Muppets

Sid's Awesomesauce Christmas Guide

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I love stuff.  All kinds of stuff.  Photo gear and books and comics and toys and movies and gadgets and art and. . . . stuff. Here are some things that I think are awesome, and that might fill that void for someone special in your life this Christmas.  Oh boy, here we go!

 • SID'S AWESOMESAUCE 2013 CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE •

 

 

 

 

• PHOTO GEAR • BOOKS • GADGETS • REFRENCE •

 

Hoodman Hood Loupe - I would go so far to say that if you shoot outside in bright conditions, this is an absolute necessity for you.  I've had one of these suckers for years and years now (and actually need a new one because the one I had finally fell apart after about five years of usage) and if you are shooting anything in bright conditions, not having this can make or break a shoot.  It's that important.  This little sucker goes over your rear LCD screen so you can block out daylight and get a nice, crisp, detailed screen with no light intrusions.  Absolutely critical when using your LCD to gauge exposure.  The Hoodman brand are the most expensive, but also the first ones to make one of these Loupes.  There are other knockoff brands at cheaper prices, but I don't have any experience with them.  Prices range from $79.99 for the Hoodman brand to around $25 for the knock offs.  Sizes cover most 3" and 3.2" sized screens.

Hoodman H-LPP3 HoodLoupe 3.0 Professional 3-Inch Screen Loupe

other loupes available:

 

Gregory Heisler: 50 Portraits - I love Greg Heisler.  I love his bow ties.  I love the way he talks and relates photography to people.  I love his personality and his relationship to his portrait subjects.  I own this book not because of the images contained inside (although there are some very beautiful portraits in this collection), but for his writing and very casual way of explaining what his thought process was while taking each photograph.  I run across innumerable photographers who want to know how things were lit; how far the light was from the subject, what kind of soft box or light stand was used?  What was the camera?  The camera settings?  But they never think to ask "what were you thinking when making this portrait?"  Greg explains about the 50 images in this portfolio.  A gorgeous book, a fantastic read.  And an absolute steal at around $24 bucks for the hardcover.  Get this now.

Gregory Heisler: 50 Portraits: Stories and Techniques from a Photographer's Photographer

 

 

Zack Arias: Photography Q&A -  I'm a fan of Zack's straight-forward, tell-it-like-it-is approach of sharing information.  He doesn't candy-coat things.  If something is hard and difficult, he'll say it right to your face.  I think more people need to hear about the realities of trying to be your own business and the difficulty that comes with that.  It isn't easy, and Zack likes to remind people that.  Keeps them grounded.  This book, taken from his very popular Q&A Blog, plucks 100 of the best questions and expands on them both with more written content and visual examples.  A good, in-your-face guide that you can grab and read all at once, or one question a day.  You can find the paperback for around $18 bucks.  Good stuff.  Check it out.

Photography Q&A: Real Questions. Real Answers. (Voices That Matter)

 

David DuChemin; Visionmongers: Making a Life and Living in Photography - This book is gorgeous.  I always recommend this book to anyone that asks my advice about books, or photography, or entertaining the idea of putting their shingle out as a working photographer.  Hell, the first few chapters try to actually convince you to NOT be a photographer because it's hard; you need motivation and dedication and hustle and all that other stuff.  This should really be handed out to every photographer there is because I believe some of this information is that dammed good.  This book sort of grabs you by the shoulders and gives you a good firm shake while saying "This stuff is really hard and I don't think you realize how hard it can be!".  Get the paperback.  Read it a few dozen times.  This is some good information.  

VisionMongers: Making a Life and a Living in Photography

 

 

• DVD • BLU-RAY • MOVIES •

 

James Nachtwey: War Photographer - An absolutely riviting documentary about one of our most dedicated and incredible war photo journalists.  A very interesting, solemn, often cut-off individual who puts himself in the line of fire to capture truly amazing and moving photographs.  If you sling a camera, you need to see this

War Photographer

Born Into Brothels - An amazing documentary about the power of photography, creativity and the will to survive.

Born into Brothels

 

 

Akira -  2013 marks the 25th year anniversary of this seminal anime that basically ushered in the popularity and exposure of current Japanese animation.  I was 13 when I bought an nth-generation bootleg of this at a comic book convention before it came out in the United States, and it completely changed the way I viewed animated movies.  This new release collects all the english dubs (including the original which hasn't been heard since the original 1989 release) and features incredible sound mix.  I put this here because of it's historical significance and personal significance.  Warning: not really for children

Akira: 25th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

 

Amelie - One of my favorite movies of all time.  A cinematic valentine to love, cinema, art direction, and stories about happiness.  Visually arresting.  They hardly make movies as lovely and charming as Amelie any more.  This is visual candy at its finest.  Available on blu-ray and dvd.

