March 6, 2008
Aesthetics
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I heard on the radio this morning that they are talking about pulling down Robin Hood Gardens in London.
Personally I’m a fan of regeneration, like they have done in Park Hill Sheffield and what Urban Splash have done in Salford, taking cheap terrace houses which were going to be obliterated and revamping them. It’s recycling at its best! I certainly don’t agree with leaving them as they are, they are far removed from the architects intended utopia.
Why did British architects get these blocks so wrong? Hulme Crescents, Park Hill, ‘fort’ Ardwick and many many others. I think using an analogy from Joel on Software Don’t let Architect Astronauts scare you my reading of this boils down to – people learn the wrong thing from a lesson (and yes I may well have read the wrong thing into his article…). Back to the 60′s architecture. Le Corbusier designed Unité d’Habitation in the late 40′s early 50′s and this was the inspiration for many architects in the 60′s but I think they looked at the building and said, wow high-rise living how cool. but. Le Corbusier designed from a human perspective he started with people and designed how to make a living space for them, not with the idea high-rise would solve all the problems what can we do. which is why I believe a lot of these British designs fail.
I still think that the structure and the community living there should be given help with regeneration and improvement but don’t destroy it because you don’t like it. Learn from it keep it as a lesson (in regeneration) all old buildings have history, they all evolve non of our ‘Historic buildings’ are as they were first built up until the end of the second world war they were constantly evolving. it’s only since then that they have stood still.
An article on Robin Hood Gardens. http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3106948
February 20, 2008
Aesthetics
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Whoo! I sold my first picture through iStock!
I don’t think I’m ever going to make a living through selling stock I’d need to be a lot better and much more prolific to do that, and that was never my intention, but still a sale in my first week, I’m pleased.
What I’m not sure about though is the etiquette, people have rated my pictures which again is brilliant, but I’m slightly confused, how do I thank them? should I? they have great pictures too (this is one of them; portishead1) but I feel guilty rating their pictures now like it’s just because they rated me…. Although that may be more telling about me!
I also need to make sure I don’t get carried away trying to take pictures that I think will sell. I take pictures I like and I need to keep it that way. I realise that might sound a bit arrogant, but for me its more about taking the picture, if I smile after I’ve pressed the shutter then its a good picture, frequently not worth showing anyone though.
January 27, 2008
Aesthetics
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What I’ve not ever really thought about during what must be 20 years of Photography is the fact I’m left eyed.
I mean I’ve thought about it, I wear glasses (sometimes) and my left eye is stronger but I just assumed everyone did it, and cameras were poorly designed with winders (old school) or the LCD in the wrong place, in fact it’s just me being right handed and left eyed. It wasn’t until I had this realisation (a couple of days ago now) and got everyone else in the office to shoot off a few frames so I could see how they did it that people did it differently.
obviously a quick web search brings up loads of people who figured this out a while ago.
PhotoEthanography
Science Daily
Left Eyed Right Handed Blog
And Science Made Simple says is that left eyed people would have to shoot left handed. I am right handed and shoot right handed (not very often mind) but when I used to do archery, I would usually shoot right handed right eyed, but when tired would (accidentally) switch to my left, at the range we were working at (not very far!) changing eyes made a huge difference, but in fact seemed to be just about right to move me one target over, so i would still do pretty well just on the wrong target.
Anyway back on the photography side, I reckon it makes little difference to the picture as the camera is monocular, but I’ll never know if the camera is easier to use right eyed, i just can’t seem to do it.