2011 - A new legendary Kiss? Alfred Eisenstaedt vs. Rich Lam?

As the best images of 2011 do the rounds on the interwebs, I was looking at BuzzFeed's top 45 today. I couldn't help notice the similarities between Eisenstaedt's iconic 1945 VJ Day Times Square Kiss and Rich Lam's iconic shot from this year (2011) taken in Vancouver (Getty).

A similar sort of subject composition can be seen. Notice how the male takes the dominant upper left with the female taking lower right position visually (the same can be seen in classic Hollwood love film posters) and we can see some background detail but not too much. The image tone and sense of 'the moment' is similar, however the emotional intensity is far different due to the tone of the scene in 2011 and also the ominous riot cop, out of focus, in the foreground of Lam's 2011 shot.

The difference between eras is also potentially interesting from a social perspective.

No copyright claimed. Images are copyright their respective owners. Observational post only.

Amongst Inspiration: Part 3 - With Photographer Clíona O'Flaherty

Clíona is such a talent and it was wonderful to be able to feature her in Part 3 of the Amongst Inspiration HD web series. 

I'm loving directing these spots and have been bitten by the directing bug 100%. There's just nothing better than seeing your idea come to life on screen once the edit has been completed. 

Planning a few more of these in 2012. Stay tuned and thanks to all who have sent me support and encouraged these films on Irish creatives...

World's First AR Newspaper - Metro Herald Dublin - with Blippar™

Delighted to have been part of the concept & creative team on this innovative Augmented Reality press advert for for Irish airline, Aer Lingus. The ad featured in the World's first Augmented Reality newspaper, the Metro Herald Dublin, for editorial and advertising content. 

I art directed the AR interaction / idea and liaised with Blippar™, London to create the final interaction.

Art Direction: Paddy Geraghty & James Cooper. Copy: Dylan Cotter & Bernie Martin. Agency: Irish International

Amongst Inspiration: Part 2 - With U2 Art Director Steve Averill

I'm delighted to have completed the second in a series of inspiration based mini-films on Dublin creatives.

This time I had the pleasure of sitting down for a few hours with the very talented Steve Averill. Steve's work for U2 over the last 25 years or more is astonishing. Our chat revolved mainly around inspiration, The Joshua Tree period & the Boy album. I cut the bulk of the inspiration & Joshua Tree content down into a 5 min edit and am really happy with the result. (The Boy material may appear in some form at a later date...)

Steve's take on the inspirations behind the iconic Joshua Tree sleeve are now preserved in HD for all to enjoy.

A big thanks to Steve, Will at Mutiny, Michael Carpenter at Stagefright, Mark Duggan & obviously U2 & Principle Management Dublin for graciously allowing permission to use the track. 

Check out more of Steve's work at http://www.AmpVisual.com, read the YouTube notes under the video for more detail or like the Facebook page to find out more: http://www.facebook.com/AmongstInspiration

Part 3 coming soon!

Amongst Inspiration: Part 1 - With Illustrator Chris Judge

Part 1 of my new mini-film series 'Amongst Inspiration' is up live now. 

I was really excited to spend a a few hours with Dublin based illustrator Chris judge as we chatted about inspiration.

The idea for this series came when I was having a coffee on King Street in Sydney's Newtown in April. I was telling one of my oldest mates (who is currently exploring photography) about the creative people I'd been meeting in Dublin. As we talked about studios, illustrators, designers, the Canon Vs. Nikon debate, new music & how good Sydney coffee was it struck me that as an Aussie based in Dublin, I'd met people here that I never would have met had I stayed in Sydney.

I wondered about the more interesting creatives I'd met. The ones with real 'Dublin' stories. The ones who had inspired me. What inspired them? I wondered.....

And so, in this, the first in a series of inspiration led mini-films, we spend 2 minutes in the studio with illustrator Chris Judge.

Chris' illustration work includes the glorious picture book 'The Lonely Beast', 'Darth Dredd' for the 2009 Vader Project in London's Andy Warhol Museum, much loved Dublin culinary icon Pablo Picanté, work for Mini, Vodafone & 3 Mobile. More recently Chris has illustrated the Sparkhead character for ESB's 'Share The Energy' campaign at Irish Music Festival, Electric Picnic. 

A big thanks to Chris Judge & Cathy Davey for the use of the lovely song 'Little Red'.

I'm delighted that the mini-film has already been featured on LostAtEMinor.com, Freshbump.com, Sytheastwood.com, Scamp.ie, Picture Book Davy, For The Love Of, & Frequency.com & illustrationmundo.com

Like the Facebook page to stay updated: http://www.facebook.com/AmongstInspiration

A Video Worth Sharing - Nike: Raising Money For The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson's Research

We share videos everyday. Especially those of us working in creative.

Here's a video worth embedding & sharing.

Nike have released the Nike Mag shoe as seen in Back To The Future II (One of my favourite 80's films). 1500 pairs are being auctioned on eBay to help raise money for the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

Find out more at www.back4thefuture.com & see a cool new, lovingly crafted web spot featuring the Doc & the Delorean plugging the release of the shoes!

GREAT SCOTT!

Spike & Win Collaborate

I'm very excited about this new Spike Jonze short.... with Arcade Fire...

'Amongst Type' Film Hits 2,700 Views

To my surprise my typography led mini film "Amongst Type" shot & edited in Dublin, Ireland on Friday Feb 25th has hit 2,700 views on YouTube in little over 2 weeks. The good folks at Freshbump.com, Notcot.org & LostAtEminor.com featured the film.

It seems quite a few people are interested in typography.

I really enjoyed directing & editing this so I'm planning to do more of this... stay tuned.

The Rothco Client Party 11th Feb

We all had a ball & a late night at the Happy Snappy Rothco client Party a few weeks back 11th Feb. You can see a few of my very creative colleagues here above Mags, Babs, Cherie, Annie, Fionan, Claire, Austin (& I do a lean), Dan, Daire, Fionan again, me & Pat.

Philip Zimbardo on "The Secret Powers of Time"

This is fascinating research & a well put together video on the powers of time. Do yourself a favour & spend 10 minutes discovering how you engage with time.

Professor Philip Zimbardo "conveys how our individual perspectives of time affect our work, health and well-being. Time influences who we are as a person, how we view relationships and how we act in the world."

Thanks Tom Lennon for passing this on to me.