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30 October, 2008 |
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Ok, we all know smoking's bad for your health, but from a creative perspective, photographing smoke trails can result in some stunning visual effects. Just recently the office transformed into a high-key lit studio, on a mission to capture smoke trails. Smoke effects are not only a pleasure to look at, and make great desktop backgrounds, but when used as a creative element in design they can be manipulated into things of beauty, using techniques like bumpmapping, texturing, and opacity layering with other artwork. Below are just a sample of the 190 odd I shot..and yes, just like tobacco...it's quite addictive! Just be prepared for your house to smell like a Buddhist temple for a while. The Recipe:
DSLR Camera
Tripod
Black backdrop
500 watt spotlight (smaller lighting setups can be used if the emitting light is sufficiently strong and focused)
Incense sticks 
 
 
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10 October, 2008 |
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Well the time has come to call it a day "Working for the Man" and take my next step forward as a full-time freelance/contract designer. Albeit a bit daunting, It's actually quite exciting!! GRA (Me) is an independent, creative design solution based in Christchurch, NZ.
For nearly 15 years I have worked with and for, some outstanding corporate and consumer clients, producing intelligent solutions and engaging design. If you’re looking to enhance your brand or inject personality into your website, or produce visually stunning and informative print collateral, GRA has the relevant skills to meet your brief. My approach is simple. I want your business to be successful and will work with you as a creative partner to produce aesthetic, yet usable design to inspire your target audience.
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05 October, 2008 |
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Psst, there are some changes in the wind. Will post again soon, with a full news-worthy report!
Peas-Out
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05 September, 2008 |
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Bula! Well, Ive just returned from a fantastic holiday in Fiji with my good friend Matt. A hol to recharge the batteries, clear the mind and escape the cold, (if only for a week).
It's pretty cool that we can get away to such tropical climbs within 3 hrs of NZ and remain in the same timezone.
It was my first trip to the Pacific and I know it wont be my last. We stayed at a resort at Vuda Point, and made every effort to see the real Fiji, and not the typical tourist trails. Walking, busing, and befriending locals is the only way to see & feel Fiji.
Just before leaving, my new Canon 40d arrived from HK, paired up with a new Sigma 24-70 1:2.8, which was great timing to take it on it's first recky to capture the experience. To see a photo gallery of the trip, visit my Facebook gallery page.
   iphone Gallery's: Bula | Vinaka Canon 40d Gallery's: Bula | Vinaka Vinaka!
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04 August, 2008 |
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Righto, here's one for all you font fiends and typophiles. FontStruct is here and is 'well cool'. Brought to you by the guys from Fontshop, FontStruct allows you to design, collaborate, share and even sell your own font creations. Ive started a few FontStructions, one being a GRA font based on the GRA logo typography.
Click on the logo below for the Fonstruct site and get signed-up and Fonstructing, or click on the video below to see how easy it is to create your own piece of typography geeeeeenius. 
FontStruct was designed to be self-explanatory. We built the editor so that anyone, without any type design or technical experience, can get started right away. But it’s always nice to have a moving, talking guide. So, here’s our first screencast: an introduction to FontStruct. Let the soothing Scottish timbre of FontStruct creator Rob Meek guide you through the basics of the application.
Introduction to FontStruct from fontstruct on Vimeo. |
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08 July, 2008 |
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Here's a small desktop piece i have been working on in my spare time. It's a commemorative piece marking the passing of my sons grandfather Tom Ratahi. The work is titled. Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa. This is available as a print, but here as a nice bit of Desktopography.
Click to download.
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