tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70560955886951350802024-02-08T11:12:29.577+00:00Christian's Blog PageChris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-54390294802145017602010-01-01T02:29:00.012+00:002010-01-03T11:29:24.282+00:00Happy New Year 2010<div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/S0B_dUAemwI/AAAAAAAAA78/pOJdfIYPaSI/s1600-h/star+wars+podracer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/S0B_dUAemwI/AAAAAAAAA78/pOJdfIYPaSI/s320/star+wars+podracer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422474092917725954" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/S0B_XD5fWRI/AAAAAAAAA70/9H0UZh1TdBA/s1600-h/star+wars+podracer+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/S0B_XD5fWRI/AAAAAAAAA70/9H0UZh1TdBA/s320/star+wars+podracer+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422473985514232082" /></a></div>Happy New Year, everyone! :)Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-86559986131900062582009-12-26T02:46:00.014+00:002010-04-08T16:43:43.613+01:00Sculpture by the Sea 2009<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWKSop57nI/AAAAAAAAA5s/_6IsMHi4Oy0/s1600-h/sculpture.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWKSop57nI/AAAAAAAAA5s/_6IsMHi4Oy0/s320/sculpture.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419389779365719666" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWKMgiTAUI/AAAAAAAAA5k/UV_b1f_3YSc/s1600-h/horse.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWKMgiTAUI/AAAAAAAAA5k/UV_b1f_3YSc/s320/horse.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419389674107109698" /></a></div>Every year around the end of spring or early summer, there is a sculpture exhibition along the beaches from Bondi to Tamarama. These beaches form part of the eastern beaches coastal walk, a scenic walk that I love to go on if the weather is right. This year's <span style="font-style:italic;">Sculpture by the Sea</span> was held from the 29th Oct to the 15th Nov 2009. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWKFII52pI/AAAAAAAAA5c/vyXMCciR_1c/s1600-h/skull.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWKFII52pI/AAAAAAAAA5c/vyXMCciR_1c/s320/skull.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419389547299068562" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWJ_uQHjKI/AAAAAAAAA5U/6D5t0aJAOvg/s1600-h/petrol.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWJ_uQHjKI/AAAAAAAAA5U/6D5t0aJAOvg/s320/petrol.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419389454450658466" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWJ5CutUlI/AAAAAAAAA5M/1ceERk5lnSk/s1600-h/illums.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWJ5CutUlI/AAAAAAAAA5M/1ceERk5lnSk/s320/illums.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419389339688587858" /></a>I started my walk from Tamarama Beach and worked my way up north. Sculptures of all sizes and designs littered the beach, from skulls made of used Coke bottles to petrol station pumps in the middle of the sand. Note that the two girls sunbathing in the pic above are not part of the exhibition! (It's the structure <span style="font-style:italic;">behind </span>them, see?) But with the weather so nice, I couldn't resist slapping on some sun block and getting a bit of sun myself :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWJwUTi1DI/AAAAAAAAA5E/lQdB230jcPM/s1600-h/windmill.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWJwUTi1DI/AAAAAAAAA5E/lQdB230jcPM/s320/windmill.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419389189787669554" /></a>The pics posted here show just some of the sculptures displayed. There were so many interesting (and weird) stuff to see that I went back another day to look at some of the stuff I missed the first time around. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWJGM7-QII/AAAAAAAAA48/Llkd_kas3Ag/s1600-h/three+men.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWJGM7-QII/AAAAAAAAA48/Llkd_kas3Ag/s320/three+men.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419388466255249538" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWJF1zcOsI/AAAAAAAAA40/m6hshtPQyjA/s1600-h/the+eight.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWJF1zcOsI/AAAAAAAAA40/m6hshtPQyjA/s320/the+eight.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419388460045449922" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWJFh-g7AI/AAAAAAAAA4s/lkmrFPPGrT4/s1600-h/transition.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWJFh-g7AI/AAAAAAAAA4s/lkmrFPPGrT4/s320/transition.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419388454723185666" /></a>My favourite sculpture is the one below entitled <span style="font-style:italic;">Arte de las Playas</span> (Art of Beaches) by Alejandro Propato from Argentina. It was a collection of huge coloured flags that whipped and lashed above my head as I stood looking at them. Situated at the top of a hill, this 'sculpture' made use of the strong winds to create interesting shapes in the air. Isn't that just brilliant? :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWIurpxTxI/AAAAAAAAA4k/oJdU-fvmJV0/s1600-h/arte+de+las+playas.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWIurpxTxI/AAAAAAAAA4k/oJdU-fvmJV0/s320/arte+de+las+playas.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419388062183542546" /></a>Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-11416952154593740522009-11-19T13:31:00.016+00:002010-04-08T16:43:19.968+01:00Festival of the Winds<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWU9S1vB1I/AAAAAAAAA7M/veagq5qmpAI/s1600-h/banner.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWU9S1vB1I/AAAAAAAAA7M/veagq5qmpAI/s320/banner.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419401507360409426" /></a></div>Here's an event that took place on Sunday the 13th September 2009. It was a kite flying festival held at Bondi Beach, called the <span style="font-style:italic;">Festival of the Winds</span>. Kites of all shapes and sizes filled the skies.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWUxv_XtsI/AAAAAAAAA7E/S2R14aIVc_0/s1600-h/kites2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWUxv_XtsI/AAAAAAAAA7E/S2R14aIVc_0/s320/kites2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419401309027022530" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWUxERsHnI/AAAAAAAAA68/wElz2tYoS30/s1600-h/kites1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWUxERsHnI/AAAAAAAAA68/wElz2tYoS30/s320/kites1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419401297292697202" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWUw3E15wI/AAAAAAAAA60/h2Drn-2LuAI/s1600-h/kites3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWUw3E15wI/AAAAAAAAA60/h2Drn-2LuAI/s320/kites3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419401293749151490" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWUwq-OqUI/AAAAAAAAA6s/Ak81VL4-ASM/s1600-h/kites4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWUwq-OqUI/AAAAAAAAA6s/Ak81VL4-ASM/s320/kites4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419401290500188482" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWUwN1Co6I/AAAAAAAAA6k/M09Zk46I8aM/s1600-h/kites5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWUwN1Co6I/AAAAAAAAA6k/M09Zk46I8aM/s320/kites5.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419401282677023650" /></a>There were also musicians, kite making workshops, face painting, a kite exhibition and pony rides, among other things. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWUe3nM2GI/AAAAAAAAA6c/55tvcuC636Y/s1600-h/musicians.