lurking in the shadows

> Anyone who's been on a trip with me knows I take pictures of "weird" things. I am known to stop and photograph the ground, to move all around something to get the perfect angle, and I've spent afternoons taking photos in cemeteries.

> Some of my favorite "weird" shots are shadows. Especially when they make a better image than what's casting them. I like to see something that's not-so-obvious, then create a way for others to see it too. I guess that's part of what I love about designing—shifting the focus to the "shadow" of what someone else is looking at.

> Some clients give me their own ideas when asking for creative solutions. I prepare what they've asked for, then I shift to the less-obvious, more appropriate solution: the shadow of what they asked for. As a result, my clients get what they wanted, portrayed in a way that communicates their message better, and we're both happy with the final product. You may not know what's lurking in the dark corners of a client's mind, but searching the shadows is a safe bet.

go ahead: judge a book by its cover

> I'm a huge fan of "makeovers"—doesn't matter what kind. I just love seeing the transformation—homes, people, yards—everything! So, I thought I'd share a couple of my own design makeovers.

> Someone once said, "Don't judge a book by its cover." Putting a well-designed cover on a poorly-written book is dishonest and provides a disservice, just as a badly-designed cover hurts the potential success of a book full of valuable and wonderful content.

> Here are two book covers that I redesigned for a client. Both books are valuable resources in their respective areas. Now, each has a cleaner and more updated look by my use of beautiful, appropriate photographic images, and typography that appeals to a more sophisticated audience. They each convey the message that says "this book looks good from the outside, let's take a look on the inside." But don't take it from me, judge for yourself.