Daily Photo #557

Yay!



The weekend is here. About to grill some sausages and drink wine in the sunshine outside. Hoorah!

Daily Photo #556

I think these chaps sum up today.



Sunny, hot and oh so wonderful.

Anyhoo, last night was spent at the AG Social Media Surgery gathering (btw, Acocks Green Carnival is happening on Saturday!). Met some new peeps and reminisced about the time Tom Baker came to Acocks Green to sign issues of Doctor Who Magazine (then called Doctor Who Weekly) back in 1979. Good times!

Daily Photo #555

In much better spirits today. Resolved casework issue (me 1, universe 0)



During my lunchbreak I saw lots of sun bathers in and around any patch of grass that wasn't covered with dog poo. I wonder if they will end up as red as Darth Maul in the above pics. Break out the after sun, people!

Daily Photo #554

It's been one of those days...



I kind of feel like this guy. A bit used and abused. Still, I have a plan of action tomorrow. Don't you just hate it when people use you to get what they want? In a work context, this is quite bad (not any of my workmates, this is casework related but still, it does my head in). Just had a cool shower and I have a whisky in my hand. Let's hope tonight brings relaxation and a long deep sleep tonight!

Oh yeah, the photo was shot on Fuji Neopan 1600 asa and processed using RC Art Papers and Lith chemicals.

Lucinda Williams

Linda is to blame for this one, yet another Spotify play list for your pleasure.

Daily Photo #553

A truly lazy and self indulgent day has been had by moi. It included sleeping in until 9:30 am (unheard of!!), a light lunch, some telly watching, video gaming (loving the Simpsons on the PS3 after completing Ghostbusters yesterday) and some pottering/vacuuming and tidying up.



Even though I have done oh so little, I could do with a nap. *yawn*

Daily Photo #552

I had good intentions today to shoot some new photos but it never happened. Instead we got side tracked by the Food Festival in Brum.



The Caribbean chicken curry, ackee and saltfish, dumplings, rice and peas got the better of us :)

So, no new photos today. I'm a bad person.

Daily Photo #551

Weather is still not good enough for this kind of thing...



...but, might mean time for other stuff later!

Daily Photo #550

Just got drenched to the skin by the heavy downpour in Brum. Luckily my train home wasn't cancelled!



And to think I was hoping for this kind of weather today. That'll teach me.

Media I am currently indulging in:

Daily Photo #549

It's Comic Book Day today!



And if you haven't picked up this, you don't know what you're missing! A must read if you like bears and a distinctly unique outlook on life!

Buy it now and make the artist's day :)

Daily Photo #548

Another macro shot from the garden for today's photo.



Had a bit of a horrific experience in Tesco during lunch today. I shouldn't listen to staff members conversation but the most inappropriate thing came out of this guy's mouth. It was racist/insulting/sycophantic and just plain wrong, all at the same time. About 5 people's mouths dropped open when they heard it. I think Tesco need to train its staff in diversity.

Daily Photo #547

After attending an excellent Social Media Surgery last night, courtesy of Podnosh (AKA Nick) I felt compelled to blog a pic of the area in which I live.



I do try to divorce my "public" persona from my "private" one and I have neglected my home village. Acocks Green has been very good to me over the years so it's time I put something back.

For the record, this pic was taken around 4:30 am on a Saturday morning about 3 years ago when my insomnia was at its height. I really love photographing places in the early hours as they have a most ethereal feel to them.

I am such a geek

I just ordered this. Is there no hope for me I wonder? Oh bum.

Daily Photo #546

Candid street shot in NYC.



I know it was naughty to take a shot without permission but I don't think I would have gotten the result I was aiming for.

Daily Photo #545

I am not sure if the weather is going to last out today.



No photography for me today!

Daily Photo #544

This dinosaur truly rocked!



Moschops!

Daily Photo #543

After the Ewok sarnies inspired post from yesterday I thought a little beauty would be the order of the day.



Oh yeah, isn't the presenter who took over from Carol Vorderman on Countdown the *hotness*?

Daily Photo #542

I have this urge to watch Return of the Jedi tonight.



Not sure why, could be something to do with the buffet sandwiches they served today at training. I am sure the mystery meat was roasted Ewok! It was a bit too gamey for my taste.

Daily Photo #541

Bugger it.



