May 2013
10 posts
4 tags
Weekly Photograph #11
I absolutely love subtle, desolate landscapes. This one, again, was made in Alaska.
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Archispeak #8 - Architects and Egos
In this episode of America’s favorite podcast, Archispeak discusses the difference between confidence and ego, then examines simple and effective ways to establish camaraderie in an architectural office. ∞
3 tags
Archispeak #8 - Architects and Egos
In this episode of America’s favorite podcast, Archispeak discusses the difference between confidence and ego, then examines simple and effective ways to establish camaraderie in an architectural office. ∞
3 tags
Archispeak #8 - Architects and Egos
In this episode of America’s favorite podcast, Archispeak discusses the difference between confidence and ego, then examines simple and effective ways to establish camaraderie in an architectural office.
2 tags
Weekly Photograph #10
Messing around with shutter speed, aperture, and focal length led to a happy accident when I made this image. It’s a macro shot of some dew on a grassy leaf somewhere near Denali in Alaska. I just love how the dew looks like a collection of sparkly jewels.
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You Don't Have to Pander
It was difficult picking something to quote in this blog post because the whole thing is so damn good. Seth Godin:Merely giving the people what they want is a shortcut to banality, mediocrity and invisibility. Take five minutes and go read it.
[Archoncad] How important is it to Learn to Sketch... →
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5 tags
Methodcast Quickie #5 - Cleaning Up Dirty Scans in...
My latest video tutorial is up on Method, and in it I show you how to remove extra crap like dust, scratches, paper texture, and just generally how to clean up a scanned image to make it look better using a few tools in Photoshop. I can almost guarantee there’s something in this that you don’t know, and I’d like to teach you.
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Archispeak #7 - We Kill Your Memories
A new episode of the Archispeak podcast is online and you can listen to it on the website or on iTunes. This one was the most fun yet to record. I hope you like it as much as I did. “In this episode Archispeak takes on questions from our listeners and a group of 3rd graders. Also, Evan gets his first ‘C’ and Cormac panders to the children of Annapolis.”
2 tags
Weekly Photograph #9
Margerie Glacier is accessible only via boat. It’s in Glacier Bay in Alaska and it glows blue on cloudy days. Seven feet of solid ice calve off every day - that’s how fast it moves. It was raining when I made this image from the deck of our boat. The color, texture, contrast, detail and geometry are amazing. Luckily it was overcast because the blue really pops. We were lucky enough...
April 2013
19 posts
1 tag
The new $100 bill
Yet another example of the race to the bottom. I bet Ben Franklin is embarrassed to be on there. Where are the designers? (via Gruber) ∞
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Weekly Photograph #8
I made this image during a family hike on New Year’s Day. We were hiking Evey Canyon in the local mountains and got caught in a hail storm. If you look closely you can see some ice in the image. These mushrooms were growing on a steep slope just above the trail and my son pointed them out. I started taking some macro shots and soon found myself alone - everyone kept on hiking and I was off...
4 tags
Methodcast Quickie #4 - Straighten Skewed Images...
I’ve posted a new, quick video tutorial to Method for a rather unknown tool in Photoshop that’ll get your images properly straightened out if they are even slightly off-kilter. We’ll get all those images aligned, even if it takes us the rest of our lives! ∞
In Conversation: Steven Soderbergh -- Vulture →
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Study Model
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Weekly Photograph #7
We recently went on a trip out to Shoshone, Death Valley, and one of the reasons I love to visit is there’s a natural, warm spring swimming pool where 85 degree water endlessly runs right out of the ground into a concrete containment unit - a swimming pool. It then overflows at the other end into a drainage channel and continues on its way into the desert. My son likes to play in the...
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Archispeak #6 - And Then I'm Very Sad
The latest episode of the Archispeak Podcast is up on our site and on iTunes. Neal (who has a new website - check it out) shows his manly vulnerability as we talk about the gap between the professional and educational counterparts in our beloved field of architecture. Listen in on the conversation and join us by adding your own comments on twitter, our Facebook page, or on our site. Now that...
