Lately I have been trying to read as many things as possible. I went to the local library this evening for a quick browse of nothing in particular. I only spent a couple of minutes walking straight through to the biographies and society shelves before picking up a biography of Marlon Brando and Jonathan Foer's Eating Animals.
For quite some time, I have wanted to start reading biographies and memoirs but, however, had never had the motivation to do so. I really needed to find a figure that I would want to learn more about and I guess for me, Brando would be a good place to start.
Over the next few weeks I should have three books on the go! And I may write a little something about each one as I progress through them. Luckily I have quite a lot of spare time currently on my hands.
Thursday 10 November 2011
Tuesday 1 November 2011
Story of a photo
Because I'm trying to stay productive rather than procrastinate, I thought I'd upload my third post of today and share a photo. Probably the last photo I actually took, developed and processed from memory. I think its my favourite so far that I've taken, and I'm thinking of starting a little photo project on people/portraits pretty soon.
I really like photos of people that aren't at all staged or set up in some way. The 'arty' portraits just don't appeal to me in any way at all. I really like the photos of Dorothea Lange in this respect, her photos were real and of real people.
I took this one on Anzac Day this year. A few of my friends and I were walking the streets of Fremantle with our cameras snapping shots of what caught our eyes. I remember walking down the main street which had been closed off to cars, so there were people everywhere walking around. A lot of them were sailors in town to celebrate after the mornings Anzac services. Both her and I spotted each other walking down the street towards each other with cameras, so what followed was a brief photo-duel and a smile.
I took the photo on 35mm film, developed it myself, scanned it into a digital format and tweaked it a little in lightroom. I really don't like to touchup photos too much, but I'm not quite that good yet...
The Revolution will not be televised
Gil Scott-Heron has just recently come into music collection. I'm sure everyone at some point has heard The Revolution Will Not Be Televised which I think was the piece that really gave Scott-Heron a name.
I heard his latest album I'm New Here playing at work a little while back, and without knowing who it was or what it was about - I was completely captured by it. He just has this captivating voice and phrasing of his words.
I would say his latest album is like nothing I've really heard before. A dark and beautiful mix of spoken work, blues, beats and electronica. I'm waiting in on an copy from a record shop in the city but its been on back order for a few weeks now, and they've got no idea when it might come in.
I did by chance one day a few weeks ago find an LP of The Revolution Will Not Be Televised in a stack of records at a shop I was visiting for the first time. And I had to buy it. A good place to start, and I know I'll have to hunt down the rest of his work.
I heard his latest album I'm New Here playing at work a little while back, and without knowing who it was or what it was about - I was completely captured by it. He just has this captivating voice and phrasing of his words.
I would say his latest album is like nothing I've really heard before. A dark and beautiful mix of spoken work, blues, beats and electronica. I'm waiting in on an copy from a record shop in the city but its been on back order for a few weeks now, and they've got no idea when it might come in.
I did by chance one day a few weeks ago find an LP of The Revolution Will Not Be Televised in a stack of records at a shop I was visiting for the first time. And I had to buy it. A good place to start, and I know I'll have to hunt down the rest of his work.
Too much Vonnegut
I had the day off today, and I wasn't expecting to be doing much with my time. I had a bit of a rough sleep and a particularly strange dream which left me in a slightly nonchalant mood all day. I went to a couple of cafes where my friends work, simply trying to find some means of socialising. None of them were working to I turned to the newspaper where I was quite excited about glancing across and seeing a piece by Christopher Hitchens, who I know very little about but have come to respect with a particularly enthusiastic reader from work.
I also had a copy of Kurt Vonnegut's 'Galapagos' which I have been nursing for quite a while now - slowly making my way through it. But this afternoon, fueled by caffeine and a blank, empty mind I finished it. I really enjoyed it, although its been such a struggle for me to read. Vonnegut has this voice, which now after reading this latest novel, has become a lot clearer in my mind. He is has a strong and somewhat daunting satirical humor about the human race - its quite bleak.
He has many characters and ideas, that resonate and reappear through most of what I have read of his fiction. In short, all of which seem to be about humankind's ignorance, which results in our downfall. Although in Galapagos I think there is at least some optimism shrouded in his dark portrail of humanity. The cost of this however, is almost losing what makes us 'human' in the first place, or distinguishes us from other living creatures. I'm not even sure if I agree with what I have just written?
What I do know right now, is that I've definitely read too much Vonnegut as of late, and I'm going to have to mix it up a little. I do love to read Vonnegut, but his style and his words tend to leave me exhausted and confused after consecutive reads.
