It's Christmas

It's times like these that I realize how much I have to learn about photography.

It's Christmas!

It's Christmas!, originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Happy Christmas all

The Economist & Netscape Marc

blog.pmarca.com: When non-technologists write about technology this article explains why I gave up my subscription to the Economist in 2007. Giving up the Economist - not just for Lent but for ever.

It's a Wolfhound Thing

It's a Wolfhound Thing, originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

After two weeks of sleepless nights because Dylan decided he needed a wee at 2 or 3 or 4 a.m. I am now walking the dogs at 8 or 8.30 every morning and James is walking them during the evening. This was taken this morning and it was bloody cold.

Frost und Benz

Frost und Benz, originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Shot this morning after walking the dogs at 8.30

Jetking - Ways

2nd video from Animoto. Love it.

Pictures Burnt - Satisfaction of Revenge

First attempt at uploading a video created on Animoto. Love it.

The Time Saving Clock

The Time Saving Clock, originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

I want one of these so that every year I get maybe 367 days instead of the allotted.

What Happened To The News?

The main headline on BBC Breakfast News this morning "Clever children from poor families face being overtaken by less bright children from affluent homes, research suggests."
This research was taken as fact. It came from the Sutton Trust. Not challenged. Not validated. Therefore (being ironic, it must be true). It's little wonder we legislate from crisis to crisis when we are bombarded by catastrophe instead of news.
"The main objective of The Sutton Trust is to support innovative projects that provide educational opportunities for young people from non-privileged backgrounds."
On the basis of this statement alone, why did no-one at the BBC seek to question this declaration of research of fact?
When a government spokesman appears on the same program, there's no lack of grilling. Please BBC, just do due diligence and challenge. Otherwise it's not news, is it?

New Retro

Video compiled from shots with retro themes.

Derek Vivian

Derek Vivian
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Sailor, engineer, boat designer, boat builder and my big brother. I am deeply fond and proud of Derek.

His mischievous sense of humour, courage, strength and example remind me that any problems and challenges I face are minor.

Look up syringomyelia. Derek is appears in case histories as patient #1 - one the first to be successfully treated. Though the genius of the medical team involved can't be denied, his own role in suggesting the solution is completely overlooked.

In The End All Dance Is Gesture

In The End All Dance Is Gesture
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Another photo from Kerala. I knew this image was in there but only started playing with it yesterday. And of course, I couldn't resist the temptation to add it to loads of flickr groups.

Frankie's back and she's happy

Frankie's back and she's happy
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

From every film noir I ever saw

The Royal West of England Academy : Open Exhibitions

The Royal West of England Academy : Open Exhibitions
Part of my new year's resolutions (I know it's only November). I am going to enter more competitions. So this was a nice surprise. Abject failure here I come.

Flickr Manifesto: no more group whore

Art and SMS
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Woke up this morning half asleep etc...
I admit it, I've been a flickr group whore, submitting my pics to 5, 10, 20 groups just to solicit feedback? Why? To get some recognition, perhaps?
Then this morning I look at my fav group strobist and there are 180 new images in there all submitted 8 hours ago.
Who am I trying to kid/satisfy/please?
No more. It ends now.
I will submit a pic to one group only. If the group ignores it or loves it, it doesn't matter.
What matters is the pleasure I get from creating the image in the first place and the reaction of my subject.

Steamboy and Maker

Steamboy and Maker
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Steamboy goes on sale on eBay on Saturday. In many ways it's a shame to let him go.
It'll be interesting to see if the switch to one-off art works as cameras pays off.

Ring Light Setup

Ring Light Setup
Originally uploaded by snapify.

I love clever people who do clever things. I have a ring light but this thing makes me want to go play. Big kudos to snapify and strobist

YOUNG GALLERY

YOUNG GALLERY
The most beautiful wild-life & nature photography I have seen in a long time by Nick Brandt

Indian Classical Dance

Indian Classical Dance
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Back from a business trip to Bangalore (my favourite city) and Kerala. Fortunate enough to get close to the stage at a classical Indian dance show.

Chloe

Chloe
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Our next door neighbour's grandchild. Unposed shot during Bitton Hog Roast last weekend.

Morris Men's Jump

Morris Men's Jump
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Attended a Hog Roast at our next door neighbour on Sunday and managed to catch Bristol Morris Men mid-leap.

