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Tags > creativity
We Need to Teach Visual Critical Thinking
By Spencer CritchleyMarch 16, 2009
I was just looking at yet another vacuous presentation graphic, this one purporting to illustrate the SMART test for defining objectives. It looked something like this: This is of course rubbish. Infographics guru Edward Tufte would object strenuously to its...
More Creativity in a Can: When Thomas Dolby Met the Rhinestone Cowboy
By Spencer CritchleyMarch 4, 2009
Microsoft Songsmith has been stuck in my mind lately like, well, a bad song (follow that link at your own risk). It's got me reflecting about the long trend towards using music technology to increase productivity, but not creativity. And...
Should You Choose to Accept
By Harold DavisFebruary 5, 2009
On Photo.net recently Hannah Thiem conducted an interview with me. I think it's the best exposition about my work to date. (Suprada Urval's excellent interview with me covered very different ground.) As part of the interview, Hannah and I proposed an assignment: Photograph a flower in a unique way—in a way that nobody’s seen before. The top three submissions are...
Got Tablet?
By Rick SammonFebruary 1, 2009
As a Photoshop instructor and author, I need to be skilled at using both Mac and Windows machines. And like most of my Photoshop instructor friends, I use a stylus and a tablet for maximum brush control. For my Mac, I use a Mac Book Pro, and I tote my WACOM table everywhere I go. For my Windows machine, I use the Lenovo W700 Think Pad. What's especially cool about this machine is that is has a built-in tablet and stylus. How cool is that.
The Fat Man and Circuit Girl: Fun. Music. Boys and Girls. Technology. Creativity.
By The Fat ManJanuary 19, 2009
I've got a great Nerd Treat for y'all! If you are too smart to be cool and too cool to be a nerd, you are a Scientiste. That's what Circuit Girl and I call you. That, and our friend. And we've been working on creating a community that's worthy of your attention and participation....
Free O'Reilly Webcast: Youth & Creativity
By David BattinoJanuary 10, 2009
On January 21, O'Reilly will host a 60-minute webcast called Youth & Creativity: Emerging Trends in Self-Expression and Publishing. Here's the concept: Youth are approaching digital self-expression and publishing from a more organic, collaborative angle than previous generations. They jump right in when the creative urge strikes, collaborating with others from around the globe, and "publishing" an ongoing stream of...
Promising Glimpse of Thursday Night's Apple Store Panel
By Colleen WheelerJanuary 6, 2009
The intelligent, engaged crowd at, a fabulous old-school bookstore Book Passage in Corte Madera (Marin County) got a preview Sunday of an upcoming Macworld event. Derrick Story moderated a panel of our digital imaging experts, Lisa Snider-King (Photoshop CS4 Missing Manual), Mikkel Aaland (Photoshop Lightroom 2 Adventure) and Deke McClelland (Adobe Photoshop One-on-One and Photoshop Channels & Masks One-on-One.) Hot...
Chris Baty on Hobbies, Work, and the Creative Life
By Dan BrodnitzJanuary 5, 2009
This year I took a crack at November's National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo). Didn't get as far as I'd like, I'll admit. But even my little trek was a great reminder of the importance of making something every day. One of the many perks of the NaNoWriMo experience are the email exhortations you get from a variety of guest-authors, as well as from Chris Baty, NaNoWriMo's founder and program director. The last one he sent out at the end of the journey, was a lovely essay on hobbies, work, and living the creative life. I asked his permission to repost it and he graciously assented.
"HDR" Performance Art on Your Street
By David BattinoDecember 31, 2008
In our photo blogs, there are some stunning examples of high dynamic range (HDR) photography, which creates a hyperreal image by combining different exposures. What if that technique were applied to other media? You might get...this.
Creative (Suite) Self-Destruction
By David BattinoDecember 23, 2008
What do you do when your primary creative tool stops working? It's an increasingly common problem as our tools become digital. I've lost great programs from companies that tanked, but when a program from a company that's still in business refuses to launch, it really chaps my hide.
John Adams Interviewed on KQED
By Brad FullerDecember 23, 2008
Michael Krasny gabs with John Adams on KQED's Forum about his music, book and life. A must listen. And don't forget to enjoy his opera "Doctor Atomic" about Oppenheimer and the creation of the atomic bomb. Playing now on your local PBS station....
A Creativity Interview with Novelist Dana Reinhardt
By Dan BrodnitzDecember 16, 2008
For the last year or two I've been interviewing artists about their creative process. A new interview went up this week, with young-adult novelist Dana Reinhardt, and I thought I'd post an abridged version here, including questions about her writing routine, how she pushes through when she isn't not feeling particularly inspired, and why she doesn't use notebooks to capture her thoughts. If you'd like to read a little more, you can find the full interview right here.
The $5 Self-Publishing Workshop
By David BattinoDecember 11, 2008
In the last five years, I've published five books — the first through a traditional royalty publisher and the rest at home. One of the most valuable resources I've had in that adventure is BAIPA, and in 30 seconds, you can see why.
Does Brainstorming Actually Work?
