Backstory series: How my website logo relates to 35mm film
The logo for my website is based on 35mm film.
Oh the design journeys I have been on since 1977 to create a logo that represents my photography art!
In January 2024, I started from scratch yet again and this one is like the fifth iteration. Most importantly, it passed muster with my beta-testing group one of whom has known me since 1974. So, there’s that.
My roots are in black-and-white 35mm film photography so this is why I wanted to include this piece of my history in some way. The shade of gray feathering through my name pays homage to that as it is a reminder of the white-balance cards I used to use in that era to follow the Ansel Adams Zone System, which I still use in the digital age; But, instead of an 18 percent gray card, I use other means like green grass or the palm of my hand. Film is also represented by the rounded upper right corner as this is reminiscent of the literal rounded sprocket rectangles on 35mm film. The 90-degree corners represent the image area of a 35mm negative.
A 35mm film strip from my archives
Here’s one of my 35mm film strips from when I photographed Astronaut Gordon Cooper flying an alcohol fuel powered plane. The center image — #33A — became a national magazine cover for Gasohol USA, in which I also wrote the cover story.
Here’s the national magazine cover that featured my 35mm film image.
Next, since this website emphasizes my Nature Art Photography, I have incorporated a blue border at the top to represent the sky and a brown bar at the bottom to reference the Earth.
I am a bit fussy about how the “W” in my last name looks and this font’s presentation of this cap letter reminds me of mountains, which is fine by me! A sans serif type face is also my choice as it’s simple without frills — just like my images.
All of this was done in an older copy of Adobe InDesign as I own the license for it vs having to pay a monthly or annual fee; The tools in it are fine for what I need to do.
This design will display well on business cards, brochures and embroidered polo shirts so I can promote my brand when I am out and about capturing images for my ever-expanding portfolio. The logo can be embroidered in color or black-and-white depending on what the embroidery business has to offer.
Finally, I made sure that each element in my new logo interacts with those around it. For instance, I chose to curve the upper right corner because of the curve in the lower-case letter “e” at the end of my last name. And, “Nature Art Photography” interacts with the ground. I also made sure that the borders blend into one another — just like in Nature.