I have to lay some ground rules on this post: I am a visual media creator and tech geek. Talking about this stuff gets me cranked up, but it can make other people’s eyes glaze over. So, if you have a passion for image creation and technology, read on; otherwise, you may find that your Facebook status needs updating or there is a book you need to catch up on.

As a photographer and filmmaker I have always been after the “look” in my imagery.  I know a visual image will not stand up without a good story behind it, but I have always tried to create beautiful imagery to go along with the story. When I talk of the “look” in digital motion images, what I mean is that the image looks like traditional motion film. There are many things that give images a film-like quality, but one of the major ones is a shallow depth of field. Shooting with video cameras has a drawback that there is a large depth of field. Almost everything is in focus. Without going into too much of a technical explanation, it has to do with the small sensor size of most digital video cameras. To get this shallow depth of field on one of these video cameras, we would go to great lengths and attach what is called a depth of field or “DOF” adapter. It is basically a device that allows us to use traditional 35mm lenses by attaching these lenses to a box with a spinning ground glass in it onto which the lens focuses its image.  The video camera would then focus onto the ground glass. Sounds confusing, doesn’t it? Well, try lugging one of these set- ups half way around the world, all just to get the “look”. Trust me, it is not an easy thing to carry around.

Well, now to the exciting stuff…

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Author’s note: This is my first real-live blog post, on a real-live  blog. Well actually, this was my first one, but I don’t think it really counts. So here we are, you the reader, and me the writer, and I’m supposed to entertain you. Or inform you. Or even better– make you *think*…

If you’re anything like me, you’re a bit of an artist. Maybe you’re an illustrator, or maybe you take pictures. Or maybe, when you show people your work, it goes something like this: “Did you draw this?” “No.” “Did you take this picture?” “No.” “Well, did you write the words?” “Ummm, no, but it was all my idea.” “So you printed the brochure, then?” “NO.” (an annoyed, incredulous stare) “Well, what DID you do?” Yes, that makes you the ambiguous Graphic Designer. Or maybe you’re not any of these, and you have one of those cushy “desk jobs”, which is fine. Have a few laughs; enjoy the pictures. But I’m talking to the artist-types out there.
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For years I’ve been impressed by the online communities of tinkerers, modders, and hackers that have been collecting on the internet discussing how to reuse and mod their old (and new) electronics. By reusing and modding our stuff we can create cooler and more useful applications while not buying new things. The skillset required for projects varies greatly, from super simple to computer-programmer complex. But almost all projects give you the details you need, and if you need more help, there’s always youtube!

The biggest and most well-known communities are Instructables, Hack a Day and MAKE. We scoured each site and compiled a list of DIY experiments that we’re definitely looking into, to get us in the holiday mood.

The Christmas Cannon
Handmade paper ball ornaments
Computerized Christmas lights
Controlling your Christmas tree via webcam
A collection of DIY Christmas gift ideas

If hacking electronics isn’t your thing, you could always check out Ikea Hacker and Readymade for home decorating DIY inspiration and tips.

Have you done any DIY hacks to your electronics? What do you create for yourself rather than buying? Drop us a comment below.

Today’s guest blogger is our current freelance designer Craig, you may remember him as our beloved slam dunking, penguin surfing, and competitive eating intern.

If you caught last weekend’s episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, you saw the results of hard work from thousands of individuals and dozens of companies in the Northwest Illinois region, including me! The house build was only a few minutes away from my hometown and I was excited to help out those in need. I worked on the house for a few days and the amount of progress from day to day was incredibly inspiring.

Watching the show Sunday was a great recap of the build, and it was interesting at how all the footage was edited down. Although, the program itself didn’t totally convey the huge push for volunteerism and action across the community that was raised in the excitement of Extreme Makeover. Volunteers came out of the woodwork, both locally, with support raised for the local Sportsplex, local food pantries, and other local charities, as well as nationally, with volunteers signed up to the Be The Match marrow registry (watch the episode to see why). Even today, months after the filming, the region has seen an increase in volunteers as a result of Extreme Makeover.

If you missed the episode, you can catch it on Hulu. And for a behind the scenes view, you can check out the build’s Flickr page here. It was truly inspiring to see the outcome of everyone’s efforts and how seemingly impossible things, building an entire house in 7 days, can be achieved when everyone pitches in and helps out. While the TV spotlight on Northwest Illinois lasted only 1 hour on a Sunday night, the impact on our region will hopefully remain for months and years to come.

Have you ever helped on this show? What do you do to volunteer or hope to do soon?

Ever since Helvetica hit the (video) screens way back in 2007, there has been a plethora of great and intriguing design documentaries that have given the general public, and even us designers, an inside look into our profession. We tracked down some of our favorite new documentaries to share with you. Keep an eye out for these at your favorite independent theater.

Objectified – Trailer
Gary Hustwit’s first documentary following Helvetica highlights industrial design and how everyday objects affect our world. This documentary features interviews from many of today’s top industrial designers including Chris Bangle, Karim Rashid, Tim Brown, along with several top commentators and experts in the field. Covering a wide range of topics in industrial design, Objectified is an awesome introduction into our “object” world. It was just released on DVD last week, so pick it up now.

Art & Copy – Trailer
Art & Copy opens an eye to the advertising world that the public doesn’t normally see. It features commentary by advertisers and an overview of some of the greatest ad campaigns of the last 50 years. This is surely a must-see to anyone who consumes advetisements…which is everyone.

Milton Glaser: To Inform & Delight – Trailer
One of the most iconic American designers of the twentieth century, Milton Glaser has produced some of the most engaging works in the last half century. These include the famous poster from 1967’s Bob Dylan Greatest Hits, The I Heart NY campaign, and several high profile posters for various festivals and campaigns worldwide. Get a better look at the genius of Glaser’s work, process, and theories with this documentary.

Typeface – Sneak Peek
Typeface, which just premiered last month, focuses on the tradition of letterpress printing and printmaking. Featuring historians and printmakers based out of the Hamilton Type Museum in Twin Rivers, Wisconsin, Typeface is the de facto documentary in the wooden type revival.

Died Young, Stayed Pretty – Trailer
Died Young, Stayed Pretty follows the evolution and growth of the current underground concert poster scene, all while questioning whether or not it even exists. Meet some fantastic poster artists, including one of our favorites, Chicago’s own Jay Ryan.

Which one is your favorite? Drop us a comment below. If you feel like going old school, you can check out this series of documentaries produced by the BBC chronicling the invention of the Gutenberg press, arguably the most important invention…ever.