"FWAK" and other sound effects of MAD Magazine's Don Martin

Don Martin, the irreverent Mad Magazine cartoonist died January 9th at 68 from cancer. His art in MAD Magazine appeared consistently for 30 years until 1987. Three of his favorite sound effects showcased in his art, to the delight of fans included, "blorted", "katoonged" and "skroinched". MAD's most favorite son and artist offers a legacy to aspiring cartoonists on the DC Comics web site. They are searching for freelance artists to offer their offbeat, clever, and satirist humor in an attempt to reshape the visual appeal of MAD Magazine for the next generation.

Not Necessarily schooled in Paris

COLLECTORS is an independent film by Julian P. Hobbs about notorious art, the serials killers who produce it and the people and their motivation in collecting it. A highlight is the commentary from visionary artist and serial killer art collector Joe Coleman. Is the art of serial killers and other societal monsters a "merchandising phenomena" as Coleman suggests, or are people just morbidly curious? Coleman has been called "America's premier portraitist of sociopathic murderers" and '"the only major artist to receive a ringing endorsement from Charles Manson." You decide for yourself. This web site is a presentation of the film COLLECTORS and showcases the people who collect the art of notable serial killers, including that of John Wayne Gacy. Picked up for international distribution, the art showcased in the film and created by some of the world's worst is worth a peek even for the weak at heart.

The Photography of Jack Leigh

Made famous on the cover of the book by John Bevendt, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, "Bird Girl" no longer sits upon a grave at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia. The mysterious and beautiful statue was too much of a tourist draw. In his web site Jack Leigh displays the breadth of his work. Influenced heavily by the WPA work of Dorthea Lange and Walker Evans, Leigh travels the south and documents beautiful scenes and common folk typically along water and composed carefully in medium format black and white. Jack Leigh's award-winning photographs have appeared in "museums and gallery exhibitions, magazines, and newspapers and in four highly acclaimed books--Oystering: A Way of Life, The Ogeechee: A River and Its People, Nets & Doors: Shrimping in Southern Waters, and Seaport: A Waterfront at Work. He has been the recipient of a Southern Arts Federation/National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Photography."

Leif's Carving and Sculpture

Leif Utegaard has one of those gifts that make him wealthy and healthy between significant bouts of starvation. How does one else manage to produce the intricate carvings in wood and stone, in Carmel California of all places. His day job must be the refurbishing the carousel animals presented on his web site, some of which no doubt circle the round on the carousel in Pacific Grove at Fisherman's Warf. Leif Utegaard carves carousel animals as sculptural forms and produces his Americana art for purchase. His website presents highly personal statements of his working philosophy. The look of the website is not high tech. at all and it has at least one broken link; regardless, his work merits a look. Beautifully intricate, his "Being", a carving in mahogany of his son Ryan captures his animated form as real as a human frozen in wood. Leif describes the work as "one small moment of his splash into existence".

Finnish Artist Helena Junttila

Helena Junttila is a Finnish artist displaying works primarily in Indian Ink and oil on canvass. Her vision is unique and the artistic images presented are from another time. Like the organic art of Native Americans, the forms in Helena's works are elemental but their ideas complex, symbolic and mystic. Her website is also a cultural exchange showing the fierce pride of Lapland natives. Her web site is bilingual and accompanied nicely with an unknown solo piano selection. Relax and explore the Finland of Helena Junttila.

Postscript: Helena Junttila is also a music composer and produced the piece which plays in the background of her website.

The Unique Perspectives of Allan Teger

"Bodyscapes" are closely cropped monochrome nudes adorned with toys and miniature people strategically yet humorously arranged in such a way to give the impression of natural landscapes and active outdoor life, like mountain climbing or skiing. For the mature audience the shadowed images are sensual, fun and extremely clever. Allan Teger takes the miniatures and without any artificial or digital manipulation creates images that require a double take and a requisite smile. Allan Teger has a gallery called Art and Soul located in Woodstock, New York, somehow a suitable venue for his fertile, unfettered and creative genius. His Bodyscapes images on this easily navigated luminous web site are arranged simply in multiple online galleries and annotated. His work has been profiled on network television.

Darrell Urban Black

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The name is real and so is the art. Coined 'Abstract Definism' by the artist, the pen and ink drawings are large and colorful. They are also disturbing in a way that is difficult to classify. As you examine the images you think, this man is gifted yet at the same time it reminds you of the renderings of institutionalized disorganized souls in self portraiture. Darrell Urban Black is an interesting name given the urban, quasi graffiti like, cubic themes presented in this artist collective site gallery. The artist directly challenges the viewer to " to intellectually differentiate between artistic fulfillment and failed endeavors of the past." What past endeavors the artist refers are unknown but the message speaks to the life of an artist and work as a continuous process. Without an open mind the images are difficult to view and fascinating at the same time; wasn't the same thing was said of Picasso?