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWUe3nM2GI/AAAAAAAAA6c/55tvcuC636Y/s320/musicians.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419400984655616098" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWUT9YaknI/AAAAAAAAA6U/mMOlvC-HqGM/s1600-h/exhibit1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWUT9YaknI/AAAAAAAAA6U/mMOlvC-HqGM/s320/exhibit1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419400797225652850" /></a>The weather was also perfect, with blue skies. Too bad so few people turned up at the beach.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWTl9eQ3QI/AAAAAAAAA6E/KvEDU0Yc_us/s1600-h/crowd.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWTl9eQ3QI/AAAAAAAAA6E/KvEDU0Yc_us/s320/crowd.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419400006976199938" /></a>Kidding! The beach was unbelievably crowded! It was like sardines in a can, and it's not even summer. Finally, as the setting sun bathed the cliffs in an orange glow, I left the beach and started my walk home. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWTRlf-OhI/AAAAAAAAA50/-8dxsCPf55w/s1600-h/evening.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SzWTRlf-OhI/AAAAAAAAA50/-8dxsCPf55w/s320/evening.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419399656943532562" /></a>Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-50691497150430069672009-09-13T13:43:00.014+01:002010-04-08T16:46:39.839+01:00Paddington Reservoir Gardens<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SqzsY5labbI/AAAAAAAAA2g/knNu1SfslOI/s1600-h/prg01.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SqzsY5labbI/AAAAAAAAA2g/knNu1SfslOI/s320/prg01.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380935567319657906" /></a></div>A couple of weekends back, I visited Paddington Reservoir Gardens, located across the street from Paddington Town Hall here in Sydney. Paddington Reservoir Gardens was officially opened on the 29th March 2009. It was originally built between 1866 and 1878, and was a crucial part of Sydney’s early water supply but was finally decommissioned in 1899. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SqzsSfpk8eI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/Mae35Dyf1Ag/s1600-h/prg02.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SqzsSfpk8eI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/Mae35Dyf1Ag/s320/prg02.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380935457278587362" /></a>The renewal of Paddington Reservoir Gardens won the 2009 Australian Award for Urban Design.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SqzsLWxb8mI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/wA85i9J2Xd8/s1600-h/prg03.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SqzsLWxb8mI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/wA85i9J2Xd8/s320/prg03.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380935334636548706" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SqzsEkYAToI/AAAAAAAAA2I/WKwERpvB5Rg/s1600-h/prg06.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SqzsEkYAToI/AAAAAAAAA2I/WKwERpvB5Rg/s320/prg06.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380935218028891778" /></a>Paddington Reservoir Gardens is not a large place, but it's a nice little oasis of calm in the middle of a busy part of the city. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sqzr7frRzQI/AAAAAAAAA2A/W5GjShcxShg/s1600-h/prg08.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sqzr7frRzQI/AAAAAAAAA2A/W5GjShcxShg/s320/prg08.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380935062148730114" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SqzrV8r6a1I/AAAAAAAAA14/pOEH2ONc5fA/s1600-h/prg09.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SqzrV8r6a1I/AAAAAAAAA14/pOEH2ONc5fA/s320/prg09.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380934417100991314" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SqzrNiWxVWI/AAAAAAAAA1w/5snYKrOUUkI/s1600-h/prg10.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SqzrNiWxVWI/AAAAAAAAA1w/5snYKrOUUkI/s320/prg10.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380934272594040162" /></a>Although it covers only a small area, this is an interesting place for photography and I found myself visiting it twice at different times of the day. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SqzrF8UqgxI/AAAAAAAAA1o/lsnG6TzKw-s/s1600-h/prg12.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SqzrF8UqgxI/AAAAAAAAA1o/lsnG6TzKw-s/s320/prg12.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380934142125572882" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sqzq6OhRj9I/AAAAAAAAA1g/Omvql1w7cho/s1600-h/prg13.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sqzq6OhRj9I/AAAAAAAAA1g/Omvql1w7cho/s320/prg13.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380933940851871698" /></a>Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-86972879851752157242009-09-06T11:01:00.008+01:002010-04-08T16:54:10.396+01:00Disney buys Marvel<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/S737tMu4YLI/AAAAAAAAA8E/CdP0EaimFRs/s1600/X-mouse.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/S737tMu4YLI/AAAAAAAAA8E/CdP0EaimFRs/s320/X-mouse.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457795077373452466"></a></div>Disney is buying Marvel for US$4 billion! Yep, that's four BILLION dollars. Images of Marvel/Disney character crossover amalgams are now popping up all over the net. So instead of doing my work as I should, I thought it'd be nice to spend my afternoon doing yet another Marvel/Disney "mash-up" to add to the many that are already on the net! I give you... X-MOUSE! :)Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-20548806500383076572009-09-04T15:09:00.005+01:002009-09-04T15:27:31.067+01:00Quotes - Terry Pratchett<em>Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.</em><br /><div> </div><br /><p></p>Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-66659896099068564832009-08-27T13:32:00.012+01:002012-02-25T04:01:56.100+00:00InceptionWhen news came out that Christopher Nolan was going to work on a movie called <span style="font-style:italic;">Inception</span>, people thought it was going to be a small movie. Imagine their surprise when it was revealed that the movie has a budget of more than $200 million! For months, journalists and fans have been trying to find out more about this movie but everything is being kept top-secret, so much so rumour started that <span style="font-style:italic;">Inception </span>was actually the working title for the third Batman movie by Nolan. That was proven to be false but even after the cast was made known, nobody involved with the movie is revealing anything. A week ago, the first teaser trailer was released. All that is known is that the story has something to do with the 'architecture of the mind'. Unlike James Cameron's <span style="font-style:italic;">Avatar</span>, <span style="font-style:italic;">Inception </span>is certainly very hush-hush, which makes me extremely curious.Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-74324642222932722502009-08-20T16:35:00.013+01:002010-04-08T17:00:38.819+01:00The Crafting of Narnia / Basement Books<div>Before I went to England, I often went to discount book stores to buy books. Sometimes I'd find some really good bargains for film, art or design books. Unfortunately, when I came back from England, I discovered most of the discount book stores have closed. I was therefore happy to find one of my favourites is still open for business. Basement Books is located at the end of Central Station's underground pedestrian tunnel. A couple of weeks back, I bought <em>The Crafting of Narnia</em> (a book that retails elsewhere at AU$45.00) for AU$12.95.