APA SF SOMETHING PERSONAL EXHIBITION & HOLIDAY PARTY

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11th
6:00 to 10:00 PM

LEFTSPACE
http://www.leftspace.com

2055 Bryant Street San Francisco
(next to Calumet)

Birdman Inc is a proud sponsor of this year's APA SF SOMETHING PERSONAL EXHIBITION & HOLIDAY PARTY .

The Advertising Photographers of America, San Francisco invite you to enjoy 100 superb framed personal images from 63 of the world’s most creative professional photographers.

This is the 12th APA Something Personal juried exhibition, and in recent years the attendance has exceeded 1000 top Creatives and Photographers on Opening Night; don’t miss the Northern California Photo Community event of the season!

Savor delicious catered hors d'oeuvres, sample select wines and enjoy robust holiday ales while you mingle with your friends and colleagues and take in 100 exceptionally creative personal images.

Hope we'll see you there!

Birdman Announces Special Rates

BlackBird Gathering Exceeds Expectations!

Birdman Inc and The Blackwell Files would like thank all of you who attended the first BlackBird Gathering last night at the Presidio Yacht Club in Sausalito.

Getting to know the people we work with on a personal level, celebrating life and forging friendships really seemed to lift everyone’s spirits. We are truly honored that so many incredible people showed up and we consider ourselves fortunate to be part of this community.

There is no doubt we as hosts had an unforgettable night, but don’t take our word for it. Here’s what some of our friends had to say about last night’s party:

“A huge thank you to you all for creating such a wonderful event last night, what a great time had by everyone! It is so nice for the community to come together, just because, and have real connections. It means a lot. And, to finally meet certain people face-to-face... that was the biggest treat!”

“Just wanted to say thank you for such a cool and fun event! It was really great to get to see so many people all together. The venue was perfect, the tacos delicious. It was a great feeling of community.”

“WOW! What a fun night. Met a ton of very cool people, which is not surprising because you guys are the magnets! Thank you so much for including me…really fun to come out sporting a bindi.”

“Thank you all for such a great uplifting and fun party- it felt like a reunion of sorts for me and I enjoyed every minute of it.”

“What a great evening! I think that was the first time many of the folks I've met thru the biz over the last 15? years were gathered in one spot. Thanks for bringing us all together.”

“Thanks a million for gathering the SF photo community – connecting faces with names and voices - from the captain's bar to the cheese table, onward to the taco truck and the boardwalk views - altogether, the evening was a delight.”

“Thank you for hosting an amazing gathering last night. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and catch up in person. What a beautiful location. It was a great idea to bring people together prior to the holiday madness, too.”

Birdman Is With You On The Mysterious Road Ahead...

It’s no secret that the shifting economy has quickly changed the face of the photo industry over the past year. Birdman is well aware of what’s going on in today's market, realizing budgets have become incredibly tight. We insist on keeping a positive attitude in this climate, continuing to provide a multitude of resources ensuring that projects achieve their ultimate vision. At every level, we are prepared to creatively collaborate with you.

-The Birdman Team

P.S. – Call for a FREE estimate, no obligation to buy, cancel at any time, 100% guarantee, serving Northern California for over 10 years, certain restrictions apply, valid in all 50 states, 0% down, one per customer only, not valid with any other offer, shipping not included, locations sold separately, valid for a limited time only, pre-approved, 100% organic, zero trans fats.

BlackBird Gathering: A San Francisco Photo Industry Event

Birdman Locations and The Blackwell Files would like to invite you to a Fall Industry Gathering. Ditch the economic chatter and come join us for cocktails at the Presidio Yacht Club. Meet and greet the people you work with. The Grill at the Presidio Yacht Club will have a cash bar and we will provide delicious cheeses and artisan breads. If you would like to receive an invitation please email me at jason@birdmaninc.com and I will send the evite to you right away. Hope to see you there...

P.S. There is an abundance of parking...so don't fret!

Birdman Location Scouts: Office Locations

Birdman was busy this summer on a large scale project for a major computer manufacturing company. Producer Jennifer Bullock teamed up with Jim Hughes to shoot several locations around the Bay Area.

This scout led us to some amazing new modern office spaces here in San Francisco and across the bay in the Diablo Valley. Check out a sample of the latest Birdman Office Spaces.

Swimming Pool Locations In Northern California

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games have been fascinating and Birdman has enjoyed watching the American Olympic Swimmers win medals, especially Michael Phelps. Photographer Rick Chapman had the honor of photographing the legendary swimmer last year as he was preparing for this year's games. In spirit of these Olympics we're showcasing some swimming pool locations we've found over the past few months.

In May we were asked at the last minute to find a swimming pool for an ESPN Magazine article featuring America's Olympic Medal winner Natalie Coughlin. Olympians are often on a tight schedule as they prepare for the games, we had less than 24 hours to find the creative team a location. King Pool in Berkeley, CA was happy to provide exclusive access to their facilities for the shoot.