Canned Art - Latrinalia: The Study of Restroom Graffiti

Painter Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) and the Camera Obscura

Vermeer's paintings from the late 1600's are known particularly for one reason, their photographic perspective. Each seems to be the representation on an image as one would see it through a camera lens. Thirty paintings were produced by Vermeer over his lifetime. Very little is known about Vermeer's life and his methods of working. He had no students or apprentices, and left no records. Experts such as Professor Philip Steadman, of the Open University in England have speculated that Vermeer might have used a device called a 'camera obscura', the forerunner of the modern camera to help him create his paintings. A camera obscura is a box which has a lens at the front by which the image from the lens is thrown, similar to an overhead projector. Steadman's research as highlighted on this website shows "how clues that Vermeer has left us in the actual paintings suggest that the paintings can be thought of as photographs as much as paintings" and how a camera obscura was used to get the effect.

Classical Art Reproductions

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Imagine owning full size, beautiful classical paintings for reasonable prices? This web site sells hand painted reproductions, all masterpieces and covering all the major artists including Botticelli, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Monet, Raphael and many more. This web site is a portal to classical art, bringing together works from major galleries all over the world. The catch is of course that these are fakes, but can you tell? Each piece is meticulously reproduced and guaranteed for outstanding quality or your money back.

The Vietname War Photo Album

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Begun in 1988, this site showcases photographs captured by serviceman during the Vietnam War and dedicated to the men and women who lost their lives, and the people they left behind. Broken out by branch of service these amateur photographs show the daily life of a soldier, the activity, terrain, equipment, action and most importantly the people. This website is meant to be a living memorial and the site will accept new submissions. One of the most important and interesting aspects of this site is the profiles of America's Medal of Honor recipients and the citations describing the circumstances of the events that led to the award. To read the heroic and self sacrificing actions of these individuals makes this former Marine pause and reflect his own experience in capturing the daily life, the mundane, and action of his Marine Corps days. These photographs are from another time, and they shouldn't be forgotten. Don't look for gore here; what is here are imagines of a war, a country, a people, and soldier's life.

Infrared Photography

Infrared Photography (IR) or images created using the 'thermometrical spectrum' of light can produce haunting or unworldly images that draw the viewers attention to normally little noticed details. This web site is not a how-to but rather a gallery of talented IR artists. My favorites are graveyards, lush vegetation and stark cloudy landscapes. Blues, browns, and dark greens appear dark. Reds, whites and greens appear light. The effect is profound when shooting in the early morning with the bright sunshine at your back. White clouds appear against black skies and dark trees are topped with white leaves. The effect is not unlike the inverse image of a negative. With plenty of links to artists and educational sites, this web page is a great place to start if you have the desire to learn and experiment with this medium first discovered by William Herschel in 1800. Come to this web site and begin your journey into the darkside.

Ghost Pictures

PUBLISHED UNDER A METAPHYSICS, ESP, ETC. CATEGORY

Ghostmaster is an extremely interesting and thought provoking website and you MUST check out the 'alleged' ghost pictures, the main focus of the website. Are the images as described in the captions real? These ghosts are not the kind we were introduced to in the recent movie "Sixth Sense". I see water spots, reflection, too closely cropped misty images, intermittent fog, bounce, light trails, etc. But on the other hand some of these images cannot be explained. Judge for yourself. The photos are great for thoughtful examination and technical analysis. The circumstances and the location of the photos, often places with history, add an element to the argument in the belief of ghosts. This web page is well designed in covering the 'gamut of ghost'. You may not be a believer in the ghosts and this gallery of "ghostly images" probably won't convince you otherwise, however it will introduce you to an active website dedicated to photography of the supernatural.

Darkroom from scratch

Andy Hughes has developed the most extensive webpage I have come across detailing all aspects of setting up a darkroom. Well organized, thorough and illustrated with diagrams and images, this website is the first place to visit if you are considering setting up a darkroom. The best aspect of this website is the approach used by Hughes. Organized by subject, Andy asks a series of questions in guiding you in planning the room itself based on your space, equipment requirements based on your needs, and techniques based on what you plan to do. Hughes does not suggest you build and furnish the top of the line darkroom, rather build one that works for you within your budget. If you cannot afford equipment and accessories this website has the plans to build them. Begin with "Getting Started" and you will be on track. This website is very comprehensive so bookmark it and return again and again as you progress.

