Really Really Really Mad Men & Women
May. 07, 2012 09:12 Filed in: Creative Week | Portraits of People in Advertising | Kevin Roddy | People In Advertising
Paper or Plastic?! Window or Aisle?? Paper or plastic?! Aisle or Window?! Tuesday's Creative Week portrait features the great Hal Curtis of Wieden & Kennedy as he duels with the Inner Voices that haunt all creative minds . . .
It's Wednesday of Creative Week. We are right in the middle of it. Which way will the scales tip? Susan Credle, Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett USA plays the part of Creative Justice.
Arem Duplessis signifies the challenge of navigating through the seas of creativity
"A Death In the Line of Duty"
May. 02, 2012 15:31 Filed in: Redding Fire Department
Marshall Sanford was a past Chief and had been 1st Lt and driver of Engine #1 for the Redding Ridge Fire and EMS Company #1, a truck he had helped design, when, at age 67, he passed away from a heart attack while on call. He was revered in the community for his long-standing service and un-flagging dedication to the fire department.
His funeral was befitting of his long and distinguished service and it was quite something to be a part of -- I had been asked by the Department to document the events of the day. It was an experience that truly brought home the sense of tight-knit community that exists between firemen. It also stood as a reminder of the debt we owe to those in uniform for the risks they assume every day in their dedication to serving the greater good for communities large and small.
The pomp and circumstance was especially touching in such a small setting. The state provided the color guard as well as the bagpipe band. Other CT fire departments sent representatives. Two ladder trucks hoisted a giant American flag over the entrance to the small cemetery that resides immediately adjacent to the firehouse. And the bagpipers led the old antique firetruck carrying the American-flag draped coffin of Mr. Sanford to his final resting place.
And, true to the words of a fireman I spoke to early on, as people were still gathering: "Everyone is fine and pleasant now, but when the bagpiper plays "Amazing Grace", there won't be a dry eye anywhere."
42 Years, 60 Minutes
His acceptance speech was true to form -- it was a great story. From recounting his time spent with his presenter, the internationally-acclaimed violin soloist, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, who he has TWICE been interviewed for the show ("He was incredibly fun and very relaxed," she reported. "Until the cameras started to roll and you saw that world-famous smirk -- that smirk! -- the one that tells you 'this is 60 Minutes so no bullshit!'"), to reminiscences of his "boss", the recently deceased Mike Wallace, to a very humorous "rant" about art critic, Roberta Smith, and his current feud with her, his is a voice that you could listen to ad infinitum.
Morley Safer's face is of course as familiar as his voice. It is now a face etched with the lines of experience and his are eyes deeply-visioned -- he has probably forgotten more than many of us will ever get the chance to learn. For our portrait session he was kind, cooperative, patient and giving. It was an honor to photograph him for not only have I long held him in the highest regard but he is a living legend and one of the last of his generation of great broadcast journalists. May we be treated to many more than 42 years of 60 Minutes.
"The End is Near!" -- So Rock the House
Hmm . . . lots of scaffolding . . . is this the Hudson Hotel? . . . oh, there's good friend & super uber creative guy, Gerry Graf, headed in the door ("Hi, Gerry!") so this must be the place for the awards show but . . . "go where?" . . . down these fire stairs? . . . now what!? . . . MORE fire stairs? . . . is this SPINAL TAP?! . . . you sure we're in the right place? . . . but wait!: what's that cool robotic voice saying? . . . "Welcome to the ANDY Awards" ?. . . OHhhh ! Alright! This is different!! This is COOL and EXCITING and FUN!!!
By now, EVERYONE has seen their share of awards shows -- from the Oscars, to the Emmy's to the Grammy's -- so everyone kind of knows the drill. And as one who has covered a lot of awards events, it was very stimulating to experience the formula getting a kick in the pants. Once, that is, I got over my preconceived notions. And that is what I realized was going on at the 2012 International ANDY Awards.
The One Show Interactive awards broke the mold a few years ago with theme-based events/awards presentations that serve as an electrifying culmination to Creative Week.
This year, the Advertising Club asked industry icon Bob Greenberg and digital agency R/GA how to breathe new life into one of the industry's most celebrated events: the International ANDY Awards. Themed around predictions of the end of things as we know them, the answer was a club scene-like creation at Hudson Hotels' Good Units. Attendees were shuttled thru graffiti'd winding hallways into a cocktail reception area with award winning works spotlighted on the walls that were otherwise decorated with moody low-lighting and art installations. Eventually, everyone was called upstairs to a loft-like area with streaming photo-booths that overlooked a foggy dry-iced, post-apocalyptic set with two giant overhead screens to show the winning work (which you can see a full list of on the ANDY Awards site). An all-star team of industry luminaries entertainingly steamrolled through presentations of four basic categories with quick video tributes but without the usually obligatory, finger-drumming parade of acceptances.
AND THE BAR STAYED OPEN!
Yes, Bob Greenberg and The Advertising Club rocked the house!
The Ultimate Art Director - Ralph Ammirati
Having the opportunity to photograph him for The One Club this year was a true honor. And it's all still true. He still even drives very hot cars! To find out more -- including which hot cars -- check out Yash Egami's interview with Ralph in ONE, The Magazine HERE.
Just B.E. -- A Tale of Being Effectively Efficient
Mar. 26, 2012 09:27 Filed in: Buy Efficient
My latest photo incarnation was a campaign for Ken Leonardo of Commotion and Rich Warren, VP of Business Development of BuyEfficient (B.E.). Just released this campaign is a perfect example of becoming acquainted with extraordinary (but unfamiliar) companies.
My assignment was to travel around the country and photograph a series of hotel executives. This was part of a testimonial campaign for Buy Efficient, the hospitality industry's premier online purchasing solution.
