Can you say G-Raid! 500gb of Pure Pleasure

www.g-technology.com

Well, As you all know, I like my photography, and, as such have the inherent problem of "Disk Space" ....People want larger prints, people want uncompressed tiffs, people want!.. So, space is a big issue these days, for me. I carry around my current photo library on my MacBook Pro but that's a little dangerous, I mean... One false move and someone is running off down the road with your £1500 laptop - and, more importantly, to me, my photo library!.. So, I have backups, I have backups of those backups, But what about on the road? How secure are your photos?

Well, I've decided that what I need is a solidly built disk, with a fan that takes power from your fire wire bus and is nice and small. I've found just that in the G-Tech G-Raid Mini 500gb external drive. The little guy certainly packs quite a punch! With Firewire 400 and 800 as well as USB2, there will be no connection issues, though, you will only get away with using it "bus powered" with the Firewire 800 port. It does come with a little power supply if you need to use it, but I have FW800 on the mac, so, that's sorted that. It is, as the name suggests, a raid (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) device, though, in this case is raid 0 (zero) which is striped. Raid Zero only really offers increased performance, rather than redundancy, as if one disk dies, you lose the lot.

The drive has a fan in the base of it and I can report that it does a fine job!.. I copied my current 2008 Adobe Lightroom database and raw photo library across (All 300gb of it) and it didn't even raise a sweat.. Didn't even start blowing warm air! I was most impressed, as i guess you all know - heat kills drives.

The drive comes with all the cables you could want, a driver CD and a leather case for toting it around.

It looks sexy and it works really well...

Have a look at some images direct form the G-Tech website HERE

Highly recommended.

Football just doesn't do it for me...

...But, for some reason, I still have it on. Germay v's Spain EURO 2008...

17:29 and nobody has scored, but, the roast lamb M is cooking smells OUT STANDING!

Today I fixed the big old lamp stand that was left here when the old lady sold us the flat and moved to Portugal, oh, free kick to Germany... Germany's 13th major final, sixth euro championship final... (random info alert) ... Yeah, so I fixed the lamp.

Decided I want a stationwagon (or, an estateas you English mob call them...) and a kid or two... so, cop that... Which will mean moving back to Australia... I'd certainly prefer to get the wagon here though, so, anyone from CUSTOMS, please get in touch and tell me EXACTLY how much it would cost to take a 30grand wagon back to aus... THIRTY GRAND I hear you screech!... Yeah, thats what it costs for a 1996 Audi RS4... A lot like this one actually -> CLICK

Yeah, so... that'll never happen!

I just noticed that one of the guys on the sideline with a rather large canon lens strapped to the front of his 1Ds had a little wireless trigger mounted on his hotshoe... I've been thinking about triggers and it would seem that the only ones worth a look are the Pocket Wizard

Spain - 33minutes... Torres scores...

So, yeah, pocket wizards, thoughts?.. Anyone?.. Another cool little lighting add on I've been looking at are the Alien Bee Flash units... VERY cool lookin' little things... Anyone use them / Seen them / Played with them?.. I have "obtained" a video lighting kit... It's broken and has seen beter days, but hey - I like "constant light" so I'll give it a run...

GERMAN 0 - 1 SPAIN

Yeah, ok, so do I want to continue to try be a music photographer?... I am currently looking for a lighting course, I'll be booking into one in the next seven days - not quite sure which one yet, but we shall see.

Right, gotta go sort DPS and FLICKR.... later Yalllll

Oh, and to all the people that replied on my last post - thank you, didn't realise that you were watching... Don't know who a couple of you are - but hey, that makes it more fun. Right?

PPS: You're essentially the first people that I've told that I've decided that "Kids" will be ok... So, there you go...

Thoughts.

Thoughts., originally uploaded by Little Miss Chloe..

This is my friend, Chloe. Chloe is an artist who takes brilliant photos - this is one, of her, a selfy... I just wanted to pop it on my blog for the world to see cause I reckon it's brilliant.

I'm sure you'll agree.

Nice one, Chlo!

Time may change me : The Rushes

Industry guys...

So, err... I am sat in my "office" and was inspired to blog... here goes!

