blog.avfx.net.nz

Oscars

2010-03-09T10:49:00.003+13:00

Well we went and got ourselves another Visual Effects Oscar yesterday for a Avatar. That's fantastic! Nothing can go everyone's way though. Maybe some people feel a little left out? Maybe not? Whatever happened there, THIS is too funny not to share:

-j

Exhibition Flyer

2010-02-26T16:53:00.001+13:00

ok the exhibition flyer just went off to the printers and will come back in a few days... then I can start distributing it and then also mail out invites for the opening... take a look:

It's reminiscent of the book cover with a few differences... and I'll probably use this sort of design for the poster too.

I've also finished the book and ordered a couple to see how they come out... I'm considering offering a smaller version at the show.

Next it's time to investigate framing options that don't bankrupt me... ;-)

-j

Benoit Paille on Deviant Art

2010-02-24T17:09:00.003+13:00

I'm really enjoying Benoit Paille's photography on Deviant Art. Take a look if you have a moment: http://benoitpaille.deviantart.com/gallery/

-j

Back to the day job

2010-02-17T21:24:00.000+13:00

Well,

Avatar has certainly steamrolled past most previous records for box-office takings and looks to continue on for a little while yet even:

http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/

In the meantime, I'm getting ready for my exhibition in April. Plenty of stuff to plan and arrange and now it sounds like my Mum and Dad will be here in Wellington for the opening night!! YAY!

-j

The Third & The Seventh

2010-01-06T09:35:00.000+13:00

If you have a moment, take a peek at this absolutely beautiful piece of CG by Alex Roman titled The Third & The Seventh.

http://vimeo.com/7809605

"A FULL-CG animated piece that tries to illustrate architecture art across a photographic point of view where main subjects are already-built spaces. Sometimes in an abstract way. Sometimes surreal."

Here's a link to Alex's site: http://www.thirdseventh.com/

-j

Avatar continuing to do well

2010-01-04T09:57:00.000+13:00

Things are still going really strong for Avatar. I saw in IMAX 3D a week ago and it was a little too large for my taste but still kinda jaw-dropping... I bet JC gets this wherever he goes now... poor dude:

-j

Avatar. Go See. Be Amazed.

2009-12-21T11:10:00.000+13:00

5 stars in the Auckland Herald Weekend. It seems people are liking the film. That's good eh?

I'm still not sure what exactly it is we have created. But it is cool. If you can, please see it in 3D. It makes sure you really go to Pandora.

- J

Eric Testroete

2009-12-02T10:56:00.001+13:00

If you've seen the great papercraft head Halloween costume, then you are looking at Eric Testroete's talents. He's a games artist working in Vancouver. He also takes great photos:

Head over to his website or flickr pages to see more:

http://testroete.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dutchct/

-j

October Holiday in Central Otago

2009-11-17T21:23:00.001+13:00

I CAN HAZ DIZCOVERD NEW SPECEES?

I bring to you the Reindeer Cormorant:

Along with underwater ducks and other delights from our recent trip to Clyde and Queenstown in the South Island. Take a look if you wish: http://www.avfx.net.nz/

-j

Canon Photo5 Competition

2009-11-02T17:56:00.006+13:00

UPDATE:

I didn't make the finalists round. How sad. Oh well life goes on... and I had a lot of fun making the shots I made... I'll have to look for another photo competition now... they really motivate me to try different stuff!

origninal post:

So a little while ago I entered the Canon Photo5 competition. The entry period for the 2009 contestants has just closed and now I can show you my entries. Here's the site itself if you want more detail about what you gotta do etc... Canon Photo5

There are 5 categories/briefs that can be entered into, presuming that you registered in time to recieve their secret folding box full of props: Bokeh, Portrait, Close Up, Splat and Low Light - Practically Black [open brief].

My Bokeh entry:

My Portrait entry:

My Low Light entry:

I only entered 3 of the 5 briefs. I neglected to attempt the Splat, and tried something for Close Up but it didn't really work out. Incidentally, my Bokeh entry is the photo that I built this rig to shoot... Fibre Optic Rig

Now it's up to the judges to shortlist their favourite 10 entries in each brief for the public to vote on. They'll do this by November 9th. Then it's up to the public to pick their favourites and vote for the winners by November 22nd. The winners each recieve a Canon 5DMKII and lens kit and a 3-day photo safari trip with Australian photographer Chris Bray!

Wish me luck! And vote! I'll post details on how to do that, closer to the time.

Thistle Hall Gallery Exhibition

2009-10-27T22:19:00.001+13:00

It's on! Thistle Hall Gallery in Cuba St, Wellington have confirmed my exhibition spot for April 26th to May 2nd 2010. I'll be exhibiting my collection of infrared photography of Wellington, Fiji and other locations!