</div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/So15celkhtI/AAAAAAAAA1A/x0eI0_OEuEc/s1600-h/crafting+narnia.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/So15celkhtI/AAAAAAAAA1A/x0eI0_OEuEc/s320/crafting+narnia.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372083460676814546" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/So15bjplLII/AAAAAAAAA04/2yreiSp_PnE/s1600-h/cair+paravel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/So15bjplLII/AAAAAAAAA04/2yreiSp_PnE/s320/cair+paravel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372083444855942274" /></a>If you're interested in film post-production, then this book is a bargain. Creatures, castles, weapons and other beautiful art fill the pages. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/So15a2tmiAI/AAAAAAAAA0o/iy1oPofIAto/s1600-h/centaurs1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/So15a2tmiAI/AAAAAAAAA0o/iy1oPofIAto/s320/centaurs1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372083432793212930" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/So15Mi-FojI/AAAAAAAAA0g/EL1CKJEurgM/s1600-h/centaurs2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 249px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/So15Mi-FojI/AAAAAAAAA0g/EL1CKJEurgM/s320/centaurs2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372083186975482418" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/So15bVHEKQI/AAAAAAAAA0w/Pf-fdHqqEk4/s1600-h/edmunds+sword.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/So15bVHEKQI/AAAAAAAAA0w/Pf-fdHqqEk4/s320/edmunds+sword.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372083440953075970" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/So15MMqV3AI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/kXQ2enDh4A8/s1600-h/castle.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/So15MMqV3AI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/kXQ2enDh4A8/s320/castle.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372083180987079682" /></a>The full address for Basement Books is Shop 1, Henry Deane Plaza, 2 Lee Street, Haymarket, Sydney. If you're ever in the area, do drop by and have a look. You never know, you may find something you'll like!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/So15LylRRsI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/J2UFMEJpZMc/s1600-h/dancing+lawn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/So15LylRRsI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/J2UFMEJpZMc/s320/dancing+lawn.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372083173986485954" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/So15Lh_P4tI/AAAAAAAAA0I/SnlIe-e0V0U/s1600-h/miraz+castle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/So15Lh_P4tI/AAAAAAAAA0I/SnlIe-e0V0U/s320/miraz+castle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372083169532043986" /></a>Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-46097738771531153422009-08-13T05:46:00.009+01:002010-04-08T17:05:51.202+01:00City 2 Surf 2009<div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOltHfnKvI/AAAAAAAAAzY/AIifSdR5cfY/s1600-h/bondi3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOltHfnKvI/AAAAAAAAAzY/AIifSdR5cfY/s320/bondi3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369317375280098034" /></a></div>City 2 Surf is a 14km run from the heart of Sydney (near Hyde Park) to the famous Bondi Beach. This year, it was held on the 9th August and 75,000 people participated. Each year, the run starts at 9am and the winners usually take about 40 to 45 minutes to complete the course. But this is also a fun-run so in addition to the serious runners, you also get families participating (complete with babies in strollers), and people with superhero costumes or goofy getups. Winter is coming to an end and people are already spending weekends at the beach.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOlsueCs_I/AAAAAAAAAzQ/946VlS5yxuE/s1600-h/bondi2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOlsueCs_I/AAAAAAAAAzQ/946VlS5yxuE/s320/bondi2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369317368562627570" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOlsQn4rsI/AAAAAAAAAzI/aIJ1lc8Pkgg/s1600-h/bondi1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOlsQn4rsI/AAAAAAAAAzI/aIJ1lc8Pkgg/s320/bondi1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369317360550850242" /></a>Throw in another 75,000 people and Bondi Beach was one crowded beach last weekend! Some were there for the run, some were there to watch the Australian Idol singers performing, and others just took the opportunity to make a political statement or two! <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOkjTiymzI/AAAAAAAAAyw/9ZC7rzDY5Co/s1600-h/australian_idol.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOkjTiymzI/AAAAAAAAAyw/9ZC7rzDY5Co/s320/australian_idol.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369316107204336434" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOlrrdAY2I/AAAAAAAAAy4/M6BZ84_YGFE/s1600-h/politics.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOlrrdAY2I/AAAAAAAAAy4/M6BZ84_YGFE/s320/politics.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369317350573106018" /></a>Participants also get a participation medal... but this year, they didn't have enough for those who crossed the finish line really late (people were still strolling across the finish line a couple of hours after the start of the run). <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOlr_3eUSI/AAAAAAAAAzA/Ix1EHbkmNww/s1600-h/finish_line.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOlr_3eUSI/AAAAAAAAAzA/Ix1EHbkmNww/s320/finish_line.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369317356052828450" /></a>I'm thinking this is probably because a) they didn't make medals for everyone b) more than 75,000 people participated in the end or c) 75,000 people participated but some collected more than one medal! How inconsiderate! :)<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOki1lcPNI/AAAAAAAAAyo/XmFyZxDbwtY/s1600-h/medal.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOki1lcPNI/AAAAAAAAAyo/XmFyZxDbwtY/s320/medal.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369316099162389714" /></a>And I hope no one had an urgent need to go to the toilet because the line was really long!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOkiYFtDtI/AAAAAAAAAyg/Y5uCY5aZ2NE/s1600-h/toilet1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOkiYFtDtI/AAAAAAAAAyg/Y5uCY5aZ2NE/s320/toilet1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369316091244646098" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOkhHPiOQI/AAAAAAAAAyY/YUESsQZ5WEg/s1600-h/toilet2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOkhHPiOQI/AAAAAAAAAyY/YUESsQZ5WEg/s320/toilet2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369316069542607106" /></a>When I was leaving the area, I saw another long line that streched the entire length of the street. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOkg46jRQI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/I_2tNfMLRmE/s1600-h/bus_queue.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SoOkg46jRQI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/I_2tNfMLRmE/s320/bus_queue.