Half way through the week and I thought a shiny pic might lift my spirits. It's been an uphill struggle today with fatigue and training. Not a good combo. A better kind of combo would be something with spicy chicken and a nice sidedish. Or steamed dumplings from here.

Daily Photo #540

These buildings kind of reminded me of a tuning fork.



Also, the photography world seems to be split into two worlds - those who are Canon users and those who aren't. Thankfully I am in the former :)

Daily Photo #539

What 'ch'you talking about, Willis?



Sometimes I really wish my cats could talk.

Daily Photo #538

I've been waiting for an excuse to use this photo...



...but why the hell should I have an excuse? It's fab and tacky so what the hey. Burgers on Coney Island are *good*

Daily Photo #537

I love the yellow hues on these ones.



Iconic vehicles methinks.

(Virtual) Compilation tape!

I've been messing with Spotify and thought I would share this with you.

It's a really cool bit of software and the link will allow you to pretend I sent you an individualised compliation especially for you, you and you.

Shamelessly stolen from Charlie Brooker.

Daily Photo #536

A superb day, got lots finished and many many loose ends/complex case points.

So to celebrate I offer another Linda photo.



I just liked her "improv sci fi" pose in this one. Fun fun fun. Need to do another Linda shoot soon. Seems like ages ago! Have a great weekend everyone.

Daily Photo #535

Ah, Ms Liberty.



See you again in a few months!

*does the happy dance*

Daily Photo #534

Not a bad day, two more wakeups until the weekend.



I think a drive out to somewhere country-fied like Warwick or Stratford may be on the cards for the weekend if the weather is good.

Daily Photo #533

It's been a day full of stuff and PJ Harvey.



So, in order to lift my spirits there's a pic of Linda in one of her favourite outfits and a link to the Fart Party which is one of the funniest things ever.

Daily Photo #532

I meant to do this kind of thing this weekend...



As opposed to this kind of thing....

Daily Photo #531

I did try and get some shots this weekend but the rainy weather put a stop to that!



So, something quite eerie in my humble opinion. I'm not sure what it is meant to signify or represent but I can tell you one thing, it's damn creepy.

Daily Photo #530

Rather horrific weather today so it will mean a trip to the cinema to dodge the rain.



Yep, it was raining the day this was taken but even NYC can make rain a bit glam! Besides, Linda has a cute look on her face here. Unlike today where she is demanding that I make her tea and toast in lieu of blogging this.

Anway, bills to pay, comics to buy and a bit of movie watching later on.

Daily Photo #529

A chilled out pic for this hectic Friday which has come to a close for me.



A view of Manhattan.

Daily Photo #528

This is a variation on one of the macro shots I posted the other week.



I think this one has better levels and contrast.

It's also quite on topic as I am going to do another shoot with the lens over the next week or so. The idea appealed to me after a hellish train journey home.

Daily Photo #527

aha!



It's been a day full of Simon and Garfunkel on my Ipod, hence Bleecker Street.

A brief interlude.

Yesterday was a bit weird. Called my brother, haven't spoken in ages and found out he has broken his leg in three places. He's in a full leg cast and awaiting news from surgeons in regards to if he needs to go under the knife to have bolts inserted in his leg.

Fingers crossed he's ok.

I don't know why but today was a bit strange in the fact that my concentration was so off. Hence taking the afternoon as annual leave was the best way to go in this instance.

I still feel a bit fragmented, not knowing why is niggling me somewhat. It could be the fact that we have had 5 days of great weather? Or the fact that there has been a long overdue resignation. (It's about time too).

Not sure but feel much better this afternoon after some quality "me" time and a quick nap in the garden. I'm a little sun toasted now but I may have needed the extra vitamins.

Daily Photo #526

Everyday should be a holiday!

Woot - quite a result today. A case I had been working on for a while seems to be progressing. As I blew all my limited concentration in one sitting this morning I took this afternoon as leave and I am now at home chilling out.



Today's photo represents my inner need for fun. Intrinsically I am a multifaceted cube in need of some sun!

Into the garden I go, there's a beer waiting for me.

Daily Photo #525

The skies over Brum were *almost* this shade of blue today.



Wish I were still in NYC though!

Daily Photo #524

I have just realised I haven't posted a cat photo for at least 5 minutes (sarcasm, great isn't it hur hur).



So here's Buffy. Looking as mean as she does in real life.

Daily Photo #523

Some natural colour for a beautiful Satuday morning!



Loads to do, see you all laters!

Daily Photo #522

I think my margaritas were better!



