If you build a better mousetrap,
you will catch better mice.
– George Gobel
Tag: Fun
Mine
Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics.
I can assure you mine are still greater.
– Albert Einstein
Olaf joined me on an I.T. project in Stockholm as MSE, or moral support elk. The photo shows him hard at work. He doesn’t come from Sweden, but enjoyed working there immensely. The people, the culture, the climate: he felt right at home. He even started looking out for a position with the local office.
On-site in October, he suddenly realised they turn the lights out in winter, and decided to retire to the South.
Below you see Olaf studying Swedish, as he still loves Sweden, and hopes to go there on holiday soon – in the summer, of course. He feels quite protective of all things Swedish: even if he’s not really from there, he feels being an “Älg” makes him belong!
Olaf says Hi to everyone, especially those afflicted with I.T. projects, and of course: Hälsningar!
This Week’s Photo Challenge: Mine.
St. Peter Has a Smudge Tool!
I am told that I talk in shorthand
and then smudge it.
– J.R.R. Tolkien
The clouds really looked blurred even to the eye.
We Enjoy Helping You!
Subject: Ticket n° 773342259
Dear Ms. Barrow,
thank-you for calling the automated IDEAL service hotline.
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IDEAL Service Team.
Brevity Is the Soul of Wit
Donald Trefusis on Brevity
“Guest post” inspired by the DPChallenge.
I was approached by young Bertie – ablogdog, which as he kindly explains is not his name, but his you-are-well. Whether this denotes his breed or his profession I cannot say, or perhaps it is a passphrase to some secret domain? Anyway, I was invited to spread my metaphorical wings and broadcast my opinions in this new arena, the blogosphere. B-logo-sphere, a second domain of rationality it seems, or of discourse at any rate. Ever ready to try a new way of giving others the benefit of my superior, I fastened my seat-belt and climbed in the roller coaster of bloggings and twitterings – well, possibly in reverse order.
The new birdsongs are truly delightful, one can only deplore that they come too late. What would the scholar not give to read Archimedes’ “I’m in the bath.”, Newton’s “Would you believe it, an apple just hit me on the head!”, and Edison’s laconic “Making tea.” Whether my new young friends’ “I’m on the train” will prove equally valuable, is not for me to say.
On the blogging front, I am sadly forced to confess failure. I feel entitled to plead attenuating circumstances as I was distracted by the hand of fate. It transported me with a simple click, as if by magic, into the domain of a man named Ted. A loquacious chap, the unanimous verdict on whom seems to be “Ted talks”, otherwise I believe him to be a perfectly fluffy fellow with a catalogue of highly entertaining and enlightening expositions.
Ted’s genius is demonstrated by the fact that all the gems in his collection are brief; one even bespeaks the ability to present any idea in only six words. What progress could humanity make, or the humanities at any rate, if books and essays were strictly proscribed from exceeding a six word limit? One could easily do a whole term’s marking in a leisured forenoon, and take the rest of term off. I would suddenly have enough shelf space for my collection of stuffed owls, though, admittedly, it might be hard to convince publishers you were extensively revising word three.
The following abridgments alone will make space for the espresso machine I intend to buy with today’s profits.
- Homer’s Odyssey. Storms, sirens, giants. Don’t wait dinner.
- Dante’s Inferno. Abandon all hope, ye who enter.
- Kant’s 3 Critiques – What can we know? What should we do? What may we hope for? Not much. Your best. Perpetual peace.
If you have been, how very kind.
Evergreen
This winter I discovered a new kind of evergreen tree! Or maybe these trees have an enthusiastic knitter in the family?
How to Botch Your Photos
Manuel de la photo ratée – Thomas Lélu.
Hilarious guide to a wide variety of creative ways to botch your photos. For every way, and various combinations, the author provides examples from his family album, as well as detailed instructions on how to create each particular effect. As a bonus he delivers an artistic critique of each type of photo.
In the technical part of the book we encounter such old favourites as fuzzy, over- / underexposed or ill-framed photos – including the popular road-photo, but also highlights such as the thumb-snap or the discoloured photo.
The more challenging chapters on subject matter provide insight into how to create empty, crowded or confused photos. A dedicated chapter explains how to ruin portraits. My particular favourites are the photo-triste (sad) and photo-camouflage.
While I cannot claim to be a master of the botched photo, I consider myself a gifted amateur, and humbly present my own examples for a select few of these techniques, in particular of my own specialty, the fuzzy photo. With a minimum of practice, I’m sure you too will be able to produce such results.
Of course – despite all my best efforts – I sometimes produce photos that have a discernible subject in the frame that is in focus and properly lit.
Nobody is perfect.
(Click on image for carousel view.)
Fuzzy – out of focus. This beautiful impressionistic landscape is achieved by using the “flower” macro setting to shoot a group of trees.
Fuzzy – out of focus. Focus on something in the background and shoot. As the photographer singles out a particular plant for the starring role, all the others seem to be shouting: why not me? An inimitable comment on our modern times.
