In photography everything is about the light, right?

I’d like to introduce you my new Flickr group “FEELING THE LIGHT“. Last month I saw so many comments as “Wow, look at that light” or “Love the light…”. So I wanted to start a collection of all those beautiful shots, hoping people will understand what I want from them. We are looking for shots with the great light, even they are taken by day or night. Every shot you adore because of the light. Beautiful sunset or awesome long-exposure ghost at dark. My friend Ana is helping me (Thank you dear!) with all those submissions, over 80 accepted so far. The group is very young, so I invite you to share your light with us, let’s feel it together.

LINK ONE MORE TIME! flickr.com/groups/feelingthelight (;

Michal Sycz also-known-as Noeeko is a freelance digital artist based in Cracow, Poland. He did this cool interior design and made me think about redesigning my current office. Yes, really inspiring! Open to any form of expression, Michal combines photo manipulation, vectors, hand drawn elements and 3D shapes. I especially like the pinky toilet because it looks like a Super Mario level, I’m playin it sometimes when I’m bored. After this few examples I’m about to change something in my office, maybe I have to hire this guy.

Unlike a conventional camera Nadia has no display of the photographs to be taken, but rather gives the judgment of aesthetic quality to the machine, displaying only a current rating as feedback about when and what to snap.

The world is full of many different new technologies and each is more or less useful. Artificial intelligence has been a topic that is approached with hope, fear, cynicism, curiousity and caution. However many intelligent devices have already been effortlessly absorbed into our culture and everyday lives. Soon we’ll see devices and systems that have the ability to think creatively and infer beauty. Maybe better then us, no? This novel little device with beautiful name Nadia improves and works its way into consumer devices, watch the video!

Realised in the Digitale Klasse under Joachim Sauter and Jussi Ängeslevä at the University of the Arts Berlin, Germany. Congratulations guys!

I took up photography because I wanted to be able to create something artistic without drawing it all out. I love drawing but sometimes it’s very difficult to illustrate certain things so I use photography instead.

You can’t find so much information about Jolene on the internet, but I’ve tried to find out a bit more directly from her. Her really real name is Jolene Yeo and she lives in Singapore, wow! She’s 18 years old taking a diploma in Apparel Design. Jolene speaks Chinese and English as well. She’s posing on many of her photos and that is very commendable because we know how hard is to find a model and even photograph yourself, self-timers, remotes and so. Jolene loves staying at home and doesn’t like parties or social gatherings. “…I must sound like a very boring person…” – she said. No you’re not, at all! Your creativity is probably connected with your lifestyle and that is very good. I can see your story in your photos, even when it’s kind of acting – I’m serious!

Looking forward to see your new work, feel free to submit it. Lovely regards to you, Jolene and to all my other dear readers. Be good, I’m very busy now… back to work.

Animation work is great, I work with people, with kids and it’s never boring. In short… creative workshops, aqua aerobics at noon, bike tours, photo routes around the town; sports like beach volley, tennis, basket and so; plus show time program including dances, acting and other performances. I’m doing all this whole summer to buy myself a new photography equipment.

Such a poor free time doesn’t allow me to blog. This summer is crazy, kinda overbooked! About previous post “Academy of Arts is knockin’ on the door!” I have only to say door is closed, so I’m still making my plan for the future and I’ll come back to you in September with more information and some new special topics that are already in draft. News from Novi Sad are not so good, think this is gonna be a very interesting and creative gap year. September is calling!

Busy! Busy! Busy! Busy! Sorry! Be good and see you soon.

I worked hard over two loooong months to finish my portfolio and prepare to enroll the Academy of Arts – Photography department, in a very beautiful town Novi Sad, Serbia. This morning I’m going on a 600-km-long-trip from Novigrad to Novi Sad by car and my uncle goes with me. My dear friend Jelena, also know as Queen of the sunset, will be my host for a week or maybe more. Bags are ready, batteries are charging and my eyes are closing. Before I tap “Publish” I just wanna say “Big Respectable & Lovely Thank You” to all of my friends and supporters who wrote a few very kind lines for me. Hope my parents will sleep well these days.

I’M GONNA DO MY BEST, REALLY!

By the way, read my 3 months old post “Setting my goals, reachable targets” about my plans, it’s closely connected with this one, and it will explain a bit better what is in my head at this suppose-to-be-stressful-but-it’s-not-at-all moment.

PHOTOGRAPHY IS MY LIFE, SO WISH ME LUCK!

As I wrote, we have more news from lovely Natalija…

Matteo Bertolio has worked on a visualeyes production in Shanghai for their client ORIS – SWISS WATCHES. For this project they were investigating for a suitable upcoming artist who fits to the CULTURE COLLECTION of their client. You can also see these images in one of the latest issues of Victor Magazine by Hasselblad.

Hope Natalija will inform us about new stuff!

While I was at Photodays, I’ve met amazing gal Natalija Bajric, the head of visualeyes agency which is now representing 17 reknowned and international photographers. Thank you Photodays for getting me closer to people like Natalija. Today she has something for you from the very first issue of their magazine.

Hanspeter Schneider has worked on a visualeyes production in Paris for “Magazin Z”, which is a fashion suppliment of the NZZ, Switzerland’s most read newspaper. The production took place in a beautiful appartment in Paris and with 10 models on set. The shooting was accompanied by a TV station and documented in the daily reportage of GLANZ & GLORIA. Nice work!

Hmm… think we have some more news from Natalija. But not today, stay tuned!

