This shot is very dear to me because it reminds me of when we first came to this wonderful country Canada. We arrived in Toronto late of 1999, and I had just accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior few months prior. I didn’t come to know Jesus through a pastor or a person’s testimony—I accepted Him through reading the Bible and few books by Josh McDowell mainly “More Than a Carpenter”—so I didn’t know what it means to accept Jesus. When we arrived here we were not lonely in the sense that we didn’t have anybody because almost my mom’s entire family have been living in Canada for quite a long time. I found myself very lonely on the inside and kind of emotionally disoriented because I was in a strange country where I didn’t feel like I belong. That’s why I started talking to Jesus whenever I… read more
Inspiks Market Blog
God at the movies is a promo for a series at Journey Community Church produced by Dan Stevers. The promo is an ambitious piece of film making, it takes us back to the vintage black and white era of the 70’s in a spectacular motion graphics sequence that is astounding for the simple fact that it took, two weeks, a couple of friends, a green screen, some great costumes, and a model airplane to put it all together. Dan really showcased how the power of programs like Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere can help to produce very high quality visuals, that were not possible a couple years ago. If you have never seen the work of Dan Stevers before, check him out on Vimeo or visit his website at the link below. Website: Dan Stevers.com God at the Movies FX Breakdown
It’s that time of the year again, when we celebrate our mothers. The modern Mother’s Day is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in May, though also celebrated in March in some countries, as a day to honor mothers and motherhood. A mother contributes her whole life to her family. Mothers are the glue that holds a family together because it is up to them to provide the loving care and support needed by growing children. The nurturing a mother provides is unparalleled and a vital part of a child’s care. It takes learning and practice to become a qualified mother. It is not an easy job, because mothers must learn as they go. As you look at these amazing photos, be reminded of God’s everlasting love for you and be inspired to do something special for your mother today, let her know how… read more
I woke up around 5:30 this particular morning and I had to take this photo! It is a photo of the moon above Toronto seen through my bedroom window. I love the red shade in the curtain, the ceiling, and my table lamp. My alarm clock says “5:49â€, and that’s because I spent 20 min in the balcony listening to the birds, watching the moon, but mostly taking photos. I even took a 30 seconds long video of the birds chirping (He he! I learned the word “chirp†from Dr. Stanley!) . But it is this photo, taken from inside, that captivated me mostly. This photo reminds me of certain times. You see when I go to crowded places for a prolonged period of time, I like to take few minutes to be alone with God. I’ve never told this to anybody because the people who know me, think that… read more
Explosive Abstract in Cinema 4D: In this tutorial, we will be creating an explosive abstract piece called “What is Man?”. We will use Cinema 4D to create the explosive effects. Cinema 4D’s has a very intuitive interface and logical workflow that makes it possible for those new to 3D artistry, to dive in and be productive very quickly. It is a great tool if you want to add some 3D elements to your design. We will take the 3D elements over to Photoshop for the final composite and lighting. lets dig In! [sociallocker] Inspiration This tutorial was inspired by Nik Ainley’s “Keep it Together”. and the scripture verse from Psalm. “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You… read more
This is my classmate Katya who is an Orthodox Christian from Russia. Katya has an amazing voice—the best I have ever heard in real life. She can sings anything from a deep voice like Louis Armstrong in What a Wonderful World to an angelic choir voice which she does regularly at her church. She has an excellent control over her vocals even though she has never taken any singing lessons! Her voice is a true gift from God because she is a very, very talented singer and it is true joy listening to her sing. The godly women in the Bible are amazing. Just few weeks ago I was thinking about Hanna, the prophet Samuel’s mother. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 1:10-11, “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts,… read more
