Billions and Billions of Ads
Carl Sagan, a renowned astrophysicist, astronomer, author and host of the Public Broadcasting television series Cosmos, was fond of using the catchphrase “Billions [and] billions of stars…” in his distinctive nasal pronunciation.

Although there may not be “billions and billions” of ads since the very first one was produced, (probably on a cave wall), there can be no argument that the shear number of them is quite staggering.

Art directors and graphic designers are the gatekeepers for preventing design errors from reaching the final stage of publication in advertisements, graphic designs or other media. But as we all know, sometimes these little gremlins sneak past the guards.

Can you see the errors in the following examples? Look at the ads closely and then read the Do You See It? answers to find out if you are correct. (The mistakes can be seen by clicking on each photo.)

Have fun!

Props R Us
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We’ll start with an easy one here. The photo for this ad from the Banana Republic website shows a woman modeling a pantsuit. She looks happy and the clothes on her fit very nicely.

Do You See It? (Click on image to see mistakes)
All photographers should be able to point out this error immediately. A standard piece of equipment in every pro photographer’s bag is the 18% gray card.

The model is holding it above her head so that a light meter reading can be taken off the card. The resulting information from the meter gives the photographer information on the proper exposure to use.

This photo was probably just a test shot during the photo shoot to calibrate the light meter and was never intended to be used for the website.
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What’s in Your Wallet?
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This is a high profile ad for Louis Vuitton handbags. No doubt the fashionable accessories are well made and highly prized. The staged set is dynamic with the models assuming their standard issue pouting poses.

Do You See It? (Click on image to see mistakes)
One of the hardest scenes to photograph is when mirrors are in the shot. The reflections off of mirrors can show the surrounding studio equipment and camera people. These errant images are usually digitally removed for final copy.

In this case the art director has opted to enhance the realism of the set by replacing the offending reflections with Photoshopped images. The problem with these insertions is that the images do not reflect (pun intended) the actual model posses. The reflection on the left mirror shows the model’s arms together, but in the real scene she has them apart.

There also seems to be some inconsistencies with the reflections of the lights and lamps in the center mirror as well.

Details, Details, Details
None of the errors we’ve seen are deal breakers by any means. But they do demonstrate that mistakes can happen to the best of us.

What is important to realize is although it is important to receive the best career training from graphic design school centers or graphic design colleges; the level of attention to detail is our personal responsibility.
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Next Time…
We’ll post up some more “boo-boos” related to marketing ads in our next installment of Gotcha! Graphic Design Advertising Mistakes.

Until then, keep on designing! (…and look out for those mistakes.)

You Know You Are Good When…
A photography school instructor was fond of saying:

“Everything looks good when you shoot in color. But if you can make it look good in black and white, that’s when you know you’re good.”

Photography has come full circle from black and white to color and back again.

While black and white photography was once seen as passé and antiquated when compared to color images, the original form has returned as a popular medium for artistic expression and dramatic impact.

Blipoint.com is celebrating this unique photography format by holding its Black and White Portrait Photography Contest for illustrators, graphic designers, and photographers.

Contest Details
Submit a black and white portrait that shows the character and state of the subject you are photographing. Blipoint says:

“The black and white portrait transmits an image to us that reveals feelings and moods regarding the photographed person. It gives us a greater insight than just how people look on the outside.

“The visual language that we achieve through black and white photography adds complexity to the subject and gives it unique features.”

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Your images must be uploaded to the contest site. If your images are oriented vertically, the minimum dimensions for your photographs should be 15×10cm. Horizontal images must have minimum dimensions of 13×17cm. Maximum file size should be no larger than 700kb.

There is no entry fee for this contest and you may submit up to two images

Jury and Prizes
The winner of the contest will be selected though a process determined by the most popular images voted upon by the public and a final critique by a qualified panel of judges.

The winner will receive a free premium account to blipoint.com that will allow the winner unlimited use of the Blipoint Online Gallery.

Final Details
The deadline for submitting your digital images to this contest is September 1, 2010. You must open a free account with Blipoint in order to submit and vote for photographs and to access other areas of the contest website.

Follow these links for important contest information and details:

Official Rules and Guidelines
Blipoint.com Contest Website
Registration Page
Contest Images
Contact Information

Art, Culture, Porsche, Benz, and You
As disconnected as all of these words seem to be, you have a chance at winning an art residency in beautiful Stuttgart, Germany–the headquarters of Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and site to the international art residency Akademie Schloss Solitude.

This contest is open to all international artists and designers.

Individuals who have graduated from a university, college, graphic design school, design center or other recognized institution of learning are eligible. Students are not eligible for this residency.

The Residency Details
Sixty winners will be selected by a jury for residencies in the years 2010-2013. The categories for entry, according to the official contest rules are:

* Architecture: architecture design, urban studies, landscape design
* Visual Arts: including performance art and curatorial practice
* Performing Arts:  stage design, directing, drama, play-writing, dance, acting, musical ….theater, performance
* Design: visual communication, fashion, costume, product or furniture design
* Literature: theory/criticism, essay, poetry, fiction, translation
* Music/Sound: sound installation, sound and music composition, sound and music performance
* Video/Film/New Media: including video installation

This is a wonderful opportunity for designers and graduates from graphic design colleges to expand and hone their artistic skills by going overseas to participate in this ongoing art residency program.