ERP Web 2.0 - I'm a rebel, soul rebel

I read interesting stuff on ERP and Web 2.0 everyday. It's clear something's afoot but IT pundits continue to discount the 'demographics'. Every large company that is going to invest in ERP has already done so.

Ergo the battle is for the smaller companies. How small? Maybe that doesn't matter. What matters is usability. Why? In a large company the positive cashflows from any investment in ERP are generated by the reduction of overhead - primarily people. In a smaller organization, these are harder to realise but the need for ERP is just as real because managing a fragmented spreadsheet-based picture of the company is horrible.

BUT... users in smaller organizations are far more influential than in larger organizations. They behave more like CRM users. They don't like an application... they will ignore it and keep doing things the old way.

In a larger company this behaviour will result in the user eventually being shown the exit door, in a smaller company, owner/managers can't afford to assist the exit of every rebel.

And here's the rub; Web2.0 (or 3.0) can be ERP's saviour. Someone, somewhere figure this out. Is there a pageflakes for ERP out there that can add a user layer to make ERP pretty?

Pigs in lipstick rule.

Kathryn Thomas, Artist

Kathryn Thomas, Artist
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Kathryn Thomas, Artist
see www.kathryn-thomas.co.uk
A portrait influenced and inspired by her work.
Location: Brean, Somerset
4.20 pm on a late September Saturday

On being interconnected

Great talk from Bob Thurman on being connected

Charlotte Eight

Charlotte Eight
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Inspired by Edward Hopper, an attempt at an 'otherworldly' portrait. Something stark and uncompromising. Not glamorous or 'real' but a staged portrayal of what life is like for Charlotte.

Ways

Jetking, photoshoot Sunday Sep 9, 2007

Crackberry

New berry yesterday. Got it for personal use to get me out of the home office. Love work but 15+ hours a day in the same small space is ridiculous. X'd fingers

-- Steve

Pictures Burnt

Video shot Sunday Sept 2nd

Tim The DJ

Tim The DJ
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Party in the field at Tim & Jane's place in Tormarton yesterday afternoon/evening. Can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon on a Bank Holiday weekend

My first video

Did this using Animoto

Glamtastic

A much less than new series

Sporting Portraits

New series of portraits

Bitton Gothick

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Bitton Gothick

Two more shoots this weekend then two midweek. I am undecided as to whether to carry on after the exhibition September 1st 2007. All things need to end but it's been so much fun, I will miss it.
More projects/ideas in the pipe (Stanton Drew Theme Park, Seeing, and so on).

Great presentation

PrezentationZen's excellent presentation using slideshare

wannabe

Nothing like a (Panto) Dame

Nothing like a (Panto) Dame
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Finally got around to scanning this in. Took in Dec 2004!

Photoportunity

First attempt at a video on Youtube. Music is from CCMixter

Pixelnovel

FlickrShop is a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop that allows you to upload images to Flickr photo
sharing website directly from Adobe Photoshop. No need to save your image to a temporary file,
no more switching between applications - just open your image, tweak it in Photoshop and share
it with the world via Flickr!
woohoo!

PixelNovel

Powered by ScribeFire.

The Taylors

The Taylors
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

The sixteenth in my Bitton Gothick project. A West Country take on Grant Wood's American Gothic.

The Baileys

The Baileys
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

The fifteenth in my Bitton Gothick project. A West Country take on Grant Wood's American Gothic.

In light of your decision

In light of your decision
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

A much-loved outtake from the Bitton Gothick series

If only I had

If only I had
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Photoshoot with Daniel Stanley Saturday 7/7

The Thorogoods

The Thorogoods
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

The twelth in my Bitton Gothick project. A West Country take on Grant Wood's American Gothic.

Lighting: Canon 580ex Speedlight gelled with Lee straw tint gel. Shot in light drizzle and overcast sky.

The Wards

The Wards
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Tenth in my Bitton Gothick series. Influenced by Grant Wood's portrait

Lighting: Canon 580EX Speedlight with deep straw gel triggered by Gadget Infinity 2 . Second Canon 580 ex inside house to create shadows. Shot in light drizzle at 10 a.m.

The strange bird-like shadows are caused by foliage in front of the flash.

C'mon you Reds

C'mon you Reds
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

We did it! All that pain was worth. Bristol City FC will be in The Championship in the 2007/08 Season. Hurrah! Hurrah!

