I am always saying I like working with photographers. Partly because, like myself, they are visual storytellers. Secondly, I have always been intrigued with my brother’s definition of a good photographer. He once told me, “a really great photographer is a master of light.” That thought has never left me and that is how I gauge the talent of all the photographers I come across in my profession.

I’m am also in love with film—yes, the analog kind. My dad was an amateur photographer when he was young, but he had a great eye. I would get lost in old photos—my mind making up the stories of the moments that were captured. {My brother seems to have followed in Dad’s footsteps.} I recall us both, as kids, fighting over who was going to eventually own the {now vintage} film enlarger that we used to develop photos in our darkroom {aka the backyard shed}. I won.

photo: hc.tran photography

Wait, where was I… Oh, yes. As a graphic designer, I have worked with many talented photographers and worked with equally amazing photos. My eyes have poured over countless lifestyle, surf, snowboard, vehicle and product photos. Occassionally, I get to work with a wedding photographer and this time I had the pleasure of working with Hung C. Tran of HC.Tran Photography. Hung came to me with a request for letterpress printed business cards. But before printing, I gave his existing abstract lens logo a more polished and refined look.

For Hung, I printed 300 2-sided 2-colored business cards on 220# heavy card stock made from 100% cotton. He was very easy going and so much fun to work with, I can imagine what a photoshoot with him would be like. HC.Tran Photography is located in La Jolla, California. His portfolio can be viewed at http://www.hungctran.com or you can read all about his work on his blog.

Just finished designing and printing 1,800 Rabbit in the Moon invitation sets for Balboa Park’s Japanese Friendship Garden, in San Diego. These invitations are for the garden’s 10th Annual Festival of the Harvest Moon. Invitations, response cards and envelopes were letterpress printed using black ink. Garden volunteers will be adding a strip of brightly colored washi paper to add the finishing touch.

Kelly from Paper Stories organized an awesome letterpress swap. The idea is for a bunch of letterpress printers to trade their prints with each other. I thought it would be a fun idea to participate, but unfortunately, I didn’t realize that my timeline would be cut so short because of our quick move up to Washington. We literally had less than a weeks notice to pack and get ready for the move! Aaahh! Time was of the essence and I did not have time to send out for plates. Determined to participate in the swap, I repurposed an old design concept I had created for Suburban Riot tees and proceeded to hand carve my design out of a spare linoleum block.

Sadly, the carved up block didn’t hold up too well in my Pilot. Perhaps the lines got too thin from all the pressure of each pull. I really wish I had given myself more time to design out a custom piece for the swap. I was literally dropping these off at the post office on the way to the airport. While letterpress is a rush for me, I wish I didn’t have to rush through this one. I’ll have to do another swap to redeem myself. Can’t wait to see the awesome prints from the trade!