Though these weren't too bad.

My recipe is as follows - to make a jug of frozen margarita you will require:

6 shots tequila (silver is better)
4.5 shots of Cointreau
Juice and pulp of ten fresh limes.
1 tablespoon of sugar
a dash of blood orange juice (2 shots)
5 cups of ice cubes.

Put the alcyhol in a blender jug (a big one)

Add juice and sugar and ice.

Blend until it is the consistency of a slush puppie (or Icee). The crystals should be small enough to slurp up a straw.

Get ready to be merry!

Daily Photo #521

I don't know why she is smiling in this shot.



Could be Margarita related?

Taken at the South Street Seaport.

Daily Photo #520

Columbus Circle in Manhattan at dusk.



I just love that city, roll on next year for another visit!

Suffering some post holiday blues but I find that there are good memories to be had by looking at my photos. A year isn't that long a time when you think about it.

Daily Photo #519

Dur...Dur.....

Dur....Dur....




Dun.dun.dun.dun....

Who said academics (still) aren't fit?

Dave Harte, a Birmingham based media worker and blogger is once more running a marathon with the proceeds going to St Mary's Hospice in Selly Oak.

Dave is a really good person and his charity/media work has touched the lives of many. If you have some spare cash in these trying times please sponsor Dave.

Daily Photo #518

More macro mayhem!



I was quite pleased with the details at the centre of the images.

Best viewed larger on this link here.

Daily Photo #517

We have a few of these in our back garden.



They can be quite a nuisance but they do make for good subject matter. Probably best seen larger, go to this link here.

Daily Photo #516

Seagulls are much better than Pigeons.



Off to the shops again to pick up some stuff I forgot earlier. Damn my aging brain!

Daily Photo #515

Friday at last and a long weekend is on the cards which is always good. Totally frazzled with the amounts of stuff in my workload but it's all good.



Another Coney Island shot I'm afraid. I was going to get out and do some more macro stuff in the garden but the good light has vanished and has been replaced with something akin to a green milkshake. Funny hues in the sky do not good photography make (I think that grammar was wonky but I can't be bothered to retype it).

Now, the Wonder Wheel in this shot has been made famous by several films - bonus points given if you can name at least three!

Daily Photo #514

Still pretty poorly but better than I was, fever has broken now. Thanks to my darling wife for purchasing uber cough medicine. Slept for about 16 hours yesterday and heading back to bed now.



Anyway, today's shot is from an interactive exhibit at the top of the Rockefeller Centre in NYC. The room's lights react to movement and strobe in different colours. It was like being in the world of TRON.

See you tomorrow, gotta go get more snooze time.

Daily Photo #513

I need to consume more of these.



Head cold, cough and temperature have all gotten a lot worse. Little sleep and shivering most of the night left me unable to do much today.

Anyways, looks like the flu-pocalypse has me in its grip. Today's shot is testing out my new 100mm Macro Lens (Canon, f2.8 EF). Only had about ten minutes with it so far and I like what I see.

Back to bed for me, see you all tomorrow.

Daily Photo #512

On a different theme.

Coney Island seems to become more and more deserted each time we visit. Less people wander the boardwalk or the beach and even fewer go towards to outdated and slightly spooky rides.



I'm not sure if it's a sympton of issues surrounding disposable incomes but no matter how much of the boardwalk they replace, Coney is in danger of losing its heart.

Twitter

I said I never would but I have.

http://twitter.com/trav28

I guess hell has frozen over.

Daily Photo #511

The coffee in this joint looked lethal



And no, I didn't try it. I am such a coward. However, if you're around Bleecker Street give it a twirl and drop me a line. I'm fascinated to see if it has the properties to reanimate the dead or turn oneself into a living skeleton.

28 Weeks Later

I posted this a while ago on my livejournal but what the hey. I'm about to revisit both movies as it has been a while since I last saw them.

28 Weeks Later is a thing of beauty. It is arguably the first proper post modern and intelligent horror movie since the sublime 2005 remake of The Hills have Eyes. Like Hills, this is a movie which toys with you and plays with conventions and stereotype to deliver something quite different and delicious. Basically, it fucks with your head unapologetically.

