September 10, 2006
LAB Color Space
I've been reading Photoshop LAB Color: The Canyon Conundrum and Other Adventures in the Most Powerful Colorspace by Dan Margulis. I must say I'm impressed with the utility of doing certain kinds of color correction work in LAB color space. It's very useful for bringing out color variation in an image in the way that a skilled painter does when he adds that certain "pop" to his work.
The author's story is at times long in the telling, but there is some undeniably useful information here. It's like a secret weapon. I can't believe this isn't more widely known material [among the people I meet in Los Angeles film and visual effects post-production.]
Posted by digital artform at 09:40 PM | Comments (4)
November 24, 2005
Modern Vixens: World of Winkytiki
Ocatavio Arizala (Winkytiki) likes to say of his work, it ain't art; just entertainment.
Can't it be both?
I love the care with which he places his models in various settings, and the deadpan seriousness with which he treats the knowingly kitschy material. When I heard he was releasing 350 of his photos in book form, I immediately started looking for it.
German publisher Goliath Books and stateside distributor ImagePod Books had originally indicated that Modern Vixens: World of Winkytiki might be for sale as early as October, but so far I only see it on the German version of Amazon.com. The US release date seems to have solidified as February 2006.
I'm considering it a late Christmas present.
UPDATE 12/23/05
Amazon.com has listed Modern Vixens: World of Winkytiki available for pre-order.
UPDATE 2/14/2006
My copy arrived from Amazon today. Happy Valentine's Day.
At 8" x 6", Modern Vixens: World of Winkytiki by Octavio C. Arizala is a bit too small to be regarded as a coffeetable book, but at over 360 pages, it's a hefty volume, packed with page after page of large color photographs. If you've been to winkytiki.com you'll have a good idea of what to expect inside, but for every photo you know you'll find 5 or 6 more from the same set inside this book.
Arizala is gracious with his acknowledgements, crediting not only the models, but the makeup artists, set builders, and in some cases the locations. My only complaint: instead of providing credits throughought the book, he saves them for the end. This gives the book a simple, uncluttered layout, but if you don't already recognize the models, many of whom are known in certain circles and do have a following, you won't know who they are without looking them up by name somewhere else.
Modern Vixens is a "must have" for fans of this photographer and genre.
Los Angelenos take note: there will be a Book Release Party and Signing - Bigfoot Lodge - 7-10 pm March 18,2006
UPDATE 2/28/2006
Arizala shoots with a Nikon F. His philosophy: "If this brick with a lens was good enough for the boys in 'Nam, it's good enough for you." Personally, if I shot with a Nikon F I would pimp it out like so.
Posted by digital artform at 10:39 PM | Comments (1)
July 21, 2005
Draw From Your Head
I like an approach to drawing from the imagination that uses anatomical knowledge to "muscle up" a simplified skeleton. Robert Beverly Hale seems to think like that as he draws. So apparently does Glenn Vilppu.
Doug Jamieson takes this way of thinking and shares more of the details. In Draw From Your Head, he presents the system he taught for many years at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
People of all skill levels will benefit from this book. It's currently out of print, and can be hard to find and expensive to buy. I've heard prices for it ranging from $20 (for one lucky individual) to hundreds of dollars. I got mine recently for $50, and I'm pleased with my purchase.
Posted by digital artform at 08:06 AM | Comments (0)