Wednesday Tip Jar : Every Image Tells a Story

Posted on August 24, 2011 by The Pick

You’re a storyteller. A good one. With one very compelling story.

Yours.

Updating your portfolio [be it on your website or other portals] tells a story. It’s about where you’ve been. And where you’re headed. It leaves an imprint of your beginnings with a promising direction to your future.

What makes for a great story for you? One that captures your essence and just says everything about you. Is it a new exciting assignment? Or a personal image that stops us all in our tracks? Perhaps it’s a video that explores a personal journey that continues today? A new commercial for a product or service you proudly endorse? A music video that feeds your creative genius you wouldn’t mind putting your name to?

That story is yours to tell. And tell us you must. Tell your clients. Tell your rep. Tell your mentor. Tell your critics. Just tell the story. We all want to know.

A great story is worth repeating.

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Man and Ball – The Old Fashion Game

Posted on August 23, 2011 by The Pick

The god has risen. He is not happy. What have the mortals done to his beloved Game?

Let Sleeping Gods Lie is the inaugural issue of Man and Ball soccer magazine, a digital UK publication.  Its writers – nay, firestarters – have a sense of humor and knowledge of the sport that will get them into trouble – but they will at least get your attention. Addiction has a new face.

Altpick Member Gant Powell has been selected to be one of two illustrators, bringing the interesting, unique articles to big bold life.  His decidedly tongue-in-cheek interpretation of the writers’ stories has found a target for a round or two of wit and word.  With titles including “On the Pleasure of Hating Jack Wilshere”, “Arsenal’s African Attraction” and “Englishman’s Guide to the Cop Ameria”, it’s a cup of life toast to what is arguably the world’s most beloved sport.

Of course, with a blog named “GantPants“, it all makes sense.

Check out Man and Ball here, where Issue One can be downloaded FREE, and Issue Two: Living On Both Sides Of The Game, is hot off the press and available for only £1.95.  They need money for new underwear you know, these lowly writer types.

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The Critic Within

Posted on August 18, 2011 by The Pick

You know the one. You are on a first-name basis, you are that intimate. To silence or cultivate?

Here’s a thought. Critics don’t change the world. Those who take chances and risk criticism move the world.

Pushing boundaries beyond the possible? Boundaries exist for a reason, no? Should I or shouldn’t I? Is this right? How am I measuring up? Second guessing becomes a new sport. Handy tools of a critic. Wielded with tenacity.

Self-editing before we ever begin our first draft. Why must we impose such hard lines when our creativity flows so much more fluidly without them?

Silence the critic with this: Action. Less talk. More do. It gives us purpose and forces us to be present because of its very immediacy. We cannot do in the past or future. We can only do in the now.

Cultivate the critic with this: Permission. Allow ourselves to fail for this is part and gift-wrapped parcel of the joy of taking risks. Say yes to the moment. Yes, right now. Fall in love with the process of creativity.

Hear the silence?

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Wednesday : Tip Jar

Posted on August 10, 2011 by The Pick

On Wednesday, we go diving.

Going deep to examine and shed light on your work. That incredible body of work that makes us all say “how did s/he do that?” As much as we enjoy being stunned by art in all its wonderful forms, we want to know the why. The how. The who behind it. What you wore in the creative wrestling of it. And who won.

Or maybe that’s just us.

So we’re asking …

What discoveries of truths in your life have opened a new way to create something original?

Are you content to repeat what’s been created?

Do you like Starbucks, Dunkin or Tim?

Just askin’.

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Your Summer Reading List Starts Here.

Posted on August 5, 2011 by The Pick

Altpick Library has launched! We are delighted to celebrate our members books.  Here are some that were just added:

Lennette Newell’s “Welcome to the World” book is styled as a sweet and simple letter to newborn and introduces the first year splendors.

Brian Smith’s “Art & Soul” is a large-format glossy coffee-table book featuring intimate portraits of celebrities accompanied by personal testimonials from each artist expressing the importance of the arts in our culture.

Amanda Koster’s ” Can I Come With You” illustrates and explains what can be done as it takes the reader through some of her professional forays, photographing personal projects and the work of NGO’s around the globe. 59 photographs taken in Brazil, Kenya, Romania and Morocco.

Rudy Gutierrez illustrated “Papa and Me”  about a boy’s special day with his father, recounting their adventures from waking up in the morning until they arrive home in the evening.

View all titles here.