With Camera+ you’re able to use your iPhone to shoot the best photos you possibly can. Packed with several useful features that your standard camera app doesn’t include, your pics will improve the instant you start using it.

I know Apple has just presented the new iPhone 4 featuring a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and HD video recording but I think this little app will kinda upgrade your iPhone camera features until you buy a new iPhone. You really have to try it out, it’s amazing!

Have you ever heard about the rule of thirds? Now you can use the grid to line up your shots and eliminate unsightly tilted photos – no more crooked pics! Goodbye blurry shots here’s the stabilizer to steady your iPhone and get the sharpest photos you can. There are many many cool and very useful features, read more at campl.us.

Good luck with the app Lisa!

There are no Boundaries, or? (Lecture and Workshop), by Bruna Kazinoti

Very interesting lecture by Bruna was actually a presentation that gives an overview of contemporary international photographers and a selection of Croatian artists. Bruna has graduated at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerpen, Belgium, and she has published material in magazines such as Dazed&Confused, Qvest, Sleek and many others. She brought some of the recent editions of the world’s leading magazines and we talked about boundaries in photography. After the discussion participants had an opportunity to tell their own story through their photographs, with one-hour-limit for shooting. Commendable!

Portfolio reviews

This was the best part for many of us because we were able to show our photos to people from the professional world of photography and get a feedback. I will point out some of the reviewers: Helena Srakočić Kovač, agent and ex-gallerist who spent all of her business career in London dedicated to photography; Ivana Tomanović, editor in chief of REFOTO magazine and Natalija Bajric, CEO of the photo agency VISUALEYES. Big respect for Ivana’s comment on my photos, it will help me a lot for sure.

Panel discussion: Current Trends in Photography from Galleries to Commercial Industry

Photography in the region against world trends. Croatia has no museums dedicated especially for the photography and that’s a problem. We discussed about the global market and photo auctions, I heard about these prices for the first time.

Thank you for the great weekend, see you next year (or sooner)!

This whole environment is very pleasant, surrounded by photographers and photography lovers – GREAT! This is third year of the photography festival Photodays, already, and I’m third year here too, proudly. Rovinj was always the most photogenic city for me and it’s like ideal for similar events. Press centre has kindly hosted me and helped with anything I needed. I’m satisfied with the day 1 at Photodays, I’ve met many people from the photo industry. I only missed the colour management (calibrating monitors) workshop by Dean Žvorc. From many exhibitions and workshops I chose these two below to write a bit more:

Camera Obscura (Lecture and Workshop), by Borislav Božić

The leader of the camera obscura workshop, my respectable mentor, Borislav Božić has prepared 15 “Ljubica” camera obscuras for his todays workshop. The “Ljubica”, as he calls it, is a type of camera obscura he has designed several years ago, and which is used by the attendants of his recording workshops. It is very practital and adjusted to photo paper with a dimension of 10 x 15 cm. Actually, that was my first camera ever, when I took my first analog photo about 7 years ago on his workshop. It was my pleasure to see him again.

DSLRevolt (Workshop), by Marko Butraković

I wrote about Marko before and I finally met him in person. Cool guy! His todays workshop on DSLR video recording was very instructive. Audi R8 Spyder had its promotion premiere for Croatia. We learned more about elaborating advanced DSLR recording techniques and their application to real-life situations. These guys have a lot of professional equipment and the most interesting for me was Steadicam. We recorded many different scenes for a short film. Totally great experience.

Regards from sunny Rovinj, stay tuned for day-2-report!

This weekend (4th & 5th June) I’ll be attending the largest and my favorite regional photography festival, Rovinj Photodays. The official festival program is published, there are many interesting workshops, presentations, exhibitions, portfolio reviews and panel discussion about current trends in photography, from galleries to the commercial industry. I’m also very happy about the camera obscura workshop hosted by my mentor, oldschool photography legend Borislav Božić, founder of the photo club Rijeka.

I’ll press cover whole event proudly as the official blogger. My camera and laptop goes with me, so stay tuned here on Die without Art for fresh updates directly from Rovinj.

Do not forget to follow Die without Art on Twitter and subscribe to RSS feed!

See you here or there!

When I said I wanna blog about her, she thought I’ve muddled her with someone else. No dear, that’s you. Abi Daker has working as a professional artist since graduating from the University of Reading in 2003. Abi provides illustrations & artwork for children’s books, print and web publications, adverts, posters and private commissions. Her work is always drawn freehand, whether it is coloured digitally or with dry or wet media.

All my personal work is based around things I see during the day; people, places and scenery. I draw a lot of aerial views because I like to see the top of buildings.

Did you heard about a Happy Journey? O’yes, Abi is one of the founders – I’ve blogged more about the project before. You can find more of her creative work at abidaker.com and make sure you are following her on Twitter. She’s cute!

Thank you for being so modest! Love you.

In the lack of inspiration, just look inside, like in this short film by LEGO. Please be careful with your ideas and write them down right away, because they are very awkward in many cases when you forgot what you thought a few seconds before.

Postscript: I’m doing my best to be with you here and I hope you understand my graduating tasks and preparing for the academy. After many awake nights my high school graduating project is almost done, next is preparing for the Art Academy. Stay tuned here and wish me luck. Thank you all for supporting me. Love you!

Wanna help? Submit your work!

I’m busy but that doesn’t means this blog will stay without new posts. I’m calling you, my dear readers, to help me! If you wanna share something creative with us please drop me a line to submit AT diewithoutart DOT com, thank you.