The movie begins at the height of the infection, when the Rage Virus is still tightening its grip on the country. It is not explicitly explained that the events in this movie cross over with the events in the first movie but The Infected are still very mobile and operate in numbers. The plot centres around several survivors who are hiding in a country house - Don and Alice and several others trying to find refuge from a world gone mad. The action cuts to The Infected entering the house and culminates in a moment of either cowardice or self preservation that leads to Don being seperated from his wife. The whole scene plays beautifully and not even explosive jump cuts and hand held camera shots detract from the emotional depth of this scene.

The scene cuts from the devastated husband to an on screen graphic explaining the timeline and the devastation the Rage Virus has inflicted on Britain. It is up to America to (once more) restore law and order and their brand of civilisation on an England depopulated by a deadly psychological virus.

With the internal logic of the movie set, we the viewers are drawn into a world of glass and chrome, a brave new world policed by a military power. Guns and heavy artillery take the place of traffic wardens and Big Issue sellers. A new society has been put together in Canary Wharf (which in historical terms is highly ironic). A montage and voice over explains that after 6 months, Britons who were out of the country are to be repatriated in this yuppy fortress. In one effective series of shots we see snipers guarding the city as a lone plane lands and the refugees disemabark. Those refugees include Don and Alice's children. As they are reunited we see more measures in place. The visible exoskeleton of the military and the faceless medics test the dispossessed prior to letting them enter the Wharf. Strangers in their own land. As Don is reunited with his children we are led to believe that all is well, the set up lends an illusion of safety on the surface. The problem is that Don feels a guilt which he has buried and some small throwaway lines about genetic inheritance regarding one of the children foreshadow events.

Tammy and Andy, fearing the life they have left behind will blur into insignificance make a foray into the unsecured areas to retrieve some personal belongings from their old house. In scenes which take their visual cue from the original we can see the human cost of the virus. All seems well when they arrive at the house, they wander around observing their belongings and previous life in retrospect until they find their "dead" mother in an upstairs bedroom. It transpires that Alice is a vector or a carrier in a similar way that rats do not succumb to the Black Plague, this person carries the Rage Virus but has a natural immunity to it.

When the children and their mother are returned to the Wharf, through a slighly contrived set of events the Rage Virus is once more unleashed and chaos ensues.

Arguably, this is the movie 28 Days Later should have been. This was gutsy, layered and just plain nasty in sections of the movie which I can only describe as harrowing. Taking visual (and sonic) cues from its predessor, Weeks is a much more epic and confident take on the post apocalyptic England. It is also its own film and could easily stand alone with out the prequel.
Unlike its prequel which sets up the conventions of the Rage Virus, Weeks is a more balls to the wall action movie which owes more to Aliens and the Dawn of the Dead Remake than Day of the Triffids or the John Mills' take on Quatermas. Think Black Hawk Down rather than All is quiet on the Western Front and you're there. It is also pure metaphor in more ways than one.

Also, I want to raise this issue as no one seems to tackle it properly. Both movies are not Zombie Movies. As both Garland and Boyle explained, these are infected people, not the walking dead. The Rage Virus has been described in interviews as a psychological virus, a riff on social phenomena - the split second moment of madness during road rage attacks or the loss of the self in a football hooligan attack. It exists in every one of us, just choosing its moment to be released. There are a million metaphors crystalised in this.

It could be argued that the Rage Virus is a metaphor for the Chav or ASBO generation, attacks against the cake eating/designerlabel obsessed middle class with all that anger distilled and used against them. Or is the Rage Virus the natural progression for the inherent mental state that lies at the heart of all society, that when everything goes to seed we degenerate into mindless savage primates which attack employing a mindless rage in a bid to reverse the evolutionary clock? The nature of the Rage Virus (for the purposes of the film) is a physical entity, a haemmorgheric virus which takes over the host in seconds (as we see when drops of infected blood are introduced to normal red cells). The host ejects fountains of blood in a manner that recalls the projectile vomiting scenes in the Exorcist. The fact that each droplet is deadly on contact encapsulates the discourse of fear which ran through England during the early 80's during the height of the famous "AIDS Awareness" ad campaigns. Fear of bodily fluids are indexical of those discourses surrounding sexuality and medical fear, it's as if the Rage Virus could have been secreted from the typewriter of David Cronenberg himself as opposed to that of young Brit Lit Rockstar, Alex Garland.

Subtle visual nuances blend to create a truly chilling vision of London laid to waste by this virus. The enormity of human and collateral loss are struck home as we see Tammy entering a deserted Pizza joint. Spoiled food and human remains are juxtaposed to great effect as the film shifts up a gear to open out into a vista of an abandoned and dead London. Director Fresnadillo treats the subject matter with great dignity and an almost reverant eye which almost led me to believe he was a native English geeza.