Producer Jenny Bullock and photographer Jim Hughes sent us out in the June heat searching for swimming pools for an underwater shot for GSW Worldwide.

Sometimes... you just have to jump in!

Monster Locations in San Francisco

Producer Kara Snider was faced with a tight production schedule on a Monster.com project involving several unique work environments. We were able to quickly provide multiple choices for the creative team by pulling files from our database. Our file pull saved time in the early stages of production and photographer Timothy Archibald created some really strong images for the campaign. It was great working Kara and Timothy on this project, check out the results.

Rolling Vines for California Tourism

Loni Weholt, Isle 8 Pictures, and photographer Erik Almas are collaborating on a project for California Tourism to showcase the best the state has to offer. Vineyard covered rolling hills basking in the Northern Californian sun would entice just about anyone to the Golden State. For this project Birdman had the pleasure of exploring the beautiful vineyards shrouding the landscapes of the Napa, Sonoma and Livermore Valley wine producing regions.

An evening with Jim Erickson

Birdman would like to thank Jeff Kausch at APA San Francisco and Jim Erickson for hosting Photography: the evolutionary path of the artist in commerce last week at UCSF’s Laurel Heights Auditorium.

The San Francisco photo community heard from six members of Jim’s team, offering detailed insight on how they work within Jim’s organization emphasizing the importance of teamwork.

The panel included the following members of Jim’s Team:
Milo Suerth - Creative Director - Erickson Productions, Inc.
Jesse Hughes - Director of Sales and Marketing - Erickson Productions, Inc.
Wes Hardison - Senior Digital Artist - Fat Cat Digital
Kristen Parrish - Production Manager - Fat Cat Digital
Nicki Krinsky - Production Manager - Erickson Stock
Betsy Filson - Senior Art Director - Erickson Productions, Inc.

The highlight of the night was hearing Jim speak about photography, referencing everything from fine art painting to business, risk taking, surfing, yoga, challenges and successes. Jim's advice to aspiring photographers was to shoot fifteen minutes a day and reminded us that some of the greatest photographs and paintings have been made in artists’ backyards. Jim came off as an inspired artist full of ambition, foresight and trust in other’s visions. It’s clear to see why Jim shines as a bright light in our field.

We had the pleasure of collaborating with The Blackwell Files, a fellow sponsor of the event, welcoming visitors with Champagne, Proseco and truffles. We enjoyed an evening of meeting new people and visiting with old friends. Thanks again to Jim for sharing the intimacies of his success.

Birdman Location Scouts: Courtroom Locations

The verdict is in! Birdman Inc is guilty of finding several courtrooms open to photo shoots.

Recently a project with Stuart Schwartz for Applied Biosystems sent us in search of courtrooms around the Bay Area. Our investigation uncovered evidence in San Francisco, Santa Clara and Alameda Counties. We've discovered a range of courtroom styles from a 150-year-old classic to a modern moot (a mock court where law students argue hypothetical cases).

Jim Erickson: From Inspiraton Comes Success

Birdman Inc is proud to be a sponsor of Jim Erickson's upcoming APA event here in San Francisco next month. For the past decade we've had the pleasure of working with Jim on projects for United Airlines, Cisco, Bank of America, AT&T and many others. We would like to congratulate Jim on all of his success and look forward to seeing you at the event.



" Photography is the psychoanalysis of my world. Art is the process of touching what we discover and sharing it with others." Jim Erickson

JIM ERICKSON
Photography: the evolutionary path of the artist in commerce
Thursday, July 10, 2008
7:00 to 9:00 PM
Photo Community Social Networking Hour at 6:00
Free Jim Erickson CHINA book with each paid admission

COMPLETE DETAILS INCLUDING THE VENUE LOCATION
AND ADMISSION PRICES WILL BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK

Visit Jim's stock site at ericksonstock.com and
his portfolio site at jimerickson.com/portfolio.

EVENT FORMAT

SPECTACULAR IMAGE PRESENTATION
There will be an impressive presentation of hundreds of images designed to clearly illustrate the time line of Jim's successful career, including Jim's pictures as well as some other artists' work that have inspired him over the years.

ENLIGHTENING PANEL PRESENTATION
A panel will outline the complexity of Jim's current businesses (Jim Erickson, Erickson Stock, and Fat Cat Digital) and how they have achieved the tremendous success they enjoy.
Joining Jim on the Panel will be:
Jesse Hughes - Director of Sales and Marketing - Erickson Productions, Inc.
Wes Hardison - Senior Digital Artist - Fat Cat Digital
Kristen Parrish - Production Manager - Fat Cat Digital
Nicki Krinsky - Production Manager - Erickson Stock
Betsy Filson - Senior Art Director - Erickson Productions, Inc.