Jen Collins is an illustrator living in Scotland. By day she works at an arts centre, and on evenings and weekends she can be found drawing at her desk, as well as spending time with friends and eating yummy food with her boyfriend. Such a interesting person. Things that make her happy include sunny mornings, the prospect of small adventures, meeting and collaborating with other creative people and finding excellent things in second hand shops. Think we have a lot of things in common. She wishes there were more hours in a day, or more days in a week, so that she could sit with a cup of tea & a sketchbook more often.

I’m following Jen on Twitter over a year and she’s becoming very dear to me more and more. Her creative work is so cute, I’m seriously thinking to buy a piece from her shop. She has just redesigned her website hellojenuine.com, go and check it out.

Frankly, I wish to become your friend and stay in touch! By the way, welcome to my blogroll.

Helen and Michelle met last year. Michelle had been developing the idea of craftsville for quite some time and as soon as she saw Helen’s illustration work. Michelle knew Helen was just who she needs to collaborate with to make craftsville look beautiful! Craftsville runs from their kitchen tables, where they meet to discuss what they want to include on the site over coffee and cake!

A little bit more about Michelle

I am deeply in love with the following things: americana, burlesque, craft, drawing and embroidery and the fifties. In addition to running craftsville I also make things, run workshops, write for a magazine called Sew Hip! and am the director of Dr Sketchy Leeds. I also love to bake and go to swing jive classes! I will shortly be getting a pug and he will be called Walter.

…and Helen

Hi there my name is Helen, creator of all things memo. I’m an illustrator, part time screen print tutor and maker of handmade items. I graduated from Norwich School of Art & Design in 2007 with a first class BA (hons) degree in visual studies. I’m a big fan of typewriters, stationery, good cakes and dogs with hats on and loves writing and receiving letters.

How did they come up with the name craftsville?

As I have mentioned I am a big lover of americana and tagging the suffix ‘ville’ onto things always conjures up that retro american feel that I love so much! Also I loved the idea of it being like an imaginery little town that people can come and visit. We hope that everyone will love it and want to stay!

What they are writing on craftsville?

We will be interviewing lots of wonderfull creative people and taking a sneaky peek into people’s studios. There will be tutorials, reviews, giveaways and event listings. We will also be sharing all our good finds from the amazing work being done by independent artists, designers and makers because we think the world needs to see them!

Future plans

For the time being we will just be concentrating on making craftsville wonderful and making sure there is always lots of interesting stuff to read on the site. We do have lots of ideas for the future swimming around in our heads though so once that is done we will obviously don our twirly moustaches and plot world domination!

Thank you girls and good luck with your project!

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. — A. France

I’ll need a very simple and good organised space with all those required equipment such as lighting, softboxes and umbrellas, backgrounds etc. I’m a photographer, that’s clear, but that won’t be only a photo studio, that will be the multi-something studio. The idea is to invite my creative friends and all other art lovers to join me and collaborate on projects, exhibitions and maybe talk shows. I’m looking for designers, illustrators, photographers, developers, advertising experts and guerrilla marketing enthusiasts, social media ninjas and maybe some other cool profession.

I’m still dreaming about a Mac on my desk, that’s also a part of my dream about studio. For team brainstorming we will use IdeaPaint, wall for our ideas. Chill(out) music will be playing all the time in my studio. I’m sure the whole environment will be more than inspiring.

Until the clients discover us and our services we will work on our own identities, each member of our team must have a personal website, business card and maybe a custom tshirt – just for warming-up. I’m a big fan of guerrilla marketing and that’s the way we will promote our studio around the streets. We are going to use social media for spreading the world and communicating with others.

All this is just a dream and I’ll do my best to realize it asap. Then I’ll read this once again.

Thank you for this lovely postcard. Did you know, my mom’s name is also Biljana? Cool! I’m living near you, in Novigrad (Istria), that’s not far away from Postojna. Stay in touch.

Just to remind you, creative minds!

“POSTCARDfrom” is a NEW CATEGORY on Die without Art! Feel free to send your photos, illustrations, videos, words – anything to submit AT diewithoutart DOT com, just title “POSTCARDfrom”. Here is the only rule, you must tell us something about you and your place. Interact with us and follow the hash tag #POSTCARDfrom on Twitter.

Good, better, best; never let it rest till your good is better and your better is best.

We always can and have to do better! Remember that and finally start applying it in your daily life if you still haven’t. Record your results and again try to be better.

If you are an artist I suggest you to open your portfolio (online or offline) and start filling it with creative work. I think online portfolios are better because people who are interested in YOUR WORK can find YOU on the internet much easier – global audience! Some of them will give you a feedback – positive or negative, you must take it. Never remove your previous work if you are not satisfied with it, because it can help you to see the progress you’ve done.

The VitraHaus, built by Herzog & de Meuron, is the home of the Vitra Home Collection.

Discover furniture arrangements here in different style genres – inspirational ideas for your home and your own taste in design.

Inspirational ideas for your home?

The Vitra Home Collection is not a range of furnishings in uniform style. Vitra sees furnishings much more as a collage which changes through the course of time according to the preferences and personal circumstances of the owner. Cool, isn’t it?

Respect for my friends from touchpuppet!

Introducing YAY LINK!

Every day I’m discovering so much good and creative websites out there on the internet and I decided to start sharing it with you. YAY LINK! works very simple, it’s kinda promo post with link (hidden behind image) and a short description. You can also suggest your favorite web destinations, just leave a comment.