BuyEfficient works behind the scenes for over 1,200 hotels as their premier purchasing partner - a partner that unites various suppliers into an all-in-one purchasing platform. With Buy Efficient, hotels can purchase all those little (but important) commodities that they must have in order to operate: linens, stationery, food, soap -- you name it. (Yes, all the stuff that us guests take for granted when we check-in, but which someone must constantly manage.)
However, beyond a single hotel, this purchasing task can be an enormous challenge to synchronize, as many hotel management companies know. Someone very familiar with this task is Russ Cox, CEO, of Rim Hospitality in Newport Beach, CA. As I found out during the photo-shoot, Mr. Cox oversees various hotel brands set far and wide across the country, in which BuyEfficient's platform helps alleviate his stress and consolidate the purchasing process.
B.E. is the first centralized, online purchasing platform in which hotels can order various supplies via a dashboard-style process. Through B.E.'s efficiency and online tools, this operational hurdle is manageable for executives like Mr. Cox.
The power of internet purchasing possibilities can marvel you everywhere you travel!
Percolate-ing LikeMind
Mar. 16, 2012 10:44 Filed in: Noah Brier
I first met Noah a few years back while photographing an EFFIES Award judging session, and then again at a " Big Business Breakfast" started by Benjamin Palmer of The Barbarian Group, where Noah was camped out at the time. LIKEMIND is another of Noah's co-iterations started awhile ago -- to get "online relationships offline" -- and he was instigating a re-boot. It had been somewhat withering on the vine even though it has an international set of followers. He explains it all on his interesting blog HERE.
Since so much of today's reality exists with us individually sitting in front of computer screens, it's good to get out and actually meet the people we're "talking" to; or maybe some of the people that those we're talking to are talking to. People who do things like online media publishing, or marketing 3D printers, or photographers . . .
At any rate, there were a considerable number of people there, especially given the early hour.
And the latte was VERY good.
M.A.D.ly Swept Away
Mar. 05, 2012 18:00 Filed in: Museum of Arts & Design
Yet another example of inventive curating! Monday night was a Members Opening at the Museum of Arts & Design and, this time, BONUS: it’s a double bill. Two openings on separate floors: “Swept Away” and “Glasstress”. You can see photos from the event HERE.
One Original Mad Man: George Lois
Feb. 28, 2012 22:04 Filed in: George Lois | The One Club Hall of Fame | The One Club | People In Advertising
Original Mad Man
Art Director,
Designer,
Raconteur,
Member of the One Club Hall of Fame --
He designed some of most (in)famous magazine covers ever for ESQUIRE Magazine.
He's the author of a great new book "DAMNED GOOD ADVICE" which you can hear him discuss on NPR
AND: He’s now employing my portrait of him as his promo shot for press & speaking engagements.
It's a privilege to know him and I am terrifically honored.
Jerry Chazen
Feb. 15, 2012 22:27 Filed in: Museum of Arts & Design
The Great Debate: Take 4
Jan. 24, 2012 18:00 Filed in: The Advertising Club
The One Club Hall of Fame
Jan. 17, 2012 20:00 Filed in: The One Club | The One Club Hall of Fame | Portraits of People in Advertising | People In Advertising
It made for a VERY memorable -- if somewhat pressured -- formal portrait session.
Featured in the image above are (left to right seated) Ed McCabe, Paula Green, Ralph Ammirati and Amil Gargano; (left to right standing) Joe Pytka, George Lois, David Kennedy and Mike Hughes.
Tabletop - The One Club Annuals
Dec. 15, 2011 12:40 Filed in: The One Club
YES! was my response.
So began the process of arriving at a style that would cover all 25 current items and fit them within the designs and requirements of the online store site design. The culmination was the Holidays “Teaser” for the December 2011 Annual Set addition to the store.
Check out the results at The One Club Store,
and, hey, maybe buy something while you’re there.
George Soros
Dec. 01, 2011 10:00 Filed in: George Soros
Beau Fraser - The Gate Worldwide
Nov. 02, 2011 14:12 Filed in: Beau Fraser | People In Advertising
Roger Ailes (including the Tale of Nixon & the Snake Charmer)
In person, he is very low key, yet very personable and easy to work with. Not insignificantly, even the most casual observer would easily note that he is much liked and respected by everyone who works at the network -- from general staff to top anchor. On top of it, he is a FANTASTIC and humorous storyteller. Knowing a bit of his background, I asked how he had come to work with Richard Nixon. His face instantly lit up and he told me: “Now that’s a great story!” It was a simple twist of fate. He was the producer in the early days of The Mike Douglas Show. And as so often occurred: there was a booking anomaly. So he instructed a production assistant to place two guests into any two but very separate waiting rooms. So Richard Nixon, went into one; Tina the Snake Charmer into another (Ailes was afraid Nixon might scare the snake). Shortly thereafter, Ailes, looking for a quiet place to work on the script walked into the room with Nixon, who he had to calm down by explaining the power of television and who, as a result, he subsequently came to work for. Ailes said he could just as easily have chosen the other room. And today he would probably be working as a top circus promoter. Such, he said, is life.
Bill Clinton
Sep. 20, 2011 12:00 Filed in: Bill Clinton | Newsmax
Creative Week 2011
I’ve been photographing The One Show for eight plus years and therefore have documented and observed its growth into the PREMIERE international advertising awards show. It has also transformed itself now into FIVE days of excitement as the crown jewel of Creative Week in New York City. It’s hectic, demanding, crazy but fun and exhilarating with celebrities, stars of advertising and absolutely killer work.
Everyone In Advertising Goes Looking For a Little Head
And they find it -- if they’re good enough -- at the annual Advertising Club International ANDY Awards!
E. L. Doctorow
