Last Sunday I took part in the Instagramwalk071* - organized by Tom Beek - through the old city centre of Leiden. I like taking pictures, I'm a huge fan of Instagram and I love Instagramwalks. A great way to meet new people or friends I only know through Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and other social networks but never met in the flesh. A wide variety of people, but they all have in common that they are open-minded, curious and creative. And some of them even like to take pictures :-).

At 12:00pm about 45 men, women and children gathered at Stadscafé Van der Werff to start off a tour through Leiden, which played an important role in Dutch history and culture. The oldest reference dates back from circa 860 when the settlement was called Leithon. It has often been called the most beautiful city in the Netherlands. Not surprising, considering how much of the rich city history is still visible everywhere. A photographer's dream.

It turned out to be a beautiful sunny Sunday and over 650 photos were shot. Some of them are real gems. I only included some of my own pictures here; if you want to see them all go to my Instagramwalk071 gallery on Google+. 

Can't wait to join the next Instagramwalk.

Group photo by Andy Kleinmoedig.

* In the Netherlands we often name our Instagramwalks by the telephone area code of the location.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

This year, digital advertising turns 18 years old. Google took four of America's greatest advertisements and asked its legendary creatives behind them to re-imagine them for a medium they almost know nothing about. Not just a banner with a click-here button or an online video, but how would they re-create classic advertising with modern technology. Digital advertising put to the ultimate test. Can they inspire a new generation of creative minds?

Project Re: Brief consists of four parts featuring Amil Gargano (Volvo), Paula Green (Avis), Howie Cohen and Bob Pasqualina (Alka Seltzer), and Harvey Gabor (Coca Cola). Advertising re-imagined.

Part 1: Coca Cola

Harvey Gabor - creator of Coca Cola's famous Hilltop ad - re-imagined how a wish made in 1971 was brought to life for today’s generation. Gabor: "Forty years ago Bill Backer and myself had a wish, and that was to buy the world a Coke. I am honored to have lived long enough to see that wish become a reality."  The new ad enables users to actually "buy the world a Coke" from their computer or mobile phone, and connect with someone on the other side of the world. The users can select a location and text message, or even attach a video and then watch as the Coke is delivered to a (specially-designed) vending machine. The receivers can then send a "thank you" message back, right from the same vending machine.

So whenever you see the "Send a free Coca Cola" banner click on it. I'm sure somebody on the other side of the world will appreciate it.

For more information: http://www.projectrebrief.com/coke/

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

The introduction of Facebook's Timeline has stirred quite some discussion. Some users don't see any added value. Others are concerned about their privacy. Which is quite understandable; Facebook doesn't have a particular good track record in that area. That's why I always advice people to be very aware of what you publish on Facebook; or any other social network for that matter.

But what is Timeline? Well, in the end nothing more than your old profile and wall combined into a single page. Visualized as an infinite scrolling page with all your posts, likes, photos, friendships, travels and other personal milestones like graduating. Now this probably scares a lot of people, 'cause all of a sudden they realize how much information they already have shared on Facebook. 

According to Shama Kabani (CEO of The Marketing Zen Group) the main reason for people to join a social network is not the interaction with friends - like she initially assumed - but to showcase their own identity. And our identity is completely based on our environment - your friends and (social) network. Shama also has an interesting theory on why Facebook has started Timeline in the first place. Now Facebook has over 900 million active users - which is a great achievement in its own right. But how do you get people to keep coming back? By letting them realize that Facebook is their entire life in a nutshell... hence Timeline.

In the end Facebook wants your data to sell more advertisements. Which isn't that bad in itself. Ads will pop up on your page anyhow. Like it or not. They have to earn money if only to keep their servers running. So what would you prefer to see? An irrelevant ad or an ad targeted based on your interests and data? But they already have the data; so what does this have to do with Timeline? Now here's the clever part, Facebook allows you to add information which happened in the past. Photos, your engagement. You name it. Even before Facebook existed. Meaning more data.

Love it or hate it; Timeline is here to stay!

In this video Shama Kabani is interviewed by Pelpina Trip for Frankwatching.com.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Cartoon by: Geek and Poke

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

This brilliant commercial - by BBH London for The Guardian - imagines how the newspaper might cover the fairy tale of the Three Little Pigs nowadays in print and online. Follow the story from the paper's front page headline, through a social media discussion and finally to an unexpected conclusion.

Read more about this ad in this blog post by Jason Gonsalves, Head of Strategy at BBH London.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

According to some sources the "House Arrest" video for the Fiat Abarth 500 - featuring bad boy Charlie Sheen - was scheduled to be shown during the 2012 Super Bowl, but was pulled only at the last minute to be replaced by the "Seduction" ad.