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369316065696498946" /></a>At first, I thought they were waiting to buy lunch at the shops, but after walking to the very end of the street, I saw that they were waiting for the bus! Good thing I live within walking distance! :)Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-41433679651278643622009-06-23T14:11:00.022+01:002012-02-25T04:03:26.003+00:00I'd like you to meet Milo<div>During the recent E3 press conference three weeks ago in Los Angeles, a new type of computer interaction was unveiled. Meet Milo.</div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='480' height='330' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyqIsTT7XhG0ykrseVhHAdIFG5jDJKtLmqKXNW80uaGhKfaz9UrXzJY-TZ91IoCBJ7ld21mEGHbEkEJE6B3hg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Milo is a virtual character that can <span style="font-style: italic;">recognise faces, voices and emotions!</span> That’s almost like ‘real’ artificial intelligence. Put this algorithm into a physical metallic body and <span style="font-style: italic;">voila</span>, you’ve got yourself a Terminator! Ok, I’m kidding... but still. The kind of interactivity shown in this video is truly groundbreaking. There have been similar technology in the past but none as seamless as this. Hard to imagine that 20 years ago, computers were giant cabinet sized machines, and now we have <span style="font-style: italic;">this</span>? Is it real or is it just hype? <br /><br />A selected number of journalists were invited to demo Milo. <span style="font-style: italic;">Wired</span> has reported that Milo is real. During a test, when <span style="font-style: italic;">Game Informer</span> magazine editor Andy McNamara stood in front of Milo and said his name, Milo responded ‘Hi Andy. I see you’re wearing green today’ (Source: <a href="http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2009/06/project-natal/">Wired</a>). Others have reported that it’s fake (Source: <a href="http://gamer.blorge.com/2009/06/07/exposed-natel-milo-smoke-and-mirrors-by-peter-molyneux/">Gamer</a>). But real or not, everyone who's into interactive gaming just can’t stop talking about it. <br /><br />Milo is a part of Project Natal. No release date has been confirmed but it will probably be within the next year and a half, most probably sooner. I’m really interested to see how this will work out... it's all pretty cool, don't you think?Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-40346987858908140752009-06-22T03:00:00.015+01:002010-04-08T17:31:53.988+01:00Sydney Vivid Festival - Part 2<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7nOfbgyQI/AAAAAAAAAyI/phuNVKQgDwg/s1600-h/vivid+festival.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7nOfbgyQI/AAAAAAAAAyI/phuNVKQgDwg/s320/vivid+festival.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349967643503806722" /></a></div>I went back to the Sydney Vivid Festival on the evening of Saturday 13 June and did the entire Smart Light walk from the Opera House to Observatory Hill. Again, I took photos of the Opera House, this time from the forecourt area as well. The Opera House exhibit was titled <span style="font-style:italic;">Lighting the Sails</span>, by artist and musician Brian Eno from the UK. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7nA1L9ooI/AAAAAAAAAyA/F9v574keeOs/s1600-h/opera+house+forecourt.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7nA1L9ooI/AAAAAAAAAyA/F9v574keeOs/s320/opera+house+forecourt.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349967408826000002" /></a>I then went to the Passenger Terminal near the Rocks and took more photos from across the water. The two photos below were taken from the same spot, one at max wide angle (27mm) and the other at max zoom (486mm). This new camera has almost double the zoom of the one I took to Amsterdam. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7m6xscMJI/AAAAAAAAAx4/eCi_WRVYOBM/s1600-h/max+wide.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7m6xscMJI/AAAAAAAAAx4/eCi_WRVYOBM/s320/max+wide.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349967304809263250" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7m10OMQ4I/AAAAAAAAAxw/xUBzUIK2aFg/s1600-h/max+zoom.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7m10OMQ4I/AAAAAAAAAxw/xUBzUIK2aFg/s320/max+zoom.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349967219588350850" /></a>Next stop was <span style="font-style:italic;">Janus</span>, a display of lights suspended over an alley in the Rocks which resembled a face. <span style="font-style:italic;">Janus </span>was by Tom Barker and Hank Haeusler from Australia. Public interaction controlled the changing mood of the face each night. You could even send emails of your face to be used as a display. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7mt2CRLSI/AAAAAAAAAxo/xmUEU9eX52g/s1600-h/janus.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7mt2CRLSI/AAAAAAAAAxo/xmUEU9eX52g/s320/janus.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349967082636258594" /></a><span style="font-style:italic;">Human Tiles</span> was by Carole Purnelle and Nuno Maya from Portugal. The projection of tiles was made from the colours of people’s clothing, which were video captured in real time and projected unto the wall. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7mdpTWk4I/AAAAAAAAAxg/LWsy7WrkyuU/s1600-h/P1000343.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7mdpTWk4I/AAAAAAAAAxg/LWsy7WrkyuU/s320/P1000343.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349966804340347778" /></a>I then headed towards Observatory Hill and passed a tunnel with lighted ceiling. This was <span style="font-style:italic;">Rocklights </span>by Ingo Bracke from Germany. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7mVM_w-TI/AAAAAAAAAxY/fUZftVCG4ao/s1600-h/P1000358.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7mVM_w-TI/AAAAAAAAAxY/fUZftVCG4ao/s320/P1000358.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349966659303045426" /></a>Next was a display of used plastic Coke bottles lighted from the inside to resemble <span style="font-style:italic;">Fireflies</span>. This exhibit by Francesco Mariotti from Switzerland was the most difficult to photograph, mainly due to my stubborn refusal to buy a tripod for night photography! I dislike carrying camera equipment with me (even though I love photography) and for this exhibit, there was no place for me to rest the camera so I ended up taking hand held shots with speeds as slow as 2.5 seconds. The tiny green lights were also flickering on and off really fast (they’re fireflies, after all), making focusing difficult. This was taken hand held at 2.5 seconds but I absentmindedly started to lower the camera before the time was up, creating the streaks which I ended up liking :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7mOTTzpnI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/79xKFThy8L4/s1600-h/P1000363.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7mOTTzpnI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/79xKFThy8L4/s320/P1000363.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349966540738635378" /></a>Then it was up to Observatory Hill for a final display of <span style="font-style:italic;">Weather Projection</span> by Alex Haw from the UK, where a virtual sky was projected unto the ceiling of the Rotunda on the hill. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7mHVPKLZI/AAAAAAAAAxI/GylK9IHOVOw/s1600-h/P1000372.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7mHVPKLZI/AAAAAAAAAxI/GylK9IHOVOw/s320/P1000372.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349966420996926866" /></a>I also took a few photos of the Sydney skyline at night. The photo below shows the skyline of North Sydney. The Opera House is behind the Harbour Bridge on the right (outside the frame).