Rocket man used to be one of my fave songs, not a track I'd put on and "rock out" to, but a track that reminded me of a certain time in my life.... [And, at this point, as I was writing on my notepad, I decided to swap to my laptop, cause I have it with me...] ...It was around the time that Justin and I were driving around in his car a lot, travelling out to see Sharon, Wandering around.. You know, I think that might have even been around the time I was going out with a young lass named "Jodi" ...She's married to Nathan now

So, when I say the "office" I mean my "local" The Distillers pub in Hammersmith, Why am I here?... Michelle is out tonight and it's a quiet night, I'm sat, having some chips [The best chips in London] and a quiet coke... Bill is sat by the window, Bill is about 65... He's been coming here for the last 25 years, he's a sweet bloke, but I think quite the lad in his day. The music [on the stereo] is bad tonight, I've popped my iPod in, I'm listening to Ray Lamontagne...

Why do people read blogs?.. Why are you reading this?... I mean, what a boring story?... A fat, middle aged man, sat thinking about life, the universe and photography, in a Hammersmith Pub.... I have my camera with me, I could take some photos... I guess... I might do my threesixtyfive here tonight... just maybe

A bloke, thin as a stick, thicker than a plank, whiter than white, wearing a singlet and trackies just walked by... The police have just rushed past, I wonder if these two things are related.

I'm coming to you [part] live from this Vodafone HSDPA 3G card... I can't get onto flickr, that's a right pain in the whatsit!... I called them, they have no record of my threegee card! ACE!...

Hey, Stu!.. I wanted to say hi, you're about the only bloke that reads this - so, G'Day!... Stu is a mate of mine, I met him via flickr, and we email and stuff... I tried to help name his Guinea Pig... He didn't like "Gary Glitter" ...gah! So, well, Stu and I, if I had to hazard a guess, i'd say we'll be mates for a good while... While we're on the subject - ! - Guinea Pigs... they're not from Guinea and they're not ...realllly... pigs... so, urm... yeah... that's my point.

(Chlo!... you're not a bloke!!)

Chloe is going to try some "different" self portraits... Maybe? Chloe doesn't sleep enough.

********************************************************************
That was lastnight, now it's today which is tomorrow if you're still thinking it's yesterday. It's not. Today, what a great day - not. Servers really do just do what they like, eh. I'm sat in Starbucks now - yes, I know, evil, whatever. Sat in starbucks on someone else' wireless [Thank you netgear, I've been using you for two years...] I got a new drive today, a G-Raid Mini It's a fw800 / 400 / usb2 external drive... it's small and darn cute, it's bus powered [no power packs folks] and has fan cooling... I copied my 300gb portable photo library to it today - didn't even start blowing warm air!!... amazing...

Yeah - so, go buy one..

This blog is getting to me... signing off

thirteen | podcast randomness

I have become bored and annoyed with iTunes... Well, iTunes store!.. I usually update my podcast xml and stick my podcast on iTunes, but now every podcast I stick up there they let me submit, people can download it and then, after about a month, they reject it... Random!

Anyway, I'll host it myself and, if you like, you can click this link and listen, or download it and play it in iTunes... now, this one is large cause there is a track at the end that I really like at the moment. It's a Karine Polwart song named Behind our Eyes... So, errr, it's at 192 instead of the regular 60... [so about 18mb] thank goodness for fast internet, right?

thirteen

So, there you have it, thirteen... Anyways, yes, updated my stalkbook status to read "Can I shoot your wedding" tonight and actually got a message from a friend that has some friends getting hitched... So, now I'm in touch with them and hopefully something will come of it...

Here is a photo I took and edited, of the London eye... It's a bit far removed from the shiny, happy colorful London eye you know and love, but I quite like this version... Thoughts?


listen to the podcast | book a photo shoot | get famous... err, ok, I lied about that last bit?

Ask me tomorrow...

"Today, I won't be doing a year two... It's been good and the people aspect has been very cool... met some amazing people [Spent yesterday in London with Sybren and Marit] People I'll keep in touch with, people that have had some effect on my life in some random way. Problem is, I started this to see me in front of the camera a bit and to try get a bit more smile happening. Sybren asked me yesterday "Well, have you smiled"... I have, there are photos with some form of "smile" in them... but, have I really achieved my goal? No...

What I've come to realise is that despite the fact that I take these photos and post them on the internet for anyone to see, getting various comments from people... that, although these comments and this process is warming... It's not what I need to help me. Now, doesn't that sound deep?..