It was born out of a Twitter interaction over a link Thereza posted featuring eco friendly customized coffins which used mostly stock images and very little imagination.

They invited the best artists illustrators from around the world to form a collective to answer a brief involving *final destination* boxes design. The project has been developing better than they ever expected as the response from the artists involved and originality of their artwok have been amazing so far. Although currently web based, ideas and possibilities for print publishing + an exhibition are being discussed and explored.

GET INVOLVED

Should you wish to get involved the first thing to do is to join the group pool on Flickr, read through the brief and download the project template. I’m sure there are many creative brains, show us how your *final destination* box is gonna look like.

Good luck with your project!

Anya Kozyreva is a freelance photographer from Moscow, Russia. Her focus is the atmosphere shot, preserving the emotions of model and their freedom in the photo. Since 2009. Anya began creating her own photo business, am I wrong with the title? Anya is only 19 year old and I’m sure her career has just started. Good luck. Do not forget to check out her photostream on Flickr and follow her on Twitter.

Thank you for this submission.

I was officially on a mission to cover “every move” around the school during the creative workshop. She played the flute and I’ve met her on the hallway. I still didn’t know her name and nothing more. Smile here – smile there!

Here comes the last day of our workshop, the most beautiful and crucial day. We went for a walk with our friends and finally I have remembered her name – Franka. That night, last night, we sat next to each other and watched the funny guy doing some tricks. Franka was so cute and I’ve hugged her. Emotions, yay emotions! Love at first sight. Indescribably!

Franka had to go, you know it’s last day of the creative workshop and her parents came. I was very sad and sent her a message 30 minutes later. This story can’t be explained so easy with these poor words, but I wrote this because of her and everybody who are asking me what happened. Remember, I won’t hide nothing from my life – by the way, sorry for my very often personal posts, do not worry, some articles about art are in preparation. This was how one day and one beautiful person can change my life.

In the end, one special line for Franka: YOU SAID YOU LIKE THIS BLOG, NOW YOU BACAME A PART OF IT. MY LIFE IS MUCH HAPPIER WITH YOU AND AFTER SOME TIME I FINALLY HAVE SOMEONE TO LOVE AND THINK ABOUT. IT’S LIKE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DREAM, REALLY! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND GOOD LUCK TO US BOTH. I LOVE YOU!

It’s not easy writing this report, because of the sadness and all those beautiful memories. Unbelievable is that one week of creative workshops can connect people so strong. We have simply became inseparable. Everybody are so kind and dear, everybody are smiling all the time. You have to feel that energy. It’s better than utopia, really!

Actually I don’t know how to write down my feelings and where to start. So, I won the elections for the best clown, yay! Whole week was superb and we have made a real circus. It’s beautiful being surrounded with the happy creative kids, I miss them so much. Once again I’ll repeat, everything was happening in my hometown and my ex elementary school. Day begins with the breakfast and morning creative work, buzzing around the school and watching what others are working. Lunch and short break for sunbathing, elevator riding and photo sessions on the meadow. Afternoon creative work in the school again and than, finally, showtime at the hotel. Many arts united on one place, Novigrad, my hometown.

I know all those kids still miss Novigrad and everything what happened here last week, because they are sending me messages all the time. I can’t count anymore how much people I’ve hugged last week, and how much of them have a picture with (or of) me. My voice is still “broken” couz of singing and lots of ice cream that I’ve ate. Back into “normal” world I’m out of space and time. Maybe everything I wrote here today sounds wired and “Nah, that’s just one week”, no it’s not. You have to try it out. During 8, yes 8, years of this creative workshop I’ve met many-many dear people, my friends for ever; and photography as my biggest passion. This was just a try to express my feelings and write a report for all those creative kids and dear people.

DO NOT BE SAD, BE HAPPY BECAUSE WE’VE MET EACH OTHER. STAY IN TOUCH, LOVE YOU ALL! YOU ARE MY FAMILY, HAPPY FAMILY!

Two days are behind us and the time is running so fast. My electioneering for the best clown is going very well, and my plan for tomorrow is to wear a pajama and slippers whole day, crazy? I love this workshop and my funky kids who are making every day more special and unforgettable – thank you!

Fabulous camera obscura will be our main tool tomorrow – let’s do the magic with that box.

First day of the workshops has just passed and we have done a lot. It maybe sounds crazy, but I’m competing for the best clown in our little creative circus and here is one photo from the recording of my advertisement for the best clown. Posters with my crazy clown photo are placed all over the school in a hope people will vote for me – funky elections.

Stay tuned for my next report and a photo with my clown outfit.

Did you know that? Now you know. I think this is the first time something cool connected with my homeland – Croatia is featured on LearnSomethingEveryDay.co.uk. Site is full of interesting facts illustrated daily on a very unique way, with the simple drawings. It’s a must-follow in your rss readers and you can also submit your fact(s), so get involved.

During the yesterday’s video call with my dear Sky Nash, a web camera really got angry on me when I showed my art and made the stupid pixels of it. We tried turning off the web cam a few times and it worked properly until the moment I showed my art – pixels again!

Maybe Sky’s MacBook don’t like my shitty laptop or my art is too strong for this poor little web camera – who knows? Very interesting case with no explanation. Whatever, after 2 hours of talking, some silence and tweeting, I’m very happy to have a friend like she.