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7mA6Mz7NI/AAAAAAAAAxA/YN75rGHe4jk/s1600-h/sydney+night.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/Sj7mA6Mz7NI/AAAAAAAAAxA/YN75rGHe4jk/s320/sydney+night.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349966310660107474" /></a>All in all, it was an interesting festival featuring some impressive displays (25 in total - I visited only about half of them). I hope they have this festival again next year, I’d love to go again.Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-51207343764503297402009-06-20T08:28:00.011+01:002010-04-08T17:37:01.357+01:00Barclay (Ads Part 2)<div><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-23e264407be65b2 height=330 width=480 contentId="23e264407be65b2"></OBJECT></div><br />Back in January, I posted the Hovis ad from the UK which I thought was very well made. This is another ad, a funny one by Barclay, also from the UK. Whenever I see something like this, I'm always interested to know how they did it, so I'm including a behind-the-scenes pic for those who feel as curious as I do! :)<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SjyUH8s0LiI/AAAAAAAAAw4/AeUhGZmklgo/s1600-h/barclay.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SjyUH8s0LiI/AAAAAAAAAw4/AeUhGZmklgo/s320/barclay.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349313321683398178" /></a>Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-61503594811128687822009-05-30T04:21:00.018+01:002010-04-08T17:46:04.988+01:00Sydney Vivid Festival - Part 1<div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SiCopIbHhLI/AAAAAAAAAwY/T4bFCM4_xC4/s1600-h/opera_house.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SiCopIbHhLI/AAAAAAAAAwY/T4bFCM4_xC4/s320/opera_house.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341454582650733746" /></a></div>Ta-daa! The Sydney Opera House like you've never seen it before! :) I went to Sydney harbour this past Thursday to look at the Sydney Vivid Festival exhibits and took some photos of the Sydney Opera House lighted up in different colours and designs. I’ve seen this kind of lighting before, both here in Sydney and also in Bradford, England where they lighted up the Bradford Town Hall, but the scale of it here is much bigger as the Opera House is a really huge building. <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SiCovF4jIdI/AAAAAAAAAwg/HGZhZ9SBO_I/s1600-h/opera_house2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SiCovF4jIdI/AAAAAAAAAwg/HGZhZ9SBO_I/s320/opera_house2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341454685048086994" /></a>I also took pictures of the Museum of Contemporary Arts which is also lighted up in different designs, one of which reminds me of Gotham city, so I added the Bat signal to the pic.. hehe. I had to leave before seeing all the designs for the Opera House as I had to catch the last train home. The Vivid Festival is on until the 14th June so I'll probably go again if I find the time as there are still lots I haven't seen. <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SiCtvJoOy8I/AAAAAAAAAww/dCCZEonGd6I/s1600-h/museum.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SiCtvJoOy8I/AAAAAAAAAww/dCCZEonGd6I/s320/museum.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341460183611526082" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SiCozzki-kI/AAAAAAAAAwo/qm1_00mxZP8/s1600-h/sydney_bat_signal.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SiCozzki-kI/AAAAAAAAAwo/qm1_00mxZP8/s320/sydney_bat_signal.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341454766031698498" /></a>Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-41314631861143742642009-04-18T11:49:00.008+01:002010-04-08T17:54:33.488+01:00Susan Boyle<OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-e5dbd3d2c0df53c4 height=340 width=480 contentId="e5dbd3d2c0df53c4"></OBJECT><br /><br />With talent/variety shows, you never really know what you're going to get. Some acts are really good, some are funny, some are bad and some, like Susan Boyle... well, have a look.Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-71871577650533101192009-04-04T05:58:00.009+01:002010-04-08T18:07:34.067+01:009<OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-c2ca983b9ffcaccb height=320 width=460 contentId="c2ca983b9ffcaccb"></OBJECT><br /><br />This looks absolutely amazing! Even the name is cool... <EM>9</EM>. :)Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-6545643163493688522009-02-26T01:04:00.008+00:002010-04-08T18:09:42.565+01:00Dancing by Matt Harding<div><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-af76e6e546cef6d4 height=330 width=460 contentId="af76e6e546cef6d4"></OBJECT></div><br />This is another video from the Adobe CS4 Roadshow. It's made by Matt Harding, who filmed himself doing a silly dance in various places around the world. It's actually his third video (if you're interested in the full story, refer to his website <A href="http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/">www.wherethehellismatt.com</A>). <br /><br />I love this video! I've even downloaded a High Definition full screen version of it. Since it was put online about 8 months ago, it has been viewed almost 20 million times on YouTube alone! The video has now become a worldwide phenomenon with Matt getting emails from around the world, requests for lectures and talks, and also sponsors.Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-53318577358913119622009-02-24T16:14:00.011+00:002010-04-08T18:17:19.459+01:00Did You Know? by Karl Fisch<DIV><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-fde888bfacb6f800 height=320 width=360 contentId="fde888bfacb6f800"></OBJECT></DIV><br />I went for an Adobe Creative Suite 4 Roadshow at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour recently. This is a video made by Karl Fisch which I saw at the CS4 Roadshow. Karl is a high school administrator in Centennial, Colorado USA. The video was originally intended for his staff at the Arapahoe High School, but it went viral and millions of people have now seen this thought-provoking piece of work. The information presented in the video is about technological growth. I found it both interesting and yet scary at the same time. Skynet, anyone?Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-30106487400632760972009-02-21T04:45:00.012+00:002010-04-08T18:25:02.241+01:00Sunset<div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SZ_gVOK_ywI/AAAAAAAAAwI/0MubyTPs_sU/s1600-h/sunset_02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SZ_gVOK_ywI/AAAAAAAAAwI/0MubyTPs_sU/s320/sunset_02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305205541251828482" /></a></div>It's been more than a month since I've done any 3D work due to being busy with other stuff, and I've been itching to do some digital effects work, not necessarily in 3D, just about anything really. So this morning, I decided to play around with Photoshop a bit and came up with this. The original non-edited photo was taken a few weeks ago in my back garden and can be seen <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SZ-KnPfwXSI/AAAAAAAAAv4/a85kCv2fnZc/s1600-h/sunset_01.JPG">here</a>. A big difference, eh?Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-77453928410122323682009-02-11T02:10:00.012+00:002009-02-11T03:17:13.684+00:00Sydney, Australia<div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SZI8PA2EZPI/AAAAAAAAAvw/yKrh-xmZYps/s1600-h/sydney2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SZI8PA2EZPI/AAAAAAAAAvw/yKrh-xmZYps/s320/sydney2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301365939990979826" /></a></div>So what's happening to the weather nowadays? I was reading the blog of a cousin in Bristol, England and it seems they're having the coldest winter in 20 years. Photos of snow-covered landscape dotted his site. And here in Sydney, the weather has been really hot. We've been in the middle of a heatwave for weeks now, with temperatures going over 40°C in some places for more than 9 consecutive days, and more than 50 bushfires burning in various places in NSW at one point in time. Entire picturesque towns have been burned off the map in Victoria down south. It's now Australia's worst ever natural disaster with many lives lost. Then all of a sudden, the temperature drops <em>drastically </em>the past 2 days. Yesterday was the coldest February day in Sydney for 17 years with the <em>highest </em>daytime temperature only 19°C! The next few days are forecasted to be more or less the same. It just makes you wonder what's happening to the weather everywhere.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SZI7ry8EdBI/AAAAAAAAAvo/2J09ZkKAKbc/s1600-h/sydney1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SZI7ry8EdBI/AAAAAAAAAvo/2J09ZkKAKbc/s320/sydney1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301365334962631698" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SZI7gK0Di9I/AAAAAAAAAvg/rlTepK3Xm2c/s1600-h/volendam1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SZI7gK0Di9I/AAAAAAAAAvg/rlTepK3Xm2c/s320/volendam1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301365135213038546" /></a>A while back (when the weather wasn't so extreme) I was at Sydney Harbour and took some photos of the <em>Volendam</em>, a Holland-America Line cruise ship. Coincidentally, they were having a drill that day, and everyone had to 'abandon ship'. It reminded me a bit of the movie <em>Titanic</em>, except no one panicked and the life boats were a lot more modern. I haven't been to the beach yet since coming back to Sydney... maybe when the weather is more moderate.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SZI7RlBODUI/AAAAAAAAAvY/535qTfpLC2k/s1600-h/volendam2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SZI7RlBODUI/AAAAAAAAAvY/535qTfpLC2k/s320/volendam2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301364884549537090" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SZI65pfENzI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/CISn5ph_UHE/s1600-h/Volendam.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SZI65pfENzI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/CISn5ph_UHE/s320/Volendam.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301364473431602994" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SZI6qYt100I/AAAAAAAAAvI/VYJSPTjaO2I/s1600-h/volendam3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SZI6qYt100I/AAAAAAAAAvI/VYJSPTjaO2I/s320/volendam3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301364211232133954" /></a>Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-7653062201790884582009-01-30T04:22:00.017+00:002010-04-08T18:35:07.850+01:00Australia Day / Chinese New Year<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SYKYEvKHCbI/AAAAAAAAAvA/deqxK_E0w1M/s1600-h/boules.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296963318886894002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SYKYEvKHCbI/AAAAAAAAAvA/deqxK_E0w1M/s320/boules.JPG" border="0" /></a>January 26 is Australia Day, which coincidentally also happens to be Chinese New Year this year. Every Australia Day, a few of the families on the street where I live go to a park nearby and have a get-together... a picnic and a friendly competition of boules (a form of lawn bowl). It's a nice, 'feel good' time attended by both young and old.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SYKXx8ZVxwI/AAAAAAAAAu4/FdrCw_lu5xg/s1600-h/waiting.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296962996022920962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SYKXx8ZVxwI/AAAAAAAAAu4/FdrCw_lu5xg/s320/waiting.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SYKXn0hNNMI/AAAAAAAAAuw/0hehRx4lPF4/s1600-h/chat.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296962822109738178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SYKXn0hNNMI/AAAAAAAAAuw/0hehRx4lPF4/s320/chat.JPG" border="0" /></a>At events like these, I try to make use of the opportunity to take some nice photos. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't so great, the sky was cloudy and it even rained a little.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SYKXTCXgCiI/AAAAAAAAAuo/19uvfnordiU/s1600-h/photographer.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296962465049872930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SYKXTCXgCiI/AAAAAAAAAuo/19uvfnordiU/s320/photographer.JPG" border="0" /></a>As you can see, I wasn't the only photographer on the scene... I did managed to capture some 'Kodak Moments' such as this picture of Geoff and Tim.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SYKXFs_U1WI/AAAAAAAAAug/UT9H096ixHs/s1600-h/kodak_moment.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296962235973031266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SYKXFs_U1WI/AAAAAAAAAug/UT9H096ixHs/s320/kodak_moment.JPG" border="0" /></a>And these are the 2 pairs of finalists for the Boules Competition. And the winners were... Glynn and Lyn. It wasn't a windy day so the Australian flag you see 'blowing' in the wind behind the winners is actually being held up by another one of my neighbours, Nigel (standing behind the flag).<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SYKW2GlMFvI/AAAAAAAAAuY/gjqNTR36X3I/s1600-h/boules_2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296961967964821234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SYKW2GlMFvI/AAAAAAAAAuY/gjqNTR36X3I/s320/boules_2.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SYKWosRlS6I/AAAAAAAAAuQ/olLAIeRec4w/s1600-h/winners.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296961737564965794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SYKWosRlS6I/AAAAAAAAAuQ/olLAIeRec4w/s320/winners.JPG" border="0" /></a>Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-92161245821924746032009-01-18T11:21:00.035+00:002010-05-19T18:02:08.479+01:00AYOF 2009<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPMG5pJ7PI/AAAAAAAAAts/8ydhjt3iXoM/s1600-h/pommel.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPMG5pJ7PI/AAAAAAAAAts/8ydhjt3iXoM/s320/pommel.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292798406015184114" /></a></div>For the past 4 days, 1550 athletes from 23 countries have been competing against each other in 17 sports in the Australian Youth Olympic Festival. The AYOF is held to give young athletes an opportunity to experience the environment of the Olympic Games, and to discover future Olympic champions. To promote this festival, entries to the sporting events are free. The events are held at various venues around Sydney, but the main venue (which is also the venue closest to where I live) is the Sydney Olympic Park, where two of my favourite ‘artistic’ sports - gymnastics and diving - are held.