I think maybe I'll try a different project when i'm done here... something to do with strangers - Stu and I were talking about 100STRANGERS, but I'm going to have a long hard think and see what I come up with.

I love taking photos and I've loved my time with this group - make no mistake. But I think it's time for something else...

Will I finish? Who can say... more than likely...

Today, this is how I feel...

Ask me tomorrow"

This was my recent post at threesixtyfive....

I don't really know how I feel right now, I don't really have to much time to think... I spend so much time trying to help other people out that my life is slipping by in front of me... It's got to be "me" time soon enough...

Tonight... tonight tooonight....

[name that song!]

Going to meet Marit and Sybren! - Running late!... Must get coffee!!... Burnt roof of mouth and throat with worlds biggest chip! [below]... Hurts!... Will be back later

So what if it is...

It's cold as you face into the wind.... Remy Zero, Fair : Todays favourite track.

I am headed to the "trouping of the colors" today at Buckingham palace, I'm going to see the queen... I don't know what the whole deal is, but I'll go along and check it out. I intend on taking my 400mm with me and wandering around taking reactionary / crowd shots and maybe even snapping a photo of the queen. One thing I fully expect to happen is for a PCSO [pretend police person] to come up to me and ask what I'm doing, to which the obvious reply is "Err.. Taking photos?" From there the conversation will be me taking the mick, having a laugh - I can only hope that there will be someone with me that will calm me down.... I have heard so many stories recently of people that have been stopped for taking photos... Stopped by people that have NO clue of what the law surrounding street photography actually is... Today will be the day that a PCSO gets some education on that point.

It's too late to apologize... I'm still listening to this track, it's in my "on the go" play list... The guy has an OK voice... not bad...

Tomorrow is going to be a good day, and, weather take note, a dry day!... I am shooting at the Marylebone festival for a friend, Rita Kvist... Rita manages a band called Fishmouth, amongst other things... Tomorrow there are about eleven bands playing the acoustic stage in Londons Marylebone festival... I'll be there shooting them, So if you're about, pop down and say hello.

There has been a song that "gets me every time" for a few years now... It's performed by a guy that used to be in a well known band, he's not singing with them anymore... He's a great solo artist... He was in an american tv show, house... "And if I lived, till I was a hundred and two, I just don't think i'll ever get over you" ... People are strange hey!... Is it a viable option? Of course not, Is it something you'd like? Absolutely... Will it ever happen? Not to smart people. The heart rules the head.

I "moderate" one of the webs larger, more active photography forums, DPS... I was asked this morning....

"I feel secure when rules are clear, and when consequences can be evenly and dependably applied to those avoiding or abusing the rules. Even children respond better when they know "I do this, that happens."

...Well, i'll tell you what I think, based on what I thought the gentleman in question was referring to... [Yes, it's DOT o'clock!....]

We have rules on the forum, rules for posters in the different sections to keep the forum running in an orderly fashion... We have 17,795 members as of this morning at 8am and sure, it needs to be looked after and controlled to a certain extent, but, this email annoyed me a bit and thu, I'm getting it off my chest here - I posted in the critique section, right after a new user posted his photo without following the rules to the letter... I just posted and said, Hey, Wlcome - you might want to read the rules before one of the Moderators gets you [See, I'm one of two administrators... so, I just keep an eye on things but am an active forum member...] The guy replied and said that he would read the rules and sorry... Job done... I believe in ruling with a less "hitler" approach and making forum members feel welcome, rather than jumping right in with "Hey, you screwed up, I'm deleting your post" ... It's photography, not bloody brain surgery. This is meant to be fun.

OK, the stuff above still stands... But, I found what the guy that emailed me was talking about... I totally respect his opinion, but need him to chill out some

8:16am, I've been at th cafe since seven... Couldn't sleep... too many thoughts...

Go buy Karine Polwart, This earthly spell and listen to "Behind our eyes" Then you'll know what mood I was in this morning... amazing...

Don't take life that seriously, hell, it doesn't take you that seriously.

On a lighter, more artistic note... This is Discos Friday... what a great shot!

Down where I can not follow...

Karine Polwart - What an amazing artist! I'm not much of a one for "folk" type music, but this woman has a captivating, mesmerising voice. Right, enough of that! - Just buy it, there's a link above... Buy it, chill out, say thank you [and you will] later...