If you use Photoshop extensively, you should be familiar with Channels. Channels are used to masks areas of an image, cut specific areas from an image or apply adjustment or effects to specific areas of an image. Channels are one of the most powerful tools used to achieve simple or complex results in our work. We will use this tutorial to show how to apply two spot channels to a poster design. One spot channel will be used to print a 5th color to the piece, a spot color (pre-mixed ink) and the other will be used to apply a spot UV Coating to the statue on the finished printed work. What is Spot UV Coating? If you want to achieve a glossy coat on a certain image on the page, but don’t need or want the entire page to be coated, then you should use spot UV coating…. read more
In the last year or so I’ve been encountering the number 316 a lot—almost every few days. I am encountering the number everywhere: digital clocks , watches, street numbers, my professor’s laptop battery life, homework, receipts, pay checks, etc. Few weeks ago my dad was watching an Iraqi TV station because Iraq was having its second elections and on the top right corner of the screen the number 316 was displayed! I asked him about the number and he said, “That’s the election ballot number for some political party.†Every time I see the number 316 I remember John 3:16. This has been very encouraging to me because recently I have been uncertain about my place in Christ. Before it was very easy to come pray because I had a much closer relationship with Him, but now it is much harder. But when I remember 316 it encourages me to… read more
Creative Sermon Title Church Artworks in this gallery can be used to correspond with your sermon outline or Bible Study. They work great in PowerPoint presentations or with EasyWorship Presentation software. Sermon Title Art by INSPIKS | Inspirational Pictures is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. [ Image Usage ]
40 Cross Images – This post showcases 40 inspirational images of the cross. The cross has become a universal symbol of hope. It is used in relief organizations logos, ambulances, rescue helicopters and on the steeple of churches. In today’s society the cross has different meanings to different people, it is considered to be just another piece of jewelery, a fashion statement or to be used in mythical stories to kill vampires. For the Romans the cross was the ultimate symbol of death and punishment, but like everything that Jesus Christ comes in contact with; the cross became a symbol of life and hope. Jesus’ death on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. by the third century the cross had become so closely associated with Christ it was called the Lords symbol and Christians were called devotees of the Cross. The cross reminds us of God’s act… read more
This post features images that celebrate Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is a celebration of Jesus Triumphant entry into Jerusalem just before His death on the cross. the day always fall on the Sunday before Easter Sunday. The event is mentioned in all four Gospels Mark 11:1-11, Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19: . The day is also called Passion Sunday or Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. In many Christian churches, Palm Sunday is marked by the distribution of palm leaves (often tied into crosses) to the assembled worshipers. According to the Gospels, before entering Jerusalem, Jesus was staying at Bethany and Bethphage, and the Gospel of John adds that he had dinner with Lazarus, and his sisters Mary and Martha. While there, Jesus sent two disciples to the village over against them, in order to retrieve a donkey that had been tied up but never been ridden, and to… read more
In this article, I have chosen 50 stunning Christian wallpapers directly from our Flickr Group. Wallpapers are the first thing that inspires us when we turn on our computers. The more inspirational, beautiful, and elegant they are, the better they can challenge our imagination. Christian Wallpapers, as simple as they may be, never fail to provide a fresh perspective of the world around us. However, desktop wallpapers can go far beyond being a colorful decoration. They can also be a source of Biblical inspiration and a great tool to spread the Gospel of Christ. Check them out, share, and enjoy them! To Download: Click the image you want.  After It loads – Click the Download Link at Top – Image will load in a new window – Right Click it and choose “Save Image As”. Acoustic Melodies Christian wallpapers by PHATBOYid War Sky by by jakedillard Our Rock by SeraphimChris… read more
The Bible Translation issue is more challenging than what it seems, we as Christians need to be careful on how we approach this topic, or else we can go down some dangerous paths, sometimes we see missing verses or seemingly changed words in the new translations eg. the New International Version, but we do not know the reason why these changes or omissions have been made. So the question about these are quite reasonable, but we must try to find the answers before we jump to conclusions. This is what I found out. A pastor was speaking on the radio, and answered a question from a caller who asked him why some Bible translations have missing verses? The pastor explained that there are three different “text” that governs Bible translations, I also found a forth. Deciding which translation is more accurate depends on who you ask, but the majority of… read more
