Flickr's Dirty Little Secret

The secret is...you suck at taking photos.

And flickr knows it. That's why when you upload a photo to flickr it undergoes a cosmetic lift via a sharpening filter (and perhaps a saturation filter as well). See below.



This is a capture of the exact same photo. On the top is a thumbnail of my photo rendered on Zoto (3.0 beta) . It's blurry and the detail is lost. On the bottom is the same photo thumbnail rendered on Flickr. Notice how sharp the detail and color appear. Unlike Flickr, Zoto is rendering an 'accurate' thumbnail of my photo.

The result? On Flickr I am fabulous, wonderful taker of photos. On Zoto, I am just a loser who can't get a photo in focus.

Does this subtle cosmetic lift, on a subliminal level, factor into a user's decision making process when it comes to choosing a photo hosting service? The advantage to the mainstream user is obvious, but if I was a pro photographer, wouldn't I resent someone taking liberty with my photos? We've had a bit of a debate on this issue in our office (at Zoto). I'm for passing a filter on photos to make them look better. I think it improves the user's experience. On some level, even if they aren't aware of it, they are enjoying their photos more because of this little white lie. Some of our "purists" in the office disagree. In the end the best solution may be to make this an option in the upload settings that users can control for themselves. And user control is what it's all about, right?

New word: flickrality
Definition: The version of reality where you rock at taking photos.

Technorati tags: [flickr]

Patterny Goodness

So, having survived hectic holidays, a breakup, a move to a new house, and the Ice Storm of 2007, I think it's time for a bit of blogging.

Today's menu? Patterny goodness. To be served with a piping hot, fresh side of links (hyper, that is).

I find patterns very inspiring. Here are some of my favorite resources.

Pattern Books:

Vintage Fabric from the States
Put this one on my wish list, please.

You Work For Them - Patterns
Peruse their entire pattern section. Where else can you pick up book of camo patterns that's been secretly haunting your dreams? That camo book comes with it's own CD-Rom, by the way.

Celtic Design
All the celtic motifs and designs your little heart could ever want. Cd-Rom included.

Blogs:

Print Pattern
Self described "designer and trend forecaster with a passion for pattern in all its forms." A Yummy, yummy pattern blog.

Naked & Angry
Submit pattern designs to be scored and manufactured into "blow-your-mind" products. When you get done with that wander over to the blog. If you have a hole burning through your pocket stick around and buy some wallpaper.

Misc Resources:

Create perfect photoshop pixel patterns
I don't care what anyone says, tiled web patterns are HOT.

Free patterns
Nice little collection of free web patterns you can use on your own site.

Online electronic swatchbook
Facinating. Samples of fashionable fabric designs from the 1830's to the 1920's. You can zoom in very close. (Nice use of the zoomr app with flash)

Symmetry and Pattern
Sound smart the next time someone asks. Applies to more than just oriental carpets, too.

Articles:

Symbolism in Asian Motifs and Patterns
Ever wondered what the recurring patterns in Asian textiles and dishware mean?

Africa's Painted Patterns
A little insight into those bold geometric patterns.

Traditional Patterns In Korea
Finally, someone explains what's up with all of those dragon patterns.

Inspiration:

Dan Funderburgh
I'm losing my mind because these pattern designs are that cool.

Josef Frank - Textiles
These are amazing textiles. I'm personally in love with "Loops".

Funkis - Fabrics
Lots of fun and funky patterns.

Flickr photo - Thursday love
Love this little photo and all the great notes describing the origins and history of these fun patterns. Why don't more people do this? Start taking pictures of your patterns. It looks like fun. Do it. Do it now.

Flickr photoset - Patterns
Luv it.

Whew. That's more than enough patterny goodness for one day.

Vintage Inspiration

Feeling a bit uninspired? Maybe this collection of vintage posters, prints, book covers, and postcards can kickstart your creative engine.

Flickr Pools

Jazz-Age in Print (20s-30s)
Celebrating the fabulous jazz-age illustrators and (graphic designers) and the illustrations and print design they created in the 1920s and 1930s.

Wartime Forties in Print
Celebrating the fabulous illustrators (and graphic designers) of the 1940s, and the illustrations and print design they created in (circa wartime) 1940s.

Beer and Booze: A Damn Fine Product
Vintage ads, product and package designs for America's favorite alcoholic beverages.

Vintage Cigarette Ads
Cigarette ads from the 40's and earlier.

Retro Kid
Illustrations associated with children's books from the mid-1940's through the mid-1960's.

Vintage Cookbooks
Pictures of vintage cookbook covers and page illustrations, from wacky to wonderful. Pamphlets, menus and old cooking advertisements.

Vintage Advertising
Advertising images from the past.

Vintage Magazines
Images of vintage magazines (including the eighties).

Vintage Illustration
Vintage illustrations from before 1970.

Vintage Childrens Books
Images from vintage childrens books and other items for children like cards, games, posters, etc.

Posters Post Cards
Posters and postcards old & new.