By Spencer CritchleyDecember 11, 2008
It's a staple of corporate retreats: gather staff, whip out the flip chart and announce that "there are no bad ideas". Many attendees just groan inwardly. Are they just cynics, or are they onto something? Apparently several studies back up the Dilberts of the world, at least to an extent. According to an article in this past Sunday's New York...
Impossible Images
By Harold DavisDecember 9, 2008
Variety is the spice of life, and it is certainly part of what I enjoy about photography. Having a camera is an excuse for being anywhere and examining anything. Those of you who follow my blog or my photostream on Flickr will know that my subjects range from kids and flowers through the night landscape. I'm also intrigued with the...
Blastoff
By Rick SammonDecember 9, 2008
I'm just back from one of the most incredible photographic experiences I've had - photographing the "blastoff" at Bosque del Apache in New Mexico with my friends from Naturescapes. I'm working on an article that will be posted on my site soon. It wiill also be posted on the Naturescapes site. Here is an expert - the prelude to the photo tech talk.
Season of Listening
By Bill CasselDecember 8, 2008
A great idea for the holidays--or, really, anytime--from the redoubtable [StoryCorps](http://www.storycorps.net/): Take some time to sit down and interview someone you love.
When in Hollywood...
By David BattinoDecember 3, 2008
When in Hollywood, as the saying goes, be sure to visit Universal Studios. I just did on an unusually slow day and had a great time exploring how theme-park designers create an immersive experience through clever technology and storytelling.
Photoshop CS4 is for the Birds!
By Rick SammonDecember 2, 2008
Good Job, or Good Work?
By Spencer CritchleyNovember 19, 2008
Creativity is a good thing. But I think we sometimes fall into the habit of thinking it's the only good thing. Not happy in your job? You probably need more opportunities to be creative. Not happy in your personal life? If you could just express yourself more, you'd feel better. I've been working creatively my whole life, and I feel...
Creativity Tools NOW
By David BattinoNovember 19, 2008
BoinxTV is a striking example of how digital creativity tools are changing. As our tools begin to work in real time, they become less tools and more instruments. We begin to PLAY them, and playing is the heart of creativity. Can you think of other examples?
How do _You_ Avoid The Muse? Let's make a list...
By The Fat ManNovember 16, 2008
Twenty-five years ago, it was easy. We weren't rock stars because we didn't have the recording equipment. You couldn't say it was for lack of trying, either. Pretty much everybody out with whom I hung would have emphatically jumped through unthinkable flaming hoops to have access to a 24-track recording device and a microphone or two--it would have been like...living...
Alternate Reality Games Puzzlement
By The Fat ManNovember 13, 2008
FWIW My observation is that ARG's can undermine our (the general public's) ability to discern Truth and Sincere Intent from playful deception. Or malevolent deception for that matter. Here's an example-- Fwd: Sarah Palin and the Africa comment...
The Creator's Perilous Adventures
By Bill CasselNovember 11, 2008
I've recently watched two films that really ought to be seen by anyone with an interest in creativity.
It's that time of year again
By Bill CasselOctober 30, 2008
NaNoWriMo challenges participants to write a complete 50,000-word novel from scratch in 30 days. Now why on Earth would you want to put yourself through such an ordeal? There's really only one reason.
Creativity and the Creature Editor: An Interview with Spore's Dan Moskowitz
By Dan BrodnitzOctober 20, 2008
Will Wright's Spore features an unusually rich content-creation and content-sharing component that encourages players to design game creatures, vehicles, and buildings, and then share those art assets around the Spore-o-sphere — unleashing their beasties into other player's games. I was curious what the people behind the game's Creature Editor had learned about how you get people to make stuff, and Senior Software Engineer Dan Moskowitz was nice enough to take a little time to chat about, among other things, the importance of file size, keeping things simple, and the first few clicks.
Maine Media Workshops Rock
By Rick SammonOctober 18, 2008
Just back from teaching for my 4th time at the Maine Media Workshops. What blast! My students learned: painting with light, low light photography, shooting with reflectors and diffusers, Photoshop... and the big hit HDR. We used Photomatix Pro to craft our indoor and outdoor pictures - my HDR image of the Pemaquib is attached. More of my HDR images on the HDR page of my site.
Business Tips for Creative People
By David BattinoOctober 2, 2008
Lots of beautiful noise in the LinnDrum as well.... Drum machine inventor Roger Linn once told me, "A creative mind is a loud mind. It has lots of thoughts popping up in different directions." For creative people, focusing can be difficult. That's why I was intrigued by Michael W. Dean's recent essay, called simply "Professionalism." It's an outtake from his...
Reality Leaves a lot to the Imagination
By Rick SammonSeptember 30, 2008
"Reality leaves a lot to the imagination" is one of my favorite John Lennon quotes. Think about it and you'll realize that it's true. I was thinking about this quote when I was experimenting with the HDR (High Dynamic Range) software Photomatix Pro from HDR Software on a set of seven pictures (each taken at a different exposure setting) I took of a pond near my house.
Canon 5D Mark II - The Coolest Video
By Rick SammonSeptember 25, 2008
How totally cool! Vincent is the man. I will be adding Canon 5D workshops (shooting and editing) to my 2009 schedule. Hope you can make one!
