Motion Design: 4 seasons

I created this scene to illustrate evolution in reactive programming. It's still one my most favourite examples to show the dynamics of motion graphics. Do don't deal in anything concrete, instead to support the image my something symbolical, yet relevant.

Hero: Zach Smothers

For those who don’t remember the good old days, which is most of us, there was a time when black and white movies were coloured by hand and turned into technicolor films. Well, Zach Smothers took it upon himself to to uphold this tradition. He just loves to color old black and white movies.

Ever seen this shot of the old Addams Family series in colour? Neither have I. Zach Smothers created it, though. Using one of the earliest techniques in colour film, I love most. No grading, no getting everything right on set, just colouring afterwards. With plenty of time, patience, and the luxury of thinking about every colour differently. See a scene he did right here. Yes, it’s frame per frame!

Not just that, Zach uses colour to bring atmosphere and give that magical tonality to film. Have you read on the series of articles that thought the new superman movies should use he colour schemes of the old ones, yet? I have. These days film is grim, under saturated. And why not? It’s easier (desaturated shots match easier than saturated ones) and it gives the movie ‘a certain tonality’, meaning: ‘We want it darker, boys. It’s a drama!’ I applaud Zach on his bold use of colour. Maybe it’s not how we can create thing, simply checking out time schedule and deadline, but if he achieves one thing: he makes us think about colour. It’s everywhere, why not use it in film again?

The colouring of black and white is something I love. Though I don't use it in the same way as Zack Smothers. For me, it's a great tool to bring a certain style to compositions. When I'm compositing, putting all the elements in black and white and re-colouring them afterwards, not only gives the picture a certain painted feel, it also allows maximum control over the colours. I used this technique a lot over the years, here's one example.

Motion Design: low poly work

A short scene I created as a study. Mixing low poly 3D objects with the colours an feel of sixties cartoons like Pink Panther.