Celery and loose elastic

During the 50's, if old enough, you may have seen the artwork of Art Frahm, perhaps on some calendar at the gas station. It's bawdy and fun art. Imagine if you will, a woman loaded down with groceries climbing aboard a bus and all of a sudden her panties are down around her ankles. It’s not pornographic, it's funny especially when you a see a gallery of selected prints and notice similarities among the scenes. There are always people embarrassed for the woman, always a leering fool, and most always a stalk of celery sticking out of a bag. A stalk of celery you say? Yes, I reply. This art is humorous and meant to be. In this web site a careful albeit fun analysis is done of the scene often composed like some sort of Norman Rockwell. Start your day with a grin and explore the implausibility but fun sensibility of an art that today is gone from public view.

Japanese Suminagashi

Japanese suminagashi (sue-me-nah-gah-she) or "ink-floating" is created by gently dropping and floating ink into water in a shallow pan and laying rice paper over the design settling in the ink on the bottom. The result is beautiful and can be extemely colorful. The image can be a free floating design or as created by experienced artists using expert knowledge, interesting landscapes, animals in nature, cloud formations and complex patterns. Suminagashi has been practiced in Japan since the 12^th century and is believed to have been first practiced in China over 2,000 years ago. The art remains alive today and skilled artisans produce works of art using contemporary materials like acrylics. The art does have a practical use and artists produce decorative paper commonly used for end pages that cover the inside of book covers. This website covers the scope of suminagashi and is well designed. The links from the page are numerous and cover the breadth of the Asian art of ink and paper. Expand your horizon today.

The Surreal Art of Mark Ryden

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Mark Ryden says a magic monkey enters his studio late at night and produces the intriguing, unusual and surreal paintings of celebrities and others with a Dali like flourish. Each image contains multiple elements very much like the classic Botticelli and containing multiple perspectives and meaning. The detail in the whimsical paintings are amazing. A typical example, if that's even fair to say is called "Dead Character Trademarks". This painting shows various characters including the restaurant icon 'Big Boy', the RCA Victor dog, and Elsie the Cow, accompanying a Jesus like figure in a small boat in rough seas. Another beautifully illustrated and Illuminating painting shows a young girl, very much 'Alice' looking, praying to a Barbie apparition floating on a mystical cloud. Ryden's art is highly collectible and in great demand. His talent will make him a future master of the 21^th century.

Stolen Art

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This excellent website is the official Interpol internet portal covering all aspects of stolen art and is intended to be a clearinghouse of information on art theft. Designed for art professionals, police and customs agents, Stolen Art is actually a CD issued by Interpol containing the official database of stolen art and the associated detail about the theft. Although the site advocates the purchase of the database, it is not necessary to do so to understand the scope of the problem world wide and identify available resources dealing with this kind of crime. With significant links both private and public, this website is a must for any serious collector to consider before investing in that rare piece. All the major auction houses rely on Interpol to guarantee a work of art is legally available for purchase and not evidence in a major art theft.

How to take pictures of small things

The web site of Simon Coombes lays it all out simply and clearly in presenting the how-to's of macro photography. Coomes speaks from experience. He discusses all the basics of macro work from lens selection, choice in films, accessories for the right job and most importantly technique. In one of his basic subjects named "Stalking" and the highlight of this web site, Simon approaches his subject matter like a safari guide traversing the Serengeti in search of prey. The hunting tips are relevant and concise without wasteful editorial. This site is highly recommended for a basic educational overview of the subject and an excellent place for a quick introduction to macro photography.

The Pulitzer Prize

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Do you ever wonder how the Pulitzer Prize is awarded in photography? Do you think you have what it takes? I always carry a camera with me hoping to capture the winning image. Do you? This site is the definitive guide to THE Prize in photography. This site covers the history and development of the Pulitzer Prize, past winners, their photographs, submission and award criteria. There is no other place on the web to visit to get the official scoop. The award was established in 1942. In 1968, prizes were divided into two categories, "spot or breaking" and "feature". Journalists commonly use digital cameras these days. Would it surprise you to learn that the awards committee has strict rules about this? In 1995 it was established that manipulated or altered images except for standard newspaper cropping and editing are acceptable. Any photographer who has ever considered their work worthy, or has a dream of winning should examine this site carefully; you can even print out the submission forms.

Crash Course in Photography

The graphics on this site are amazing but the content is pretty cool too. The highlight of this site has got to be the SIM CAM, one of the most profound tools for teaching photography available on the web. To explain exposure an image is presented, you set the shutter speed and aperture, and click, the end result is displayed. This novel program provides immediate feedback. The Exposure website is extremely helpful in connecting the dots in understanding the technical aspects of a camera settings. The page covering metering and exposure presents easy description of some of the most difficult concepts to master in photography, like reciprocity. The crash course section boasts some of the most cleanly presented concepts on the technical side of photography there is on the web. If you have kids who are interested in photography or you yourself are complete lost in understanding how your 35mm works, do yourself a favor and check out this site.

