WEDNESDAY AUGUST 04 2010
SUNDAY AUGUST 01 2010
In 1991 a group of Viennese students discovered the Lomo Kompakt Automat when on holiday in Prague. This mass-produced Soviet camera was so cheap and easy to use that they shot rolls of film, ignoring the established rules of "serious" photography. The resulting snaps were often strange to look at, out of focus and, due to the character of the Lomo lens, garishly coloured. But they were wonderfully fresh and thanks to some clever marketing, the craze for Lomo spread worldwide.
Lomography emphasizes casual, snapshot photography. Characteristics such as over-saturated colors, off-kilter exposure, blurring, "happy accidents," and alternative film processing are often considered part of the "Lomographic Technique" Lomo photographers are encouraged to take a lighthearted approach to their photography document everyday life.
The Lomo LC-A's small size, simple controls, and ability to shoot in low light encourages candid photography, photo reportage, and following the 10 Golden Rules, with particular emphasis on No.10.
1. Take your camera everywhere you go.
2. Use it any time – day and night.
3. Lomography is not an interference in your life, but part of it.
4. Try the shot from the hip.
5. Approach the objects of your Lomographic desire as close as possible.
6. Don’t think.
7. Be fast.
8. You don’t have to know beforehand what you captured on film.
9. Afterwards either.
10. Don’t worry about any rules.
Since the introduction of the original Lomo LC-A, Lomography has produced and marketed an entire line of cameras, most designed to produce just a single photographic effect. For example, the Lomography Fisheye camera features a built-in wideangle lens and shoots fisheye-distorted photos.
Similar to the "Kodak moment," the Lomography motto of "Don't think, just shoot" presumes spontaneity, close-ups, and ubiquity, while deemphasizing formal technique.
Typical lomography cameras are deliberately low-resolution and inexpensively constructed. Some cameras make use of multiple lenses and rainbow-colored flashes, or exhibit extreme optical distortions and even light leaks.
Today the Lomographic Society has embassies across the globe with Lomography.com as its base. Hundreds participate in international Lomo events and add to the ever-growing LomoWorldArchive.
Visit the Lomographic Society website to find out more about Lomo.
SUNDAY JULY 25 2010
The advertising world is used to tough demands from challenging clients - but none can quite top this brief from the Tel Aviv-based agency. Through the website theimpossiblebrief.com they are asking people worldwide to put their creative minds to good use and submit ideas on how to unite the Israeli and Palestinian communities.
"We are not naïve enough to think that The Impossible Brief will solve all the problems in the Middle East," explain creatives Eran Nir and Tomer Gidron, "however, what excites us about creativity is that one brief can lead to many different perspectives and creative solutions. In our agency group, the team includes both Israeli Jews and Arabs. Together, we wanted to create something we felt passionate about. We share the common vision of wanting to bring our two nations together and decided to open it up to the creative community to consider creative solutions on how to do this."
The initiative was launched at the Cannes Festival and grew from frustrations that, after six decades, political leaders have still failed to reach an acceptable diplomatic remedy. But after so many failed solutions, what do Nir and Gidron believe the ad industry can offer? "We view advertising as creative problem-solving," they say, "and the advertising community is home to some of the most creative minds in the world. We want to channel the creativity, innovation and the 'give-it-a-go' fearless attitude that is so characteristically found in this industry and see what the fresh perspective can bring."
The agency is looking for any "out of the box" inspiring ideas that have the potential to bring the two communities closer. Submissions can take any form - be it a written description, multimedia presentation or hand-drawn sketch - and the best will be presented to the Palestinian and Israeli parliaments. And if the thought of receiving a Nobel Peace Prize for your efforts isn't enough, the overall winner will also bag a free delegates pass to next year's Cannes Lions Festival.
You can follow the progess and take part in the discussion on Facebook and contribute your own great idea at theimpossiblebrief.com.
SUNDAY JULY 18 2010
Based on a a giant Soviet Mil V-12 helicopter, of which there were only two made, the Hotelicopter featured 18 luxuriously-appointed rooms for those seeking a truly unique and memorable travel experience . . . and rich enough to afford a room.
