Behind the Straub Holiday Card

Creating our Holiday Card this year was so much fun. We came up with a theme “SNOW”; each Team would take one letter and while brainstorming someone threw out the idea of including a Hostess Cake product into each image. Then the 4 teams divided and conquered the task! In the end we have a really great card that everyone at Straub Collaborative had input and a hand in creating.

We hope you enjoy the card, the story and thoughts behind them and enjoy a wonderful holiday. I love this time of year…. Time to hit the slopes.

If you want to ever make hostess sushi check out the recipe at this link:


www.notmartha.org/tomake/hostesssushi
www.hostesscakes.com/recipe_view11.htm

Long days of Summer....

I came across this photo today; it was taken last year at the Symphony in the park. As we wrap up the long days of summer, with that beautiful magic hour, we are reminded of the wonderful times we have all had over the past 8 years. We thank our fellow Collaborators we work with on a daily basis, our clients that have us in stitches and the beautiful images we all get to make together. In 8 years we have gone from 1 photographer shooting locally to 5 photographers, 4 project managers, 5 Post Production retouchers, bookkeeper and Studio Rep with jobs all over the world. It is a really exciting time!

So bring on the chill……. It’s time to wrap yourself up in your favorite coat, head out for a hot toddy and run through the leaves. We’ll bring the camera!


“If you smile at the world the world smiles back”
Thomas Seawell 1984

Lance lands Kiteboarding Magazine cover shot!

Recently our wonderful location/adventure photographer Lance Koudele shot Jesse Richman, 14 in the next kiting mecca -Waldport Oregon. Jesse is a star in the world of Kiteboarding and has recently set a kiteboarding record, at the Big Air Wind Jam 2007, with 22 seconds of air time. You can watch the footage at: http://beau.vox.com/library/posts/tags/jesse+richman/

To view more of Lances kiteboarding and adventure photography: www.ionimagery.com

Straub Nabs BEST IN CLASS from the Interactive Media Awards

The Interactive Media Awards™ recognize the highest standards of excellence in website design and development and honor individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievement. We teamed up with Creative Director/Brand Builder Hein Haugland for the photography of the new Verdero line. Hein has very high and impeccable standards, and we love working with him!

The site is beautiful, check it out:
www.verdero.com/
www.interactivemediaawards.com/winners/certificate.asp?param=41549&cat=1

"A Straub-hosted, kraft/Nabisco-inspired note to automotive salespeople:

This blog entry Penned by one of our favorite clients:
At approximately 1:22pm on Thursday, August 2nd one of our favorite clients popped by the studio for a scheduled photo shoot.  Making an immediate bee-line to the office of yours truly, Kristy Charrion he quickly was blocked by a Mr. David Straub with a petite, yet full Styrofoam bowl* of Nabisco(R) Wheat Thins.  After a few "hellos" and some quick chit-chat our friendly, yet marvelously uncouth client confronted Mr. Straub with a shocking inquiry: 
 
Beloved Client:  "So David, are those regular Wheat Thins, or Reduced Fat?"
Mr. David Straub:  (In all his eloquence, still working on a few crumbs)....  "Regular, why?"
 
---- Now, anyone can see that the Client, who we are still quite fond of at this point as set the stage for potential disaster depending on how David is feeling that day... did he have his coffee this morning, is he perhaps a bit curious as to the nature of this question, did the client-we-like-so-much just upset the delicate balance of David's body image????? ----
 