In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a 3D composition using Xara 3D and Photoshop. We will use Photoshop to create an exciting golden background, then integrate the 3D type from Xara 3D into the composition. you will also learn some simple technique to texture the type. Last time we learned How to Create A Realistic 3D Typography using Photoshop, today I will introduce you to Xara 3D, a relatively inexpensive 3D Program that has some very powerful features and is so simple to use, literally anyone can produce high quality 3D graphics in minutes. Xara 3D can create stunning, professional-quality 3D web graphics. Ideal for both still and animated 3D headings and titles, logos and buttons, perfect for web pages, mailshots and online presentations. If you want to use 3D in your projects Xara 3D is a very good start. Ok, lets get straight into the tutorial! [sociallocker]… read more
This month we are featuring the work of Bjorn Amundsen, a Christian Visual Effects (VFX) artist from Vimeo. Bjorn Amundsen’s VFX work is truly amazing, especially his narrative Typography Design. We are impressed with the quality of his productions, which communicates the message of The Gospel in a way that grabs your attention. Bjorn is a motion designer, photographer, video producer, director, and technologist with over 5 years of media experience. His feature film work can be seen on the title sequence for Furious Love, directed by Darren Wilson. He has done visual effects work on music videos for bands like Uh Huh Her and Motion City Soundtrack. He is in his second consecutive term as creative director of the triennial CHIC conference, developing the brand, marketing, and video content for a +5000 high school students. He has traveled the globe to create content for such clients as Youth Specialities,… read more
This red leaf was on the wall of the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library at the University of Toronto. It was one of many leafs on a long stem running horizontally on the wall. I would say the stem run for more than 5 meters, and since I had my mini tripod with me, I decided go rest it against the wall and shoot a super macro shot. However, all the leafs were too big for a super macro, so I ended up going up the stairs alongside the stem all the way to the end to this little leaf; it was the last in the long string of leafs and it fit perfectly in my camera’s super macro zoom. That’s when I remembered the verse: “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.†Psalm 118:22 That incident kept me thinking that day. This little leaf was so much… read more
In this tutorial you will learn how to create a Realistic 3D Typography Photoshop, you will learn how to create a really smooth looking 3D text in any version of Photoshop. This tutorial will create the illusion of 3D without the use of any 3D programs, we will only use the raw power of Photoshop. Not only will we create it. you will also learn some simple technique to decorate the type to make it pop! Although this technique is limited, it can be very useful for someone who cannot afford to buy a 3D program. [sociallocker] Final Image Skill Level Intermediate Resources Hansen Font From FontStock Floral Brush by jaaaiiro From Brusheezy! Step 1: Create a new document in Photoshop, 1600×1200 pixels, 300dpi (for printing), RGB color. We begin with a radial gradient, by double clicking the layer to activate the Layer Styles menu, then apply… read more
In 2006, I was walking to work around 7 AM and my heart was very heavy burdened to the degree where it felt as if I was dragging my feet. I asked God why He was allowing that heartache to continue, I needed to understand! What He said caught me by surprise, He said, “I’ve always loved you!†I started crying on the road, I didn’t know what to think, what to feel, what to say. Somehow He knew why I had that heartache: I was looking for love, but I didn’t receive it, while all along I had access to a fountain of eternal and perfect love pouring out from Him. The only person who truly showed love me while growing up is my mom. I cannot describe to you how much she loves me. The daily sacrifices she makes, her service for me (and her awesome cooking!) are… read more