The soundproofed rooms were equipped with a queen-sized bed, fine linens, a mini-bar, coffee machine, wireless internet access, and all the luxurious appointments you would expect from a flying five star hotel. Even room service was available between one hour after liftoff to prior to landing.
The very professional website was full of information, video and photographs, and informed that the Hotelicopter was due to fly its maiden journey on the 26th of June 2009.
There was even the tour program!
Inaugural Summer Tour - 14 days (Friday, June 26th, 2009 - Friday, July 10th, 2009)
California Tour - 14 days (Friday, July 17th, 2009 to Friday, July 24rd, 2009)
Bay/Jamaica, European Tour - 16 days (Friday, July 31st, 2009 to Sunday, August 16th, 2009)
And if there was any doubt that this baby didn't have the space or the power, the detailed technical specifications put those to rest.
Dimensions Length: 42 m (137 ft)
Height: 28m (91 ft)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 105850 kg (232,870 lb)
Maximum speed: 255 km/h (137 kt) (158 miles/h)
Cruising speed: 237 km/h (127 kt) (147 miles/h)
Original Mi Range: 515 km (320 mi)
Our augmented Mi Range - 1,296 km (700 mi)
Well if it all looked too good to be true, it was. Hotelicopter was first presented on the 1st of April, with the website url http://aprilfools.hotelicopter.com/ (two clues that most Bloggers missed) and was in fact a brilliant viral marketing campaign by Yotel, an short-stay airport hotel chain.
We doff our hats to Yotel for entertaining publicity, superbly executed.
For more information, please visit http://aprilfools.hotelicopter.com/
WEDNESDAY JULY 14 2010
A traditional wristwatch has a relatively straightforward role: to tell the time. All that is needed is a hand for the hours, another for the minutes and perhaps a power reserve indicator to keep track of running time. Horological Machine No4 Thunderbolt has a hand for the hours, another for the minutes and a power reserve indicator. HM4 Thunderbolt tells the time.
HM4 Thunderbolt is not a traditional wristwatch.
The aviation-inspired case and engine of the Thunderbolt are one. Neither would, nor could, exist without the other, yet each is so transcendental as to be able to stand alone as a work of art in its own right.
The Thunderbolt's engine is the culmination of three long years of development. Each of the 300-plus components – including the regulator and even the screws – was developed specifically for this anarchistic calibre. Horizontally configured dual mainspring barrels drive two vertical gear trains, transferring power to the twin pods indicating hours/minutes and power reserve.
But describing HM4's engine through its mechanical functionality is like describing Renoir's work through the chemical composition of his paint. Only careful contemplation enables full appreciation, and the sapphire case section and display panels top and bottom allow full access to the flawless fine finishing of HM4's intricate and vibrant micro-mechanics.
The sleek aerodynamic form of the Thunderbolt's titanium and sapphire envelope has its roots in Maximilian Büsser's childhood passion for assembling model plane kits, though none looked remotely as futuristic as this. The striking transparent sapphire section of the case requires over 100 hours of machining and polishing to transform an opaque solid block of crystal into a complex, exquisitely curved panel allowing the light to come in and the beauty of Thunderbolt's engine to stand out. Every component and form has a technical purpose; nothing is superfluous and every line and curve is in poetic harmony. Articulated lugs ensure supreme comfort. Highly legible time is a fringe benefit.
To download the full press release, please click hm4_english.zip and for more photos and information, please check out the HM4 Thunderbolt section of our website
Read the full article
MB&F celebrates its 5th birthday!
In July, MB&F celebrated its 5th anniversary !
5 years of unbridled creativity. A fantastic human adventure with 4 amazing Horological Machines to prove to date what teamwork, passion and craftsmanship can do.
So here is a very cool logo created by GVA Studio to celebrate the occasion.
When you reach for the stars, the sky is the limit !
5 years of unbridled creativity. A fantastic human adventure with 4 amazing Horological Machines to prove to date what teamwork, passion and craftsmanship can do.
So here is a very cool logo created by GVA Studio to celebrate the occasion.
When you reach for the stars, the sky is the limit !