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPLsAecdMI/AAAAAAAAAtc/vl0kbjGmWFw/s1600-h/rings+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPLsAecdMI/AAAAAAAAAtc/vl0kbjGmWFw/s320/rings+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292797943992841410" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPL4bnCRHI/AAAAAAAAAtk/FEpwo_B1Xp8/s1600-h/rings+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPL4bnCRHI/AAAAAAAAAtk/FEpwo_B1Xp8/s320/rings+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292798157435061362" /></a>I find watching gymnastics live and up close a bit different from watching it on TV. Up close, gymnastics is fast and has a certain rawness to it which I like, and it doesn't have that 'polished' feel that all the slow-mo computerised camera work gives it. It’s amazing to watch when everything works and they manage to do their routines perfectly. But even when things do go wrong, these gymnasts just pick themselves up and do it all over again, as shown by Ben Astley during his practise session. <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='424' height='300' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzX0mht23W3YhdcoHyPRuQpFF0ckBr01v3EhWZWngBQOqxbwBfi6Tq3RW6EiFtR0FT5dRrjlbW-GWSHQIPncA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='424' height='300' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwQdJNj2LFn48mF2hs7DSprM91Ytiog_Y1lpnjsQ-AdtToHjmrOotWvjlZC3ZSKT5RZoPgY1vhO8f1fJf3EMA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Of course, there are also moments when things slow down, as shown by Sam Oldham from England :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPHmdgpQGI/AAAAAAAAAsk/-zSTJYNoQbg/s1600-h/sam+oldham+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPHmdgpQGI/AAAAAAAAAsk/-zSTJYNoQbg/s320/sam+oldham+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292793450660970594" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPH4-Yb-II/AAAAAAAAAss/zqUKJNKPymI/s1600-h/sam_oldham.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPH4-Yb-II/AAAAAAAAAss/zqUKJNKPymI/s320/sam_oldham.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292793768722561154" /></a>Sam is one of the top gymnasts from Britain and won the Silver medal in the Men's Pommel Horse event.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='424' height='300' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzInY2N18snMvkGU0j0Tgw1OBahtmRZ-3vhgCYyt1gsB_A4u4flJ_k53Z0fuXz9lsVg20YFK5fcU418EsiBfQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Some of the other events I attended were the women’s gymnastics, diving and athletics (which include the 400m, high jump, long jump, javelin and hurdles). Unfortunately, as wonderful as my tiny camera is, it’s just not sufficient for fast sports photography in indoor lighting. I kind of guessed it wouldn’t be good enough but I don't have a better digital camera so I basically had to make do. As expected, a lot of photos came out either blurred, noisy or underexposed. Such a pity since events like this don’t happen everyday (once every two years, actually). I literally took hundreds of photos but ended up with very few I like, and even those had to be heavily post-processed. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPIPY8UcBI/AAAAAAAAAs0/X3N9PiGovc4/s1600-h/balance+beam.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPIPY8UcBI/AAAAAAAAAs0/X3N9PiGovc4/s320/balance+beam.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292794153809506322" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPIlE5xPbI/AAAAAAAAAs8/GSD0SuHLhDg/s1600-h/diving.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPIlE5xPbI/AAAAAAAAAs8/GSD0SuHLhDg/s320/diving.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292794526387223986" /></a>I was hoping the outdoor events would not present any problems as it would be with better light, but unfortunately for me, the time I was at the athletics arena was also when the sky was overcast with rain clouds! Some things are just not within our control :) <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPI6cHLYpI/AAAAAAAAAtE/H71rIXwD0CY/s1600-h/high+jump.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPI6cHLYpI/AAAAAAAAAtE/H71rIXwD0CY/s320/high+jump.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292794893394731666" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPJKZVFmGI/AAAAAAAAAtM/7156j6Uq1vQ/s1600-h/100+metres.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPJKZVFmGI/AAAAAAAAAtM/7156j6Uq1vQ/s320/100+metres.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292795167525673058" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPLIFCx1qI/AAAAAAAAAtU/PabhfVcLzug/s1600-h/400+metres.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SXPLIFCx1qI/AAAAAAAAAtU/PabhfVcLzug/s320/400+metres.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292797326743688866" /></a>In the end, I basically gave up on still photos and starting taking more videos.<br /><br />And finally, I like the actions of Ben Astley from Australia, who remains cool after his routine right up till the time he walks away from the pommel platform :)<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='424' height='300' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzGe4Ma9_IBGRmiBXL8u7RZZ2ZMpokx9piG9WiDlt1DazyNdD_XyEEKLmXfIQacE2DlEWFMiVh3U-kDMWeguQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Ben unfortunately just missed out on a medal by getting the 4th place in the Individual All-Around Men’s Final, an amazing accomplishment since his standing was 11th before the competition. All top 3 places went to gymnasts from the UK.<br /><br />The festival ends today.Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-37935725920260001022009-01-10T14:42:00.019+00:002009-01-18T14:31:40.406+00:00Hovis (Ads Part 1)<div><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-826f82e3ec15bbe2 height=320 width=425 contentId="826f82e3ec15bbe2"></OBJECT></div><br />Hovis recently filmed a new ad that premiered in the UK in September 2008. Some of my friends know that I collect ads that I like (yes, I'm a bit weird), and I have to say I love this ad! Maybe it's also because I'm feeling a bit nostalgic about England, now that I have left. When I first saw the ad, I could see that it depicts some of the historic moments in British history, but it was not until I saw the 'Making-of' that I realised how much I missed. (Watch the ad before reading further to see what you can spot.) The ad is 122 seconds long, and celebrates 122 years of British history. It also marks 122 years Hovis has been around. It employed 762 extras, and used over 800 costumes that are accurate to the period. It marks historic moments in British history starting from 1886 to 2008 including the <EM>Titanic</EM>, the suffragette movement, World War I, the first motor car, World War II, the 1953 Coronation, the Swinging Sixties, England's celebration of the 1966 World Cup, the miners strike in the 1980s and the fireworks of the Millennium celebration. The total cost of the ad is £15 million pounds, equivalent to the budget of some feature films. Some have commented it's nothing special but I think it's 'bloody brilliant' :)Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-69737141325719858822009-01-05T05:58:00.013+00:002010-04-08T19:20:49.632+01:00New Year 2009<div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SWGm_fkptSI/AAAAAAAAAr0/9xb4mWEc2R4/s1600-h/new_year_2009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SWGm_fkptSI/AAAAAAAAAr0/9xb4mWEc2R4/s320/new_year_2009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287691047246869794" /></a></div>People in Sydney are a little crazy when it comes to the New Year's Eve fireworks display. I saw in the news that one person actually camped out the night before new year's eve in order to stake out a good spot to view the fireworks. That's one night and one entire day in the same spot, just to get a good view. And unlike the northern hemisphere, December 31st 2008 was one <em>hot </em>day Down Under. