swandyve

365 days to create, adapt, remix, refine, and share something fresh.

002 Restless

<p>Restless - a day through my lens from Braden Lee Smith on Vimeo.</p>

The Nikon Film Festival has been over for a couple weeks now, but here's my submission that made the final cut of 50 out of 1000+ videos. The brief detailed: "A Day Through Your Lens" A true honor to be one of the few, but $125k would have felt much nicer in my pocket.

Believe it or not, this was the first video I ever made for a class at Miami Ad School. If you're a pro, it should be easy to see the "amateurishness." Not bad though, for only using one DSLR camera and virtually no help. You can view the winners here. 

Filed under  //   365 days   camera   cinematography   film   music   nikon   restless  

what Kurt Cobain would sound like today.

I discovered this indie band out in LA two years ago. They are amazing live and have a well-rounded sound throughout.

Filed under  //   autolux   indie   music  

001 [unforgivable+]

Bi_nary_code

 

So I've noticed my counterparts apologizing for being lazy and refraining from posting to their respective blogs, but I'm not in a forgiving mood for I have been just as lethargic. However, I've committed myself to begin a healthy habit and share my honest opinions as well as my art.

Approaching faster than that obnoxious tool you don't want to speak with or look at, is my new portfolio site. I've designed it with Flash and it's dynamic to say the least. Pretty hip for a non-conforming hipster I must say. Moreover, I'm designing my first creative mash-up book. No, not a digital book. No copies for your stupid kindle reader. Where does this motivation stem from? Well my friend, the annual 2010 Student Ad Summit is one week away where leading creative professionals in the Minneapolis area share their wealth of knowledge.

Currently, I work freelance for Pocket Hercules, but I'm searching for something more secure. You know... benefits? Hopefully, I find someone worth dating for awhile. 

Today is day 1 of my personal project. This piece is titled "Bi-Nary Code" Drew this a few months ago and I've finally output a version I'm pleased with. Open for interpretation, although I have a clear story behind it. Comment if you'd like to understand.

 

Filed under  //   365 days   advertsiing   art   binary   blue   creative   design   nude   student   unforgivable  

You May Say I'm A Dreamer

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Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Enter St. Cloud, Minnesnowta, 2006 ////////

Squeezed tight in the corner of my sardine dorm room, I scanned across the rippling Mississippi out of my high-rise window.  Just a sophomore and still no clue as to what to do with my life.  Moments like these we use to reflect within and wait for anything to submerge out of the abyss. 

"Let's go see a flick Braden!"

What the hell right?  Movies always snap me out of any funk.

That night I saw the documentary "The U.S. vs. John Lennon" and afterward was compelled to DRAW him.  In order to better understand his facial features and distinctive nose?  I'm not really sure.  The peculiar thing was that I hadn't drawn so much as a senseless stick-figure for 5 years.  Nonetheless, I completed this sucker within 3 hours upon my return to my sanctuary.  When I get in the zone, no one can stop me.

'People' say that the artist can be seen within any piece of art.  I believe this to be true, because I have the ability to duplicate anything I see, but even so, I created my own perception of what John Lennon might have seen in me.  Thus, the stock image that I used does not look like the one I've drawn.  Conversely, people will instantly say:  "Hey, it's Lennon!  Awesome can I have it?" 

Moral of the story:  I discovered what to do with my life that night.  I uncovered a talent that I've harnessed since I could crawl.  The ability to see with my eyes, retain with my mind, and perceive with my hands.  Art is in my blood, and it bleeds dedication.

 

 

Filed under  //   art   dreamer   green   inspiration   john lennon   life   minnesota   music   st. cloud   the beatles