SUNDAY AUGUST 01 2010
The playfully artistic world of Lomo photography
We don't like to take ourselves too seriously at MB&F - we save serious for our watchmaking - and the same could be said for Lomo photography.In 1991 a group of Viennese students discovered the Lomo Kompakt Automat when on holiday in Prague. This mass-produced Soviet camera was so cheap and easy to use that they shot rolls of film, ignoring the established rules of "serious" photography. The resulting snaps were often strange to look at, out of focus and, due to the character of the Lomo lens, garishly coloured. But they were wonderfully fresh and thanks to some clever marketing, the craze for Lomo spread worldwide.
Lomography emphasizes casual, snapshot photography. Characteristics such as over-saturated colors, off-kilter exposure, blurring, "happy accidents," and alternative film processing are often considered part of the "Lomographic Technique" Lomo photographers are encouraged to take a lighthearted approach to their photography document everyday life.
The Lomo LC-A's small size, simple controls, and ability to shoot in low light encourages candid photography, photo reportage, and following the 10 Golden Rules, with particular emphasis on No.10.
1. Take your camera everywhere you go.
2. Use it any time – day and night.
3. Lomography is not an interference in your life, but part of it.
4. Try the shot from the hip.
5. Approach the objects of your Lomographic desire as close as possible.
6. Don’t think.
7. Be fast.
8. You don’t have to know beforehand what you captured on film.
9. Afterwards either.
10. Don’t worry about any rules.
Since the introduction of the original Lomo LC-A, Lomography has produced and marketed an entire line of cameras, most designed to produce just a single photographic effect. For example, the Lomography Fisheye camera features a built-in wideangle lens and shoots fisheye-distorted photos.
Similar to the "Kodak moment," the Lomography motto of "Don't think, just shoot" presumes spontaneity, close-ups, and ubiquity, while deemphasizing formal technique.
Typical lomography cameras are deliberately low-resolution and inexpensively constructed. Some cameras make use of multiple lenses and rainbow-colored flashes, or exhibit extreme optical distortions and even light leaks.
Today the Lomographic Society has embassies across the globe with Lomography.com as its base. Hundreds participate in international Lomo events and add to the ever-growing LomoWorldArchive.
Visit the Lomographic Society website to find out more about Lomo.
SUNDAY JULY 25 2010
Can you help with "The Impossible Brief"?
Challenges don't come much bigger than this. BBR Saatchi & Saatchi Tel Aviv have called upon the advertising community to help solve what could be the most difficult brief in the world: to end 60 years of conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.The advertising world is used to tough demands from challenging clients - but none can quite top this brief from the Tel Aviv-based agency. Through the website theimpossiblebrief.com they are asking people worldwide to put their creative minds to good use and submit ideas on how to unite the Israeli and Palestinian communities.
"We are not naïve enough to think that The Impossible Brief will solve all the problems in the Middle East," explain creatives Eran Nir and Tomer Gidron, "however, what excites us about creativity is that one brief can lead to many different perspectives and creative solutions. In our agency group, the team includes both Israeli Jews and Arabs. Together, we wanted to create something we felt passionate about. We share the common vision of wanting to bring our two nations together and decided to open it up to the creative community to consider creative solutions on how to do this."
The initiative was launched at the Cannes Festival and grew from frustrations that, after six decades, political leaders have still failed to reach an acceptable diplomatic remedy. But after so many failed solutions, what do Nir and Gidron believe the ad industry can offer? "We view advertising as creative problem-solving," they say, "and the advertising community is home to some of the most creative minds in the world. We want to channel the creativity, innovation and the 'give-it-a-go' fearless attitude that is so characteristically found in this industry and see what the fresh perspective can bring."
The agency is looking for any "out of the box" inspiring ideas that have the potential to bring the two communities closer. Submissions can take any form - be it a written description, multimedia presentation or hand-drawn sketch - and the best will be presented to the Palestinian and Israeli parliaments. And if the thought of receiving a Nobel Peace Prize for your efforts isn't enough, the overall winner will also bag a free delegates pass to next year's Cannes Lions Festival.
