WEB DESIGN "UI TOOLKITS"

DOUBLEMESH has assembled a really great collection of UI (User Interface) graphic components for the web designer and graphic designers. Calendars, buttons, and a host of other fairly slick graphic elements can be made with the use of the automated generator links. Take a gander, and enjoy.

Basic Lighting Setup for a Buck-Fi'ty?

As someone who likes asking pros what to do, I had a brief discussion one Thursday evening before classes with Michael Candee. We got to talking lighting (as I lamented I have no money for a Speedlite) and Michael mentioned that there were plenty of good quality, inexpensive solutions. Nissin and Yongnuo were mentioned, along with a few others.

So I got to doing some research, and I came across this most excellent blog by Jim Harmer. A lot of folks have been following Jim and his publishing/writings/musings. In one of his posts, he mentions a very solid "entry-level" setup for about 150 bucks.

Design Salaries (a guide of sorts)

Students at GTC know a bit about Coroflot.  It is the site designed to 'connect creative talent with opportunities worldwide.' For many students, it functions as a sort of content repository, or virtual online portfolio...but it does so much more than just that.

One of the many things Coroflot does is provide information on salaries within the design profession. Its sampling is beyond regional-- in fact global, and comes from the professionals out in the trenches.

If you are a Coroflot member,  check it out. They have been compiling data since 2001, so trends can also be extrapolated from the site.

THE EXPOSURE TRIANGLE

It seems more students than ever before are interested in Photography. One of the issues I've always encountered in the classroom is how to address the basics when students have such a wide variety of equipment: Point 'n' shoot, Bridge, Mirrorless, DSLR, DSLM...

Given time to acquaint users with their cameras, we make sure everyone knows a few fundamentals, and it becomes their job to learn (or help each other learn, or ask for instructor help learning) those fundamentals for their specific piece of equipment.

In addition to: white balance, focusing, flash, aperture and d.o.f... we discuss the urgency of learning the factors that cumulatively contribute to the term "EXPOSURE." This site has excerpts to help you understand that a bit more the importance of the "Exposure Triangle."

Nom nom nom

Wanna (sic) learn to make food that tastes pretty darn good? Wanna do it easily? Check out this great visual site for some neat tips on making great grub easily and inexpensively.

Great Photography E-BOOK!

You don't need awesome gear to take great photos. Take a look at pinhole photography or Holga clubs.  The constant to all great visual endeavors is an understanding of subject and composition. There is a new, relatively cheap E_BOOK getting a lot of press in the Photographic Community, and with a 5$ price tag you may find it worth the cost.

TEN was David duChemin’s first eBook and still the most popular by a landslide. The premise is simple, if photographers could cut through the noise and work on their craft without being bombarded with the need to buy more gear, and the newest and shiniest, we’d become better at our craft and create more compelling images. TEN is exactly what it says it is, an exploration of ten techniques and ideas that can improve any photographer’s work.

TEN was written in response to the question, “so where do I go from here, once I’ve learned how to use my camera?” TEN responds to that and gives you ten solid steps to take on your photographic journey, each with accompanying creative exercises, and none of them asking you to buy new gear.

OUYA! A great idea...

Open Source console gaming? With free or nearly free games?? And a development scheme that will allow more "unconnected" developers into the arena?!? This sounds great...stay tuned for more  movement on this front, but why not crack the console world's cartel?

FREE BOOKS!

Well...sorta. You're going to need an e-reader device or computer, but check out the FREE titles available on this site alone (there are many such sites with public-domain and royalty/free use clause titles.

Back when I was a teen....

Atari! Ahhh the sound of blips and bleeps as matched up to the visuals of 8 to 32 color video! Nothing could bring a kid home from school quicker than the lure of playing "arcade games" at home and saving the quarter. Check out this neat online Atari Web emulator (I'm pretty sure its higher qual than the original).

Macaroni Art

"Don't play wit' yer food eh!"
Or maybe its OK?  Pasta art in the 21st century! Check out this neat site to make macaroni art without wasting food, and help fight hunger in the process. Also Available for iPad!

the story
the fun