Flattery??

Jason Sumrak of Statik Digital found the tat picture above on ugliesttattoos.com and sent it to us today. We don't know if we should be flattered, impressed or disgusted!
Zachary Scott shot Will Ferrell for the New York Times Magazine's annual comedy issue back in 2007, and apparently, someone noticed! We've been trying to figure out what body part the person used, but haven't been able to reach a consensus. What do you think?

Zack Scott Goes Virtual for Microsoft

Continuing a long and fruitful relationship with the good folks at McCann/SF, Zack Scott collaborated on a global trade initiative for Microsoft's Virtualization product along with SuperFad, who handled all of the CGI work. Don't ask us what the product does! McCann AD: MaryAnn Saltonstall

Say Cheese!

Why is it that when creative people are photographed for industry trade rags like ID Magazine or AdAge, the majority of them DO NOT smile? Come on people! Being a designer/art director doesn't mean you have to cop an attitude for your public persona. Maybe it's just me, but I try to show my best side whenever I'm photographed...just like my fellow industry media, account management and marketing executives. Check out THEIR mugs the next time you are browsing AdWeek, and compare it to those folks featured in the next issue of Creativity...I rest my case.

Where Are WE?

Got the latest CA Photo Annual recently. Here's what I thought about it: Noticed a new feature from Ann Telford covering a specific personal project from Jim Fiscus. I hope that is a regular feature, as we have alot we could share. Wondered why Fiscus mentioned how much he depended on his creative team to help him realize his vision for the series featured, but then failed to give ANY of them credit by name. Protectionism?? Hmmm. Everard Williams, Jr., a friend of mind and formerly a part of our roster, was included in the "50 Years of Photography" feature the pub ran. Ahh, those were heady days! Go Everard! He's now the 2nd in command at the Photo dept. at Art Center. Then I got to the annual part of the annual. Where are all of the US advertising winners??? I've noticed a declining number of US winners in other award shows, but never took the time to go through an tally up the totals. Here's what I came up with for CA: Non US: 24 winners, US: 12. Of those, almost half were for either pro-bono clients or spec work done purely for exposure. Is it indicative of a declining amount of good ad photographers in the US, or the lack of good ad work here?

Comrade Shoots Stashes for MN Lottery

Moneystaches, that is... Colle & McVoy AD Dustin Black came to Michael Rodriguez (aka Comrade) recently with a wacky campaign riffing on the Monopoly board game's iconic character for Minnesota Lottery's Mega Monopoly game. Shot in-camera in Los Angeles using a custom mustache prop and a combination of agency and "real people" talent. The portraits were lit using Rembrandt as an inspiration, and a oil-painting effect was applied to the images in post to further push the classical, kitsch direction.
Here's what they look like as bus shelter posters...

Redpath and Cossette Team Up for Pro Bono

Anthony Redpath and long-time collaborator, Rob Sweetman, now CD at Cossette Communications in Vancouver, BC teamed up with AD Andrew Alblas on a charming campaign to generate donations to the Vancouver Society of Children's Centres, a non-profit who's aim is to provide high quality child and family services to people in need. Ahhh.. Where's my wallet??

Eva Kolenko Shoots Third Eye Blind

Third Eye Blind front man Stephen Jenkins was introduced to Kolenko through Mary Scott, the Chair of Graphic Design at Kolenko's alma mater, the Academy of Art University, who he had enlisted to design the packaging for the band's long awaited fourth album, "Ursa Major". Eva shot a huge variety of individual and group shots over the two day shoot at a friend of Jenkins' mansion, which were eventually whittled down to the twelve selects used throughout the packaging, which we're told is in record stores now. Here are a couple more of my personal favorites...