2009 Maker Faire

Dress made by Casual Profanity from surgical plastic tubes and some sort of liquid.

Remember Mouse Trap the 3-D board game? At the Maker Faire it was brought to life.

Last Saturday, I checked out the Maker Faire at the San Mateo Expo Center. Although their tagline reads “The World’s Largest DIY Festival,” I was still surprised by its scale and the amount of attendees. But most of all by the Maker Faire’s eclectic gathering of events from robots to steam punks, cheese making to screen printing, alternative vehicles, a life-size mouse trap and iron sculptures that spit fire. The Maker Faire had something for everyone, and I mean EVERYONE! Despite the crowds and the long lines, my husband and I checked out as much as we could and had a great time making cards, screen printing tote bags and attempting our own diy fashion designs. K

Lost in Translation

Antropologie May 2009 Catalog cover

Like most women my age (the 30-something, I’m independent, once teenage grunge with hot pink hair). My favorite store is Anthropologie. They have us (target audience) down to a science. Decking out their store fronts in recycled DIY finds; such as lights made from mason jars and hanging old window shutters in the windows that are cracked and worn as backdrops to flea market replica’s for the home, vintage inspired sweaters, swimsuits and embroidered dresses. If you do not go there to shop (which is not unheard of, since affordability puts most of us fighting in the crowded little clearance room in the back of the store). You go there for inspiration. This is why Anthropologie fans and photographers anticipate their monthly catalog. Filled with photographs of beautiful prints and quirky pieces that make you long to have the entire collection in your closet (and kitchen cabinets), the catalog itself has become a must have. And in a sense, a collector’s item. Which is why I have decided this post is necessary.

Over the last, few months I have noticed a photography trend in Anthropologie’s catalog that is becoming increasingly frequent, not to mention annoying. Bad lighting, poor exposure and subject movement are flooding the pages.  I get it, this is intentional. This is “artsy.” But there is a fine line between “artsy” and poor execution. I think Anthropologie has just crossed it with the May 2009 catalog.

From May 09 Catalog: Treasure Trove Bag (left) Bella Hothouse Bedding (Right)

Starting with the cover, the underwater image is beautiful and serene and leads well into the upcoming pages that are all shots underwater. Fabric in water is beautiful from a photographer’s standpoint and hard to photograph well. The lighting on the first few pages is breathtaking. These pieces would translate better if the images were sharper.  The pages move along from the underwater scene, to the beach and then a lakeside setting. There are some great shots here with creative product styling and nice lighting. Its here we also see the bad shots, poor exposure and no control over the lighting or even subject movement. Although these inconsistencies are consistent, it is difficult to translate what Antropologie is selling. With better photography and art direction, these shots could have been executed and translated successfully while still maintaining a creative vision.

Grass Blade Dress (left from catalog; right from website)