By the way, after three months of super awesome blogging, meeting new creative people and featuring the best of them on Die without Art, this is my 60th post over here. Yay! Thank you all for reading, sharing and helping me.

Creative workshops from the last post will be starting tomorrow morning, can’t wait. I’m gonna sleep well tonight because I saw my friends on the opening ceremony after one long year. That’s cute, especially the hugs. The kids are amazing, so stay tuned for some photos and impressions.

That’s simply my favorite week of the year because all my creative friends are coming to my town, my ex elementary school, to express their imagination. They are kids from all over the country, all ages – from 10 to 20. We have chose our workshop (for example: dancing, acting, singing, drawing, photography, filmmaking and many more) yet and then all together will be working under one topic – this year it’s a CIRCUS.

How you see on this photos from the last year, we are working all over the place and everything is full of colors and happiness. There’s no white walls, each is painted and filled with thematic illustrations. You would not believe what these kids can make, unbelievable.

Last day we are usually opening our group exhibition before the huge and crying ceremony. This unforgettable experience is repeating every year, better and better. Can’t wait to see my dear friends tomorrow after one long year.

I’ll try to publish our impressions every day, and still don’t know which hash tag to use on Twitter. But make sure you have subscribed to my feed and that you are following me.

Introducing a new category “POSTCARDfrom”, yay! Iva and her friend Jelena who’s jumping like a kangaroo, just started a new collection of postcards here on DwA. Feel free to send your photos, illustrations, videos, words – anything to submit AT diewithoutart DOT com, just title “POSTCARDfrom”. Here is the only rule, you must tell us something about you and your place. Interact with us and follow the hash tag #POSTCARDfrom on Twitter.

In focus

Two years ago after my first solo exhibition titled “In focus”, journalist asked me a lot of questions. That was not my first time in media, but it was kinda serious. I published those photos on the internet and the feedback came very fast, thank you real-time-web. I’m very happy because the title of my first exhibition came true. I’ve finally got my audience. That’s the most valuable treasure which one artist can have. Respect to you all.

Remember, that’s was two years ago. Now, when people saw my growing-portfolio, they started hiring me. Awesome! I finally started making money from what I love to do, like in a dream. I worked whole summer to bought new equipment and I’ll do the same this year.

Social media for the win!

Social media was very interesting for me, so I opened my fan page on Facebook. People are coming and interacting and that’s the power, I can spread my life and passion globally. Twitter also became my communication tool because I’ve met many interesting people over there. Are you following me?

We are not alone, of course not

There came my second solo exhibition titled “We are not alone” on the beginning of this year. Again in media, yay! Now I understand the first sentence of this article. I’m finally what I always wanted to be, recognizable! Feel free to say hello on the street, but make sure I don’t have headphones on. I’d love to hear from you – find me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter or send me an email to danijel AT sivinjski DOT com

Before I start writing about the title of this article… Big respectable thanks to my dear guest bloggers Sky Nash, Giulia Scifoni and Yamille Marmont, who helped me a lot. If you missed, please read their guest blogging articles from last week:

Five books I love, by Sky Nash
Photography in the opposite direction, by Giulia Scifoni
500 Seconds Of No Breathing, by Yamille Marmont

Thank you girls!

Let’s get back to the title, I finally found the battery charger without which I couldn’t work last two months. That’s two long months without photography. I’m a photographer, you remember that? And I need full-charged batteries to work. Photography is my biggest passion, I felt kinda lost those two months. First I thought somebody steal my battery charger, but fortunately I was wrong. It was hidden in the basket under brothers bed. How? I don’t know. Doesn’t matter, now I have to finish my school projects and get ready for the art academy. This is the last, but most difficult month before the summer. I wrote about my plans ‘n’ goals before and you will first know the details during next two months.

I’m not gonna lie or say I was born with a lens, pencil, brush or anything that you want to read. I always wanted to be a professional musician, but after spending so many years playing and composing non-stop I took a camera almost four years ago. And it was love at first sight! Now, I get paid for doing what I enjoy the most. Clients include some of my favorite bands like Mono (JPN) and Chris Corner (IAMX). Being a photographer also means traveling a lot and sleeping on friend’s couches most of the weekends far away from home, partying like a rockstar and staying up until ridiculous hours of the morning working on lighting techniques.

After two past exhibitions, now I have the pleasure to present, as an exclusive for Die without Art, a preview of 500 Seconds Of No Breathing, my most personal work ever and a collection of 20 years of images.

More info coming soon @ my official website YamilleMarmont.com

So today I’d like to talk about photography but in the opposite direction: we usually always see what a camera is seeing, the result of the photography process, what the artist wants us to see. Instead, I want to share with you some pictures of the little but powerful (and cute) monsters that let us capture all the good moments of our lives: the cameras themselves. I always thought digital but mostly analogic cameras are very fascinating and really great subjects; so, I wanna guide you through some photographs I like a lot that show us what’s behind every picture.

Copyright notice: Photos are linked to the photostreams of their authors on Flickr!

I discovered the following picture yesterday and I must say I really like the fact that the camera looks like a person, it’s the real and living subject of the shot.

Simple pictures like these can still tell a lot about the photographer, about what he/she’s going through, if he/she is happy with his/her life or if, like in this case, she needs some support! Because the grass is green, the sky is blue and everything’s cool.

Sometimes photography is related to food, like in this funny funny picture by Keli. Her Kodak is a Brownie Bullet Camera and she put it together with its friends chocolate Brownies (they look delicious, don’t they?).

