Photo Shoot

I get it. Trump is a bastard. But The New York Times is a newspaper, not People Magazine. This image appeared on the front page, above the fold today.

The caption tells us that this Muslim girl is studying at her family's home in the Bronx.

What it doesn't tell us is why she chooses to have such a menacing image of Trump, the current front runner and leading Islamophobic on the screen while she studies.

Photoshop or photo staging, this is shoddy journalism. Total bullshit.  

In The Afterglow of a Foursome with Himself

Sir Richard Branson demonstrates the new cubby bed, where you can sit in a corner and work or read, not disturbing the other three people in the bed. These beds are in the new Virgin Hotel Chicago, and more locations will be springing up around the country.

In fairness to the art director on this shoot, there was no better way to demonstrate the function of the bed. (Except, of course, a family with two kids. Dad or mom in the corner, kids and the other parent watching TV.) Any other combination of people would've been pornographic.

"Two men and two women?"

"No."

"Four guys?"

"No."

"Four women?"

"Well...I could see that, but no."

"Let's get Richard to be all four people!"

"Genius, because what would Richard like more than himself? Three more Richards!"

 

Stock Photography Fail

When you're shooting stock images and you want to portray "doctors," choose people who look like doctors. Try throwing a woman in there. A minority is quite popular these days.

When you're selecting an image for your own publication, creating an ad that is trying to solicit ads from medical professionals, choose an image that represents your audience, or at least an image that represents your audience's inflated image of itself.

My guess is the intended audience for this ad is not likely to respond to an image of a couple of B-grade, mousse-haired male models. Pretending to be doctors. These chumps have that air about them that says, "I'm going to be a huge deal someday." They will wake up in ten years to the suicide-inducing realization that they are being cast in ED commercials because they have that "impotent" look.

Oh, and can I have a couple of alternate headlines here? Your first clever instinct may not always be your best one.

Yeah, Not Everyone's a Photographer

Corps of Cadets, Army-Navy game, Philadelphia, date unknown

Despite the fact that we all have access to good gear and fine editing software, photography is still an art form that requires skill. I have a decent camera, but I can't call myself a photographer. Point and shoot all you want, you won't get images like these without someone behind the camera knowing what they're doing. Found via Twitter by a guy who follows me and who I followed back. Northeasterners needing a photog, think about Chris Sembrot.

What Do You Get When You Cross a Youth Hostel with a W Hotel?

This place. Very simple, very cool. A block from the ocean in South Beach. With windows that actually open!

In a shameless, "we strive to be hip" way, they also offer the hotel as a production location.


My colleagues are very picky when it comes to sleep comfort, however, so we will unfortunately not be using this place again. They were not enamored of the stylish and firm platform beds nor did they enjoy the invigorating din of late-night revelers and traffic on the street below.

Back to the damn Hampton Inn.