Amélie [Blu-ray]

Amelie [DVD]

 

• COMICS • GRAPHIC NOVELS •

 

Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 - I love Mouse Guard.  David Petersen's series is set in a world of sentient mice who live in a medieval era, paralleling the same age in human history, though in their world there are no humans.  It is gorgeously illustrated.  It's just an absolute joy to read.

Mouse Guard : Fall 1152

After reading Fall 1152, pick up Mouse Guard: Winter 1152

 

 

The Walking Dead - I'm a big Walking Dead fan, but moreso of the comics than the television series.  While I usually pick up the 6-issue trade paper backs, the Compendium's squash almost 50 issues into one volume.  For those just getting into the series, pick up Compendium 1, which contains issues 1-48.  Great way to introduce the series to you.  Fantastic weekend read.  Less about zombies, and more about how people interact with one another in dire situations.

The Walking Dead: Compendium One

then pick up The Walking Dead: Compendium Two which covers issues 49-96.

 

 

• Toys • Gadgets • Video Games •

 

 

Firefly/Serenity USB Drive from Incubot Productions - This is awesome.  For all you Browncoats out there, Incubot, who makes some really kick-ass USB drive collectibles obtained the license from Fox to make Firefly/Serenity metal USB drives.  I actually know the guys at Incubot and I'm kinda officially on the Incubot team, so it makes me uber-happy to be part of this project.  Pre-orders are being taken this minute and if you place your order before the end of 2013 you can get one of these gorgeous metal usb drives for only $40.00 shipped.  This is awesome.  If you are a Firefly/Serenity fan, you OWE it to yourself to pick one or twelve of these up.  I'm really excited to get my hands on one of these.  Firefly fans keep taking the shaft by Fox all the time.  This is the perfect way to gang up and support underdogs like Incubot to bring ass-kicking stuff to the masses.

Incubot Firefly • Serenity USB Drive order page

 

Grendizer USB Drive from Incubot Productions - Before the Firefly/Serenity project came to life Incubot brought another fully licensed product to market based on one of my favorite early 1980's Japanese animated shows:  Grendizer.  This product reached a successful Kickstarter campaign and came out last year.  This USB drive is both the robot and his flying saucer which also doubles as a USB hub that plugs into your computer.  Seriously awesome.  Comes with a gorgeous retro-style custom box.  Incubot really pours time and love into these USB drives based on awesome robots and sci-fi stuff.  Definitely pick some of these up.  They are amazeballs.

Incubot Grendizer USB Drive

 

 

Legend of Zelda: Link Between Two Worlds - I am a huge video game nut.  I used to obsessively play and collect in my teens and 20's.  I still love to play but I only play a few choice titles per year now a days.  I was a huge fan of the Super Nintendo Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and now almost twenty years later, we get a sequel set in the Link to the Past world.  I'm late to the Nintendo 3DS party, but this game is absolutely amazing, and the 3D effect is incredible.  This is a top-down style game, just like the old NES and SNES games, but updated.  Truly a beautiful thing to behold, and plays silky smooth.  If you are a Zelda nut and haven't picked this up yet, you are missing out on quite possibly the greatest Zelda game since the NES/SNES days.  Absolutely required playing.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Or pick up the uber-edition Nintendo 3DS XL Gold/Black - Limited Edition Bundle with The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Crazy!

 

 

Animal Crossing: New Leaf - This is quite possibly the most addicting game I have ever played.  I got hooked on Animal Crossing when it originally came out for the Nintendo Gamecube, and each version of the game sucks me in for hours and hours each day.  This is the ultimate time wasting game.  It will steal hours of your life each day if you let it.  The best way to explain Animal Crossing for those unfamiliar is that it is like the PC game "The SIMS" only you manage the day-to-day life of little animals that live in a small town.  Grow fruits, fish, upgrade your house, find, trade, buy furniture and rearrange your ever-growing home, dig for treasure; addicting little tasks that don't sound like much but all of this micro-management will eat your free time.  This game is crack.  Be warned.  