You can follow the progess and take part in the discussion on Facebook and contribute your own great idea at theimpossiblebrief.com.
SUNDAY JULY 18 2010
The Hotelicopter. Point to Point luxury
In early April last year, the Blogosphere year bloomed with the announcement of a new super-luxurious mode of transport: Hotelicopter, the world's first flying hotel.Based on a a giant Soviet Mil V-12 helicopter, of which there were only two made, the Hotelicopter featured 18 luxuriously-appointed rooms for those seeking a truly unique and memorable travel experience . . . and rich enough to afford a room.
The soundproofed rooms were equipped with a queen-sized bed, fine linens, a mini-bar, coffee machine, wireless internet access, and all the luxurious appointments you would expect from a flying five star hotel. Even room service was available between one hour after liftoff to prior to landing.
The very professional website was full of information, video and photographs, and informed that the Hotelicopter was due to fly its maiden journey on the 26th of June 2009.
There was even the tour program!
Inaugural Summer Tour - 14 days (Friday, June 26th, 2009 - Friday, July 10th, 2009)
California Tour - 14 days (Friday, July 17th, 2009 to Friday, July 24rd, 2009)
Bay/Jamaica, European Tour - 16 days (Friday, July 31st, 2009 to Sunday, August 16th, 2009)
And if there was any doubt that this baby didn't have the space or the power, the detailed technical specifications put those to rest.
Dimensions Length: 42 m (137 ft)
Height: 28m (91 ft)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 105850 kg (232,870 lb)
Maximum speed: 255 km/h (137 kt) (158 miles/h)
Cruising speed: 237 km/h (127 kt) (147 miles/h)
Original Mi Range: 515 km (320 mi)
Our augmented Mi Range - 1,296 km (700 mi)
Well if it all looked too good to be true, it was. Hotelicopter was first presented on the 1st of April, with the website url http://aprilfools.hotelicopter.com/ (two clues that most Bloggers missed) and was in fact a brilliant viral marketing campaign by Yotel, an short-stay airport hotel chain.
We doff our hats to Yotel for entertaining publicity, superbly executed.
For more information, please visit http://aprilfools.hotelicopter.com/
WEDNESDAY JULY 14 2010
Presenting Horological Machine No. 4 Thunderbolt
A traditional wristwatch has a relatively straightforward role: to tell the time. All that is needed is a hand for the hours, another for the minutes and perhaps a power reserve indicator to keep track of running time. Horological Machine No4 Thunderbolt has a hand for the hours, another for the minutes and a power reserve indicator. HM4 Thunderbolt tells the time.
HM4 Thunderbolt is not a traditional wristwatch.
The aviation-inspired case and engine of the Thunderbolt are one. Neither would, nor could, exist without the other, yet each is so transcendental as to be able to stand alone as a work of art in its own right.
The Thunderbolt's engine is the culmination of three long years of development. Each of the 300-plus components – including the regulator and even the screws – was developed specifically for this anarchistic calibre. Horizontally configured dual mainspring barrels drive two vertical gear trains, transferring power to the twin pods indicating hours/minutes and power reserve.
But describing HM4's engine through its mechanical functionality is like describing Renoir's work through the chemical composition of his paint. Only careful contemplation enables full appreciation, and the sapphire case section and display panels top and bottom allow full access to the flawless fine finishing of HM4's intricate and vibrant micro-mechanics.
The sleek aerodynamic form of the Thunderbolt's titanium and sapphire envelope has its roots in Maximilian Büsser's childhood passion for assembling model plane kits, though none looked remotely as futuristic as this. The striking transparent sapphire section of the case requires over 100 hours of machining and polishing to transform an opaque solid block of crystal into a complex, exquisitely curved panel allowing the light to come in and the beauty of Thunderbolt's engine to stand out. Every component and form has a technical purpose; nothing is superfluous and every line and curve is in poetic harmony. Articulated lugs ensure supreme comfort. Highly legible time is a fringe benefit.
To download the full press release, please click hm4_english.zip and for more photos and information, please check out the HM4 Thunderbolt section of our website
Read the full article
