Archives for the 'Art and Literature' Category
365: Death of a [part of a] newspaper
It is with great sadness that we witness the death today of The Guardian’s Technology section. As a lifelong liberal (or is that libertarian?) this newspaper and its columnists have become friends, occasionally foes and often leaders in my understanding of the world and what I’m doing in it.
I’ve learnt countless IT tidbits from the inimicable Jack Schofield (once a helpful respondent on a survey I oversaw) and been kept abreast of trends that would otherwise pass me by in each week’s supplement. In fact it was the key reason to buy the paper on a Thursday, and I’d turn to it before news or sport. Geek. So these very last words almost brought a tear to my eye:
“Paper, though delightful, is expensive to make. Shifting electrons around on a screen is far cheaper. Thank you for reading for so long – right to the conclusion. We’ve enjoyed it.”
Sure, the internet will replace much of this information but there’s still nothing that matches a newspaper for opening unexpected avenues. An online world in an offline publication? Crazy, I know, but I liked it. (It’ll remain on the Guardian’s website but that just won’t be the same. Now, where’s my eReader?)
The real reality
You might get the stamp in your passport but it’s easy to spend time in a ‘war zone’ and see nothing of the human cost. David Cotterrell’s photos are a blunt reminder of life beyond the blast wall.
Doily graffiti
To the Catalan coast for the weekend, thanks to an about-to-expire BA Miles two-for-one voucher. Great to return to a wonderful city.
Barcelona remains scored with graffiti despite the City council’s concerted efforts to clear it up. Nice, however, to see some domestic creativity amongst some artists.
The backstreets of Newtown
Can throw up some surprising works of art. The request to ‘Please leave the street art up! We enjoy it! It’s fun!!’ seems to have been listened to.
Hirst’s at it again
Like him or hate him, Damien Hirst’s art is distinctive. Someone gave him a few million dollars to spend on creating his work in bronze and plonking it in front of the (sorry) seminal Lever Building.
I rather like this photo. One of my favourites.
Holga ahoy
A little while ago I aquired a Holga, perhaps the most basic camera available in the 21st century. It takes 120 film, has a plastic lens and a body that leaks light, and – because I splashed out big time – also has a flash.
Evidence of alleged creative attempts here. All I need to do now is work out (i) how to focus it (ii) how to stop it shaking and (iii) how not to waste my pennies on bad shots.
Spending real money on developing film is quite quaint though. (And this is a first attempt to post direct from Flickr.)
Published at last
Take a look at page 34 of November’s Hidden Europe and you’ll find a picture of a Norman Foster station in Bilbao taken by yours truly. I received a charming email a couple of months ago from the publishers who’d found the photo on Flickr and asked if I’d allow them to publish it in their journal in return for an attribution and a free copy. How could I say no? It’s a quirky publication by the way, worth picking up off my coffee table if you’re passing by.
This is an interesting example of how the internet is changing publishing. Small publications have access to a much wider pool of images whilst professional photographers have a greater opportunity of monetising their work. Unless the Evening Standard nicks it.
I’ve got another photo due to appear in a kid’s atlas soon, so will be sure to let you know how that looks.
Toilet Humour
Sorting through hundreds of books in preparation for a return to Tooting, I came across my collection of toilet reading – small, flickable items suitable for rapid scanning. Which reminded me how valuable are many of the tips in Esquire’s Things a Man Should Know About Style. For example:
Wearing a suit does not make you a “suit”.
Wearing a bad suit or an incorrectly tailored suit or the same damned striped navy suit every day does.There is no footpain so severe, no dress show so fragile, no commute so arduous as to justfy the sartorial holocause that is wearing sneakers with a suit.
Hats will make a comeback someday.
It is not that day.Women notice shoes.
They also notice nosehair.Never try on shoes in the morning
Far from attesting to vast wealth, a bulging wallet attests to slovenliness.
After all, a really wealthy man lets his accountant settle his bills.Slim fitting clothes are for slim men.
Which means if you’re a thirty-six, you won’t look skinnier shoehorning yourself into a thirty-four. You’ll look skinnier wearing a thirty-six.You are in a car for an hour a day; you are in your clothes from morning to night.
Spend accordingly.“Easy care” is for those who don’t.
When in doubt, ask a woman.
But
To have absolute style is to break absolute rules – sometimes even these.
Quite.
I imagine there’s also a rule that a man should never leave books in his bathroom.
Fake Tilt/Shift Photography
It didn’t take too long to find out how to fake those model worlds. More of mine on Flickr.
Model Worlds
These images have popped up in a few places in recent weeks, but are so intriguing that they bear repetition.
When I first saw photographer Olivo Barbieri’s pictures I assumed they were models of remarkable detail; however, they are genuine aerial shots taken with a tilt/shift lens. It’s unclear how these work; if anyone can enlighten me, please do.