Animal Crossing: New Leaf

 

• Artwork • Artists • Prints • Editions •

 

 

Relentlessly Cheerful: Art by James Hance - James Hance is one of my favorite illustrators.  Originally creating his absolutely adorable "Wookie the Chew" drawings which took the Internet by storm, his artwork has spread across all kinds of popular culture topics from Muppets to Dr. Who to Star Wars to Ghostbusters and beyond.  His prints are available at his website at an INCREDIBLE $15 each.  I seem to never buy less than three when I go to his site, and now I have to buy frames for everything.  His work is amazing.  His prices are a no-brainer.  Go buy his work. It will put a HUGE smile on your face.  Go.  Now.  Become happy.

Relentless Cheerful: Art by James Hance Shop

 

 

JAWS/Peanuts mashup print by Charles Forsman - I almost passed out the first time I saw this illustration because of my absolute love for the first JAWS movie.  Charles Forsman creates this "mashup" taking scenes from JAWS and making it into a Peanuts comic strip.  Specific scenes from the movie are turned into PERFECT four panel strips.  I mean, c'mon, Linus as Quint?  Genius:

Genius.  The JAWS prints are $20.  If you are a fan of JAWS or Peanuts or BOTH, buy this.

JAWS/Peanuts mashup print by Charles Forsman

 

 

Robot art by John Golden - Sara bought me one of John's prints for Christmas in 2010 and we have it framed and hanging in our living room.  I love his work.  Prints of various robots and lazer guns and sci-fi stuff is available on his Etsy shop.

(What Was A Happy Love - the print hanging on our living room wall)

Go get some of John's prints at his Etsy shop.

 

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Sid Ceaser's "Plastic Erotica" -  Though I don't advertise it much, prints of my toy photography series "Plastic Erotica" are available.  Please contact me for sizes and prices.

 

 

 

 

Happy Holidays.  Maybe something from this list will spark an idea or make an excellent gift!

 

 

Because it's part of who I am.

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"Big Noise" - 1989

The act of creating images and moving pictures has been with me for an excessively long time.  It's interesting to weave back through history and revisit things that I did as a child and to see how they tie in to where I am at my current stage in life.

In my early teens, I was introduced to the PXL2000 - a cool little fisher price plastic black and white video camera that recorded on high bias magnetic audio tapes.  My buddy Mike had it, showed me what it could do, and then he let me borrow it for a long time.  The moment I captured my first grainy, black and white video on it, I was hooked.  Over the year that I had it I started recording everything around me.  One summer day, I picked up Fred, a frog puppet that I had won at a local fair, and had him sing to the radio.  It was fate.  I was instantly hooked on what I was doing - making a frog into Billy Joel, Elton John and Phil Collins.

That summer, I made music videos, I made fight scenes with my action figures.  I carried that camera with me to school; recorded recess, and classes, and bus rides home.  When I was home I'd plug it in and make more music videos.

Then one Christmas my parents gifted me a floor model VHS-C camera.  My videos became color.  I have countless hours of me at school, at lunch, outside, riding ATV's, off-roading, making mini-movies, making jokes, fake fighting scenes.  On and on and on.  Back then I wasn't worried about composition or anything like that - I was recording my childhood and my fun.

Then real-life got in the way and I graduated high school.  The video camera broke.  Things stopped being recorded.  Suddenly, 10 years had gone by and I hadn't made any videos.  But the desire was always there.  Soon.  Soon.

Years ago, I picked up a Flip HD pocket camera so I could record behind-the-scenes stuff for my Photography business.  Having the Flip let me attach it to my scooter.  To my Jeep.  More playing.  More experimenting.  More documenting.

Then, when it came to doing one of the most important things in my life - proposing to my girlfriend Sara, I combined the love of video with the love of puppets.  I think you might recall how that turned out.

In this video above, you can see the seeds being planted.  You can see the history that exists that led me to the moment of making the "Muppet Proposal" a few years ago.  I made that because I made this, decades before.  Because I love doing it.  Because it's part of me.  Better or worse.

I've recently been converting dozens and dozens of old VHS tapes with all this stuff to the computer.  Retracing my history.  Amazed that these things are still part of my fabric.

It's a part of me that makes me who I am.

Ballard Museum of Puppetry

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Ballard Museum of Puppetry

Sara and I took a few days to head down to the Ballard Museum of Puppetry so we could see the current puppet exhibitions, including a real Jim Henson created puppet in the 1960's for a Wizard of Id television show that never happened.

Read more after the cut:

Read More

A Social Media Expirement • Get Muppet Sid & Muppet Sara on "Muppets II"

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The Family Portrait

Help "Muppet Proposal" stars get walk-on appearance in next Muppet Movie! goo.gl/2kaZh & goo.gl/0pVin #MuppetProposal #Muppets #MuppetMovie

Okay, so, I need your help.

