Granville magazine.

I've got a photo in the Winter 08 issue of Granville magazine, no photo credit of course. But if you'd like to check it out it's available at Whole Foods, Capers, and MEC in the lower mainland.

Congratulations to flora&fauna for the much deserved press!

Congratulations Tiffany.

I want to say congratulations to my friend Tiffany Poirier for publishing her first children's book Q is for Question: An ABC of Philosphy. A teacher specializing in philosophy for children, she's written and illustrated a fantastic book introducing kids to the integral questions in philosophy.

I helped out in my way by photographing her illustrations and colour correcting them, so I'm also excited to see it in print.

The book is available for pre-order at Amazon, .ca .com or .co.uk, where ever you happen to be.

Congratulations Tiffany.

flora&fauna website launch.

Since I don't have a blog for my design work (and probably won't), I decided it would be great to post it here. Plus you can follow the link and see more of my photography work in the collections tab of the site.

It's been a great and rewarding experience designing the site, so I hope you enjoy it.

Go and check out flora&fauna's wonderful clothing.

A fantastic model.

A visit to the Vancouver Aquarium last weekend was a great experience. A nice break from the everyday, and a chance to see some spectacular wildlife.

The jellyfish however were wonderful models, and a graphic designers living dream. Lines and shape and texture languidly floating through space.

A million pictures.

I just finished reading Kurt Vonnegut's book "A Man Without A Country". It's enjoyable, and an enjoyably quick read as well. A great little book with great insight.

But right at the end there is some great insight for any visual artist or appreciator of visual art. (or of any art come to think of it, but it's simpler this way.) It isn't even something Vonnegut said or wrote. He had asked the painter Syd Solomon how to tell a good picture from a bad one. He said, "Look at a million pictures, and you can never be mistaken."


Now that should take care of the complaints I've been getting to update my blog. I apologize that I haven't been keeping it up to date. Hopefully you'll hear more from me soon.

Sun & Surf.

What could be better? The sun shining on your face, the ocean lapping at your feet, and a flash perfectly rim lighting your hair.

It may sound ideal, but the sun wasn't enough warmth, and the water cold enough to make your toes hurt if you stood in it too long. But it's all part of the job as we worked away on the flora&fauna photoshoot.

We were blessed with a good break in the weather as we used up our only rain date. We all got up bright and early and were out by the water as the sun continually ducked in and out of the clouds. It was a great shoot and went smoothly thanks to everyone involved. Pauline Siu, creator of flora&fauna, Hayley Snarlidge did amazing hair, Savannah Larsen did a beautiful job with make-up, Kyle Little was my unsung assistant, and of course our model Kimiko Yoshida did a fantastic job.

Here's a little taster of the shoot and of the Spring 09 flora&fauna line.



Here's an outtake from the shoot as well. The tide was coming in pretty quick as were finishing up on the beach and headed into the forest for the second half of the shoot. So I had my assistant Kyle hold one of the flashes so we could keep moving with the water.

Can't take the design out of the boy.

I've been getting a lot of inquiries lately about graphic design work, but since I haven't been focused on design for the last while I didn't have a site to show. (except for a pretty old site which I won't give the address for.)

That's all changed now though. I've really focused this week and worked out something that I'm really proud of. I'm also really looking forward to keeping both sides of my professional life engaged, and allowing them to creatively influence each other.

Although it still doesn't have any work up yet (that will come soon), I think it's a great site that I hope you check out.

clifford-design.com