Elizabeth Taylor RIP

We lost another one of American's icons and a talented actress, Elizabeth Taylor.

I'm used to seeing the "older" version of Ms. Taylor; on the red carpet, celebrity appearances, etc. When I see photos of her like above, its easy to forget that she was young and as fine as Megan Fox is today.

I remember seeing her in Cleopatra as a child, and her White Diamonds perfume commercials.

Books: DemiGods and Cosmic Children

I am always looking for ways to improve and inspire my photography, and I promised myself I would buy any book that spoke to me. So when I saw this book DemiGods and Cosmic Children I had to have it. It is a collection of portraits taken by skateboarder photographer Giovanni Reda, featuring his friends, pro skaters, musicians, celebrities he's met, and some very interesting characters.


Gino Iannucci, Scott Oster,

What I love most about these photos is the effect from the light and background set up; (he's using maybe 2-3 lights/reflector etc, on a black or gray background). You don't always need complicated, fancy stuff to achieve the results you want.


Steve Berra, Steve Olson

Each photo conveys to me the subjects' personality and mood through facial expression and body language. They look so comfortable in front of the camera, and with themselves. I want to learn how I can better coach that out of my subjects and capture is the way Giovanni does. I guess I better get my friends together.


Rick Howard, Alex Olson

The book itself is leather bound with a hard cover, and is bigger than I thought it would be. It has large photos on quality paper that that make it a good coffee table book.

Read more about the making of the book here, plus a video.

Dress Sculptures: Roberto Capucci

Last Friday my friend Kharma took me to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see the Roberto Capucci show. It was amazing!

Beginning his career in the 1940's, his imagination, use of materials, and attention to detail at such a young age dazzled the Italian fashion scene, even as they told him he was too young to participate. If I was a fashion designer, I would have slept in the museum to absorb all of the creativity floating around that room.

Unfortunately we couldn't take any photos, so you'll have to look at this video and research them yourself.

Ebony Magazine Changes Its Look

Kiss My Black Ads scooped me to the new redesign of this month's Ebony, featuring the comedy issue with Steve Harvey, Monique, and Chris Rock.


They created a new masthead, new way of handling type on the cover, layout changes on the inside that are more pleasing to the eye, and less dated typography.

Check out KMBA here, and Ebony magazine here.

Japan Earthquake

My prayers go out to the people of Japan after today's massive 8.9 earthquake and 23-foot tsunami.

Our digital culture captures everything, and makes any event, good or bad, well documented.







See photos here

Beautiful and Disturbing World:World Press Photo Of The Year 2010

"The World Press Photo Of The Year Contest is one of the most prestigious annual events for press photographers. These are the winners in 2010. Read the descriptions underneath each image to find out more about the setting and the photographer.
Warning: Some images are graphic in displaying the horror that can be human life."



The woman from Afghanistan and the Haiti photos were the most disturbing to me.

See full size photos here

New Look for Scrabble

Andrew Capener would like to give Scrabble a make over.



His stylish redesign includes multiple typefaces, a solid wood container, and interlocking bard pieces. I can't believe I never thought about this; Maybe because I almost never play board games.

A Letter From a 10 year Old Girl

I just read this and I have to share it.

It is an open letter to Lil Wayne from a 10 year old girl in the form of a song asking him to be more socially responsible in his music.

The link is here

Vogue Italia 2011

Craig at KMBA scooped me, old newspaper style, with this feature on Vogue Italia's homage to 1920's glamour, shot by Emma Emma Summerton.






See more on his site kissmyblackads.blogspot

Melaine Fiona

I just found out on Twitter that Melanie Fiona mada video for my favorite song on the album, You Stop My Heart, like..last year!!

Melanie Fiona - You Stop My Heart from Louis de Caunes on Vimeo.

I still feel cheated because its so short, but its better than nothing.

Man, this woman is fine. Awaiting the next album.

Sigh, follow me on twitter
edit! replaced with the full version!