One Republic They've sang / performed with every man and dog... Do you like them? "It's to late to apologize, to late" ...Yeah, them. I saw the final performance of that American Idol kid - With O.R - Not bad at all, each to thier own, you know...

The video follow up review is down below this post, the follow up is the Lowepro CompuRover Now, I just want to clarify - it's a great bag [No, no pressure from the distributor - this is what I think] it really is - I love mine, but, there are a raft of changes that could be made - is there room in the camera accessories industry for a gtvone bag? A bag made by a photographer [and his mates] and sold for a reasonable price... I reckon there might be, we shall see... I have a shoot on Sunday, 9am till 5pm... 11 bands!!... I'm going to take the Lowpro FlipSide 300 this one and see how it performs... I'd really like a 200mm f2.8 for the day, I'll just have to roll with the 100-400L and maybe bump the iso as the day moves on.

Met these lads in Mill Hill last sunday, out there shooting with Pasky... Him for cash, me for portfolio expansion... Though, I don't shoot the stuff he shoots - he's a gun, I'm more a waterpistol - it's great though, being able to go out on a job with a pro and watch him work.


I have a review to do for DPS tonight. The item in question is a Dymo Diskpainter, a crazy little guy thats about the same size as ... well, the footprint is about two cd cases, and its a couple of matchboxes high [on their side] and paints cd's in a very cool way - tonight ill pop it through it's paces and see if it really does what it says on the tin!!...

Well, that's my current two days or so... That and some other very interesting developments involving an old friend.

Peace!

Lowepro CompuRover AW | Follow Up

BIG thanks to Kev at Root6 for re-encoding this clip with Content Agent

iPhone : The new Blackberry

The new iPhone 3G will be rolling July 2008... 3G, GPS, two HUNDRED bucks cheaper, an amazing SDK.... A piece of kit that really does compete with the blackberry - easily.

Full M$ support.... full iWork document support...

What an amazing piece of kit!!...

Yes folks, due for release July 11, 22 countries... and that's just a start!!

WWDC 2008 - what a great way to start!!!

A quick saturday shout...

Before I start, can I say that based on the first four listens to Coldplay Viva la Vida that I, at this stage, will not bother seeing them in concert this time around... I really think they've killed the coldplay sound. The ever present "Chris Martin vocal" is still there but everything else seems to have been "coll'ised" ...like they've tried to make everything sound so different that, for me, they've screwed it. I'll chat tonight and listen to it again with a mate of mine and old Coldplay fanatic - Thomas Greenwood - But for now, i'm swapping tracks on the old iPlod...

www.gtvone.com is finally live! - Apologies for the major delays, I ended up having it rebuilt by a mate of mine, Nathan reed. Nathan hasn't been developing flash for all that long, but, from what I can tell is moving along in leaps and bounds - check out my site, for a photography site - I think it's a great job. You can get in touch with Nathan via www.mediaofmulti.com for a site of your own - he's not charging amazing amounts yet as he is still "up and coming" get in quick folks - he'll be big.

I'm blogging to you from my Dell XPS M1330... It started life in bad way... Within two weeks of purchasing it, It'd had the screen replaced three times and had a new motherboard... Thanksfully I don't rely on it - I rely on my 17" MacBook Pro... She's the daddy, so to speak.

I was never a mac user, but then with a couple of small changes I'd started supporting a few customers with Macs and then a dept' at work ended up with 20 or so macs - the rest is history.

The new threegee iPhone is rumoured to be anounced this coming Monday... there are already loads of rumours AND a couple of photos over HERE Dunno if they're true or not...

Get my name out there...

The question was asked today, over at DPS "How do I get my name out there"

Well, How does one get his or her name out there?... Obviously aside from taking a large block of ice, carving your name in it and firing it from a cannon... No, really... Getting your name out there isn't all that hard.

Keywords, Old school keywords and tags. They are a great idea! I have keywords in my various websites... Meta keywords that describe my content, names for pages and basic words that are associated with my stuff - like "photography" "canon" ...all that kind of stuff, you know. Of course, this is only from an Internet point of view...

From the old conventional "Hi, I'm a photographer, please hire me" point of view, I am sure that the best way is just to do your best with your photos and share them around from time to time... Get some MOO cards printed up, hand them to people. Get yourself on Flickr and then it's easy to print your moos straight from flickr... Maybe try and get one or two of your photos up in a shop near where you live?... Do some Charity work?... Get a photo published in a newspaper, it's not as hard as you might think...