And there are other times, when cameras BECOME food. Like in this wonderful picture by fsumaria. She is so in love with photography that her lovely husband (I want one like him one day!) gave her a Nikon-cake for her birthday. Amazing.

Actually these last pictures made me hungry, very hungry and I think I am SO heading to my fridge. I invite you all to follow these great artists out there, Flickr is such a cool place to meet them all! And if you still haven’t, take a picture of your camera: she’s the one letting you capture the world around you :)

Paper: Tear, Fold, Rip, Crease, Cut

I’m doing a degree in book arts and design, so I spend a lot of time using paper to create and this is a great book for inspiration, it shows many different ways you can use paper to create something from fashion pieces to illustrations.

Hand Job: A Catalog of Type

Every designer needs a book of type, there are no questions about it. I have this book because I love hand drawn type and this book has a huge variety to look at!

Drawing from Life: The Journal as Art

Looking at strangers journals is exciting, how journals get doodled in and organised. It’s a great inspiration if you want to start a visual journal, but don’t really know how to.

Pictoplasma 2

This book is just pure excitement, from the beginning to the end! It’s a book filled with characters, monsters, figures and cartoons. If you enjoy drawing comics etc this book is the best book to look at for character inspiration.

Naive Graphics: Modernism and Folklore in Contemporary Graphic Design

This book is breathtaking and stunning. Although it’s expensive it’s a great source of inspiration for all kinds of design.

If you wanna join them, no problem – never is too late, read more information here.

I’ll keep my eye(s) on your submissions and try to answer every email I receive. Make sure you are following @DieWithoutArt and @sivinjski on Twitter. Hope you are having a great time on holidays and you have prepared the most creative eggs for Easter.

Stay tuned, my guests have some delicious content for you. Subscribe!

I didn’t understand anything what they sang, but they were so awesome and I decided to share their super creative idea. This music video was shot for Sour’s ‘Hibi no Neiro’ (Tone of everyday) from their first mini album ‘Water Flavor EP’. The cast were selected from the actual Sour fan base, from many countries around the world. Each person and scene was filmed purely via webcam.

SOUR forms by hoshijima (gut guitar/voice) of French birth British growth, Sohey (bass/upright bass) of Ginza birth Ginza growth, and TAKAHASHIKEN (drums/toys) of German birth Spanish growth. They are a 3 piece band that plays organic, urban, tight, mellow, sharpend, and totally comfortable sound.

Good work guys, you really made me think how you recorded some parts.

Yey! We got new submission from DwA’s Flickr group. It’s actually just one photo, second one, but I was curious and searched for more. She’s “hiding” behind the nickname Cobeliks, but that’s just about name. Cobeliks publishes almost every cool moment from her life. You can follow her on Twitter and see her unrehearsed photos on Flickr.

I couldn’t find any more information about Cobeliks, and her tweets are kinda poetry, but the way she shares her life moments is so awesome. In fact she is not hiding nothing, except the name. Her nickname is cool, that’s enough! I hope she will tell us more in the future and I’m waiting for new photos.

Feel free to submit your creativity in DwA’s Flickr group! Group pool is waiting for new creative works, some of them will be featured here. You are not a Flickr user? No problem, check out the submission page.

One more thing, I need HELP. It’s about guest blogging. PLEASE READ THIS!

You are writing a lot, really a lot, how it became your passion, job? Beginning!

I’ve always been a writer, ever since I can remember. My favorite movie/book growing up was “Harriet the Spy,” as I so badly my journals to be as interesting as hers. ;)

How’s being a half of BAKERY? Tell me more about the collaboration with Jaime?

Jaime is… fantastic. She’s the perfect counterpart for me in every sense—I tend to go with the flow of things, yet she’s much more serious and business-oriented. We joke that she’s the project manager and her biggest job is to manage my crazy!

I’ve found your articles all around the web. ShelterPop, DIY Life, Design Milk, Share Some Candy and more. How you catch it all?

It’s tough juggling a lot of jobs, but I couldn’t love it more. I like researching a variety of different topics until I can deem myself an expert, whether that be party-planning, fashion or home decor.

You’ve done 16 dialogues so far, can you tell me more about the behind scenes, recording techniques and how you are finding your guests?

Dialogue is soooo much work, but a ton of fun. I actually owe its success to the “cast” of contributors—they’ve worked hard to record their segments in the right lighting and come up with thought-provoking responses to my insane questions. I found my guests pretty simply—people I loved, respected and wanted to know more about.

In the Dialogue episode 2 you said you’ve quit your daily job and started freelancing. How your day looks like?

My day is pretty flexible—sometimes I sleep in, sometimes I don’t (although I get much more finished when I don’t!). I always, always make time for my daily yoga or kickboxing class, otherwise I have crazy pent-up energy. Other than that, it’s just me and the computer, hour after hour!

And finally blogging. I’m visiting your blog every day and think I’m feeling the spirit of it. What are your content resources? Do you have a blogging plan or just write by the free will?

I actually JUST started a blogging plan, or editorial calendar, to help with organizing myself. Normally, I just surf with no real goals and jump through the rabbit hole of the Internet. Either way works well for me, as I’m pretty easily inspired.

I actually don’t have a desk, as I’m in the middle of a fixer-upper! I often blog from local coffee shops and things.

Thank you Erin.

