Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Ohio - Neil Young
I came across this song hidden amongst so many others so my ipod and since I first played it I can't get it out of my head.
"Ohio"
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
2000th photo on Flickr
Last night I reached a landmark moment (or a new low, depending on how you look at it) when I posted my 2000th picture on Flickr. The strange thing was that I didn't even realise this till people congratulated me via their comments.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Another summer learning
I was looking back at the blogging I've been doing this summer and comparing it to last year's efforts. Strange how the frequency of the posts has increased yet the subject matter has changed completely. Last year I was entranced by the way in which I could use web 2,0 tools in the classroom. I was discovering how blogs, podcasts, videos and the like could fit into my teaching practice. By playing with these tools I learnt a lot that would help later on me over the winter.
This summer's learning curve was entirely different, more focus on my own interests, completely unconnected with the classroom. This year it was my turn to learn a whole bunch of new skills, to finally get to do something I've wanted to do for a very long time; namely learn how to take better photographs.
To do so I decided that I would find photographers whose work I like and try to imitate their style and approach. This started with Flickr and thankfully I came across two photographers whose images have had an enormous impact me. Strangely, they have very little in common, at least at first glance. In a sense, they are my yin and yang.
I was first attracted to Fetching's work by her gorgeous use of colour and then by the way she managed to reveal the warmth and humanity of the people she depicts. It was then that I decided that I really had to start taking more photographs of real, live people.
My other guide was Hugo, who black and white photographs of Paris, and especially the demonstrations and riots there provided an amazing sense of being there. Intensity, drama, motion and action all captured in a fraction of a second.
Later on I started looking for books by other photographers and in doing so came across the work of JeanLoup Sieff, Don MCullin and Renee Burri, all of whom have been an inspiration.
This summer's learning curve was entirely different, more focus on my own interests, completely unconnected with the classroom. This year it was my turn to learn a whole bunch of new skills, to finally get to do something I've wanted to do for a very long time; namely learn how to take better photographs.
To do so I decided that I would find photographers whose work I like and try to imitate their style and approach. This started with Flickr and thankfully I came across two photographers whose images have had an enormous impact me. Strangely, they have very little in common, at least at first glance. In a sense, they are my yin and yang.
I was first attracted to Fetching's work by her gorgeous use of colour and then by the way she managed to reveal the warmth and humanity of the people she depicts. It was then that I decided that I really had to start taking more photographs of real, live people.
My other guide was Hugo, who black and white photographs of Paris, and especially the demonstrations and riots there provided an amazing sense of being there. Intensity, drama, motion and action all captured in a fraction of a second.
Later on I started looking for books by other photographers and in doing so came across the work of JeanLoup Sieff, Don MCullin and Renee Burri, all of whom have been an inspiration.
50 different web 2.0 ways to tell a story
It's a sign that the holidays are gradually drawing to a close that I have started to have some more teaching ideas. After a three month hiatus from all things teacher orientated I am now starting to get in gear for the coming school year.
Anyway, one of the things I experimented with last year was digital story telling (see here and here) and it seemed to be something that my private students enjoyed (see here) since it allowed them to produce videos that could be put on their blogs. As well as getting them to practice their English it also gave them the chance to become comfortable with the technology (never a given).
Yesterday, I happened to come across a great post in Joe Dale's blog which links to a great site which has 50 different web 2.0 ways to tell a story. It includes ideas of how to tell a story, how to find tools to use and where to get pictures if you don't wish to use your own.
With the widespread adoption of mobile phones with camera and recording capabilities mean that students are now in the position to produce their own videos/photo stories with the one thing you can guarantee they'll have with them.
Anyway, one of the things I experimented with last year was digital story telling (see here and here) and it seemed to be something that my private students enjoyed (see here) since it allowed them to produce videos that could be put on their blogs. As well as getting them to practice their English it also gave them the chance to become comfortable with the technology (never a given).
Yesterday, I happened to come across a great post in Joe Dale's blog which links to a great site which has 50 different web 2.0 ways to tell a story. It includes ideas of how to tell a story, how to find tools to use and where to get pictures if you don't wish to use your own.
With the widespread adoption of mobile phones with camera and recording capabilities mean that students are now in the position to produce their own videos/photo stories with the one thing you can guarantee they'll have with them.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Random portraits of strangers
Taken in the centre this morning. I came across Lina painting a mural on the wall of a restaurant.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Navarinou at night
I still have some time before the annual safari for private lessons begins so, as Lydia is in the village with her mum, I've been taking time out to take more photos of Thessaloniki. It's just a bit weird trying to readjust to being back in Greece after such a long period back in England.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Modino market
I almost hate myself for taking these pictures as they are of the most heavily visited places in the city. The birth place of a 1000 tourist cliches.
