Darkslide Photography: May 2011

So i thought it might be interesting, well maybe not interesting to you guys, but interesting to me! To show you the evolution of the Logo for ‘Darkslide Photography’ over the past few years.

In todays world, brand recognition is everything, from iconic logos such as Coca Cola, McDonalds, to supermarkets such as Asda, Tesco etc. We live in a visual world where even without words, people from all over the world, speaking a myriad of languages will all recognise a brand logo. So over the past few years since i decided to take the plunge into the world of professional photography it has been important to me to get a logo that ‘fits’. Not only recognisable so people will look at it and say ‘Oh, thats Darkslide Photography!’ but also a logo that suits my individuality.

Up until recently i have tried myself to create various designs and logo branding, but nothing has ever jumped out at me. So after a lot of revisions, and feedback from colleagues, followers on my facebook page, Twitter, etc. I finally came up with a Logo design that i liked, it reflected me as a person and also suited the ‘Darkslide’ branding, and style of my work. A simple image based around the aperture blades of a lens. This went through several revisions until finally it became something more ‘Me’. Then it was a case of finding a suitable font and layout for the overall logo, which thanks to fellow photographer and jolly good chap indeed, Andy Woodhouse from ‘I-dophotos’ The final brand logo came about!

So they say that a picture says a thousand words. So instead of me waffling any longer, here is the Evolution of Design! From early concept, through many revisions to the final (for now!) logo

Original concept logo, simple, with part of an out of focus landscape image as the background. Used from around 2007.

A early attempt at using an aperture design, quickly replaced. The length simply did not work.

The logo that has stayed with me for quite some time. I really liked it at first, with the aperture blades and compact text, but it never really ‘wowed’ me and it was a bit too sterile to reflect myself and my work.

An early concept around the aperture blades idea. With a new key logo.

...and another.

..and another... This one a bit more messy and grungy, but still not quite right.

Still not there...

.. and then... WOW! A friend of mine had a mess with the design and layouts and came up with this concept! It instantly drew me into it, and worked in such a way that reflected not only my style as a photographer, but also as an individual.

A few subtle changes later and the final logo is born!

This works for me, not only on a personal level, but also in its flexibility, as not only is it instantly recognised with the aperture blades design, but it also works twofold as use as a transparency to watermark images also, plus it can be inverted if need be to suit a white background too.

Well i hope you enjoyed reading this new blog post and to see how my progression has come along over the past few years.

Andy