This needs some work, integration, balance and some type, the icon may work if you integrate it into the type, and watch your Balance ´cause it´s heavy on the icon and the type has no presence, work on that. The idea is there just needs a few more adjustments, Take the line off from the type and voilá! you got a runner up.... Go logo shopping, it´s good to check some logo´s about camera shops, and I think the type may be a solid black or heavy, a Frutiguer may do the trick, because your icon, witch is a good idea, needs heavy lettering, it weights a lot and your type here is just not talking or facing the customer...
Later,

Caya

We´ll always have Paris! Humphrey Bogart

WAY too light for the weight of the image.And too much space between the "T" and "ungsten"; it reads as T Ungsten Images.

There is a disconnect between the lens (is that what it is?) and the boxes. The lens is more organic and the boxes and shield are crisp and sharp (and regularilly spaced). The shield looks like an afterthought.

The biggest problem is that this looks forced together. There is no flow or relationship between the lens, shield, type and even the "light" lines/boxes. It looks "thrown" together.

Jennifer

To me the logo looks like an old lady's head inside a hood, with a pair of underpants underneath the head and random rectangles scattered about.

The type also needs a lot of work.

You could only use this logo at one size because of the size difference between the text and the image.

I'd take it down to first principles. What are you trying to convey to whom?

Good luck with it.

Chris

http://www.davidpcrawford.com - http://www.vomit76.com

I personally thought it was an advert for an amish company when I first saw it. I think you could do something with the general concept, but I'd suggest smoothing out the lines at least.

One very important rule, someting that's helped me is this : Big Brand companies, with multi-million dollar marketing budgets can use logos with no words, and be recognised - why? Cause they've had the exposure. When designing a logo for a small company it's VERY important to make sure that the name is recognisable and not overcrowded by whatever artwork goes around it. I'v made the mistake and it just doesn't work. What's important with this project is to make your friend's company become regocnisable by his logo. I suggest focussing on the name of the company.

The Trademark would be [image]Tungsten Images™, no just the logo. Coca-Cola trademarks their "bottle cap" logo, but they're Coca Cola. For now, focus on getting the name out there, as the brand grows, you can start using the image separately, but not until it's recognisable enough on it's own.

The concept of the lamp with a woman's face is nice, but I think the image itself is not strong enough, and needs a lot of work. Remember, the logo is the most important part of the initial artwork for any company. It is the one thing that will remain unchanged on all other printed or digital matter.

I also see that you're using black and grey. Is this a one colour job? If so, I'd suggest using black only. Forget the black shading until your friend has money to consider 2 colour jobs and then ad that pantone in there. (Preferably a colour, not a shade of grey.

I would also look at the symmetrical aspects of the logo. None of the "rays" line up in any way, and look like they've been randomly placed. One of the things we must remember when "designing" anything is that that's exactly what it is, it's "designing." It involves bassic rules of mathematics and symmetry. (And I think it was David Ogilvy; "You can only break the rules once you know them.") I suggest drawing up a grid, and ligning up those elements. Fit the rays on a circle path, for instance. That would make a huge difference. And adjust the shape a little? Squares are a bit hard.

I agree with the face, it looks "a long time ago".

Keep working the concept - it's got potential, but needs a couple more hours of tweaking.

Oh, and the T and I should be the same height. (That grid again.) Consider yourself an architect of ink. That will get you on the right track.

Oh these are bloody cool critiques and advices.

Thanks a lot! I'm definitely going back to the drawing board.

Really appreciate the help fellas...

I'm not understanding the woman's face on a bulb idea. The light source illuminates the image of the face, but the face is the light source? You client is a "photography company", does that mean a photographer, a photography supply retailer or a photo print vendor? Tungsten is an odd name for a photography studio, (what kind of photographer shoots with tungsten bulbs, is that a specialty of some sort.... I don't know?). I think emphasizing "images" says more of what the client is all about if you're looking to use an illustration as their identity.

I recommend you research how other professional photographers graphically represent themselves, search their websites to see what's being done successfully in that type of business.

Just to add my own comical comment to the list of what people saw in your illustration.... I saw a potato in a megaphone with a pair of underpants :-O

You know, it's beginning to be very interesting as how people tends to get different ideas on one image.

I mean it. Hehehe...

Well, he's a photographer, taking pictures of weddings, portraits, and events mainly...

Tungsten is one of the white balance option found on digital cameras...

When I first saw this I really couldn't tell what it was, even after it's been described I still find it really difficult to see a face or a bulb. If you're going to use the dashes around a bulb motif then I would say at least use rounded ends on the dashes, this helps to soften it up a bit; as others have said, the text is way out of proportion with the image - try printing your logo one inch high (typical letterhead size) and in black and white, photocopy it and see how good it looks then. If you're going to use a bulb motif, stick to a bulb shape, and have the round flash mirror behind it to identify it as a photography bulb, though you may find this idea has been done a thousand times already! It's worth checking around though, sometimes the really obvious isn't used because people think it's *too* obvious and must have been done already ;-)

Maybe you could work on something that fits the tag line if you have no luck with the company name... maybe you could have a lens with legs and arms, waving or something (lens men) :-D