To add your book(s) to the Altpick Library, please contact us at altpick@altpick.com.

Bookworms, rejoice.

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Stereophonic Hypnotic

Posted on August 4, 2011 by The Pick

There’s something very intriguing about this photo by Mark Peterman.

Is it the 1970’s stereo, the headphones, the leather couch, the vase in the window?

Is it the man? Is it the man wreathed in a random cloud of smoke?

Or perhaps it’s the bold choice of footwear?

The details that makes you want to keep looking. Mark Peterman.

Keep looking here.

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Wednesday : Tip Jar

Posted on August 3, 2011 by The Pick

Membership has its promising privileges.

Sole possession of a clean towel for the duration of your workout.

Decent leg room.

A champion breakfast thanks to Bacon-of-the-Month. Hmmm. Bacon.

And now this: an Altpick membership. Your career awaits.

A few of the benefits include:

:: Annual membership fee $99.00 US. Unchanged for longer than we can remember.
:: Unlimited portfolio samples, images, video, flash and more. Go post-happy.
:: Up to 10 web links. Your mad creative skills are legend.
:: Change or update your images anytime, 24/7. Your outfit. Your choice.
:: Your news and calendar event posts show up on our front page. Headline, anyone?
:: RSS Feed for Updates, News and Calendar Events. For the in-the-know who wants to know. About you.
:: Stats on visitors. You want to know. Admit it.
:: Custom icons for your portfolio samples. Avatars for your stars.
:: New work you add appears front and center. Hello, homepage.
:: Visitors can save you to a list of favorites. They really like you.
:: Post to Twitter and Facebook right from your Altpick page. Save you a step so you can get busy.

And when you update your page we push a status update to Twitter. We do the same for news items as well. All great ways to stay visible.

Because you are relevant. We say so.

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Glen Wexler’s Improbable Realities – August 4th

Posted on July 29, 2011 by The Pick

This presentation will examine the concepts and wit behind Wexler’s altered or manufactured realities, and emphasize the creative problem solving behind the realization of his images. From the use of elaborate set fabrications, to the creative and practical decisions behind the integration of digital imaging editing tools, you’ll get an inside look into real secrets of the successful merging of vision and technology.

Photoshop & You
550 Sutter
San Francisco CA

Thursday, August 04, 2011 from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (PT)

To RSVP click here.

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Wednesday : Tip Jar

Posted on July 27, 2011 by The Pick

You’re an icon.

An avatar.

A profile.

You have representation. But are you well-represented? It may be time to take another look at your icon. And ask yourself: is it the best me out there?

In this great big cyber world of ours, we rely on virtual us to be our calling cards. Our digital agent. It is the first image that a person sees of you. And sometimes, it is the only you they will ever see.

No small thing for consideration, is it? Be sure to choose one that represents you in the best light. In candlelight and under floodlights.

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Milton Glaser On the Fear of Failure

Posted on July 26, 2011 by The Pick

“Fear of failure,” here Glaser pauses, “… is a phrase that requires a little thought.”

Are professionalism and personal development intrinsically tied? Glaser’s professionalism is to have something that no one else has for that is how you make money that leads to success. Personal development is more about failure which leads to discovery. Which of these mean success to you?

You’re a professional. And a successful one. Are you a brand? Unsurprisingly, brand is one of his most despised words. It used to apply to companies and entities that are encased in brick and mortar. It then encompasses virtual companies with online presence. Now, we are all about personal brands.

Self-discovery in terms of personal development is learning that you are either good at something or you are not. Glaser uses a great master. Whenever Picasso learns to do something, he abandons it. His point is that once you discover something, you will lose interest. It’s that unrelenting search of creatives, isn’t it?

It is where failure lives.

Glaser says fear of failure is an inhibiting characteristic. It’s counter-intuitive to artists as it goes against the unleashing of great creativity. Just what are you afraid of? Inadequacy, criticism, embarrassment … all of which are too visible. To ourselves as well as others.

Self-criticism and ego are two oft familiar terms for artists. For failure is an acknowledgment that you’re not good at something. That you don’t really know what you’re doing.

The only way out, advises Glaser, is to admit what is. Find out what you’re capable of doing and what you’re not capable of doing. Subject yourself to the fact that you’re not as good as you think or hope you are or that others think or hope you are. Courage? Oh yes.

Ultimately, Glaser’s failure is a romantic idea: embrace the failure.

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