EVENT THEME
Photography: the evolutionary path of the artist in commerce
• From Inspiration Comes Success: dealing with the marketplace from a position of strength.
• The Intersection of the Artist's Role in the World and how commerce uses the artist and how
they co-mingle, and how this has changed over the years (starting with how the church hired artists like Michaelangelo) to today's reality.
• Finding Success (in the business of commercial photography or in the art of making pictures)
• Choosing Your Own Destiny, and escape being controlled by the market
• Finding Your Voice in Times of Crisis
• How to Develop Your Voice as an Artist
• Using Commercial Need to Your Advantage

Other Sponsors include:

Our good friends at....
Related Productions
and
The Blackwell Files

Plus
Hasselblad
Profoto
Livebooks
Workbook
Artist Untied
Agenceyaccess
The Black Book

Lake Tahoe Rivers and Lakes

Lake Tahoe is a Northern California gem drawing visitors from all over to enjoy the beauty and adventure that surrounds the lake. Birdman has visited the Tahoe Area for several projects and a few snowboarding trips too.

Many of our searches lead us to the water ways in and around the Northern California Sierras. The rivers, small lakes and the main attraction, Lake Tahoe, are spectacular backdrops.

Beverly Lewis, Placer/Lake Tahoe Film Office, and Kathleen Dodge, El Dorado Film Office, are always a huge help when it comes to finding the right spot in, on or along a river or lake. With their help we've gained access to some amazing public and private land for productions.

San Francisco Production Community Visits Birdman

Saturday Birdman Inc participated in a unique networking event in San Francisco. Propville Directory presented 9 local businesses and 3 local experts to 50 members of the still photography and video production industries. Jason had the pleasure of joining the Dog and Pony Bus Tour for the entire day, meeting wonderful people and visiting some great vendors in San Francisco.

The bio-diesel bus, provided by Teacher with the Bus, visited:
Roughhouse Post
Costumes on Haight
The Lost Art Salon
California Model & Design Fabricators
Michael Thompson Gallery
Birdman Inc
Calumet Photographic
New York Studio
We heard from these very interesting experts while cruzin' in the bus:
Friends of the Family
PR That Rocks
The Blow Up Lab

An amazing lunch was provided by Work Of Art Catering, an incredible company dedicated to elegant and environmentally friendly events.

The Propville Directory staff, Terri, Patia and Troy, worked very hard to put the event together creating a day filled with industry knowledge, laughs, networking and pleasant surprises! Thank you to them and all of the riders that stopped by to say hello, it was our pleasure to have you! Here are some pictures from the stop at Birdman's studio.

Summer in Winter For Zyrtec

Many ad campaigns are shot off season; a house may be dressed with snow for a winter holiday shoot in June or with fall leaves to line a sidewalk for a back to school shoot in April.

This winter Zyrtec came to the Bay Area looking for Summer. Birdman found some great locations around San Francisco that worked really well for the summer feel. After a little post production magic the locations became perfect summertime spots.

Client: Zyrtec
Producer: Jessica Ruiz Related Productions
Photographer: Katrine Naleid
Location Scout: Birdman Inc

Birdman's Kitchen Collection

An average family spends more than 1/3 of its time together in the kitchen and often the most important decisions for the family are made while gathered at the kitchen table. As the heart of the home, infused with family history, a kitchen develops its own distinct personality.

Birdman has been welcomed into some incredibly dynamic homes and our collection of kitchens has grown to nearly 1,000! Styles range from traditional country to modern and hi-tech, each offering distinctive backdrops for photo shoots. We’ve developed great friendships with homeowners who welcome production into their homes.

Location File Pulls Save Time And Money

File pulls are a great alternative to scouting when a project has high location demand on a short schedule or tight budget. Birdman’s locations are not presented in an open library of thousands of images that is a challenge to sift through. We consult with you in detail prior to starting a file pull and quickly deliver a variety of options to your specifications.

Our goal with file pulls is to offer many locations in a fraction of the time it would take to freshly scout. This budget-friendly custom service is becoming very popular in today’s market. What might take days of scouting can be achieved in just a few hours with a file pull. Many of our regular clients start with this service which helps focus their vision before we begin scouting.

Clients shooting in the San Francisco Bay Area for the first time can use the file pull service to see what the area has to offer. When a project is bidding between multiple cities a file pull is a fast and effective way to show a creative team what is available here in the Bay Area.

To see how our locations are presented visit www.scoutcentral.com and use “demo” as the User Name and Password to login.

Contact Sheet View:

Image Preview:

The Dog and Pony Bus Tour Hosted By The Propville Directory

The Propville Directory is the most extensive production directory for San Francisco and Northern California. They provide access to over 2000 sources for renting costumes and props, finding talent, accessing event and film locations, video and camera equipment, expendables and hiring qualified crew.