Macaws are the largest and the brightest in the parrot family. They are easy to recognize, because they are big colorful birds. Macaws live in the tropical parts of South, Central America. The biggest macaw’s wingspan is around four feet, the smallest macaws wingspan is fifteen inches. Most species are associated with forest, especially rainforest, but others prefer woodland or savannah-like habitats. Macaw Wings by ravi.k Some of the macaw species are known for their impressive size. The largest parrot in length and wingspan is the Hyacinth Macaw. The heaviest macaw is the Buffon’s, although the heaviest parrot is the flightless Kakapo. Macaw Cleaning by royal19 Scarlet Macaw – Macaw Mountain Bird Park -by Adalberto H. Vega What’s So Special About The Macaws? Macaws eat poisonous berry seeds as a main part of their diet, they also eat a clay that absorbs the poison and provides much needed minerals… read more
Create A Cool Typography Effect in Photoshop CS3 or Photoshop CS4. The effect is a cool-looking and great for decorating your Typography. We will be using a combination of layer styles, color blending, lens flare and images. The end effect is quite stunning and hopefully you’ll pick up some tips you didn’t know before. [sociallocker] Final Image for the Typography Effect Skill Level: Intermediate Resources: Particles Pack by Media Melitia Smoke Pack by Media Melitia Hysteria Texture by Pareeerica Rezland Font from Dafont Step1: Create a new document in Photoshop, 1280×1024 pixels, 72dpi. We begin with a radial gradient, by double clicking the layer to activate the Layer Styles menu, then apply a gradient overlay. Here are the exact color codes: Foreground Color – #f2d445 Background Color – #98a843 Step2: Next we will create our particle background. Open the Media Meltia Particles008.png image and drag it into your document, then… read more
Before I became a Christian I used to hate the phrase “blind faith†as it represented ignorance to me. And I believed that’s what Christians wanted me to have in order to become a Christian like them. As a new believer I still hated that phrase because I believed that I became a Christian based on logical thinking because of the overwhelming evidence supporting Christianity’s claims. Ten years later I am starting to think that blind faith is true faith. Let me tell you how I came to start thinking that blind faith is important. About three weeks ago around 5 in the morning I heard a very sad news; this news was so tragic to me that it was by far the saddest and most painful experience I have ever been through. I was so sad and shocked I couldn’t even cry. For the next several hours I was… read more
The giraffe is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all land-living animal species that exist today, and the largest ruminant. Males can be 16 to 18 feet tall and weigh up to 3,800 pounds. The record-sized bull, shot in Kenya in 1934 was 19.2 ft tall and weighed approximately 4,400 lb. Females are generally slightly shorter, and weigh less than the males do . The giraffe is related to deer and cattle, Its range extends from Chad to South Africa. Giraffes can inhabit savannas, grasslands, or open woodlands. They prefer areas enriched with acacia growth. They drink large quantities of water and, as a result, they can spend long periods of time in dry, arid areas. When searching for more food they will venture into areas with denser foliage. Many people think that giraffes are mute. This is a myth. though normally silent, calves bleat and make a… read more
Have you ever read those statistics or articles about how for many people, the holiday seasons are the most depressing? Well, it is true. I am one of those people who feel lonely in the holidays. Christmas has always been the most depressing season for me, mainly because my birthday is around Christmas and I have never been fond of my birthday. But that does not mean I don’t like to be among people. Actually it is the opposite: people feel depressed in holidays because they feel that they don’t have any meaningful relationships. That’s why it is so important that we, Christians, be generous and hospitable in those times. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ~1 Peter 4:9 In the holidays my family and I are sometimes invited by relatives or friends to spend it with them, but somehow I’ve always felt the happiest when I went to… read more
In March of 2003 my sister invited me to her Arabic church because they were having a play called Heaven or Hell. I went to it, and in one of the final scenes, one of the actresses was so shouting of joy “Jesus! My Jesus! Hallelujah, it’s my Jesus!†over and over again as the character of Jesus appeared on the stage. I wondered then, how many more people in the world there are, that are in love with Jesus just as I am and even more? (Of course, I have not always been in love with Jesus; it seems that it is an on and off love affair at times!) Few months before I came to Canada, in late of 1999, I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior and Lord and that proved crucial to my well being here. You see, as a teenager who is an introvert by… read more