1 tag
Algae-powered apartment complex blooms in Hamburg
During the summer, however, when the sun is out in full-force, BIQ will no doubt go into full “bloom” mode. As Curbed notes, the panels, acting as “massive, algae-driving transition lenses,” will grow noticeably darker when filled with elevated levels of algae. In turn, the interior of the building will be kept nice and cool. So much for window AC units when you have bacteria-sized organisms...
4 tags
Weekly Photograph #6
Last year we travelled to Denali National Park in Alaska, and this Alaskan Cotton Grass caught my attention. I spent the next 15 minutes focusing on a few different specimens trying to get the subtle white variations and the shallow depth of field to look right as they bounced around in the wind. The detail in this photo is what I really like about it. The individual tufts are about the size of a...
4 tags
Hyperlapse
Timelapse has been freed from its shackles. From the folks over at Colossal:The folks over at Teehan+Lax have just released a new tool (you’ll need Google Chrome and a pretty kickin’ internet connection) that lets you scrape public data from Google Street View to create sweeping hyperlapse videos. Stunning. I could watch this all day. Be sure to check out their site - it’s magic. (via...
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What's Really Inside That Taco Bell Crunchy Beef...
This pretty much sums it up, but the whole thing is completely fake food:. Livestrong:The “real” in “real cheddar cheese” might as well stand for “really processed.” Know what you eat. ∞
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Design Everything
Seth Godin has a great post up today regarding our opportunities as designers:Everyone takes a shower without their glasses, and yet the little, indistinguishable bottles in the shower often have 12 point type describing what’s inside. No, I’m not going to wear reading glasses in the shower. I will shout it from the hilltops. Or on this blog at least. DESIGN EVERYTHING! This next...
4 tags
Methodcast Quickie #3 - Depth of Field
My love of learning new (to me) photographic techniques has blended into my 3d rendering and visualization endeavors. I’ve posted another short video tutorial showing how to get nice, creamy depth-of-field in your renders using Maxwell and FormZ over on Method. If you’re using Maxwell, it really doesn’t matter what modeling program you’re using - the same information...
1 tag
Datsun Resto-mod Project Update
You can check the progress of my 1969 Datsun Roadster project on my Flickr page. It should be getting paint next week (that’s what he’s been telling me for the last 8 weeks), and the wheels came in today.
1 tag
Datsun Resto-mod Project Update
You can check the progress of my 1969 Datsun Roadster project on my Flickr page. It should be getting paint next week (that’s what he’s been telling me for the last 8 weeks), and the wheels came in today.
1 tag
Weekly Photograph #5
I haven’t figured out how to take a good picture of a hummingbird in flight, so here’s the next best thing. My mom has a knack for attracting these little guys, and I was lucky enough to make this picture when we were visiting them last time.
4 tags
Today's Desktop Screenshot
Here’s a peek at what I’m working on today…
6 tags
Desolation
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Archispeak #5 - It's Communication Stupid!
Our latest podcast is up on iTunes and the Archispeak website. We talk about work/life balance (as if there were such a thing to aspire to in the field of architecture). Take off you shoes, roll up your pant legs and take a long walk on the beach with us.
March 2013
15 posts
4th Generation
Four generations of Troxel men converged on a small town on the edge of Death Valley over the weekend. It was great to see my grandfather Bennie. I love this photo.
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Weekly Photograph #4
Jack
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Today's Desktop Screenshot
I’m working on modeling and designing the interior of a performing arts theater. Here’s a view from underneath. What are you working on?
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There Goes My Hero. He's Ordinary.
There’s an amazing SXSW Keynote speech by Dave Grohl is on NPR. You should definitely watch it, unless you don’t want to get fired up and do something meaningful with your life. Watch it.
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Weekly Photograph #3
I’m heading out to Death Valley this weekend, and hoping to make more photos like this. Most people think the desert is boring. It’s one of my favorite places to go. The scenery is amazing.
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Endeavor
The Space Shuttle is amazing! We took the kids on a surprise field trip today down to the California Science Center in Los Angeles. If you have a chance, go see it. It’s free to get into the Center, and it’s $2 per person to see the Shuttle exhibit. Tickets are best purchased online before you go to make sure you can get in. They have a timeline of the entire Shuttle program which is...
