Toastmasters is an organization where people can grow. They come to learn to be better leaders, better communications and more. To learn more about Toastmasters, please check out their website.

Recently, I gave a presentation at the Toastmasters District 66 Conference. I created it with Google Docs instead of Microsoft PowerPoint so you can also access it via this url: http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=dc2j92wh_530pvmxq3hn.

We’ve had a few assignments so far in Photography 101. Our first was to learn about the wonders of the filter when developing. The second was landscape, portrait and still life. The third was depth of field. I scanned in a picture with middle ground in focus.

My sinsuses really don’t like the dark room chemicals, but what are you going to do?

Black and White

From roll 2, negative 19 on October 1, 2005 at Sandy Bottom Nature Park in Hampton. Shot on 100 ASA Kodak Black and White film with a Canon EOS Rebel G And 35-80mm lens. Developed on Ilford 8×10 MGIV RC paper for 30 seconds, filter 2 and at f-stop 8. The scan isn’t as ‘rich’ as the print. Maybe because the print is glossy. I’ll get a negative scanner one of these days or a scanner that is better than a $2 special.

Color

And when I go out and do 35mm work, I try to take along the digital camera. I like the black and white version better.

I was tasked with doing a quick flier for a golf tournament. I wanted to do a vector look with gradients to add a bit of depth and interest. I used Illustrator CS2.

In the Beginning

I wanted to do two fonts because I thought that was what was normal. But if they’re two fonts, one should be sans-serif and the other serif. Ok, we have this golf tournament in Williamsburg. How about something like Caslon for the bottom part? (Caslon is historic looking and Williamsburg is historic.)

(click for larger images)
(more…)

I was tasked with coming up with two fliers for two events at the work place. They were to be quick and fun. I used Illustrator CS2 and Photoshop CS2. All names will be changed or blurred out.

Take 1

The first is made of two images from photos.com. I deleted out the background of the knight in Photoshop. I placed both images in Illustrator and kept them so that they were linked. That way when I would change the image in Photoshop, it would automatically update in Illustrator. Very handy tool. I made a shadow with a gradient in Photoshop since Illustrator just wasn’t doing what I wanted.

The knight’s shape seemed to cry out for words to wrap around the horse’s body. Doesn’t that space just scream “text”? So I tried that. I also put the word “Chess” behind to create some depth. It’s at about the same angle as the horse. I also wanted to break the frame but not amputate.

(more…)

I miss doing Illustration Friday but time was so crunched at school.

Project

Make a rebus.

(click for larger image)

Can you guess what it says?

(more…)