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SWGnO0GI_wI/AAAAAAAAAsE/EQVbe_99Y7o/s1600-h/new_year_2009b.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SWGnO0GI_wI/AAAAAAAAAsE/EQVbe_99Y7o/s320/new_year_2009b.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287691310454079234" /></a>Unlike previous years, I decided to view the fireworks from a hill near where I live instead of going to the city with the crowds. There I was, sitting on the sidewalk with my camera atop a low wall next to me, taking some photos of the fireworks when a possum appears out of nowhere and charges me. In the second or so it took my brain to register what was happening, the possum was on my back. The entire time I was fighting this sugar-overdosed possum, the thought running through my head was 'Don't knock the camera over!' Having had its fun a short while later, the possum ran off but not before leaving a puncture wound on the back of my shoulder a little less than an inch long. What an interesting way to usher in 2009! :) Happy New Year.Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-35991987986551932052008-12-28T06:20:00.012+00:002009-01-18T14:32:14.190+00:00Christmas 1915<div><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-7a2b1d7cec5f2d39 height=350 width=425 contentId="7a2b1d7cec5f2d39"></OBJECT></DIV><br />On Christmas Eve in the year 1915 during World War 1, British and German soldiers were fighting each other in the trenches in No Man's Land (a term mainly used to describe the area of land between two enemy trenches) near the village of Laventie in France, when the British Army regiment of the Royal Welch Fusiliers heard the Germans singing <EM>Silent Night</EM>. In response, they sang another carol, <EM>Good King Wenceslas</EM>. The next day, Christmas Day, both British and German soldiers got out from their trenches and greeted each other. For the next half an hour or so, the war was forgotten and both sides played a friendly game of football. Bertie Felstead, the last survivor of that football match, died on 22nd July 2001, aged 106 years. <br /><br />Isn't it amazing that even in the middle of a war, two opposing sides can find peace? May 2009 be a Happy and Peaceful new year for everyone.Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056095588695135080.post-1311397586613560222008-11-20T16:10:00.020+00:002010-04-08T19:24:58.193+01:00Malaysia and Singapore<div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWW6Bz_ulI/AAAAAAAAArs/0WPx08DIAPQ/s1600-h/klcc.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWW6Bz_ulI/AAAAAAAAArs/0WPx08DIAPQ/s320/klcc.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270784862570134098" /></a></div>October this year was spent in Malaysia and Singapore. The last time I was there was in 2006, just before moving to England, so it was good to go back. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWULEJwZNI/AAAAAAAAArk/99i3cY4tWms/s1600-h/sphere_reflection.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWULEJwZNI/AAAAAAAAArk/99i3cY4tWms/s320/sphere_reflection.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270781856721167570" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWTUqI5dOI/AAAAAAAAArc/C5Zvm7jXu-0/s1600-h/klcc_park.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWTUqI5dOI/AAAAAAAAArc/C5Zvm7jXu-0/s320/klcc_park.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270780922025309410" /></a>I saw my nephew Zach in Singapore for the first time. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWTC9ckNuI/AAAAAAAAArU/x6faQ3YWGls/s1600-h/zach+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWTC9ckNuI/AAAAAAAAArU/x6faQ3YWGls/s320/zach+copy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270780617970431714" /></a>And of course, I got to taste some delicious local Asian dishes :)<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWScG_KaJI/AAAAAAAAArM/pZw4koXYJr8/s1600-h/asian_food.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWScG_KaJI/AAAAAAAAArM/pZw4koXYJr8/s320/asian_food.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270779950516562066" /></a>I had forgotten how humid the weather can get in Malaysia. Sweat didn’t seem to dry, and there was always a thin layer of moisture on my skin. One afternoon, I photographed a butterfly in the garden and looking at the photo later, I saw how vastly different it was from the one I photographed in Belgium... less furry and really thin. Guess the heat and humidity get to the butterflies as well :) I wasn’t used to it at first but just a couple of weeks later and I hardly noticed it anymore.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWSSEIDzjI/AAAAAAAAArE/8nDXmIXMaj4/s1600-h/malaysian_butterfly.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWSSEIDzjI/AAAAAAAAArE/8nDXmIXMaj4/s320/malaysian_butterfly.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270779777949879858" /></a>Maybe it’s just me, but after the hustle and bustle of London, life in Malaysia somehow seems simpler. And I mean that in a good way. I didn’t go to all the tourist attractions during this visit (except for the Twin Towers), instead I spent my time just taking in the normal sights of everyday life, both the old and the new. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWSFkzCQhI/AAAAAAAAAq8/sGg15VdfwuA/s1600-h/malaysian_street3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWSFkzCQhI/AAAAAAAAAq8/sGg15VdfwuA/s320/malaysian_street3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270779563381768722" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWR88glOkI/AAAAAAAAAq0/4GjER2_5rJs/s1600-h/malaysian_street1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWR88glOkI/AAAAAAAAAq0/4GjER2_5rJs/s320/malaysian_street1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270779415127996994" /></a>And taking strolls at night in the village I was staying, I sometimes pass old timber houses where time seems to have stood still. I like looking in through the open doors and windows as I walk past, catching a glimpse of what life is like for these families.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWR1QZVvmI/AAAAAAAAAqs/vuflg1iDeTE/s1600-h/malaysian_street2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWR1QZVvmI/AAAAAAAAAqs/vuflg1iDeTE/s320/malaysian_street2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270779283027377762" /></a>Singapore, on the other hand, didn’t seem to have any old timber houses. In fact, Singapore didn’t seem to have anything old at all! Everything seemed new-ish, new cars on the road, new buildings and apartment blocks. I’m sure there must be old houses located in some corner of this small country but they’ve managed to hide them well. Once again, I didn’t go to any of the tourist attractions since I’ve been to a lot of them just 2 years back when I was here, although I did go to the Singapore Biennale 2008, a showcase of contemporary art by artists from around the world. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWRhbT7zxI/AAAAAAAAAqk/71JeTIp6Xi4/s1600-h/biennale.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PAI7desDluU/SSWRhbT7zxI/AAAAAAAAAqk/71JeTIp6Xi4/s320/biennale.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270778942360112914" /></a>One month passed in the blink of an eye, as it often does when you’re having a relaxing, carefree time. And now, more than a month later – I’m back in Sydney, Australia.Chris in the UKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12822768263524689533noreply@blogger.com0