I've got a lot of stuff to plan now... the opening, framing and organising the prints, promotions on the radio and the web, flyers to go round town, and then also staffing the gallery for the week of the show... These are very exciting times we live in!

Thistle Hall Gallery Website

My infrared gallery

-j

Projector on the cheap

2009-10-22T16:56:00.000+13:00

I'm trying to project an image on-site without any power. I need to throw a really wide image too... something commonly out of the hands of your run-of-the-mill slide or digital projector. Someone said 'Why not make one out of your lens?'... so last night I gave it a go and what do you know? A little lego, a slide, my 430EX speedlight some patience and ... well.. it works!

I'll post the result when my experiment succeeds... for now it's under wraps.

Projector:

Projection:

Original image that the slide was made from:

200mm f/1.8

2009-10-10T22:26:00.002+13:00

So my friend Matt has allowed me to baby-sit his 200mm f/1.8 Canon L lens for a little bit. The thing is a monster and quite heavy. I'm only mostly re-assured that the neck strap attaches to the LENS not my CAMERA. But seriously, Canon doesn't make this lens anymore and I'd hate to have to replace it.

'Dad, your new lens is broken, I can't see anything...'

'Yes, Son.'

Infrared book

2009-10-08T15:55:00.000+13:00

After doing so many infrared photos I've decided to make a book for myself using one of the many online book-making services. I chose mycanvas.com because it partners with smumug directly and allows me to use my images without making me re-upload everything. Here's a look at the cover... I've only got one or two more pages to go and then it's time to order... It's called 'See Here - Infrared Photography by Julian Butler'.

If you'd like to take a look at the gallery of images that's going into the book, click here : Infrared Gallery

Joey L

2009-10-08T15:42:00.002+13:00

www.joeyl.com

Ok, looking at Mr Joey L's work is like having my eyes pulled out, scrubbed with steel wool and then put back in. For me it's a visceral and scintillating experience...He's 19 apparently, shooting with a Canon 1Ds MKIII, and a collection of prime lenses preferred over zooms... He does all his own processing and post production and never took any special training or courses. I particularly like his Street Portraits, and Holy Men galleries...

oh, and he makes tutorial DVD's with tips and tricks... impressive. What the heck was I doing at 19? Hmmm....

Pit Pass

2009-10-03T22:50:00.006+13:00

So, Nick and Laura in Singapore got a pit pass to the Singapore Grand Prix recently... Nick mentioned to Roger and I via email at work that he was going to be there, so we insisted that he take his 5DmkII etc and get some shots. Roger jokingly suggested that he get the hot pit chix to hold up a hello message to him! Which Nick and Laura did:

Photo Credit: Nick Shore

heh... nice... and who else do they love? ;-)

Alright Force India!!

First real post

2009-10-03T22:31:00.003+13:00

Ok, finally... last night I built a rig to help capture a photo that I've been trying to get for about 2 weeks now involving a custom bokeh filter, macro tubes, fibre optics, the Earth and my wife Anna's eye. What is all this about you say? And when can I see the image? Not telling... yet. But here's a shot of what I made from masking tape, lego and blu-tack to assist in the process:

I promise to show the photo when it's in the clear... ;-)

Double great success!

2009-09-24T21:29:00.001+12:00

WICKED. The blog is hooked up. Smugmug is hooked up. And... what do you know?! www.julianbutler.com was available and I just snapped it up!! I'm not sure I'm going to use it...
but... better to have and not need I guess.

Great success.

2009-09-24T20:50:00.002+12:00

It's happened ;-) avfx.net.nz now goes to my smugMug site... now to hook up this blog to a sub domain at avfx... it should be simple and quick this time!

down the DNS rabbit hole I go.

2009-09-24T16:06:00.000+12:00

Well.. I was a bit naive then. Changing the zones file info didn't adjust the ACTUAL nameservers involved to point at the right domain etc... but a bit of assitance from Kenneth and Adam here at Weta and well... things should start happening soon! Oh exciting...

now... to start figuring out how to change the appearance of this blog into something more acceptable..

Changes AfFOOT

2009-09-22T21:16:00.000+12:00

so it's happening I just updated the CNAME and A records at my registrar to begin pointing things to the new locations.... I've upgraded to the pro account at smugmug and am trying the new features... most noticeably the watermarking... next up, tomorrow morning hopefully to point the blog at avfx.net.nz.

It's been about 10 years that avfx was going. It's old and boring now! Goodnight.

Getting started

2009-09-22T16:37:00.001+12:00

Hokaay... so... gonna give this blogger thing a go as a way to have a partner site to my smugmug stuff and a way to keep family and friends up to date with our activities at home etc... got a few things to do to make it all work though:

cease hosting the old site at kiwiwebHost - keep avfx.net.nz
upgrade to a pro account with smugmug.
change the smugmug to point to avfx.net.nz.
change the blogger to point to blog.avfx.net.nz.
Profit!

So that should keep me busy for a little bit...