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“THE FILM before THE FILM” is a short documentary that traces the evolution of title design through the history of film.
This short film was a research project at the BTK (Berliner Technische Kunsthochschule) that takes a look at pioneers like Saul Bass, Maurice Binder and Kyle Cooper by showing the transitions from early film credits to the inclusion of digital techniques, a resurgence of old-school style, and filmmakers’ love of typography in space.

It’s ubiquitous – the everyday USB  connector, here’s the history of this common data port came to be.

Like all technology, USB has evolved over time. Despite being a “Universal” Serial Bus, in its 18-or-so years on the market it has spawned multiple versions with different connection speeds and many, many types of cables.
The USB Implementers Forum, the group of companies that oversees the standard, is fully cognizant of this problem, which it wants to solve with a new type of cable dubbed Type-C. This plug is designed to replace USB Type-A and Type-B ports of all sizes on phones, tablets, computers, and other peripherals. Type-C will support the new, faster USB 3.1 spec with room to grow beyond that as bandwidth increases.

It’s possible that in a few years, USB Type-C will have become the norm, totally replacing the tangled nest of different cables that we all have balled up in our desk drawers. For now, it’s just another excuse to pass around that dog-eared XKCD comic about the proliferation of standards. While we wait to see whether Type-C will save us from cable hell or just contribute to it, let’s take a quick look at where USB has been over the years, what competing standards it has fought against, and what technologies it will continue to grapple with in the future.

Ars Technica | Read the Full Article

Shift 4 compares Arri’s two line of cameras the ALEXA and the new AMIRA.

Is there a better way of showing a text message in a film? How about the internet? Even though we’re well into the digital age, film is still ineffective at depicting the world we live in. Maybe the solution lies not in content, but in form.

Chris Knight gets deep into composition looking at center composition, rule of thirds, golden triangles and golden spirals.

Composition – it’s perhaps one of the most important elements of photography. And with today’s technological marvels in lenses, it’s an even easier thing to forget – especially when bokehliciousis is so much more fun to talk about. Your composition is how you see – and that makes it infinitely more important than how out of focus the background is.

Obsession with bokeh is bad for your photography. There, I said it, and I know it’s not a popular opinion when there are a lot of people out there that drool over this very thing. Bokeh not only lets you obsess about something pretty insignificant, but it oftentimes makes for lazy composition. Henri Cartier-Bresson, Richard Avedon, William Eggleston, Alfred Eisenstaedt. These were not photographers obsessed with the shallowest depths of fields – these were iconic photographers capable of producing iconic photographs built on the foundations of masterful compositions and superb timing. Forget f/1.2. Think about what’s around you, and use that to build a better photograph.

Keep in mind that these compositional “rules” are really just “guides” and don’t need to be followed to exacting precision (or sometimes even at all). Not every rule of composition can work well with every scene. Overall, composition helps to bring balance. And remember, as Tony Roslund says, the most important thing is talent. “All the other stuff is great, but it won’t help an otherwise shitty image.”

FStoppers | Read the Full Article

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were not enough – see how Michael Bay would tackle “UP”

Laya Gerlock shares a few different setups to capturing gorgeous product photos using no more than 2 lights.

THE DIY LIGHTBOX

Still one of the best things for a clean product shot is simlpy shooting it on a white background. If don’t have a lightbox or light tent you can always create one. This is my third lightbox to date, it’s made out of a packaging box and and some tracing paper.

Place both lights on the right and left of the lightbox and point them just a little bit towards the back. To add a little extra effect on my lightbox, I got the glass from a picture frame and placed it at the base of the lightbox, this adds a reflection of the subject.

DIY Photography | Read The Full Article

Stanford biologist Sebastian Alvarado explains the science behind the origin of comic book superhero Captain America.

Have you ever wondered how a 2.1 channel speaker system or a small speaker bar can simulate full surround sound?

God’s Pocket Official Trailer #1 starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christina Hendricks, John Turturro and directed by John Slattery

A guy named Mickey gets in over his head when he tries to cover-up the accidental death of his stepson.

Release Date: 9 May 2014
Director: John Slattery
Cast: Christina Hendricks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, John Turturro
Genre: Drama
Country: USA