I can only speculate on why Chrysler - representing Fiat in the US - didn't show the "House Arrest" ad. Was it because it was "too hot" for the 100+ million viewers? Charlie Sheen doesn't have a particular good reputation to say the least; being axed from the popular TV serie "Two and a Halve Men" after badmouthing the show's creator last year and being hospitalized for substance abuse-related issues at least three times. Or was it because "Seduction" featuring Romanian supermodel Catrinel Menghia went viral? "Seduction" was filmed for the 500 Abarth's introduction at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show and was never meant to be an ad at all. Only after the massive online reaction Fiat decided to turn this into an ad.

Anyhow, last Thursday Fiat USA uploaded the House Arrest video to YouTube. The spot, which was created in partnership with advertising agency Doner (Detroit), will begin airing on broadcast and cable television. "The Fiat 500 Abarth is the 'small but wicked' personality of the Fiat 500 and this spot captures that attitude and spirit," said Olivier Francois, Head of Fiat Brand worldwide and Chrysler's Chief Marketing Officer. "The Fiat 500 Abarth is the bad boy of the Fiat vehicle lineup and Charlie Sheen personifies the edgy and fun attributes of the Fiat 500 Abarth in House Arrest." Lee Garfinkel (Chief creative officer of global brands EuroRSCG) added, "If he is a joke at this point, some people will ignore the commercial or find it interesting. I don't think there will be a downside to it."

In the "House Arrest" spot, a crowd cheers on Sheen as he races through a luxurious home in a Fiat 500 Abarth. Screeching to a stop, Sheen exits the vehicle, sporting an electronic ankle bracelet. "I love being under house arrest. What do I get for good behavior?" he says as he cozies up to Romanian supermodel Catrinel Menghia, the star of the previous ad. At the beginning of the video you can see a reference to the Super Bowl; did you spot it?

House Arrest ad

Seduction ad

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Last week Disney•Pixar released a 2.5 minute trailer of their upcoming movie Brave which will be released this summer.

Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor. Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin, surly Lord Macintosh and cantankerous Lord Dingwall. Merida's actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it's too late.

Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson, Robbie Coltrane, Julie Walters.
Directed by: Mark Andrews & Brenda Chapman.
Produced by: Katherine Sarafian.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

The BMW i8 Concept is the next step in BMW's Vision EfficientDynamics Concept. The hybrid car is fitted with an electric drive system on the front axle - and a 3 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (1,5 litre / 164 kW/220 hp) which drives the rear wheels. Acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under five seconds. Fuel consumption in the European cycle of under three litres per 100 kilometers. Thanks to the eDrive technology with its large lithium-ion battery the BMW i8 Concept can travel up to 35 kilometres (approx. 20 miles) on electric power alone. Don't let the looks deceive you the 2+2-seater offers enough space for four people, giving it a high level of everyday practicality.

See the full gallery on Posterous

You might also like: BMW commercial: Some great innovations were born in garages

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Instagramwalks are a great way to meet like-minded people with the same passion: taking and sharing photos with Instagram. Last Sunday Floor Drees and Christine Fürst organized Instagramwalk010 through the city of Rotterdam (010 is the area code of Rotterdam). Around 50 participants showed up during this sunny winter day and over 600 pictures were tagged with #instagramwalk010.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

After playing Birdy's hit single "Skinny Love" on radiostation 3FM, DJ Giel Beelen received some emails of girls writing: if you like Birdy, please have a look at my video. So he decided to run a contest who would become the ''Dutch Birdy". About 400 young girls sent in their video. Eight of them made it to the finals and yesterday the winner was announced: 13 year old Anna Verhoeven with her version of Laura Jansen's "Signal".

Laura Jansen was amongst the first to congratulate her by phone and on Twitter.

yes! 13 yr old @anna_verhoeven just won the Dutch Birdy contest singing one of my songs. I'm very proud :) giel.vara.nl/Live-optredens…

— Laura Jansen (@LauraJansen) January 12, 2012

As did Birdy.

Congrats to @Anna_verhoeven winning the 'Dutch Birdy' contest at #3FM in Holland with @Giel3FM. Enjoy #DWDD tonight, i'll be watching X

— Birdy (@OfficialBirdy) January 12, 2012

It's her first recording and she was hesitant to enter the contest, but her dad convinced her after putting a video on YouTube without her name and picture. As a prize her single will be released and is available in the iTunes Store as of now. Young Anna made her TV debut in the very popular Dutch show "De Wereld Draait Door". Have a look (her actual performance starts at 08 minutes 45 seconds). Shivers all over!

The quality of the contest was very high. So please check out the other finalists. You won't be disappointed.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Surfing the web and through links I get from my friends on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+, I come across a lot of great content. So yesterday I decided to start a new Tumblr blog to create something of a digital scrapbook containing photographs, videos and music clips that inspire me and make me say "awesome!". Hence its name "Things That Awe Me". Just links; hardly any text, so I can update with minimal fuss.

Does that mean I will give up this Posterous blog? Hell no! My intention is to start blogging more often here. The two sites will just serve different purposes. The new Tumblr blog is more like a digital scrapbook. That's why I've chosen for a theme with infinite scrolling. It's still a work in progress. Not a lot of content yet and I want to tweak the design a little, but hereby I proudly present: "Things That Awe Me".