If you have something creative and worth publishing I’ll give you the opportunity to share it with the world, simply said my blog is yours. You can use your own art works or find something interesting all around the internet. In case you’re new here, please read older articles. Your style of writing is very welcome here, and do not worry about it. Be yourself and tell us your opinion. Write how much you think is enough, and relax. Write a few sentences about yourself. Enrich the article with links and include interesting quotes.

During my offline week I’ll review your articles and publish only the best. That means I’ll bring my laptop with me, but I’ll have only 1 or 2 hours per day for reading, reviewing and publishing submitted GUEST BLOGGING articles. Important is to send me the content with title and resources such as links, pictures etc.

Submitted articles will be published from April 2nd to 10th and you can send yours TODAY to submit (at) diewithoutart (dot) com, I would really appreciate you.

Thank you!

We have met generous Sky Nash two months ago and she’s back again with new creative stuff. Her book art and totally unique style always goes forward, over and over. Go Sky! Featuring book art in this article is very special because she decided to publish it exclusively on Die without Art. Thank you.

Up there we got two collagraphs. That’s a printmaking process in which materials are applied to a rigid substrate such as cardboard or wood. Last work on the right hand side is just left over ink, which is just as interesting as the collagraph.

I didn’t notice till after I’d printed quite a few, that the shape looks like a sea horse!

No worries, I’m sure Sky will bring us new creative works soon, so stay tuned here. She’s working really hard on improving her skills. I’m thinking of hiring Sky to make a cover for my future book. Will see.

Check out her blog at sky-n.blogspot.com and follow her on Twitter, she’s pretty.

This is the coolest pixel-like website I’ve ever visited. Whole ambient is awesome with Super Mario sounds and a big cursor. You can also navigate through the website without mouse using your keyboard arrows, totally funny. Teo Skaffa likes drawing cats and his portfolio is full of crazy and very creative stuff. Do not forget to click on his head on the right bottom, for latest news. Visit teoskaffa.com and enjoy, it’s better than Sega’s Sonic.

Aaaand… the winner is… Agata Lučić, from Croatia, who wins a $25 Threadless gift.

After I saw Agata’s wall, full of creative stuff, I decided to feature some of her art on Die without Art, very soon. Her twin sister is an artist too. Stay tuned for their work.

Agata, you will receive a gift at the beginning of next week. You and Poon Kan Chi are so amazing, thank you for participating my first giveaway at Die without Art. Love you two.

I was expecting a larger turnout, more creative workspaces and funny faces, more photos. Is two participants ok for beginning? Maybe Die without Art is not old enough, maybe I have to wait more. No problem, I will. I need more audience, more, more and more. I’ll just be myself and write as much as I can to bring you new interesting content.

Interact with me on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook!

Set your goals high, and don’t stop till you get there—Bo Jackson

What the plan?

My career in the field of photography, blogging and journalism started already and I will work as much as I can to improve it. The current dilemma is where to go after high school. I’m closely related to the art(s) and I’ll try to enroll in the art academy, that’s my first wish and goal. I trust in myself, but in a case of fail there is always another option—I’m going to work on myself and improve my (special) skills, blog a lot, read and learn a lot, meet new cool and dear people, maybe change my location, drink as much as possible cups of tea, write a book maybe, photograph a lot and spend a year without the college. I do not wanna study something stupid and boring, one year off education is ok.

Following my dreams is going well so far and I’m really happy about everything I’ve done. I wanna live from photography and this blog in the future, I will wait for that moment until it happen. New equipment is necessary, I need a new camera, lens and maybe a laptop. Working whole summer to buy it sounds good. That’s my passion and I have to invest into it. 2010 is a year full of challenges, let’s see what will happen next.

Rovinj Photodays have turned into a magnificent holiday of photography, full of true artistic pleasures and top achievements of masters of the game of light, but also of entertainment, professional furthering, exchange of experience and acquainting with the latest technologies. Everything is in one place, in the ambiance of the unique Rovinj and its hospitable hosts. This was really a great holiday of Croatian photography that this year experienced an international reaction due to the arrival of prominent world names in artistic and fashion photography.

Within the official programme of the final manifestation of the photographic festival Photodays, 10 photographic exhibitions with more than 500 photographs, lectures on photography and a round table, reviews of portfolio of Croatian photographers, photographic workshops, a competitive photo route, the announcement of the winners and the awarding ceremony took place last year on June 5 and 6, 2009 in Rovinj. This year’s events within the final extravaganza, on June 4 and June 5 are already in preparation. Along with the exhibitions that will be dedicated to the works of the competition finalists, other interesting displays will be organized for the winner of the Life-Achievement Award and the best photos of the competition “Croatian Newspaper Photography” in different locations in Rovinj.

The competition is open only for Croatian photographers, but if you are interested you can read more here. I’ll also submit some of my photos, so wish me luck. If you are coming here and don’t know where to sleep, feel free to drop me a line, I’ll take care about it. We have almost 3 months to prepare, see you there. Others stay tuned at DwA.

She decided to open a commission free gallery four years ago, after many years of showing at galleries and truely disliking the strange effect it seemed to have on artists, including herself. It is her opinion (and opinion only) that art’s main purpose is to be viewed, seen, money is secondary.

Most galleries take too much commission and strip the artist of any of their love and happiness, art for art’s sake.

Jessica understands that a gallery is a business, but it was more important for her to create a gallery that restored the heart back into the artist, and into art. She is a drawer/polaroid transferer/painter/scribbler and her studiomates are all film photographers and shoot with hasselblads. Wow.

So far they have had about 37 shows in the past three years. Umber studios shows every kind of art and each artist is his own curator. Very important is that the artist has complete freedom, she said. This is rare in galleries, usually there is a curator deciding what will show and what will not. Umber studios have had some truely amazing shows.

It’s been my experience that the artist wants and amazing show just as much as I do, in fact, he or she wants it even more than me, and I’ve seen so many artists pour their hearts into their opening at umber.

About the selection Jessica told me she choose artists based on two things: she must like you, and she must like your art. It’s entirely subjective, but art is.

I want to show artists who share the same love I have for art. As art being expression, not art being a money maker.

If they sell pieces that’s icing on the cake. Jessica likes to show a good mix of brand new artists, established artists, and national/international group shows. Their future plans are to continue as is and keep providing a free space for artists to express themselves and experiment with new ideas.

Beside the studiomates Janell and Phil, Jessica has a dog Gracie who is a permanent fixture at the studio. If you are traveling or live near Minneapolis feel free to drop by and say hello, do not forget to bring milkbones for Gracie.

Jessica, thank you for sharing your lovely story with my readers, I believe they are already waiting for the next. I’d like to cooperate with you and be a friend, so welcome to DwA’s Friends with creative brains.

Jan never really thought much about photography before he got into photo blogging. He was a web developer back in the days, and he built a photo diary for Mr. Naughty James and his 1095 Project. Jan also built his own photo diary as well, borrowed a digital camera from the advertising agency he worked in, and started photographing his life and experiences. He got really into it, and started imagining a professional life with camera in hand.

I guess that’s where my kind of random snapshot style comes from.

Jan taught himself to photograph by observing the world around him, the people at the parties he went to, all his friends, his girlfriends, pretty much everything he saw. Today Jan still care more for his diary style photographs than his professional, properly lit photographs.

Jan studied in London, at a fashion photography course at University of the Arts. Those were truly the most exciting and challenging years of his interesting life. It was fantastic, but he knows that he would never want to live that life again. Strange or not, it’s history.

As a fashion photographer and a student in London you’re constantly surrounded by chaos, drugs, parties, booze, women… And I got sucked right into that lifestyle.

He’s back in safe and comfortable Norway now, and he often thinks back at his time in London as a time when he could truly challenge himself through his work.

The photographers I look up to aren’t the photographers who light beautifully or get the best models and stylists, but the photographers who put themselves in situations with
interesting subject matter.

A girl rolling around naked in front of the sofa at a party, a couple still dancing around at 7 in the morning, oblivious to the fact that the party ended hours ago, friends having a toke in the back seat of a taxi, etc. That is the reality that truly makes great snapshots.

Jan does almost everything. Through what feels like a long life he has gathered skills that make him able to be a photographer, graphic designer, web developer, Flash developer and general know-it-all.

Ever since Jan was a kid he has thought about his goals for life and it’s never deviated from “If it feels good, do it!”. A few years ago Jan met a girl, Hilde that soon became his girlfriend (though she’s back to being just a friend now). They pumped each other up, they discussed photography 20 hours of the day, and they pushed each other to becoming better photographers.

A 1000 ideas a day, a few of them realised.

Together, Jan and Hilde wanted to make stuff, break stuff. They hooked up with a couple of guys and founded a website called Phiary, a photo diary website where people could share their daily snapshots. They are still working on it, slowly making it become the photo diary website they all want to use themselves.

About the featured photo set, Tom and Emma

Tom and Emma are two of Jan’s very best friends. They let him live in their house when he had nowhere else, and they’ve been fantastic in every way since he first met them. This whole series was conceived when Jan needed to test situation photography for his graduation project at university. It started as a test, but the whole shoot became such a great experience and the photos came out above all expectation. They were all drunk and blazed by the end of the night, stumbling around like the idiots they are. Jan said, the fight scene could have been better but by that point they couldn’t see straight so whatever went down was how it would end up on his camera.

That’s it, thank you Jan for sharing your awesome story. Hope you will have something wow-like-this for us soon. Dear readers do not forget about the DwA’s first giveaway: Wallpaper alert! Take part and win a cool gift because it’s so simple. Read more here!

This is the first giveaway here on DwA. When I came to the idea to give something away to my readers I didn’t know what to give and what to ask in return. I realized that the tees from the huge Threadless collection are enough awesome for the creative artists and in a hope you will like it I’ve run this giveaway.

You are able to win a Threadless gift (25$) if you follow these simple steps below:

1) Download the illustration from Wallpaper alert! page.

The illustration, made by my dear friend Djuro, has improved the whole DwA behind story. Read more about Djuro and the illustration in this article, “You are safe now”.

2) Set it as wallpaper on your desktop.

3) Take a picture of your room/office… including you and your computer with DwA’s wallpaper on it. I don’t know how your place looks like, but I suggest you to open the windows in the daytime and use the natural light. When the sun is falling down try to catch the best light or make a spirits in the dark using tripod and long exposure. Things on your desk or wall can help to make an creative composition.

Submission mail: submit@diewithoutart.com (please title: Wallpaper alert!)

The submission must contain your full name, mailing address (because of the shipping), email and the pictures. Giveaway ends on March 20th at 0:00am and the most creative workspace, face and angle of shooting wins. Good luck.

(You can support this giveaway using #WallpaperAlert hashtag on Twitter or just posting this link on Facebook. Thank you!)

By the way, thank you all for the greatest weekend on DwA. Looking forward to see your crazy pictures. Lovely regards from Croatia.