Welcome to Idyguy.com
Updated: December 26, 2009
It's about time I rediegned my site and here it is. My old site lasted almost two years and now it's time to give things a new look.
Trying to describe myself to others the hardest part for me. I decided I wanted to create a web site for myself so I could share my life with friends, family and others who may find me on the web, and now I guess it's the moment of truth... I need to say something here.
I think what we do for a living sometimes best describes us so I'll start there. I've been a graphic designer for almost twenty-five years, including four years as art director for San Francisco Frontiers Newsmagazine, two years designing Next Magazine for The Desert Sun Newspaper, a year as art director for the Desert Post Weekly and two years as art director for The Bottom Line Magazine. I've also operated a successful freelance graphic design business for the past several years.
For the past eight years I've also have been designing Colorlines magazine. In 2008, Colorlines magazine received the Utne Reader Award for General Excellence. Currently, I'm designing the Grassroots Fundraising Journal bi-monthly magazine.
Besides my work, I enjoy living in one of the most beautiful places on earth... Idyllwild, CA. We're nestled in the San Bernardino National Forest just west of Palm Springs. Idyllwild has a whopping population of about 3,500 people and is located at about 6,000 feet elevation in the San Jacinto mountains.
My interests include motorcycles, graphic design, photography, computers, music, art, hiking and most of all my (extended) family and close friends.
—Chris Martin (Idyguy)
Bird Slidehow
January 15, 2010
I enjoy visiting the San Diego Zoo as often as possble because they have a wind range of animals and birds. The birds are especially fun to photograph because you visit them in large aviaries. The Owens Aviary (which is one of my favorites) is seven stories tall and must have at least 20 different varieties of birds. There are other smaller aviaries where you can just walk in and the birds are flying around your head and walking around your feet.
I apologize for not knowing all the names of these birds.
You can click on the image to the left or here to view the slideshow.
Favorite Photos of 2009
January 3, 2010
I thought it would be fun to look back over the year and pick out 25 of my favorite photos. I'm not exactly sure why I selected these particular photos... maybe it was just in the moment, but each one reminds me of something special—a place, a moment in time, a special feeling when I look at the photo—who knows :-)
You can click on the image to the left or here to view the slideshow.
Lake Hemet in Winter Slidehow
December 31, 2009
This past week my friends Dan (from LaQuinta) and Dan (from San Diego) joined me in the early morning at Lake Hemet. We decided to meet up at sunrise to see if we couldn't get some nice photos of the lake in the early morning light.
It was a cold morning and it had rained the night before so it was brisk, but beautiful. I've posted some of the photos I took that morning on my blog page, but I decided it would be nice to also put together a little slideshow of some of my favorite photos. I managed to get photos of everything from frozen underwear, to fishing line, to leaves bejeweled with raindrops and even a couple deer in Apple Canyon.
If you'd like to see more photos from our day at Lake Hemet, visit my blog or my slideshow.
San Diego Zoo Slideshow
A few weeks ago I visited the San Diego Zoo and the animals were very active. I think it may have been because of the beautiful weather and lack of people. I know the animals are probably used to all the noise from visitors, but if it were me, I'd go hide in quiet place until they left.
This particular day I was privileged to see the tigers playing in the water. They are extraordinary animals... huge, but incredibly graceful. This partiuclar tiger was perched up on a rock while (his/her) mate was playing in the water.
If you'd like to see more photos from day at the zoo, visit my blog or my slideshow.
Images of Winter Slideshow
December 28, 2009
I've put together a small slideshow of winter images from Idyllwild, CA. We've had a couple of nice snows this year and it's made for some beautiful scenery. Click on the photo or here to view my slideshow.