Beyond Light: X-ray Photography

Albert C. Koetsier uses X-rays to produce art images and explains the more technical aspects of this little used medium outside of the medical profession. First discovered in 1895 by German Physicist Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen, the artist takes X-ray images of common everyday items and naturally occurring objects to create beautiful shadowed translucent images. The creation of X-ray images is called radiography and the result, radiographs. Light at over 10,000 higher frequency than visual light passes through objects to cast shadows. This kind of light cannot be focused and requires special equipment and facility. Though dangerous because of radiation and of course hardly accessible to the common photographer, if you ever wondered about the science of X-rays or how this application of medical science can be used to produce beautiful art images please refer to this informative site.

The Photography of Karen Moskowitz

Karen Moskowitz began her early career as a staff photographer for The Rocket, a premiere music newspaper based in Seattle. Her images had some impact in the early success of the grunge music scene. Today you will find her images in Rolling Stone, Details, Interview, Vanity Fair and on record labels. Her success has gained her some attention, earning corporate work for Microsoft, Nike, and the movie/television industry. Her strength is though is in portraiture. Karen captures anyone as if the belong on the cover of a major music rag or on a record album. Is this style or just her point of view? My favorites are her back and white images. The image entitled "Deanna, a friend", captures the beauty and mystery of this young woman from overhead and from behind. You want to turn the image around and see her face more clearly, and doing so doesn't lessen the viewing experience. My highest recommendation for this photographer and artist.

Police Forensic Photography

What you have here is a collection of informative articles on police crime scene photography and an excellent resource. Articles are presented covering all aspects of police forensic photography when it is critical to accurately document the subtleties of subjects that will be used as evidence in criminal cases. Why would this be of concern to the photographer and reader? The subject, knowledge and application of the unique techniques used by law enforcement are highly applicable to any photographer needing to capture images in difficult or challenging situations. For example, it requires great skill and understanding of how different lighting can effect color, especially on skin when it is important to capture true tone and hue. The application of police forensic techniques in photography are specific but can be used by photographers of all skill levels. Bookmark this website as a primary resource!

Scrapbooks and Albums, Theories and Practice: An Annotated Bibliography

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This website contains an annotated bibliography that summarizes and cites works in the medium of documenting history, life, places and oneself through scrapbooking and photo albums. Photo albums have always been one of the best sources of documenting history, whether personal, an era or a time and place. This definitive listing documents all the major and obscure sources of information, including books and articles which discuss how this medium has been used to document history. Do you create albums and want to investigate how others through history have done it? Visit this site and discover how your album could be a part of documented history.

The Photography of Scott Mutter

The photo montages of Scott Mutter are unusual and thought provoking. His book, Surrational Images is a collection of montages that are commonplace today with the advances in digital manipulation, but his imagery is clearly unique and original. Mutter takes disparate images and combines them into a integrated Escher like vision. It may be fair to say that the concept of digital imagery originated with Mutter's conceptual visual essays. When Mutter built his montages the digital realm was as yet undiscovered. Where today's digital manipulation is generally used to create advertising images, Mutter's work tells a story of technology united with nature where the "medium is the message". This page showcases several of Mutter's classic montages. They are truly interesting, visually striking and delightful.

Good Photography with a Point and Shoot

This is an excellent "shooters" web site covering all aspects of the 'Point and Shoot' camera. No need for a $2,000.00 camera outfit, you too can capture picture perfect images with a pocket size camera. Certainly having a professional setup will give you maximum utility but a point and shoot has most of what you need to capture award winning pictures on the fly. This site covers all camera features and using them to capture the best shot in all conditions. One helpful link is to a buyers comparison guide. There is real life practical wisdom on this site. One of the highlights is the reader feedback section where contributors confirm and expand the great technical discussion provided by the author.

Moon Shots

Tonight (Thursday May 19, 2000) there will be a full moon, what better time to view and examine some of the 32,000 NASA moon shots taken of our beautiful, local heavenly body by Apollo Astronauts. This is a great photography site with large easily loading images. Please discover this striking and wonderful web site! This site features the exhibition of the Apollo Lunar Landscape Photographs and has a wonderful multimedia show that takes you to the moon and back. The exhibit is now showing at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City through September 2000.

National Geographic Photography Contest

Welcome to the official web page of the National Geographic Society. The quality photography you are used to seeing delivered monthly to your door is now available on demand. Check this site out for the results of the 1999, 11^th Annual Photography Contest. Rules for this years Contest will be published online by the end of the May and is open to 35mm amatuer photographers only. Images should be in color transparency or prints no greater than 8x10. Get your submissions ready or get out there and take pictures, the deadline is mid August. You too could be published by National Geographic!

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Self Portraiture

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