Beloved Client:  Just curious, don't get me wrong - i like them both, but the Reduced Fat ones just aren't as greasy and do taste just as delicious.
Mr. David Straub:  (Looking quite suspicious, and maybe standing a bit more upright and speaking in fluid sarcasm) uh huh,.... now, didn't you come here to shoot something?
Beloved Client:  (Genuflecting, forehead to ground)... Mr. David Straub - i only meant to say that both were an excellent choice for your main-course of "lunch" today and that i find them tasty too....
Mr. David Straub:  Perhaps, if we decide to let you in to our "We love our clients" party we'll serve up that special snack cracker and put your name on the bowl.... maybe. (Now you can see the trouble, all caused by the genuine love of non-greasy Wheat Thins)
Beloved Client:  (Polishing David's Keen(R) sandals (which isn't necessary btw.))  That would be great, but don't go to any trouble....
Mr. David Straub:  Actually, now that you mention it, i do remember the Reduced Fat Wheat Thins being quite tasty...
Beloved Client:  (Relieved, wringing out sweat from handkerchief - a few tears of joy visible) They are nutritious as well.
 
Any spectator could plainly see that this issue of 10% caloric content created a powderkeg-like situation in the office of Ms. Kristy Charrion, if she weren't so well versed in eastern medicine and defenses (such as acupuncture & Jit-Kun-Do) as well as maintaining a "stash" of nitroglycerin, an AED and the whitehouse "Red Button" under her desk - this clearly could have elevated the national defense danger level.  Thankfully the conversation moved on to the more typical stories of David Straub living in a supposed "Doublewide" and our client talking about the next triathlon he was going to race.  The product shots came out beautifully, as usual and that day the only explosions at Straub involved many millions of photons in the warehouse flashbulbs.

During her morning rounds & inventory of photo supplies our lovely receptionist Amanda-------------- noticed thirty-seven and a half wheat thins (she's quite thorough) lodged in the insulation-lining around shooting station 11.  Suspicions were confirmed when David Straub walked in with an oddly level laceration under his left eye and a bandage on his right index finger.  With a smile on his face he popped into Kristy's office and said:  "Got him, the Regular ones fly straight and true."
 
 
*Straub, including David Straub is very concerned with the health of our environment and normally elects not to use Styrofoam or other non-recyclable materials.  In this case the bowl was a gift from a client, which we at Straub collaborative value above oxygen, so we use them over and over again - we promise... and have donated $5 to the world to offset the carbon effect of this blog post.

Rain Bird

We love working with Rain Bird and appreciate their commitment to the "intelligent use of water". Straub Collaborative photographer Sean McCrary went out to photograph Rodney Reed and his team from Green Earth Landscaping, Inc. This was for Rain Birds "We want to hear your history" campaign. Great job Sean!

adi NBA Launch

Our talented duo of Photographer Scott Mittmann and Marcus Fischer photographed a series of apparel and footwear for the adidas NBA launch. The images are amazing and popped up all over the country from billboard to in store displays.

You can view some of the full images at www.StraubCollaborative.com on Scotts portfolio page.

Good job guys!

Oh astoria...

Our good friends Brian, Jessica, Amy and Roxie from North River Boat invited us to head out into the waters off Astoria for some early morning Sturgeon fishing. Up at 4am and on the boat by 6:30am we were blessed with such an amazing day. The company was wonderful and the fish were biting! We had a little rain and loads of sunshine to keep us warm and enough Jo-jo chicken strips to last me the rest of the year.
Brian is a huge Beavers fan, so once he spotted my Ducks duffel bag he almost threw me off the boat!

Thank you all for such a wonderful time!

Strut PDX Fashion Show

On Friday May 11th Kristy Charroin, our Studio Rep, took some of our clients out on the town to the Wonder Ballroom to support Strut PDX. One of our favorite designers (and talent bookers) Jonny Shultz was there to show off his latest creations on the catwalk. You can check him out at www.jonnyshultzdesigns.com.

Thank you Peter, Ed and Lance for such a laughter filled evening!

NEWS

9 Collaborators attend Photo LA for inspiration
This is such an inspirational event so we decided to take Photographers, Stylists, Project Managers and our Studio Rep. We headed down to Santa Monica for some sun and to view photography old and new. Everyone came away with new ideas on how to approach images, the Fine Art world crossing over into Commercial applications and a great way for the team to bond.