I also had a copy of Kurt Vonnegut's 'Galapagos' which I have been nursing for quite a while now - slowly making my way through it. But this afternoon, fueled by caffeine and a blank, empty mind I finished it. I really enjoyed it, although its been such a struggle for me to read. Vonnegut has this voice, which now after reading this latest novel, has become a lot clearer in my mind. He is has a strong and somewhat daunting satirical humor about the human race - its quite bleak.
He has many characters and ideas, that resonate and reappear through most of what I have read of his fiction. In short, all of which seem to be about humankind's ignorance, which results in our downfall. Although in Galapagos I think there is at least some optimism shrouded in his dark portrail of humanity. The cost of this however, is almost losing what makes us 'human' in the first place, or distinguishes us from other living creatures. I'm not even sure if I agree with what I have just written?
What I do know right now, is that I've definitely read too much Vonnegut as of late, and I'm going to have to mix it up a little. I do love to read Vonnegut, but his style and his words tend to leave me exhausted and confused after consecutive reads.
Saturday 29 October 2011
Developer Gone Bad
I haven't really shot many photos as of late. Too many other things have gotten in the way and I've been out of film which dosen't help. But I've had a whole bunch of undeveloped film sitting in the fridge and I figured I'd at least try develop all of the black and white film today while I had a free moment.
So I pulled out my first to rolls, and began to set up my makeshift dark room. Only to find that I hadn't stored my LC29 developer correctly and it had begun to react wich something on the lid of the bottle. The solution had turned a funny hazelnut reddish-brown. Like a rusty iron colour. I ended up throwing out the rest of the bottle and found myself lacking an activity for the afternoon.
In the next few days I'll just take all my film to a shop and get someone else to develop it for now. Too much time has past! And I'd rather do some more shooting - which again reminds me I need some film!
My flickr account has been quite dry for the past few months, and I'm really needing - and wanting - to get back into it. ARGH!
So I pulled out my first to rolls, and began to set up my makeshift dark room. Only to find that I hadn't stored my LC29 developer correctly and it had begun to react wich something on the lid of the bottle. The solution had turned a funny hazelnut reddish-brown. Like a rusty iron colour. I ended up throwing out the rest of the bottle and found myself lacking an activity for the afternoon.
In the next few days I'll just take all my film to a shop and get someone else to develop it for now. Too much time has past! And I'd rather do some more shooting - which again reminds me I need some film!
My flickr account has been quite dry for the past few months, and I'm really needing - and wanting - to get back into it. ARGH!
Thursday 27 October 2011
Getting started
Yet again, I begin to start a new blog. To be honest I've started quite a few - none of which have really lasted more than a few posts. This time however will be different! This time I will not promise to keep writing regular posts! So I won't feel too bad if in a few months time I return and delete this blog - hopefully that won't happen.
For a long time I've been thinking about starting writing regularly on a few things. Coffee for one. The delicious beverage that keeps me employed. I thought it would be a great way of keeping track of the day to day affairs of the cafe, and the coffee's and their brewing methods from time to time. But I decided against it because I would simply bored myself. And I've tried similar things in the past to no avail.
What kick started this little blog was actually food. I've always enjoyed cooking, especially for other people - and lately I've really wanted to start learning more and more. I hate the idea of pre-mix "off the shelf" meals where everything is done for you. There is no passion, and no energy in the cooking - or the eating for that matter. Blah!
So just one hour ago, at 10:30pm on a thursday night: I decided to make muffins from scratch. It was very much a spur of the moment act, but honestly, who the hell doesn't want muffins at midnight!
After I ate them all, I thought I should have taken a photo and put it in a blog so I can keep track of how it went; what I would change; and what ideas it'd give me for the future. And now I'm here!
So I'll leave it here for now, and say goodnight - because I'll be getting up tomorrow on another day off to make myself a nice breakfast!
For a long time I've been thinking about starting writing regularly on a few things. Coffee for one. The delicious beverage that keeps me employed. I thought it would be a great way of keeping track of the day to day affairs of the cafe, and the coffee's and their brewing methods from time to time. But I decided against it because I would simply bored myself. And I've tried similar things in the past to no avail.
What kick started this little blog was actually food. I've always enjoyed cooking, especially for other people - and lately I've really wanted to start learning more and more. I hate the idea of pre-mix "off the shelf" meals where everything is done for you. There is no passion, and no energy in the cooking - or the eating for that matter. Blah!
So just one hour ago, at 10:30pm on a thursday night: I decided to make muffins from scratch. It was very much a spur of the moment act, but honestly, who the hell doesn't want muffins at midnight!
After I ate them all, I thought I should have taken a photo and put it in a blog so I can keep track of how it went; what I would change; and what ideas it'd give me for the future. And now I'm here!
So I'll leave it here for now, and say goodnight - because I'll be getting up tomorrow on another day off to make myself a nice breakfast!
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