Churm Media (link)

Please, feel free to comment this page with your own workplace Bingo Bango’s! Some comments may await moderation, but i will be sure to get them up! (sorry, had a bad spam problem so i had to moderate)

At my current day to day job I use this technique religiously. It’s fast, easy and extremely effective when trying to achieve better quality photos for print and online. In the following Adobe Photoshop tutorial I’ll walk you though a quick (less than a minute once you learn the steps) process on how to brighten up those dull, dark photos you’ve been sent from your clients… or in my case, taken with your poor digital camera.

The following tutorial was done in Adobe Photoshop CS3, but 80% of the process can be used on just about any program with a “Levels” function (such as the freeware, open source image editing software, GIMP) while the last 20% can be done all the way back to Photoshop CS1 (this is the black overlay feature achieved by holding the ‘option’ or ‘alt’ key in levels).

» TIP: IT’S ALWAYS GOOD TO MAKE DUPLICATES OF YOUR LAYERS IN CASE YOU NEED TO GO BACK IF YOU MAKE A FATAL MISTAKE.

Step 1:

Open the file you wish to adjust and open the Levels adjustment window » SHORTCUT: COMMAND+L (pc users: CTRL+L). This will bring up your image’s histogram and the palette where this tutorial will focus. Locate the white point slider as seen above.

Step 2:

One of the best features of this tutorial is built right in to Photoshop CS1+. While on the white point slider, press and hold OPTION (pc users: ALT) and begin scrubbing the bar left and right. This will give you a black overlay over your image. If you’re using an older version of Photoshop or a different program you can skip to step 4.

» NOTE: THIS FEATURE WILL ONLY WORK IF YOUR IMAGE IS IN RGB MODE.

» TIP: USING ADJUSTMENT LAYERS IS A GREAT WAY TO INSURE THAT YOU DON’T RUIN YOUR ORIGINAL FILES. THIS IS CALLED “WORKING NON-DESTRUCTIVELY”. IT WILL ALLOW YOU TO KEEP YOUR ORIGINAL FILES INTACT FOR FUTURE PROJECTS, OR TO RETURN TO A PREVIOUS STATE IF YOUR ADJUSTMENT LAYERS AREN’T WORKING FOR YOUR DESIGN ANYMORE.

Hey look! It’s a me (the man) and a Kristen (the occasional woman) behind the ninethreestudio posts! The man, and sometimes the occasional woman, behind these lovely blog posts. (EDIT: After re-reading this, i realized this almost made it sound like i was an occasional woman. It made me laugh, so i decided to leave it in to show you just how my hamster-on-a-wheel brain works, enjoy.) Where you ask? Ohh, in a photo booth…. okay, okay. STRIKE bowling alley in Orange County had some hoopla event grand opening thing hosted by Lauren Conrad. Yadda Yadda Yadda. Lots of people, free food, booze and bowling… ho hum ho hum…. and now the good stuff. Justice, from American Gladiators… yeah, he was there. I’m not the shortest guys in the world, and he still towered over me. I got all giddy and told Kristen, “Look, there’s that huge dude from American Gladiators!”, then the glaze over of uninterest, but i didn’t let it phase me. haha.

Well, sadly i didn’t quite make it to the 2 week, 14 day straight mark. I had to go out of town this weekend and my job has been keeping me pretty busy. So, in hopes to get back ON the wagon, or ride the white snake as the kids are calling nowadays (source: unfounded), i’m posting a new photo of the day that yours truly actually took. Lazy sunday lying in bed. Kristen with Frankie. Yes, Frankie is a girl. i named her after Frank “Old Blue Eyes” Sinatra.

Ohhhh how fitting that my #13 photo of the… would be on a night when i’m just thoroughly run down… need sleep… need sleep…. (i had to correct about 10 typos in this tiny tiny sentence)

“and now we dance…” ohh Mike Meyers, you so crazy….

Another perfect photo from my default, go to guy, amazing photographer… Stuck in Customs!

I was doing some browsing of my blogroll and got stuck on Jill Greenberg – The Manipulator’s website… again.

The portraits are so perfect.

Her portfolio is completely stacked with huge named actors and actresses that she’s worked with. This particular image just struck me. The framing is perfect, the colors are vibrant and the lighting is stark and crisp. Great contender for my Photo of the…

To the next big thing…. onward!

Feeling in a destructive mood, i decided to post this nice little shiner for the photo of the day. Yup, one more for the books. Buying myself an exotic sixxer when i get a full 2 weeks worth. then i’ll have some quality posts. HAHA.

Great image from Flickr user CTRL-F5. Thanks.

For some reason this is the only photo i like of myself, i think its the colors that i like. I use this pic in most of my profile photos on all the sites i am a member of, and to answer everyone’s question.. No it is not photoshopped, it is real.
I gained this magnificent shiner just before xmas 2002, which isnt the best time to get facial bruising.

A drunk guy tried to start an argument with me on my way home from work (i was sober). After walking away from him he (or a friend) hit me with his car, my head hit the windscreen and this is the result. Fortunately this was the only damage i got.. I think i must a thick head and legs.

And a follow up five days later (after a shave)

Andrzej Dragan, a quantum physics expert, from Warsaw, 30…. yeah… he’s 30! Getting multiple accommodations and prestiges, this young artist if spilling from the brim with skill. His photography has a very unique quality to it that’s sure to be emulated, replicated and stolen. But isn’t that when you know you’ve made it as an artist? The point where people want to have “your style” and their works are just “Dragan-like”. I know it’s my goal as an artist. Maybe i’m a special snowflake… nah!

Dragan uses and extremeness quality to his photographs, capturing extreme contrast while maintaining quality of light and shadow. Most of these works look like some sort of HDR hybrid, not quite HDR, but all the qualities of lighting found within them. Busyboo has posted a quick 10 step tutorial showing how to try to emulate this process for use on your own photography (see, once you’re good, people want to look like you)

So, if you’ve got an extra couple thousand dollars lying around littering the very ground you walk on, you too can be the owner of your very own Dragan print. Hell, at that price tag he’ll probably even sign it and seal it with the blood of his firstborn. Well… maybe just the signature.

Ohh, and P.S. his website is AMAZING! runs a bit slow in full screen, but other than that it’s one sick display of photography!

Thanks Abduzeedo for the Best of link!

Thanks again to another stunning HDR photograph from Stuck in Customs. I can’t seem to get enough of the photos on Trey Ratcliff’s website.

10 for 10. Looks like someone’s butter… because he’s on a roll…. crickets…..

Albino Peacock by unknown.

I didn’t even know there was such a thing. One more new wrinkle for my brain i suppose. It’s comprised of a lot of useless knowledge already. I just tell myself that I’m training for the World Series of Pop Culture, others just say i have way to much time on my hands.

Revolutionary! Sleek! Sweeping the nation! Call in the 10 minutes and we’ll throw in the Flickr pool Photoshop Tennis!!

Basically a community of folks who pick a “game” (a photo), set a couple of ground rules, then let it loose in the forums for their members and readers to pass along changing one thing at a time and handing it off to the next lucky boy or girl! I think it’s GENIUS!! I’m sure they’re not the first to do it, and won’t be the last, but they might be the best right now. With the Flickr community being so huge, it’s got some talent floating around in it’s kiddie pool. A game end when no one posts to the specific forum anymore, or the timeline is met (also can be stated in the rules). So, go follow a feed, open your photoshop or GIMP and let the tennis match begin!

Thanks Abduzeedo for the knowledge that is Flickr Photoshop Tennis. (This particular photo set is from the game “Build It”)