Portrait of a Lady

"Portrait of a Lady" is this week's "Camera Critters" post. If you want to participate, click on the image above.

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We all have plans for the future and one of mine is to create a galley of portraits of all the cats I've loved and adored. With that in mind, I take any opportunity my cats present me with, waiting for the right moment to capture the perfect "portrait" - which, let's face it, can take a while with cats that constantly roll and yawn!

This week Ella decided she'd pose for me - giving me the opportunity to snap a handful of shots, the following two included. My dilemma now is to pick one of these two to be framed - something that's proving to be a hard task!

What are your thoughts? Can you decide which "Portrait of a Lady" you'd enlarge and frame as part of a gallery of kitty portraits?




To view thumbnails of all of my Camera Critter posts, visit the GritFX website.

Crossed Lines

If you’ve ever been disconnected from a phone call made to India, perhaps the photos below will illustrate why. Then again, it’s a wonder those pesky Indian telemarketers can actually get a connection to your home thousands of miles away. These photos, which appeared recently on rense.com, clearly display the shabby state of communications in some parts of the world’s second-most populous country.






by Max Drake
(Freelance writer and artist for GritFX.)

Happy Birthday To Us!

GritFX is officially one year old today! Can’t believe it? Nah, neither can we. To celebrate this “momentous” event, we are giving one lucky GritBlog reader the chance to win $10,000 cash! The first caller through on the Toll Free number listed below will win the prize!

OK…that was just a lame attempt at an April Fool’s Day gag. There is no ten grand and no Toll Free number. But we are one year old today – that is no joke. We would dearly love to thank all our loyal readers and community members of the GritBlog, those who have left comments for our writers, those who have entered our competitions and those who have purchased one of our T-Shirts. We’d be nothing without you guys, so thanks a bunch!

Perfect Profile...

"Perfect Profile" is this week's "Camera Critters" post. If you want to participate, click on the image above.

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After another busy week, I didn't get to make the blogging rounds all that much... however, I was sent some posts regarding Facebook and the latest trick that they tried to pull!

You probably have all read about it yourself, but for those who don't know what I'm refering to... well, Facebook changed their terms of service (TOS) without notifying any of it's existing users. This presented a number of issues that any user - or potential user - should and did question. The first of which, in order to change the terms, they are required to contact all existing users and notify them of the change. A user must then agree to the new TOS. They failed to do this.

The second and extremely alarming issue in my opinion, was that the new TOS gave ownership of all your uploaded information over to Facebook... FOREVER!! The original terms outlined that you could terminate your account and that the license would automatically expire - with an acknowledgement that the "Company may retain archived copies of your User Content." This section of the TOS was deleted.

The craziest part, once again in my opinion, was that they would have a license to "use your name, likeness and image for any purpose, including commercial or advertising". How is that right!? I know that to publish a photograph taken at an event for example, you need written permission from all citizens who are visible in the shot. Without that, you can not use the image. So, tell me Facebook, how could you assume to think that you have this right!? While I accept that anything I upload to the internet can turn up in other places, I could not accept that a corporation worth billions could use my image in this way!

The issue has since been resolved, firstly with the founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg making statements that it was all innocent and the TOS was only amended to protect them; followed by a return to the old TOS.

With that on my mind this week, I was considering changing my Facebook profile picture to one of my cats. Whist I was still reluctant to use an image I thought was "valuable" and give Facebook a chance to use it for their own gain, I was thinking of this one of Jonesy - which is my Camera Critter post for the week. With the old TOS now in place, I know the situation is a little different, but I'm still considering taking my image off my Facebook profile.

What do you think? Do you think this is the "perfect profile"? And are you on Facebook - if so, I'd love to hear what you use as your profile photo... your gorgeous mug? a cute critter?


Click on the image for a larger version.

For anyone interested in reading more about Facebook, here are some links to posts that I read:
1. Facebook's New Terms Of Service: "We Can Do Anything We Want With Your Content. Forever." by By Chris Walters - Feb 15 2009
2. With friends like these ... by Tom Hodgkinson - Feb 29 2008.
The second post is a great article regarding the sociological experiment that is Facebook.

Floods are fun for some...

"Floods are fun for some" is this weeks "Camera Critters" post. If you want to participate, click on the image above.

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I took this image after the massive floods that we had during Australia's long weekend in June 2007. The lake edge is where I once rode my bike as a youngster. On an ordinary day, the shoreline would usually be approximately 50 feet past the tree line, and where you see the birds playing is where the bike track is.