The tensions in the American team are possibly the most interesting discourse at the heart of the film. I will not say the word Iraq as I will let you make your own minds up although several visual clues harken to Friendly Fire and Hamfisted military decisions which lead to the loss of life of innocents (like you or I). One particuarly harrowing scene where The Infected and Normal People are shot at indiscriminantly recall issues experienced early on in Gulf War 2 (I resist adding Electric Boogaloo, you can thank me for that later). One sniper screams down his comms that he "can't tell them apart" and the chilling use of chemical gas on London streets and Napalm made my blood run cold with fear. Being a child who experienced imminent nuclear destruction during the early 80's and more than a few sleepless nights after BBC's bone chilling dramatisation of what would happen if a nuclear bomb was dropped on Sheffield (Threads, if you haven't seen it, seek it out) I can honestly say I felt 14 years old again. And afraid. Very afraid.

On a less (socially) important note and coming back to my previous point of both movies being "non-zombie movies", The Infected are fucking scary. More so than Romero's Carno-Tropes (a term coined in the 1990 anthology "Book of the Dead"). The fact that The Rage is a psychological virus that infects the host within seconds is hammered home effectively when we see several POV shots and reactions that mirror Romero's own "proto" Rage movie, The Crazies. Both genres of apocalypse can exists side by side but each has their own set of conventions and discourse. The 1968 mentality of Shoot them in the Head and seperate the brain from the body do not apply here. We see The Infected shot by high powered gas rounds, losing limbs and body parts left right and centre. They die a little more indiscriminantly than Romero's Carno-Tropes but the sheer number and speed make the Rage Infected a much scarier and daunting prospect. I'm an utter fan of both genres but the lack of hope and redemption in 28 Weeks left me feeling weak and depressed and my insides churning. Just the way a good horror movie should.

Oh my word.

Looks like Linds and I are coming down with post holiday lurgy/colds/throats. First person to mention swine flu will be off my Xmas card list and/or made to watch every version (be it Bluray, DVD or VHS) of Dawn of the Dead in my collection (err..that may actually not be a punishment for some people).

Today was meant to be spent testing out my new 100mm F2.8 macro lens on some flowers but it's raining the proverbial cats and dogs out there.

Luckily, I cooked a chicken yesterday and there is loads left so we're looking at a fajita lunch with a shot of vodka to kill germs in the throat (much nicer than cough medicine I think!).

So, apart from consuming Mexican food we may watch some Robot Chicken S3 (picked up the DVD, thank you Virgin Megastore Union Sq for your 20% off goodness).

During our travels we picked up a fair few bluray and DVD movies. We just have to find the time to watch them now and this afternoon may present a good chance in catching up with said movies.

Also, did anyone out there know that there is a new Hap and Leonard book coming out!!!! Woop!

The cats are requesting attention, can anyone recommend a good movie for them to watch? We are bad parents ;)

Daily Photo #510

Being a life long Dr Who fan, I thought this shot reminded me of a certain young companion of the 2nd Doctor.



It's been a while since I posted a photo in this genre but sod it. I like the image and who gives a toss what other people think. Linda and I had a blast taking the photos so if other people enjoy them as much as us, what the hell. I guess I have been listening too much to my critics of late instead of posting what makes me happy. If that makes me a less than decent human being, hell to it.

Daily Photo #509

Still somewhat jetlagged but getting a little better with the time differences.



This one reminded me of "I am Legend". It's the first time I have ever been able to walk down the middle of 7th Avenue in Manhattan without being hassled by cabs or other traffic. It was quite surreal to see one of the busiest streets in NYC closed for a few hours.

Daily Photo #508

I've returned! Haven't really been up to that much but have been taking a few new images.



Apparently, Boba Fett is alive and well in Central Park. It appears that the Sarlacc didn't get him afterall.

Still breathing!

I will be posting in a week's time. As if you read this guff anyway, lol.

I needed a break due to various reasons but all will be revealed in a few days. Nothing bad or serious, just a slight case of blog-xhaustion (if there is such a word).

Anyway, god stuff to follow so stay tuned.

*EDIT - I meant to say "good stuff" and NOT "god stuff". I haven't discovered religion or anything like that. Just the inability to proof read my own witterings.*