On May 31, 2008 they will be hosting the Dog and Pony Bus Tour, guiding a group of 50 industry professionals on a behind the scenes tour of San Francisco production. Birdman is very excited to be part of this event and can’t wait to meet some new people in our community.

Birdman will be welcoming the travelers with refreshments and in depth look at how we function here in the studio. We will be showcasing our location database and giving our visitors a rare perspective of how we organize and manage over 300,000 images.

Luckily there are still a few tickets left that can purchased on the Propville Directory website. We hope to see you here in the studio!

Livermore Film Commission

Our friend Dale Kaye at the Livermore Film Commission has been busy spreading the word about the Tri-Vally's film appeal. The Contra Costa Times recently ran a story about her efforts to attract productions to the area. (read the full article)

Dale has been a great help to Birdman since she arrived a few years ago, always offering great locations for still photo productions. Thank you Dale for your hard work!

San Francisco Ad Agencey Celebrates 25 Years!

Last week the San Francisco Chronicle featured a story about Goodby, Silverstein and Partners. This year they’re celebrating their 25th anniversary! It has been a pleasure to work with them on a few projects over the years. Check out the article for more details on their success.
Congratulations!

San Francisco City Parks

Lately several of our clients have asked for both nature and urban locations for the same project. Shooting in both of these scenarios can add significant travel time to a production schedule.

Urban parks in San Francisco offer amazing natural settings within city limits and can alleviate a great deal of travel time. Birdman has built great relationships with the folks at San Francisco Parks and Recreation, they understand and welcome photo productions.

These locations are all within San Francisco city limits, take a look.

San Francisco Bay Area Homes For Advertising and Editorial Productions

Over the years Birdman has scouted nearly 1,000 homes throughout Northern California! (Mark just counted) We have organized them in our recently upgraded digital library, matching a selection of homes to your project layout has become quick and efficient.

Custom file pulls are a great way to save time and money for Advertising or Editorial projects. This service allows us to access our extensive database and deliver a targeted selection of locations.

San Francisco Bay Area homes range in character and architectural styles, check out our samples page. To gain access go to http://www.scoutcentral.com and use “demo” as the user name and password.

Roads in Northern California

Northern Californian Roads traverse a host of landscapes and have become one of our most common location requests. Automotive Photographers often choose the Bay Area for the diversity in roads and weather conditions around San Francisco.

Location scouting can be a challenge when a project involves a range of locations to be shot on a tight schedule. Birdman welcomes such challenges, setting out to discover unique roads allows us to explore new places!

Napa Valley, San Francisco, The Pacific Coast, Monterey and Lake Tahoe among many other spots around Northern California offer roads with character unlike any other place! Here is a small selection of our favorites, enjoy the ride!

Gallery 291 - New and innovative photography gallery

Birdman attended the opening of Marshall in Platinum on Thursday May 1st. Jim Marshall's images never fail to amaze, the platinum and dye transfer prints are beautiful. We had an excellent evening at the gallery, it was great to see Jim's work, his friends and of coarse Jim himself. Check out the show at Gallery 291 it's worth the trip.

Rick and Garrett

Photo courtesy of David Coggeshall

Exhibit Information:

Birdman Serves Up Hi Tech Spaces

A recent project for a major software company led Birdman throughout the Bay Area in search of the Ad Industry's most sought after locations. Data Centers and Server Rooms are all the rage in many current marketing campaigns. Check it out!

Birdman Breaks The Bank!

Birdman was recently given full access to a timeless San Francisco bank. The marble lobby and traditional teller windows only begin to reveal this classic's diverse character. Open to photo shoots; the space offers traditional conference rooms, cubicles, roof access in the financial district and a vacant safe-deposit vault. To get information or see more images of this location give us a call at 415.543.3830.

Birdman Fires Up New Websites

Announcing new Birdman web destinations!

www.birdmaninc.com: Portfolio Website
www.scoutcentral.com: Location Presentation Interface
www.birdmaninc.blogspot.com: Birdman Blog

The Birdman Inc website has been simplified showcasing side-by-side scouting and final images, the diversity of the Bay Area and Tearsheets from past projects. There is also an area for homeowners to easily contact us and submit their property for our consideration.

Complementing the new website is our enhanced web based presentation interface. Our clients are delivered highly organized, easy to navigate presentations. Improvements include a search function as well as a Lightbox feature for favorites that can be easily stored, printed or shared via email.

The latest addition to our online collection is this Birdman Blog. An exciting tool aimed at keeping our professional acquaintances informed on the latest developments here at Birdman. With regular updates and monthly features we will strengthen the connection between our property owners and clients.

Thank you for stopping by our blog. To join our community we encourage you to subscribe and post comments.

We look forward to working with you soon,
The Birdman Crew

Click the image below to visit our new website: