My client does some video production for SUNY schools in New York. He uses a web app from time time to time to create DVD case sleeves and disc art. (The application is actually a service offered by the company that “prints” the low run disc duplication and packaging products.) The web app is mostly a hobbled together, upload picture, stick it “here” and type over the top using our built-in web based text editor. While the system works, it is short on creativity and heavy on jumping through hoops.

He asked me to create something special for his lasted production and I dumped this together in Photoshop. The background is a combination of stock vector art that I modified a little in Illustrator and moved it over to PS for final text and image layout.

Last week I took a well deserved Road Trip with a buddy of mine. The impetus for the trip was a math conference I was planning on attending in Salt Lake City. (Math Conferences attract school districts and teachers, who in turn attract publishers, who in turn attract freelancers. See? The world does make sense!) My friend who is a salesman makes a pass by that direction on his route and we decided to combine expenses and drive down together. At the last minute the people I wanted to meet and greet at the conference pulled out and I was left with a road trip to nowhere. Instead of scratching it off my plate, we decided that a buddy trip was long overdue and reason enough to hit the pavement.

One of our stops was Twin Falls Idaho. Ironically The actual waterway “Twin falls” is damned down to a trickle for agricultural reasons. However, Shoshone falls is just up river and part of the same canyon system that is carved by the Snake River. When the spring thaw starts to hit, the falls are an explosion of water. Last week however it was biter cold and the wind was blowing down through the canyon at a clip to make eyes water. No thaw in sight. But the falls was still pretty awesome … so I took a picture

(No you can’t see the rest of the pictures. It was a guy trip. Hotel rooms, Cheeto’s in the bed, urinating in milk jugs, room service, and unabashed testosterone driven mayhem.)