Fuzzy – moving object. In this case the effect is achieved by photographing in a moving vehicle (tram). Overexposure adds to the abstract charm of the result.
Fuzzy – insufficient light. The secret to this, as many other ways of botching photos is eternal optimism that any conditions will do. Notice how the sea monsters appear to be moving, impatient with their stone prison.
Lighting – underexposed. Make sure to have objects of widely varying brightness in your frame. The result is a beautiful crispness, an almost B/W effect.
Lighting – backlit. Point camera directly at the sun.
Special cases – discolouration. My camera can do that all by itself.
Special cases – discoloration (2).
Framing – the road photo. Snap out of window of moving vehicle to produce a photo devoid of interest.
Framing – the lost photo. Shoot a distant and partially obscured object. Beautifully expresses the disorientation and bewilderment of man in our complex world.
Intervening objects – Trees. Achieved by shooting out of a train window. A tantalizing glimpse of the view we cannot see. The green stripes throw the fleetingness of the moment into relief. The castle’s essential quality – immobility – is beautifully captured.
Mood – the sad photo. Achieved here by flat lighting (overcast moment). This masterpiece exudes a profound sense of desolation.
The photo of absence. An apparently deserted world. Expresses deep fatigue at the essential meaninglessness of life.
Photo camouflage, the crowded photo. With so many things in the frame, it remains a mystery what the intended subject of the picture was. Many spots of bright colours defy any attempt to make sense of the image.
The confused photo. A photo does not need to be crowded or empty to make it unclear what the subject is. The tranquil scene and its decaying boundaries join to create a peaceful melancholy.
The confused photo (2). The rhythmic horizontals leave us to ponder what was going on in the photographer’s mind. A near-abstract masterpiece.
But I’m Innocent!
The innocent
and the beautiful
Have no enemy
but time.
– William Butler Yeats
Up and Down
Switzerland is a small steep country,
Much more up and down than sideways.
– Ernest Hemingway
Mountains are fine, but have you ever asked yourself how big Switzerland would be if you ironed it flat? Happy Swiss national day!
Highly des res?
Did you know birds went in for numbered houses nowadays?
Active local community
And have you seen the flying houses by Laurent Chehere?
Going up the Walls?
Ever been tempted to spray paint the walls? Well now you can.
And of course, I couldn’t resist.
Lazy Sunday
Together
I never really figured out what this was…
Fluid Lines
Another cute online painting tool: the fluid painter by Peter Blaskovic. Have a go!
Riters’ Rulz
Alwase cheque speling. Two meny mistaks our unprofesionnel end heartoo reed.
Stop writing before your readers stop rea.
Don’t brainwash your readers. Don’t brainwash your readers. Don’t brainwash your readers. Don’t brainwash your readers.
Metaphors are dust in the wind.*
The probability of a considerable percentage of those individuals perusing your fabrications being enlightened or entertained is habitually inversely proportional to your loquaciousness and polysyllabicity: be short to be clear.
Amazing your readers can backfire: widened pupils make it hard to read.
Proofread carefuly.
More rulz here.
* They often obscure rather than elucidate. (Apt. But did you get it?)
Inspired by Tobias Mastgrave’s story challenge: brainwash / pupil / apt.
Contrast
Happiness in a Bottle
I feel a cold coming on, and need some vitamin C. Did you know it comes with extra happiness nowadays?
I guess it’s the double rainbows that cause the separation.
Picasso at His Best
Another online doodle tool: Picassohead.
See him in the gallery.
Secret Sky Sculpture?
I was trying to take a photo of rather a nice tree, when I suddenly saw it.
A conspiracy?
How High the Moon?
Nearly as high as this tree, apparently.
Be Kind to Trees?
Down my street it seems there’s a tree lover.
I don’t know whether it’s as cozy as more traditional winter gear; it’s certainly more fun.
The Scribbler
I just found this adorable online scribble tool. You do a quick doodle, and then it scribbles it in. You can adjust colour and randomness. Addictive.
Scepticism in the Nursery
From my childhood I remember “The animal fair” by Alice and Martin Provensen. Beautiful illustrations, cute stories and rhymes. One my favourites questioned stereotypes.
“…And though the owl is known as wise,
he’s never won a spelling prize.”
So who really knows? Bertie doesn’t.
Which Witch?
How do I know it’s a witch?
See the flaming cat on the broomstick? Only witches have cats like that. Bertie could have told you that. Speaking of which. Why do curled up dogs and cats always look so cozy and warm?
Just can’t bring myself to close the flame painter.
Mating Flight of the Phoenix
Lazy sunday. I spent all day playing with my new app, the Flame painter. Wow. This is art. Not the results, but the pure joy of playing with colours. I encourage everyone to try the free online version. Peter Blaškovič other simulations are also worth a look.
- Rare sight: the mating flight of the phoenix.
The male circles, showing off his magnificent fire-tail to impress the female above. If she descends, he’s in with a chance. Rarely seen, phoenixes in mating plumage are thought to bring luck, and the male display seen from below is probably the origin of the “angel” myth and shape.
Stray Thoughts 