The mood in the area was sombre and residents were shocked by what they saw. One small thing that broke that mood for me, was watching these birds have the time of their lives!

I took a few photos that afternoon, and this was my pick for "Camera Critters".... the break in the water surface is partly the reason for the selection.

"Two Year Walk" - Book Review by Manz...

Above: Self Portrait of my reviewing "Two Year Walk".


Two Year Walk is a book of black & white photography by Deryke Cardenaz.

Whilst some people may feel that a great photograph must have the subject in focus and all elements lit to show every detail, Deryke understands the value of creating mood!! Two Year Walk, which is a collection of images from Deryke's environment (including his hometown in California), takes you to a place where you feel and live the culture without even leaving your home.

This is no typical tourist book! If you're looking for sunny California photos that you may see on postcards - then visit your local tourist outlet. If you want to see a world from the perspective of someone who stops to soak up the oddities that surround us, then Deryke's book is for you. His images are "... saturated with mood" - to quote Kim from the prologue - and I have to agree.

This book will reveal to you a whole new way of seeing this environment. You will be faced with a seedy alleyway that would be overlooked by most; abandoned night roads and a park that will make you feel isolated and alone; cropped and somewhat abstract images that when you really look at them make perfect sense; amazing textures, silhouettes, reflections and shadows; ominous storm clouds; the crazy humor of an artist; and movement... or a lack of it!

The layout of the book also has Deryke pairing up images with captions. This is a nice touch that he's added - giving the readers more of his personality and an insight into what he feels or thinks when he views the shot. "can you see me, jesus?" was perfect for the image in question. (you have to get the book to find out what it is - I can't give everything away!!).

As an Australian who has never had the opportunity to visit "Deryke Land", the book has bridged the gap between complete stranger and voyeur. If I was to fault the book, I would only say that it may give tourists a false confidence to approach the locals on the beach and ask to play their Djembe.




Two Year Walk is available to purchase online through Lulu.

Download version - $7.50
Paperback book - $20.00

Printed: 192 pages, 19.05 cm x 19.05 cm, perfect binding, black and white interior ink.

Hello Neighbour...

I've just come across this blog site called Camera Critters, which asks bloggers to participate each week by posting an image of an animal/critter. Then... "Each week, on Sunday evening/night, a Camera-Critters capture from that week will be randomly selected to be featured in the sidebar of this blog until the next Sunday.

Seeing I have a few animal photos floating around, not to mention I think it's fun to be involved with other bloggers/blogs, I will try to post an image per week.

This is my first Camera Critter submission - hope you all like it.

Hello Neighbour...


Do you have a nosy neighbour? I have to admit that I love my isolation in the country!! When I lived in an apartment building, nosy neighbours were the bane of my existence!

"Narrow Your Focus" - Black & White Body Images...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I've read a lot of blog posts over the last week about New Year Resolutions and how we fail to keep these every year! The general consensus is to focus on smaller goals rather than the full picture.

In view of this, I thought it would be appropriate to share a collection of images where I focused on the smaller parts of a whole.

Sydney Architecture - a selection of urban photographs...

After my last post of photos, I promised the next collection would be images of Sydney.

When I was a student, I had to evaluate a few of Sydney's most famous buildings and I thought that I had loads of pics I could choose from. As it turns out, I had cut up a lot of these pictures, as seen in the above banner! The collection is therefore only a small one, and as the images have been scanned from old photographic prints (these date before Digital cameras), there is quite a bit of dust on them.

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Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, who in 2003 received the Pritzker Prize, architecture's highest honour. The Opera House was formally opened by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on 20 October 1973.

The project was built in three stages - starting with the podium on 5th December 1958 - making the Opera House a 14 year build. In 1966, Utzon was forced to resign leaving the last stage of the project (the Interior) in the hands of Peter Hall, and in my opinion his absence during this stage is noticable! I must not have been alone for in the late 1990s, the Sydney Opera House Trust began to communicate with Utzon in an attempt to effect a reconciliation, and they succeeded. In 2004, the first interior space rebuilt to an Utzon design was opened, and renamed "The Utzon Room". In April 2007, he proposed a major reconstruction of the Opera Theatre. Utzon died on 29 November 2008.

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Queen Victoria Building
Architect George McRae designed the QVB in a Romanesque style to employ a great number of skilled craftsmen who were out of work due to a severe recession. The building was completed in 1898 and named the Queen Victoria Building after the monarch. In 1959, it was threatened with demolition due to steady deterioration, but was saved and restored by Ipoh Ltd at a cost of $86 million over the course of 3 years. Today the QVB is a popular shopping spot in the heart of the business district. This year, Ipoh began a $26 million refurbishment "to keep pace with other commercial buildings in the 21st century". Changes include glass signage, glazed balustrades, new escalators, and new colour schemes. These changes have been described by critics as "kitsch and threatening the heritage values of the historic building." I personally haven't been to the QVB this year, and I'm not sure I want to now!

"The dominant feature is the central dome, consisting of an interior glass dome and a copper-sheathed exterior, topped by a domed cupola." This photo shows the exterior of the dome.

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Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre was officially opened in 1988 (to celebrate Australia's 1988 Bicentenary), with a new section of the centre added for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre is the largest and most technically advanced convention centre in Australia. Both exhibition and convention centre spaces can be configured to suit any type of usage in this fully integrated facility, and its all under the one roof.

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Centrepoint Tower
Sydney Tower (also known as the AMP Tower, AMP Centrepoint Tower, Centrepoint Tower or just Centrepoint) is Sydney's tallest free-standing structure, standing 305 m (1,001 ft) above the Sydney CBD (Central Business District). Tower construction began in 1975, and was opened to the public in September 1981. The total cost of construction was AUD$36 million.

After aqisition by AMP, the tower was renamed "AMP Tower" and during the 2000 Sydney Olympics the tower was given a "face-lift" which included an AMP light sign and illuminated Olympic figures, a sight that a lot of locals labelled "vulgar"! After the Westfield Group took over ownership of Centrepoint in December 2001, the name was changed to Sydney Tower... but not before AMP exploited the famous tourist location for their own advertisment!!

"Sydney Tower is a towering testimonial to the work of architect Donald Crone whose vision it was to create this landmark "needle" in the sky." - About.com

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Sources:
1. Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia. Visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/
2. Pods - Forum, Conference, Expo. Visit: http://www.npods.net/VENUE/SydneyExhibitionCentre/tabid/219/Default.aspx
3. Sydney Morning Herald.
4. About.com - Australia/New Zealand Travel. Visit: http://goaustralia.about.com/cs/sydneysightscity1/a/sydneytower1.htm
5. Cox Architects. Visit: http://www.cox.com.au

When you have nothing to say - let images do the talking...

It's been a very busy week for most of the GritFX team... and I can't believe that it's almost a week between posts!

Well... Wadrick chose not to work this week - that guy walks to his own beat... but will probably have more film reviews up tomorrow.

Max has been caugth up in the US election - which he chooses not to write about... even though I would consider some political pieces "weird stuff"! There's always something odd around - so I'm sure he'll be posting again soon.

As for me - not much to say other than I've been totally addicted to scanning in old images that date BDC (Before Digital Cameras) and sharing them on facebook.

This first collection "On the Road" is a selection of black & white images taken by myself and Dave on the road in NSW, Australia... Coastal + Country Roads.

Feeling displaced...


Where's Wadrick?


Abandoned train line...


Redundant...


Quiet country road... this is me...


Passenger seat perspective...


Lighting strikes!


Isolation is bliss...


Icy Cold!


Detour...

COOKIE PHOTO COMPETITION – WINNER ANNOUNCED!

The Cookie Photo Competition has now closed and the winner has been drawn from the ‘Barrel of Grit’. The lucky winner of a free GritFX T-Shirt of their choosing is:

DIANA - WORD NERD #1420
(pictured above with her son)

Diana can choose any T-Shirt from the entire GritFX range, and is not limited to David Cook designs.

The staff at GritFX would like to thank all those Word Nerds who bought a David Cook inspired T-Shirt and sent in the cool photos of themselves wearing the Tees. Most photos were taken at the Idol Tour concerts and many featured Word Nerds with David himself! You can check out all the photos here: http://www.chq.com.au/cook_gallery/cook_photos.html

GritFX will be running competitions every few months. A new comp will begin in October and details will be posted shortly on this Blog.

by Manz

GritFlix – Now Showing

The GritFlix Channel is now broadcasting on YouTube.

GritFX artists Max, Will, Dave & Manz will be uploading short films of their own making over the coming months. GritFX staff will also be listing their favourite videos on the channel for you to check out.

Admission is free - so grab some popcorn, take an aisle seat and enjoy GritFlix.

Our first short film is "An ode to Jonesy and Ella, the gorgeous GritFX cat mascots - set to the wonderful sounds of the Beach Boys."

Bonus shot - not seen in the video...