The Feathers

The Feathers
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Ninth in my Bitton Gothick series. Influenced by Grant Wood's portrait

Bristol City v Rotherham

This is it. August 2006 to now and it all comes down to 90 minutes. Please. 8 years in this division is enough.

Too many times we've been close but not done enough.

This time.

BBC SPORT | Football | League One | Bristol City v Rotherham

Powered by ScribeFire.

The Watsons

The Watsons
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

and number eight. Taken Sunday April 15th in bright sunlight at about 2.30 in the afternoon.

The Willis's

The Willis's
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Seventh in my Bitton Gothick series. Influenced by Grant Wood's portrait

_MG_4726

_MG_4726
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Chuck. From a shoot on Easter Sunday. Nicest thing about this is that an hour after mailing the proof jpg, Chuck had posted it to his profile on Facebook.

The Mackays

The Mackays
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Sixth in my Bitton Gothick series. Influenced by Grant Wood's portrait

Lighting: 2 Canon 580EX Speedlight either side triggered by an STE2. One with deep straw gel, one with straw tint gel bounced off silver-ish Toyota Avensis

The Wrights

The Wrights
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Fifth in my Bitton Gothick series. Influenced by Grant Wood's portrait

Lighting: 2 Canon 580EX Speedlight either side triggered by an STE2. One with deep straw gel, one with straw tint gel

What the Duck

From What the duck.net



Next time someone asks you for a copy of the print or even better a CD "so I can print 'em at home"



WTD185[2]-749786.gif (GIF Image, 600x200 pixels)

WhattheDuck.net

Powered by ScribeFire.

Christophe Gilbert

Love Christophe Gilbert's work. Pointer thanks to haha.nu



http://www.christophegilbert.com/

Powered by ScribeFire.

Grant Wood

This is the work on which I'm basing my own Bitton Gothick series. I've been a bit liberal in my interpretation but I am not alone. Mine are just a few of the millions of interpretations and parodies of this iconic image.



Grant Wood - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Powered by ScribeFire.

The Selmans

The Selmans
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Number Four.

Numbers Five (The Wrights) and Six (The Mackays) are planned for the Easter weekend.

The Heavens

The Heavens
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Third in my " Bitton Gothick" series. Influenced by Grant Wood's portrait

The Cooneys

The Cooneys
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Second in my "Gothickal"series. Influenced by Grant Wood's portrait.

Taken on Sunday in bright sunshine.

Think this photography thing has gone way beyond "hobby" and "passion" and is now bordering on "obsession". Maybe I have OCD (obsessive camera disorder)?

Aime in monochrome

Aime in monochrome
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

BW version of the pic below. I think it works better.

Aime askance

Aime askance
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

A snatched shot yesterday lunchtime.

Aime

Aime
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

My daughter Aime. Taken yesterday. I'm really proud of the fact that she's put this on her facebook profile.

The Bressingtons

The Bressingtons
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

The first of my Gothickal project. A West Country take on Grant Wood's American Gothic.

Archie

Archie
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

My nephew Archie. Shot with natural light yesterday.

Retouching

CATHRINE_MG_4224_pp
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

I've always loved the great Hollywood photographers such as Hurrell and Powolny. Realizing that much of their work relied on armies of retouchers, I thought I'd have a try. I'm really pleased with the result.

Traveling Heavy

LADS The Guns Bob 2
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe.

Did a shoot last weekend with the LADS, Lansdown and District Shoot, just about a mile from my home.
Stupidly I overpacked as always. Two flashes, a wireless controller, a tripod, a lightstand, a softbox, an umbrella, 6 lenses, my camera and half a dozen assorted modifiers (gels, snoods, etc).
All of which I ended up carrying up the Cotswolds following the guns and the dogs.
Amazing fun and I love the shots but when will I ever learn?

Murphy 2000 - 2007

Murphy 2000 - 2007
Originally uploaded by steve.wannabe. photoportunity.com

Lost Murphy, one of our wolfhounds yesterday at 4.30 p.m. My wife and I are bereft.
Yesterday morning she was fine, came into the bedroom to say her "good morning", nudged me, went off to the vet to check out a hard stomach.
Then we got a call to say the vet felt they should operate to investigate a mass that turned out to stomach cancer.
I am lost.