NEWS: SVA to add MPS in Digital Photography beginning Fall 2007

The School of Visual Arts in New York City will offer a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Digital Photography beginning in the fall of 2007. The new one-year degree program will become the fourth program in photography at SVA and looks to be an excellent option for those who want a program focused on the core subjects of photography and imaging, from capture to print.

The program will be chaired by Katrin Eismann, who I’ve known personally for about 10 years, and who I greatly respect for her knowledge and straighforward teaching style (whether in print, on video, or live). The program will consist of nine 3-credit courses and a 6-credit summer thesis project, including: Digital Materials and Processes; Digital Asset Management and Workflow; Personal Vision, Storytelling and the Art of Editorial Photography; Color Management and Output; Advanced Image Processing; Photo Illustration; Large Format Printing; Studio Management and Practices; and Scripting and Automation.

Katrin’s books (authored and co-authored in some cases) on digital photography and digital imaging techniques are some of the best available in my opinion. They include Real World Digital Photography (Peachpit Press, 2003), Photoshop Masking & Compositing (New Riders Press, 2004) and Adobe Photoshop Restoration & Retouching, Third Edition (New Riders Press, 2005). All of the books metioned, as well as some of Katrin’s DVD’s can be found here. Katrin is also a featured columnist in American Photo and Photoshop User magazines. I have been reading both magazines for years and highly recommend them.

I look forward to seeing the full list of classes, which will be available approximately Oct 1, 2006 on this page.

Here is a direct link to the press release, which contains a lot more info about the program.

-Andrew Darlow

REVIEW: “Very Funny Ads” TV show and online website

About a week ago, I saw a program on TV highlighting funny TV ads from around the world. There are a lot of lessons to be learned from these with regard to how ads are made for products across the globe, and how products are marketed in different countries. Only a handful of these select ads really made me laugh, but the cinematography and overall production value of the spots is fantastic. If nothing else, the site is worth a look as an example of how major networks are putting video content online. In this case, with little to no advertising. (Oh yes, of course, it’s all advertising, but you know what I mean.)

The show is hosted by Kevin Nealon, who many will know from his 9 seasons on Saturday Night Live (1986-1995).

Here’s the link to the site: https://veryfunnyads.com

My favorites are the videos for Hansaplast, Leo’s Sports Club, and Comviq mobile. K-Fee is very unique too.

Click on the index link on the bottom right of the very funny ads site to see a complete index of all the ads. If you have a chance, please let me know which are your favorites, and how they might have had an effect on your work as an audio, photo or video pro. You can drop me a line at imaging@andrewdarlow.com . I love hearing the sound quality in these commercials (try watching with and without sound to see the difference). For the most part, the audio is cinematic and crystal clear.

For some reason, Geico.com was absent. In my opinion they have had the best TV and radio spots for the last few years in the USA. Everyone knows the gecko (I love the employee of the month one with the gecko driving a convertible). One of their radio commercials has soothing classical music with a guy speaking in a raspy voice about motorcycle insurance. Throughout the commercial, he basically says, I don’t think this music is quite right. Pure genius. Here is a direct link to some of Geico’s videos. A Google search will find others which I believe are “not authorized.” Even Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett is featured in some of the videos.

Here’s the link again: https://www.veryfunnyads.com/

All the best,

Andrew Darlow

Two Articles Now Available Online (Podcasting & Inkjet-Related)

Hello everyone. I’d like to announce that I recently wrote an article on podcasting and audio, and contributed an image and testimonial about how I use a number of HP’s papers and printers. Both were published in Studio Photography magazine’s August issue.

This is the image I contributed to the inkjet article photographed in my favorite “city that never sleeps”:

Photograph © Andrew Darlow, All Rights Reserved

And here are the links to the articles online:

For a direct link to the audio and podcasting article: https://www.imaginginfo.com/publication/article.jsp?pubId=3&id=1791
Link to the Inkjet Printer and Paper Article (also includes comments about a wide range of products from many other photographers):

https://www.imaginginfo.com/publication/article.jsp?pubId=3&id=1809

I encourage all professional photographers based in the USA who like the online articles to request a free subscription to Studio Photography magazine. You’ll find a link to request a subscription on their home page. I think they do a fantastic job, and the articles are filled with great images and tips. If you live in Canada or Mexico, the free subscription option may also be available to you, but I’m not sure about that.

I am not an employee of the parent company, Cygnus Business Media, but I served as Editorial Director of a magazine called Digital Imaging Techniques (another Cygnus publication) for two years. You can find many previous online articles from Digital Imaging Techniques here. And to subscribe to my personal Inkjet & Imaging Tips Newsletter, just enter your e-mail address in the box in the top right corner of the home page.

Bye for now…