However, it is a good place to take photographs without people asking questions or demanding to know why. You're just another dumb tourist.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Blogging - Gutenberg style.
Almost inevitably, there has been a backlash against blogging podcasting and the whole web 2.0 phenomenon. I guess the unbounded enthusiasm and wild claims for the technology demanded a degree of cynical re-evaluation. However, the fact that ordinary people with a minimum of technical expertise can now publish will have a tremendous effect on the way ideas are transmitted, adopted and adapted.
There will be resistance to such changes as social structures that have been around for decades or longer will gradually disappear or change beyond recognition. We can see this already in the world of print media where newspapers are already facing stiff competition (if not terminal, decline).
I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall when the last time such a huge sea change in communications hit the planet.
Time: Late in the fifteen century.
Place: A monastery in northern Italy
Monk A: I don't what's going on in the world. I mean ever since that guy, Gottenbach, Gutenberg, started up that print thingy the whole publishing business has gone down the tubes.
Monk B: I know, I know. I mean have you seen these new books? Cheap, nasty tomes, with no art or brains. I mean they push them out like sausages, without a thought to how they look.
Monk A: Yeah, I mean we spill blood producing a work worthy of the name and some guy comes along and knocks off these dodgy copies which sell for a fraction of the price.
Monk B: An have you seen what they're bringing out these days? I mean there we are reproducing Aristotle, St Augustus and Plato and what do they print? Books on farming!!! Pig husbandry!!! I even saw one on cooking.
I mean what is the world coming to?
Monk A: Any old idiot with a quill and an idea can just publish nowadays.
Lydia
We're now back in Greece. It always amazes me is how quickly Lydia adapts to whatever changes she has in her life. I swear she doesn't skip a beat
Monday, August 06, 2007
Leaving on a jet plane
Back to Greece today. After five weeks in England and the wettest summer since 1789 it's time to finish my holiday and resume 'normal service'.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem
Written by William Blake
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green
And was the holy lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills
And was Jerusalem builded there
Among those dark Satanic mills
Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my spears o'clouds unfold
Bring me my chariot of fire
I will not cease from mental fight
Nor shall my (my) sword sleep in hand
'Til we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land
'Til we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Lydia's birthday
The holidays are almost over and we are back to Greece tomorrow. As a result we decided to celebrate Lydia's birthday yesterday, rather than on Monday. I guess blowing out a candle on a cup cake in an airport departure lounge isn't really the dream of most eight - year olds.
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Friday, August 03, 2007
Walking home
In my excitement I completely forgot about the time and ended up walking home. Still, took lots of pictues of Bedminster at night.
Bristol Flickr group meet
Taken on the Grain Barge in Hotwells. I had a wonderful time meeting in person many of the photographers whose work I have been following on Flickr. See here for more photos.
Walking there
taken on the way to last night's Flickr meet at the Grain Barge. For other peoples' pictures click here.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Cheeky
I was inspired to take this after reading the following while drinking coffee in the centre;
"Hargreaves also retells the story of how the snobbish Cecil Beaton, who always tried to distance himself from mere newspaper photographers, was outwitted by one of them. During the Blitz, Beaton was carefully framing St Paul's Cathedral in the ruins of a burnt-out shop, with the twin towers seen through the arch.
A press photographer approached, then slunk away when Beaton gave him a surly look. But when Beaton returned from lunch with his pictures still undeveloped, the press photographer's version was already on the front page of the Evening News."
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
The Wraiths
The Wraiths, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.
The music scene in Bristol is chocked full of great new acts. Such a change from when I was growing up when all there seemed to be were tired old pub bands and third rate punk stuff.
Hindu wedding
Just as I was going up St Nicholas St I came across this wedding party leaving the registry office. Talk about good luck.
The moral of the story? Always take your camera.
Postal workers' demonstration for better pay
Postal workers' demonstration for better pay, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.
"Up to 1,200 postal workers could strike over the use of agency staff at the Bristol Mail Centre in Filton.
The Communication Workers' Union (CWU) will ballot members next week after becoming locked in a dispute with Royal Mail.
The union claims the company has been acting illegally by bringing in extra agency staff to cover positions left open when permanent staff have been on strike during recent national disputes.
It also believes the agency staff brought in at the last minute are not properly vetted before they start work."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)