Monthly Round Up (February '11)

OK, so technically it is March, but it's not my fault February is so short ... yesterday came and went and I forgot my round up :-O. So let's pretend it's still 28th February ... or even that it's a leap year and this is 29th, ok?!

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Blimey, that was a windy one, wasn't it? We had gale force 'doings' in my parts during this month. Wild weather is nice to listen to, or to view from inside, but when one has to be out in it, it's not terribly pleasant. However, I'd rather have 'wild' than snow and ice, so I'm not complaining (well, not too much ;) ).

February was quite a nice month in my world - I hope it was similarly nice in yours.

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No.1 has also had a good February: Early on in the month, she was asked to perform at a Career's Convention locally. It was an acoustic 'set' - two guitars, a keyboard and a vocalist (organised by her guitar teacher). They played for a total of 5 hours (that's a lot, isn't it?!) with a couple of little breaks, and when I went down there to watch them for a while, others were commenting on how lovely it was to see youngsters performing so well.

We were a bit disappointed to find that there were no career advisers there to talk to students about careers in music (No.1 would really love to be paid for playing her guitar!) or in fact any other performing art(s). But they did have a professional photographer there, with whom I got chatting. It turns out he is coming to the Camera Club to which I belong later this year to give a talk, so now I'm really looking forward to that. He was advising me (and anyone else ... not just me) to submit photos to the stock libraries at Alamy. A couple of people at Camera Club have mentioned this site, and we once had a talk from a woman who made her living from selling images as magazine front covers, via Alamy. (She was very interesting - I had never thought before, to leave 'space' within pictures for text). Anyway, I must go over to the site and have a look around.

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No.1 also had a Parents' Evening this month. For various reasons, I wasn't as confident as I might normally be, that we would be hearing all positive things, but was very pleased to find that we did. One teacher, with whom No.1 had clashed early on this (academic) year was particularly fulsome in his praise, which was very rewarding for her. I was surprised how many of them mentioned how 'focussed' she is - she's obviously much better at that than I was at her age. I distinctly remember lots of remarks about my being UNfocussed, and my seeming to concentrate more on chatting to my friends than on my work. *blush*

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I was very upset indeed to learn early this month, of the death of Gary Moore. He died whilst on holiday in Spain, at only 58 years old - which is no age, is it? I have listened to Mr Moore play guitar for many years, and will no doubt continue to so do (I think I have more albums by him than any other artist), but knowing he can never make any new music, or that I'll never get to see him play live made me feel very sad. He was so talented; there just aren't that many people around who can play guitar like that.

I have put one of my favourite GM videos on the 'Musical Bits' page for anyone who'd like to see and hear him play. RIP Gary Moore, and thank you for sharing your talent.

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No.1 has a friend (S) who is becoming very interested in photography. She is lucky to have a mother who owns a DSLR camera on which she can 'practice'. During half term week, I took her along to Camera Club with me, where she witnessed for herself the idiosyncrasy that is a Judge doing some Judging. It was an Open Subject Print Competition (I didn't enter), and it was great that the friend and I could sit at the back and exchange opinion on each image.

I have the confidence now to disagree with what a Judge might say; I have learned it's just his opinion. This particular Judge didn't give any image a mark lower than 16 (out of 20). Whilst that's very nice for all the participants of a competition, I felt it didn't really give an accurate account of the range of images entered into the competition; and perhaps wasn't fair on those who got the highest marks. I was glad I didn't have any entries, anyway.

After a sleepover one night at half term, I took No.1, S and another friend (D) up to The Ridgeway so we could try out some ideas for photos. S has a great 'eye' so just needs to learn some of the technical aspects. I have to admit, there are a zillion 'technical aspects' which I still don't know, so maybe she'll be able to teach me after a little while. Here's one of the shots I took that day:

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Speaking of photography in general, I am happy to be able to show you guys this:

It's my trophy for winning the Digital Image of the Year Competition at Camera Club last year, (about which I wrote here). It's only the second trophy I've ever won; the first having been for coming third in my age class in a Judo Tournament when I was about 12! I think No.2 is the most proud of me - now he's not the only one in the house with a trophy.

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I cannot let this monthly round up pass without mentioning the awful natural disaster of another terrible earthquake in New Zealand. I have a forum friend who lives in Canterbury, Christchurch. When the earthquake of September 2010 hit, she lost her home. She managed to retrieve some of her belongings, but the building itself became structurally unsound and she, like many others with their homes, had to leave. After a few weeks, during which the South Island had to withstand many, many aftershocks, she found another home.

Now, however, she's had to be evacuated from her new home, and doesn't know what will be happening. It's all a very powerful reminder that Mother Nature can be a fickle beast, and that we in the UK are so very, very lucky that we don't live in a place which is at huge risk of earthquakes, hurricanes, etc.

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Last month I mentioned the Government's plans to sell off many of England's forests to private industry, and asked anyone reading to please sign the petition aginst such a move. I am very happy to say ... WE WON!! Mr Cameron and his fellow MPs apparently received thousands upon thousands of emails and letters on the matter, and chose to abandon the plan. Hooray and hurrah for people power.

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I am still taking part in the 111 Pictures in 2011 Project over at Flickr, and will leave you with four shots I uploaded for it this month.

Still Life

Favourite Photographic Style

Leaf

Romantic

As you can see, I'm going through a 'texture' phase. That is, I overlay an image of texture, on top of my ordinary image to create some rather nice effects. I have, up until now, mostly used the textures of other photographers, but have now started making my own, which is quite an interesting thing to do.

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Anyway, see you next time - take care - xx.

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