Residency winners will be provided with a six month to one year fellowship at the Akademie Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart, Germany. The winners are responsible for their personal transportation to Stuttgart and back.
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Each fellowship recipient will be awarded a grant of €1,000 per month during their stay, free lodging, freight cost subsidy for the transportation of art/design materials to and from Stuttgart, partial health insurance benefits, and associated workshops and study groups.

Important Information
Click on the following links for information related to:

Akademie Schloss Solitude Residency Guidelines
Residency Winner Awards
Jury and Winner Selection Procedures
Who Is Eligible for this Contest
Staff Contact Information
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Other Details
The deadline for this residency fellowship contest is October 31, 2010. There are no entry fees for this competition. For questions about this event, make an international phone call to +49 (0) 711 99 6 19 0. Fax queries may be sent to +49 (0) 711 99 6 19 50.

It’s All About Image
If you are an amateur or professional in photography, the Sony World Photography Awards 2011 contest is an excellent opportunity to compete with an international field of photographers.

The winners receive worldwide recognition for their images in addition to cash awards in their respective contest categories.

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Awards
The winners of each contest category will receive free travel arrangements to the awards ceremony in London, cash awards, and Sony products.

Other Details
In order to enter this contest, you must register for a free account at the official contest site.
Other important information can be viewed at these links:

Frequently Asked Questions about the Contest
Complete Contest Rules
Entry Page for Professionals
Entry Page for Amateurs

There are no entry fees for this contest. Deadline for all submissions is January 5, 2011.

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Calling All Designers
The Seoul International Design for All Competition is a unique opportunity for designers from a broad range of design backgrounds to compete for cash prizes and awards.

Seoul, Korea has been designated World Design Capital 2010 and is celebrating this honor with a design fair and contest.

The Design for All competition’s objective is to provide an open forum for all designers, regardless of their specific fields of expertise, to share and present their creations.
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The Entry Categories
According to the official website, designers may submit their work in the following contest categories and their respective sub categories:

* Product for All
- Product
- System
- Fashion
- Craft

* Communication for All
- Graphic
- Advertisement
- Moving Image
- Animation

* Space for All
- Interior
- Environmental Design
- Architecture

Awards
Various cash prizes totaling $26,000 USD plus contest award certificates will be given to the winners of this competition. According to the contest sponsors, the awards are:

* Golden Haechi prize: one winner, US $10,000
* Silver Haechi prize: three winners, US $2,000 each
* Bronze Haechi prize: five winners, US $1,000 each
* Iron Haechi prize: max. ten winners, US $500 each

* Honorable mention: within two hundred people, certificates for each
* People’s choice awards: twenty winners, certificates for each

How to Enter
Perspective contest candidates must first register at the official website. Submissions are to be uploaded to the entry website with a valid free account.

The deadline for submissions is July 13, 2010. There are no entry fees for this contest.

Calling All Amateur Photographers
Sigma, a manufacturer of photography lenses and accessories and Photographer’s Forum are announcing an open call to all amateur photographers to enter its 30^th Annual Spring Photography Contest.

This contest is open to individuals worldwide. There is no age limit but the contest is strictly for amateurs only. If you are a professional photographer, you may not enter.

Contest Details
The contest is open-themed and there are no specific categories for subject matter. Photographs that are submitted must indicate if they are being entered as a color or black and white entry.

Winning photos will be published in the November 2010 issue of Photographer’s Forum magazine. All contest finalists will be published in the hardcover edition of Best Photography 2010.

This is an entry fee of $3.95 USD per photo. There is no limit to the number of photos you may enter as long as each submission is covered by an entry fee. If you submit your photos by April 19, 2010 the entry fee is $3.95 USD. If you submit your photos after April 19, 2010 the entry fee is $4.95 USD per photo.

To submit your photos online, click here to register and upload your submissions. Online entries must have a long dimension of at least 1000 pixels and no larger than 3000 pixels. Save all work in JPG format at the highest quality setting. Requirements for color space are Adobe1998, sRGB or untagged color space. File size should not exceed 4MB.

To submit your photos or slides via standard mail, the sponsor states:

* Enter black & white or color prints or slides. Do not send disks.
* Prints must be unmounted 9×12 or smaller.
* Label every photo with your name and address, and indicate which edge is the top.
* Make checks payable to Photographer’s Forum.
* All entries MUST include payment, entry form, and photographs.

Prizes
According to the official details for this contest the awards are:

First Place Grand Prize
$2,000 cash award from Photographer’s Forum PLUS Sigma
24-70 mm lens

Second Place
$1,000 cash award from Photographer’s Forum PLUS Sigma
12-24 mm lens

Third Place
$500 cash award from Photographer’s Forum

Fourth Place
Five $100 awards

100 Honorable Mentions
All Honorable Mentions will be listed in the November 2010 issue of Photographer’s Forum magazine and will receive a gold embossed certificate of outstanding merit from Photographer’s Forum.

Other Information
For contest rules click here to download the PDF document. For the contest FAQs and additional guidelines click here. The contest deadline is May 17, 2010. Finalists will be notified by August 2, 2010. Winners will be notified by August 16, 2010.