Flickr Sets

USSR Posters
Russian and/or Soviet propaganda & advert posters [1917-1991]

Vintage Book Illustration
Vintage illustrations.

Espacios Publicitarios
Anuncios publicados en las revistas "Clínica Rural" y "Glosa"
Años 50-60-70

Penguin Books
Retro covers of old Penguin and Penican books

Pretty Pictorals
Colorful retro children's pictorials.

Vintage Kid Books
Covers and illustrations.


Misc Online Resources

Soviet Propaganda Poster Gallery
A colorful resource of vintage soviet propaganda posters. Contains other soviet vintage galleries as well.

The Museum of Anti-Alcohol Posters
A gallery of anti-alcohol posters from soviet propaganda era.

The Ad*Access Project
Funded by the Duke Endowment "Library 2000" Fund, presents images and database information for over 7,000 advertisements printed in U.S. and Canadian newspapers and magazines between 1911 and 1955.

Chinese Public Health Posters
A collection of vintage chinese posters from the National Library of Medicine.

Hungarian Vintage Posters
Nice raw scans of an excellent group of vintage Hungarian Posters.

Vintage Print Ads
A small archive of vintage print advertising.

Misc Vintage Ads
Hilarious, shocking and creepy advertisements from the past century.


For Collectors

Vintage European Posters
A great gallery of original posters for sale from 1890-1960.

Poster Classics
A nice collection of original vintage French and Italian art posters for sale.

Rare European Advertising Posters
Authentic European Vintage Posters for sale.

Vintage Italian Advertising Posters
Original lithograph posters from the Ricordi Portfolio, published by the famous Italian printer Giovanni Ricordi in 1914.

Christopher & Co Ltd.
A great vintage collection including travel,entertainment, and propaganda posters.

Top Three Guilty Pleasures To Get You Through The Work Week

In an attempt to continue to avoid any relevant blogging here's a quick post about some fun diversions to get you through the work week.

1. Mac Widgets

Dancing Hula Girl Widget
Because everyone needs a dancing hula girl widget. Damnit.

Solitaire Widget
The only thing I miss about my PC is solitaire. Unfortunately this version for the MAC is so difficult to beat (I haven't yet) that you may be better off spending your time mindlessly staring at the Hula Girl widget. Has anyone ever beaten this thing? Seriously? Ever?

Lorem Ipsum Widget
Sleep soundly at night knowing the power of latin text will be at your fingertips. Handy for designers.

CSS Cheat Sheet Widget
No, I don't actually use it. But it makes me feel 'professional' and I'm certain it gives the other widgets an inferiority complex.


2. Celebrity Blogs and MySpace pages

9 out of 10 the MySpace pages of famous people are completely bogus. After all, famous people are far too good looking and spend way too much time tanning to ever be troubled by tasks as mundane as 'typing' and 'forming sentences' and 'punctuating sentences' and crap like that. But a few are worth a visit.

The James Gunn MySpace Page+Blog
To put it simply, the man has a way with the f*word. When he isn't bubbling over with obsessive man-love for Nathan Fillion (and his body parts), he's volunteering advice to would-be industry types along with inspired lists like 'The 5 Women I Pleasured Myself To Most As A Teenager'. Gunn is probably best known to the public as the writer/director of the horror/sci-fi flick "Slither". He is also well known for being the guy married to the chic from The Office. She has MySpace Page+Blog too. Less swearing.

The Barry Manilow MySpace Page
Why? Because who in their right mind doesn't want to be friends with Barry Manilow? I mean, C'mon.

Pink Nano MySpace Page
Hot pink. Hot music. Hotter design.

What is the motivation behind these MySpace pages and blogs? Do celebrities really want to be your friend? Does the Pink Nano? UNLIKELY. Maybe they want what everyone else on MySpace wants - to beat your freakin'friend count'.

The tally so far:

Diddy 581550 friends
Jesus 100947 friends
iPod Green Nano 47504 friends
Duran Duran 47266 friends
iPod Blue Nano 46508 friends
Mr Spock 45977 friends
iPod Pink Nano 44652 friends
Kevin Rose (Digg.com founder) 14807 friends
Barry Manilow 9664 friends
James Gunn 9578 friends
Captain Kirk 3482 friends
Nate Fillion (his evil MySpace twin) 3440 friends
Nathan Fillion (real guy) 3132 friends
Martha Stewart 1627 friends
Joss Whedon 662 friends
Yeoman Rand 290 friends
Me 29 friends

Conclusion? If you could tap into the "i-like-rap-ipod-wearing-jesus-is-a-cool-dude-trekkie" demographic you would be a god on MySpace.

3. Last but not least: Start an eclectic, offbeat, oddball group just to see if someone will join it. Join a few yourself.

my flickr groups
I *heart* my iPod Group
Pictures of your iPod? Suweeet.

The dog at my "fill in the blank" Group
You just post a picture of something your dog destroyed. That simple.

my last.fm group
Barry Manilow IS The Man Group
It's takes a certain kind of god given talent to copa around the cabana like my precious Barry.

That's it for list. Enjoy.