Happy New Year to all.

For the New year, lets try and do more, and not expect things to be done for us. For me this song by Ben Harper says it all.

Ben Harper  – With my own two hands

Make it a Good New Year

R

The last few weeks have been fairly hectic on a number of levels, but throughout the muddle of it all,  something moulded into shape in my head.

The newly re-kindled practice in photography, is bringing a feeling that I have not had for a long while. A lot of photography is to keep learning, extending your ability to view a scene and to bring it to life in a form of visual impact that can be controlled (or not) on so many levels, and each of these levels is built by a  miriad of links linking techniques, craft,  doggedness, curiosity.

This practice, although perhaps not often enough practiced, is bringing back a feeling of curiosity, a desire to know more and to find a level I am happy at, wherever that may be. Its research, its experimentation, its delving into part of you which allows you to see the world around you sometimes.

I like it, and I wonder where it lead me yet.

R

Photocritic has a great article here, “10 ways to break photographer’s block :: Photocritic photography blog”
What I find most interesting, is his last point, point 10:

“What are you doing reading these guides on the internet anyway? Grab your camera, get out there, do stuff. Stop moaning. No, seriously, outside. Or inside, for that matter. Just do it already!”

It is very true fact.

Currently, I feel I want to take pictures, but I feel I need to understand more about the technique behind what it is I want to shoot. There is a problem though, and to put a term on it, I think I may ‘technique shy’! Its like when you see a girl, and you think she is kinda cute, you get shy (at least I do…), and you do nothing about it. But sometimes, you just gotta grab the bull by the horns, and see what happens.  It may be great, or not so great. Either way, you will have found out that it useful, as you learned something from the experience.

Maybe it is a block of some form, ‘technique shy’ or whatever it is.  One thing I will do though, is to have a go at some of the suggestions Photocritic has.

Nothing to loose, but all to gain…

R

randomness rocks…

while browsing photosites and following links from one blog to the next, I came across this shot here on “Les Particules Etranges”

- which happens to be taken at the place I took the picture below last December!

most excellent!

R

the other day I was looking over the site – and spotted the following google adsense advertisement (see picture below)

interesting way of generating income – with a test page!

R

The first requisite for success is the ability to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem incessantly without growing weary.

—Thomas Edison (1847–1931)

Craig Cook writes a good piece on the different (but equally important!) mentalities to be borne in mind when going about the business of working with websites.

As I alluded too in my last posts, I am coming to the end of a project I have spent working on for over a year. During the course of that project, learning was one of the main components involved. As part of that learning, the three disciolines/modes had to called upon, but were restricted in parts by the technology used – but in fairness – also partially aided by it.

“These three disciplines—writing, engineering, and artistry —are not so different from one another. Each demands creative problem solving, and though each suggests a slightly different angle of attack, the target remains the same. “

and in my case, where I think things were going,

“When you’re able to think easily in all three modes one by one, you will soon find yourself thinking in all three simultaneously.”

Good read,

R

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what a cool idea!

of late I have found myself switching off lights that are currently not needed (e.g. the toilets at work if there is no one using them) or being more aware of the amount of water I put in the kettle when I boil it up for a cuppa). probably due to hearing of (not having read the full thing yet… of the Stern Report wikipedia entry

the idea of something like this service is rather excellent – and I wonder how complicated it would be to arrange for a similar service to be set up here in Ireland!

Personal Kyoto: Achieve Your Own Personal Kyoto Protocol!

By analyzing your ConEd electric usage information, we can calculate a Personal Kyoto Goal for you that represents the amount you need to reduce your electric use to to achieve something like what the Kyoto Protocol would require of you.

apart from the fact that this (good) article is about CSS, I reckon the following lines are very apt and apply to a whole range of situations:

resolve to remove “but” and “should” from your professional vocabulary for a while. Replace them with “how” and “why” and commit to meeting your project objectives.

R

wow! (via Wired)

Bionics (also known as biomimetics, biognosis, biomimicry, or bionical creativity engineering) is the application of methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology. Also a short form of biomechanics, the word ‘bionic’ is actually a portmanteau formed from biology (from the Greek word “βιος”, pronounced “vios”, meaning “life”) and electronic.

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