How Important is a Caption?
By Rick SammonSeptember 25, 2008
Dick, a former RIT professor, adds: "I always reminded my students that a caption is part of the photograph, part of the gestalt--just as the choice of mat and frame, and the size of the print and the surface of the paper, etc."
Freer Than You'll Ever Be
By Bill CasselSeptember 22, 2008
So I got to thinking that in this day and age, there ought to be a way to create your own virtual art gallery, and avoid all the tiresome traipsing around to various would capitals.
Adobe Announces CS4 Preview
By Colleen WheelerSeptember 17, 2008
Want to know what's in store for the next version of Photoshop (or your other Creative Suite favorites)? Without a having a public beta this go around, we've been having to glean clues about what might be in store for Photoshop "Next" from a variety of sources. Next week on Tuesday (September 22), we'll be able to see Creative Suite...
An Interview with The Sound of Young America's Jesse Thorn
By Dan BrodnitzSeptember 16, 2008
27-year-old Jesse Thorn is a radio show host, a podcast producer, and one of the leading proponents of The New Sincerity. Next summer, he'll be leaping into all-new-terrain by launching MaximumFunCon, a unique weekend event that's sort of a vacation, entertainment, education smoothie. Attendees of MaxFunCon ("a gathering of creative people who wish to be more awesome") will descend on a lovely looking resort in Lake Arrowhead, CA (SoCal) next June. Scheduled entertainment includes a live performance by Jonathan Coulton, the comedy stylings of Maria Bamford, and a keynote from author and "Daily Show" resident expert John Hodgman. Courses range from "Doing Creative Work with Merlin Mann" to classes cooking, cocktails, and improv comedy. Reading about the event this last week left me, yeah, a little suspicious. So I got on the horn to find out what gives.
A Creativity Category Is Born
By Dan BrodnitzSeptember 15, 2008
You may have noticed we've done a modest amount of redecorating of late. Up there, over my right shoulder where we keep the categories, "Design" has been replaced with "Creativity." This new section still houses all of our blog posts and features aimed at graphic designers, including Deke McClelland's every other weekly, fully fab-tastic dekePod. But we've also added a new stream to the river — the start of an investigation into pure creativity (a close cousin of pure imagination) with a particular focus, as you might expect, on the way tech is changing how we express ourselves, how we share our art with others, and especially how we motivate ourselves to get off the stick and, dareIsay, make something.
An Interview with toonlet.com's Craig Schwartz
By Dan BrodnitzSeptember 8, 2008
Portland-based toonlet.com is dedicated to making cartoon-creation easy. Launched in December 2007, 10,000 toons have been created so far, with just shy of 2 million comic views around the world. As a test of toonlet’s system, I logged on recently to make a quick sample. In all of 10 minutes, I had created an account and busted out my first toon. Easy, peasy. Back in July I got a chance to sit down with toonlet co-founder and CEO Craig Schwartz to chat about where the idea behind toonlet came from and what he’s learned from the experience.
SF Electronic Music Festival this week
By Brad FullerSeptember 2, 2008
Tom Duff from the SF Electronic Music Festival committee reminds us of this week's agenda. - The festival is from Wed-Sat 8pm and Sunday 7pm. - Box Office and Installation open one hour before concert time. The 2008 San Francisco Electronic Music Festival Project Artaud Theater 450 Florida Street, San Francisco, CA 94110 Tickets $12-$17, 5-day pass $55 More information...
My Two Most Valuable Business Lessons
By Rick SammonAugust 30, 2008
Many years ago, I attended a seminar given by a professional photographer who said something like this: “Every decision I make is a business decision.” I took his comment quite seriously, making many decisions over the past 20 years based on the final and potential financial outcome of the project - be it a book, assignment, speaking engagement, workshop, seminar and so on.
The Last Thing on the List
By Bill CasselAugust 29, 2008
We all love our technology, and certainly it enables us to do amazing things with music, with pictures, with ideas. But sometimes I think it becomes a bit of a burden. We feel a responsibility to all that technology, all those possibilities. It's important to remember who is working for whom. A good role model in this area is Brian Eno, renowned producer, recording artist, and creative strategist. To spur creative thinking or break artistic logjams, he developed the "Oblique Strategies," a set of cards designed with the artist Peter Schmidt.
Dr. Horrible and the Future of Entertainment
By Dan BrodnitzJuly 16, 2008
Last night, Joss Whedon of Firefly and Buffy the Vampire fame began releasing Dr. Horrible. Independently produced on a budget in the low 6 figures, with a recognizable cast that includes Neil "Doogie" Patrick Harris and Firefly's Nathan Fillion, this show has the feel of a tipping point. Certainly, they've done so much right here, in terms of Internet entertainment,...
Something Old, Something New
By Dan BrodnitzJuly 9, 2008
Hi, My name's Dan and I'm the publisher for the Digital Media division here at O'Reilly. I'll be dropping by to join the conversation here and there, particularly on items related to that interesting point where creativity and technology meet and do a dance. Lately I've been thinking of the ways old and new media can work together. In Pixar's...
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