1 tag
The New Porsche 911 GT3
A beautifully edited video introduction for a car that has been under iterative development since 1963. I love it in white… just like my 1987 Targa. I miss that car.
4 tags
Weekly Photograph #2
I love it when it seems like the photographer wasn’t even there. This is like cinema to me. This is a shot of my son navigating the Virgin River on our wedding reception (aka the hike up the Narrows in Zion Canyon) last summer. Somehow the composition on this one worked out perfectly. And the structure of those rocks… chocolatey.
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God's Architect: Antoni Gaudí's glorious vision -...
I’ve been to Sagrada Familia in 1998 when the main space was full of scaffolding, and I can tell you it was one of the most moving experiences of my life, even being full of construction equipment. To say the least, Gaudi was way ahead of his time. This is one of the true definitions of architecture, and to think it’s been under construction for over 130 years, it is truly monumental....
4 tags
God's Architect: Antoni Gaudí's glorious vision -...
I’ve been to Sagrada Familia in 1998 when the main space was full of scaffolding, and I can tell you it was one of the most moving experiences of my life, even being full of construction equipment. To say the least, Gaudi was way ahead of his time. This is one of the true definitions of architecture, and to think it’s been under construction for over 130 years, it is truly monumental....
2 tags
Methodcast Quickie #1
I’ve (finally) posted a new video tutorial on Method. If you’re someone who’s making 3d architectural models, give it a look.
Eleven
Today my oldest turned eleven. I picked him up from school just before his lunch to go out and eat together. Just the two of us ate at a local pizza place, which we haven’t been to in over a year. In fact, it’s my favorite pizza place, and I wonder if he chose it because of that. That’s the kind of kid he is. Then tonight I picked him and his brother up after work and we came...
3 tags
My #architectslibrary
Here is some of my #architectslibrary, which is what we’re talking about on the latest episode of the Archispeak Podcast.
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Archispeak #3 - An Architect's Library
A new episode of Archispeak, that podcast I do, is now up on the website and iTunes. It was a fun show, and I’m happy with our three-show streak. I’m a fan of not merely saying yes to things - it’s either hell yeah! or no. This podcast was a hell-yeah for me, and for my co-hosts too. Either commit to doing something because it excites you, or don’t do it at all. I hope you...
3 tags
Amanda Palmer: The Art of Asking
This is an inspiring video from the TED website that reinforces my thoughts regarding making art = the best way to live. I love how confident Amanda is. This is a big lesson for me as I struggle through trying new things with my Method website as I try to help other artists get better at what they do.Don’t make people pay for music, says Amanda Palmer: Let them. In a passionate talk that...
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Life of an Architect Playhouse Competition 2013
Speaking of competitions, It’s on! Head over to Life of an Architect and get your pencils sharpened for this year’s Playhouse Competition. It’s for a great cause, it’s free to enter, and you can go toe-to-toe with me, because I’ve already signed up. If you follow Bob, then you already know this is your chance, because it doesn’t count if it doesn’t get...
February 2013
5 posts
#2 - Architect as Juggler →
Share a bit of your weekend with us. Listen to the latest episode of our newly launched Archispeak Podcast.
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Archispeak: Architect as Juggler
In the latest episode of our casual conversation about the realities of working in architecture: We discuss the current state of being an architect versus the old days of the master builder, how architects can educate clients, the importance of sleep in our manic profession, and we begin to tackle the topic of proper planning for the ever-looming deadlines that keep us on the move. I put a lot...
2 tags
Introducing the Archispeak Podcast
I’ve been pretty busy studying for my licensing exams but was able to carve out some time to start a new thing with a couple of other friends from Twitter. It’s called Archispeak, and it’s a podcast about architecture. No, we don’t know what we’re doing. Archispeak is a casual conversation about architecture by people who should never be caught talking about...
January 2013
10 posts
The Surprisingly Manly History of Hot Cocoa | The... →
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