It has been confirmed that with the success of the first "Muppets" movie from last year that they are going to move forward with "Muppets II".

And I had an idea.

Wouldn't it be awesome if we could find a way to get Muppet Sid and Muppet Sara a cameo in the next Muppet film?  Like a walk-by cameo or something.  How insane would that be.

I want this to happen.  I want to meet the people that make Muppet movies.

Here is what I'm asking your help for: Share the facebook page, and my blog page with everyone you know; on Facebook, on Twitter, on other social sites, you name it.  If it's a place it can be shared, share it!  I have no idea if this little social experiment can work, but who knows; maybe one of you out there knows somebody that knows somebody that knows somebody who might know someone associated with making the next movie.

Is it worth a shot?  You bet it is.

Copy the following and drop it in Facebook, and Twitter, and whatever else you have that can be shared:

Help "Muppet Proposal" stars get walk-on appearance in next Muppet Movie! goo.gl/2kaZh & goo.gl/0pVin #MuppetProposal #Muppets #MuppetMovie

This would be amazing.  Awesome.  Insane.  Get us in front of the people making the next movie.  OMG.

The muppet wedding/honeymoon has been nominated for a 2011 new england arts award!

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2011 New England Art Awards Nomination

MUPPET SID & MUPPET SARA WANT YOUR VOTE!

the "Muppet Wedding/Honeymoon" video has been nominated for a 2011 New England Art Award!! The 2011 New England Art Awards is a contest to honor the best art made in New England, local writing about local art, and exhibits of New England art organized in 2011. Artist Juniper Friedman of Massachusetts; Daniel Fuller, director of the Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art; Liz O’Connell of Massachusetts ranked their top six picks in each category from hundreds of nominations. The final ballot features the top votes in each category from each of these advisers plus The New England Journal of Aesthetic Research.

PLEASE VOTE! The New England Art Awards holds an online ballot vote. It would be AWESOME if you could vote for me in the "New Media" category where I've been nominated. You can cast your vote here: gregcookland.com/neaa/

Winners will be announced at the 2011 New England Art Awards Ball at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 1, 2012, at the Burren, 247 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville, Massachusetts.

THANKS FOR YOUR VOTE!

ABOUT: The 2011 New England Art Awards is a contest to honor the best art made here, local writing about local art, and exhibits of New England art organized here in 2011. And we want you to help us pick the winners by voting via the online ballot here. Everyone is welcome to vote here. Winners will be chosen by (1) local active art writers and (2) anyone else who wants to vote – and will be announced in terms of these two categories of voters. You must follow that link above to vote. Votes submitted as comments will be ignored. Winners will be announced at the 2011 New England Art Awards Ball at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 1, 2012, at the Burren, 247 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville, Massachusetts. The event is free and open to all. Dress creatively! Dress to impress! Entertainment will probably include a marching band, plus surprises! How to vote: Voting is automated – and our robots are standing by to receive your picks. You are welcome to vote in as many categories as you like or to leave lots of blanks. Please invite your friends to vote too. Votes must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, to be counted. The New England Journal of Aesthetic Research will tally the votes. Nominees with the most votes in each category will win. Voting will only be accepted via the robot voting form. We ask each voter to submit a name and e-mail address to prevent fraud. Cheaters will be banished. If you spot factual errors in the ballot, please send us corrections. The aim of the awards, which are organized by The New England Journal of Aesthetic Research, is to promote a more exciting local art scene by encouraging and celebrating the work of artists, curators and art writers active in New England (except Yalies). What’s happened so far: The New England Journal of Aesthetic Research invited everyone to make nominations in January and around 500 things were nominated. (Thank you.) We asked readers to volunteer to help us cull the nominations and recruited a couple more folks to pitch in. This team – artist Juniper Friedman of Massachusetts; Daniel Fuller, director of the Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art; Liz O’Connell of Massachusetts (thank you) – ranked their top six picks in each category. The final ballot features the top vote getters in each category from each of these advisors plus The New England Journal of Aesthetic Research, with us breaking ties as necessary. (Note: These kind folks were not allowed to vote for themselves or their institutions.) Some nominees were disqualified because they did not follow the guidelines requiring all nominees to feature art made and shared in New England—for example: the artist did not reside in New England, the art was not exhibited in New England in 2011, or, in the case of curators and art writers, the subject was not art made in New England, etc.