Studio Rep Kristy attends Photo Expo in New York
She packed her bag for 4 days and 10 seminars to see what the latest industry news was. I can't divulge all of the secrets, but diversity was a huge topic of conversation. Not only in what Art Buyers are looking for, but the people that we choose to use in our stock and test shoots. The world is a diverse place, so lets show it!

New clients!
We LOVE them. Though we do have confidentially agreements with most of our clients, so I am unable to list all of them out. They have all been so wonderful to work with and we appreciate the good times.

We had a month worth of shooting for a large boat company, going out on location, shooting from a helicopter on the river and loads of huge boats in the studio. Would you consider those product shots?

Yoga Life Magazine asked us to shoot Ali Sacash-Johnson from Solomon for their Winter 2006 issue. So we headed up to the big fireplace at Timberline and captured a beautiful shot for the spread.

Gutentag!
The Collaborators dive into German class! Yes another adventure together. Danke can be heard throughout the studio.... just don't ask me to order lunch.

Straub Collaborative hires new Project Managers
Tiffany Renshaw. Tiffany comes to us with a degree in International Business and 15 years of experience managing creative projects that include print design, catalog development and 3D fixture environments.

Jeff Noel. Jeff comes to us with a degree in photography and 16 years in the business. Jeff has been working in Portland photography studios for the past 11 years and has vast knowledge of what it takes to put on a seamless photoshoot.

We are excited to have them as part of our team!

Photographer Sophie Pangrazzi is back from France.
She brings back sweet little Ocean Pangrazzi. Ocean was born on July 28, 2006.
She is a spitting image of her dad! We look forward to seeing all the great images that Sophie takes of her.

Straub Collaborative is awarded #20 in Portland Business Journals 2006 fastest growing companies.
Wow! What an amazing 3 years we have had here at the studio. Receiving this recognition from the business community was such an amazing reward for all the hard work that everyone has put into this company. We are proud to be part of Portland's continued business growth.

Go GREEN!
Yes we are all fans of going green. At the beginning of 2006 we all decided that paper is so last year! So we implemented a paperless work system. We love PDF's and working in the electronic age. We happily display our Pacific Power renewable energy sticker in the window.

Straub Collaborative is awarded Master Proofer status from Gracol and IDEalliance.

What Print Buyers* Want
*Agencies, publishers, packaging, etc.

Lower costs (but never lower quality)
Better match between press and proof
All proofing systems looking the same
Similar visual “appearance” no matter where or how a job is printed
Easier file exchange*
*Between different countries or printing methods

What Printers Want

Proofs that really match the press
All proofs made to the same standard
More consistent CMYK files*
*All separated to the same standard TAC, GCR, tone shape, gray balance
Faster make-ready
Less waste
More efficiency

Common Solution - STANDARDS

Printing is no longer an art form, it’s a manufacturing process
Customers want consistency, not something uniquely different every time
Shift to monitor printing requires new level of trust between creatives and printers
This is only possible by manufacturing to a precise specifications based on visual appearance


What is the G7 process?

Practical implementation of ISO 12647-2*
*Eliminates ambiguities - makes the standard more valuable as a matching tool
Method of calibrating ANY press or proofer to common gray scale appearance
Based on visual metrics (e.g. density) vs “mechanical” metrics (e.g. TVI)
Logical use of proofing or CtP RIP curves

NEWS RELEASE
About GRACoL®
In 1966, a graphics arts task force was formed by the Graphic Communications Association (now IDEAlliance) to develop a document containing general guidelines and recommendations that could be used as a reference source across the industry for quality color printing. Since that time, the GRACoL Committee has developed, maintained and published printing guidelines that have since become de facto standards on many pressrooms. The mission of GRACoL is to improve communications and education in the graphic arts by developing best practices that reflect the influence and impact of new technologies in the workflow of commercial offset lithography. GRACoL is a registered trademark of IDEAlliance. Learn more at http://www.gracol.org.