Well - these are a few ways which spring to mind... What others can you think of?

Sime.

Thank You...

So, As it is international "Thank You" week, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank some people...

I'm going to thank ten people...

M... thanks! For putting up with me.
NP... thanks, for everything - more than most.
Mother... You had a hell of a time bringing [dragging] me up - thank you, especially.
Dad [Bruiser] What a great Dad, thank you... [For not running over me with the tractor]
Dad [Stu] Another great Dad, caring for me when you didn't have to - thank you.
Brothers [Matt, Shauno and Dave] Thank you guys, best brothers a guy could have.
Lou... You're tops and a pure bundle of inspiration! thank you.
Peebs... Cracking mate, Seen me at my worst, Thank you.
Jodi... You say the right things at the right time, sweet and brilliant... Thank you
Threesixtyfivers! - You lot are a driving force and a great bunch of people, so, despite the fact that I don't really "know" any of you - THANK YOU ALL...

Peebs - I will find a photo of you, I know just the one... Dad [Stu] I also have a shot of you looking very studious... **coming soon**

Meanwhile - you guys, thank you.

really.

sime.

amazing people | amazing planet

Peru | From the air


What an amazing planet we live on... That said, how long before it "goes back to where it came from?" Peak Oil, Nuclear, pollution, Hate and Crime... It's all having an impact!.. Well, doom and gloom...

Must start my day - here, watch the news!!...

She was more like a beauty queen...

Still listening to Chris Cornell's version of Billie Jean... Such an amazing track [Thanks, Michael Jackson] ... You can see it here.




So, I'd like to [as this "seven day challenge" ] work out a way to frame and auction one of my photos and donate the proceeds to some charity... Not Oxfam this time, they've taken some of my money, This time I've chosen WWF.ORG.UK as my charity.

£1 buys a seedling to help replant the forests of Tanzania; £25 pays a Rhino Protection Unit ranger's salary for 10 days; £100 pays for 5 days' training in cork oak forest management for a local worker; £200 buys a camera trap to film tigers and other wildlife in Huai Kha Khaeng, Thailand... So, well, why not?... Gotta try right?

That Lowepro Compurover AW... Well, I took it on holidays - Peru, and gave it a good solid flogging for two weeks, Inca trail, Pisac Ruins, Culca Canyon, Amazon basin forest... Did it stand up to the test?.. Well, in some aspects - OH YES - great bag, and in others... I wanted to tear it apart and feed it to the 3 meter Cayman that was swimming gently towards our boat... well, later this week i'll do a "video wrap up" and give you the down and outs of this bag... Lowepro, be afraid...

So, what to do after threesixtyfive is over?... I'm into the last hundred days Disco just mentioned to me that he'll be trying his ever so capable hand at 100STRANGERS afterwards... I think i'll do the same... A stranger a day for 100 days... perfect really!... Have a look at the 100strangers group from flickr HERE What a cool idea... will i be scared? Will I "bottle it?"

Who knows?...

Over and Out!...

Sime

Secrets...

...For Blogging your way to a six-figure income, That's what I'm reading right now - I came back from Peru to find it on my desk. I think maybe that the only six figures I'll get will be "b.u.g.g.e.r" ...well, anyway, i'll read it and see where I get to. [Thanks Darren] - You can find the book at amazon Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six Figure Income


****OXFAM****
Transaction 1856243371 GBP 20.00 completed.
Thank you – your payment was successful!
Your generosity will shortly be turning the world in the right direction.

I managed [despite the fact that my widget said otherwise] raise a whole $10usd for oxfam, Thanks Steve, So, I changed the denomination to gbp and matched it - £20... hell, it won't kill me and someone somewhere will [hopefully] put it to good use?!... Oxfam?

****BANNED!****
I just officially banned M from going ANY where near my speakers!... Attempting to vacuum the titanium cone in my B&W 703's.... [next time, she dies*] *not really

****PERU****
Yep, Peru was amazing, lots of photos - loading up slowly - you can see them here

More on Peru later...

****LOWEPRO****
Coming in the next day or two, a follow up video-blog-review-thing on the lowepro compurover AW... Not as hard as it made out to be... Multiple faults, all will be revealed in a few days time.


...look, i'm off to bed!!

x