Have fun and I hope you'll find some inspiration too!

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Cartoon by: Geek and Poke

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Photo sharing is something everybody does. Capturing moments is a natural behavior. Now there are other photo sharing apps, so what's the allure? First of all it's easy. Point, shoot, add a filter, and share. Not only on Instagram, but also on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Posterous, Tumblr, Foursquare or email. You can do this on a per photo basis. You decide which and where your photos go to. And it's fast. Did you know the app starts uploading your photo to their servers even before you started writing a caption? Pretty clever!

Then there's the variety of attractive retro photo filters which lets users improve their images with the tap of a finger. Even novice photographers take creative shots with their smart-phone cameras. The filters encourage them to take their pictures more seriously. And to be more daring! Instagram's CEO Kevin Systrom: “All Instagram did was take the creative tools that the pros have been using and put them in the hands of the masses.” To me it also had the effect that  I became increasingly observant of the world around me. Always on the look-out of things to photograph. Wondering how it would look like after applying one of the filters.

The Instagram community is a very active and passionate one. In the end it's not about the photo filters, but about the social network. I have noticed more interactions (likes, comments) then for instance Flickr or photos I've posted on Facebook. I personally find it more rewarding anyway. All over the world meet-ups or Instagramwalks are organized. I recently joined a walk with 10 other IGers through my hometown The Hague, which turned out to be a lovely day.

See the full gallery on Posterous

At the moment the small team's - 6 persons only! - main focus is their app and building a community. But at LeWeb Systrom also announced the launch of decent web experience. When you view a photo on their website right now, there's not much you can really do, except tweet it or like it on Facebook. You can't even get an overview of other photos an Instagram user has taken. Having said that, there are other companies that build great stuff on Instagram's API. One of my favorites is Statigr.am which not only provides bunch of statistics like how many photos you have posted or which user you liked most, you can also watch the feed of all following or an individual user and like photos from there.

By opening itself up to other apps and services, it has the potential to slowly become the hub of our mobile photo experiences. Being named as the app of the year by Apple only helped accelerate the mobile app’s adoption. And new activations of iPhones on Christmas will definitely give Instagram another bump. 

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Infographic dissecting the nature and ramifications of Stuxnet, the first weapon made entirely out of code. Scary stuff when you think about it. Stuxnet's target is the control system software known to run centrifuges in nuclear facilities - specifically, facilities in Iran. But the attack is generic meaning this kind of virus works as well for example on power plants or automobile factories. A cyber weapon of mass destruction. We better start to prepare right now!

This video was produced for Australian TV program Hungry Beast on Australia's ABC1.

Direction and Motion Graphics: Patrick Clair
Written by: Scott Mitchell
Production Company: Zapruder's Other Films.

Wanna know more about the Stuxnet virus? Watch this TED Talk by Ralph Langner.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

More than 20,000 photographs were submitted to the contest from over 130 countries, with professional and amateur photographers across the globe participating. Photographs were submitted in three categories: people, places, and nature. Take a look at the other winners and honorable mentions. As a bonus you can download the photos as a wallpaper for your computer, iPad or iPhone. You won't be disappointed.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Remember the feeling of excitement and anticipation when you were a kid and you couldn't wait for Christmas day to arrive? What would you get from Santa this year? That's what this advert by British department store John Lewis is all about. Or is it? Watch the end of the video where it takes a cute and unexpected twist.

There is something even more wonderful than receiving the perfect gift, and that is knowing you have found the perfect gift for someone you love. It's all about giving. Merry Christmas, everybody!

Music: 'Please, Please, Please let me get what I want' by Slow Moving Millie.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Funny interactive YouTube video. Pick your hedgehog and enjoy!

Created by Ant Blades. Music by Tom Drew. For more funny videos visit Bird Box Studio.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

Chipotle Mexican Grill is a chain of restaurants in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada known for its large burritos and tacos, assembly line production, and use of natural ingredients. In a mission statement - called Food with Integrity - the company highlights its efforts in using organic ingredients, and serves more naturally raised meat than any other restaurant.

The short film "Back to the Start", by film-maker Johnny Kelly, depicts the life of a farmer as he slowly turns his family farm into an industrial animal factory before seeing the errors of his ways and opting for a more sustainable future. Both the film and the soundtrack were commissioned by Chipotle to emphasize the importance of developing a sustainable food system.

The soundtrack is Coldplay's haunting classic 'The Scientist' performed by country music legend Willie Nelson. The song is available on iTunes. Label and proceeds benefit The Chipotle Cultivate Foundation.

Learn more about how Chipotle is cultivating a better world

Client: Chipotle. Agency: CAA and Chipotle. Production Company: Nexus Productions. Director: Johnny Kelly. Producer: Liz Chan. Music Supervision: David Leinhart at duotone Audio. Artist: Willie Nelson. Music Producers: Justin Stanley and Doyle Bramhall. Content Manager: Liz Graves.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »