31 January 2012

Animal Attraction

If you hadn't realised by now I'm quite the fan of Lomography and wanted to share one of their latest products. For Valentine's Day Lomography gave some of their products an animal themed make over and have released them as limited editions. I'm generally not usually bothered by this kind of thing but this time Lomography got me and they got me good.

Introducing the Diana Mini Leopard.


Isn't it gloriously trashy? That mix of pink and leopard print makes this edition of the Diana Mini into something of a fashion accessory as well as a fantastically fun camera. The Diana Mini has never really interested me until recently and then even more so with this make over. Being a 35mm camera makes the Diana Mini a pretty easy camera to use but it does offer the ability to shoot in two formats at the flick of a switch. So you can shoot in square format which is pretty cool but you can also shoot in half frame format which gives you twice the amount of exposures on one roll. Having experimented with the Splitzer on my Diana F+ I'm well aware of the fun of combining two shots on one print and I really like the idea of using the half frame format for a portraiture/still life project. Since this edition comes with the Diana Flash it's good to go day or night which opens up even more shooting possibilities. I'd say the Diana Mini Leopard is a stylish, fun addition to the Lomography family and I for one am happy to see it.

Unfortunately I can't really afford to buy the Diana Mini Leopard at the moment but I'll live in hope of owning one eventually. And if the pink leopard print isn't your thing then maybe you should check out the other new editions; Diana F+ Zebra, La Sardina Orinoco Ochre, Fisheye 2 Python and La Sardina Serpent Sapphire.

Also it's probably worth mentioning that Lomography are having a 3 for 2 sale on their own film right now! So stock up whilst you can.

Laters,

P x

30 January 2012

Anyone Can Be Killed...

Excuse me for a moment whilst I freak out over the new trailer for season 2 of Game of Thrones.


OH....MY....GOD!!!

This is just too exciting. I'm worried that my highlight of 2012 will be the return of Game of Thrones but at the same time I don't care because this show is FREAKIN' AWESOME. I love how much more theatrical the trailer has become with the music and the cinematography. Really adds to the whole fantasy epic of this series. Having listened to all the books I know roughly what to expect from this season but that doesn't remotely affect my anticipation and excitement for it. I don't want to completely breakdown the trailer to discuss what it shows as that would be spoilerific but oh oh oh so much. I can't convey accurately how excited I am.

Roll on April 1st.

Laters,

P x

29 January 2012

52 Books 52 Weeks

4

Confession, I read this all in one sitting at some forsaken hour this morning. I wasn't much in a reading mood this week.

Laters,

P x

28 January 2012

Jurassic Disaster

Tumblr is probably my absolute favourite website because it constantly introduces me to amazing things. Whether it's music, films, tv shows, books, food, places, photographers or artists. Tumblr is the place to go for inspiration and procrastination. And also a whole lot of boobs. So allow me to share with you my new favourite single purpose Tumblr.

T-Rex Trying - The Unfortunate Trials of The Tyrant Lizard King, By Hugh Murphy


You get the gist? Seems Mr Murphy here simply draws all the things that poor T-Rex can't do. There's a suggestion box for anyone who wishes to contribute. I love these as I'm a big fan of dinosaurs and I've long been amused by the tiny, ineffective arms of the T-Rex.

If you're a Tumblr user then I suggest following T-Rex Trying as it'll no doubt soon be filled with more drawings. And if you wish to follow my Tumblr, it's helloagainpanda.

Laters,

P x

27 January 2012

Art Meets Music

On Tuesday I made a quick little post about Gotye's video for "Somebody That I Used To Know" and I mentioned how it reminded me of another favourite music video of mine. Although these two songs and videos are actually vastly different, it's the whole art in music videos that makes the connection for me.

This is 70 Million by Hold Your Horses!


How ace is that?! If you're anything of an art fan then I can't see how you couldn't enjoy that video. I've long dabbled in an appreciation of art but in my first year of college one of our projects had to be art inspired and we also had to write about modern art for an essay. Whilst the majority of my classmates were bored by this I quite enjoyed it. Well I enjoyed the learning part of it, not so much the essay part. But that's beside the point. Of course it would be a bunch of Frenchies that this video belongs to. But it makes me smile each time I watch it. It features lots of great reconstructions of famous paintings. It's just a fun video all round and the tune is kinda catchy.

Art is such a funny old thing. I don't feel Manchester has enough places in which one can indulge in the more classically known art. I went to the National Gallery t'other year and I honestly could have spent all day in there. And I won't mention the fact I've never been to the Tate. I need a big, arty week in London this year for definite.

Anyways I hope you like this video as much as I do.

Laters,

P x

25 January 2012

Lomo Wednesday - disdis

Introducing this week's Lomo home, disdis. So, so many albums that it was hard to choose a small selection.


I just wanted to feature this last photograph slightly apart from the others. It really makes me miss London for some reason.


Anyways like I said, so many albums to choose from here. Seriously worth checking out disdis in your own time.

Laters,

P x

24 January 2012

A Sudden Obsession

You know when you hear about a song and you give it a listen but it doesn't really do that much for you? Then a few weeks later you hear it again and suddenly it is YOUR song? That's happened with me and Gotye here.


I cannot get this song out of my head. The video even plays in my head at times and I find myself miming along. I just love everything about this song and video. It's the look on his face as he sings like he can't help but think of whoever this song is written about. I love that pained expression. And it's the way she cracks her back just as she begins to approach him for her attack. The painted background turned body paint is such a simple video concept and reminds me of another favourite music video of mine. And of course it does make me think on my last relationship in that makes you weak but makes you strong as well way.

Funny thing is since I re-discovered this song over the weekend quite a few people on my Facebook have posted the video as well. Seems Gotye is getting himself around.

Laters,

P x

22 January 2012

52 Books 52 Weeks

3

Couldn't stop imagining Christian Bale as Batman as Laurie.

Laters,

P x

20 January 2012

Poster Wanted


I feel this poster would suit me very much.

Poster by Amanda Catherine Designs on Etsy.

Laters,

P x

19 January 2012

Pretty thy neck


I don't ask for much in life. But I would like this.

Tom Waits Portrait Necklace - FableandFury on Etsy

Laters,

P x

18 January 2012

Lomo Wednesday - warning

I didn't think I would but I must confess I'm missing the usual winter snow. So I'm making up for it by posting beautiful snowy photographs taken by warning.


These all come from one album, January 10 by warning. According to the tags they were shot on a Lomography Horizon Kompakt with some Kodak Elitechrome 100. Explains those colours. It does make me a little curious for the more wide angle experimentation when it comes to shooting.

Anyways I'm hoping we'll get that mad week of snow which seemingly brings the entire country to a stand still. Winter has been so dull this year.

Laters,

P x

17 January 2012

Building the family

Thanks to Oxfam I finally got my hands on my long lusted after Olympus Trip 35.


It came with a roll in with roughly 12 shots taken on it. I love the mystery of getting a camera that has a used roll in it. Like with a couple of my other cameras I want to give it a proper test run with a new roll of film. May well do it this weekend as one of my distant friends is in town for a show. I actually have quite a few things I need to do with my cameras so whilst I'm woefully uneducated and unemployed I should really get on doing that. In between looking for a job of course.

Anyways welcome to the family Olympus Trip 35!

Laters,

P x

The Library

I don't know about you but I love going to the library. Since I'm embarking on this reading challenge and trying to live on a budget the majority of my books will either be from the library or secondhand. That whole collection of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman came from my local library much to my delight. I had to use mine and my mum's card to take them all out. So I returned those yesterday, if only I could keep them forever for my personal collection, and took out another stack of books. Now not all of these will count towards the reading challenge. Some will become part of other reading related jaunts which will no doubt be documented here.


I have so many books to read I've had to give them their own shelf on my bookcase. Sigh.

Laters,

P x

16 January 2012

Life in Space

You know what's cool? Space. You know what else is cool? Photographs of space. You know what is especially cool? When awesome photographs taken by astronauts in space emerge.

Photojojo blogged about these cool scans and I just had to share. These recently restored scans are from photographs taken using a Hasselblad camera during the 1965-1966 Gemini missions. I picked out some of my favourites.


How amazing do these look? Space never seems all that real when you look at it but just wow. Look at it! Space is the coolest.

You can view more of the images here.

Laters,

P x

Things to be excited for...


I unashamedly love Wes Anderson. Thus I am excited for a new Wes Anderson film. Even though a UK release date hasn't been given. Yet.


A pair of lovers flee their New England town, which causes a local search party to fan out and find them.

Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, MOONRISE KINGDOM tells the story of two twelve-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore -- and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in more ways than anyone can handle. Bruce Willis plays the local sheriff. Edward Norton is a Khaki Scout troop leader. Bill Murray and Frances McDormand portray the young girl's parents. The cast also includes Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, and Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward as the boy and girl.


If only life were as beautiful as a Wes Anderson film.

Laters,

P x

15 January 2012

52 Books 52 Weeks

2

Long overdue. Technically 11 books but counting them as one for this.

Laters,

P x

11 January 2012

Lomo Wednesday - j_robert

Presented without comment.

j_robert is my Lomo home of the week. Enjoy.








Beautiful stuff. This December album is probably my favourite. Gotta get me some of that Fuji Velvia.

Laters,

P x

8 January 2012

The Great 2012 Reading Challenge

52 weeks in a year. 1 book a week. Simple.

1

Left suspiciously text free. I am unsure as to whether to write a book review for these posts. Thoughts anyone?

Laters,

P x

4 January 2012

The LC-A+'s first roll

As mentioned previously I ran the first roll of film through my LC-A+ last week. My dad took my nephew and me to the Blue Planet Aquarium and this felt like a good chance to test run my LC-A+. Took the roll to get developed today and to be honest, I'll a little disappointed. I certainly haven't got the delighted, happy in my pants feeling that seeing the first roll from my Olympus OM10 gave me. There's a couple of good shots but the majority are quite the blurry mess. The LC-A+ is touted as being brilliant in low light situations and I'd even put an ISO800 film in; Lomography's own ISO800 in fact. I suppose the fault lies with my focusing abilities then really. I didn't get the distances right or didn't keep my hands steady enough.

Here's the shots that did work out alright.


Yeah that's right, out of a roll of 36 only 3 were in focus. Not good odds. I guess since the LC-A+ is more automatic I need to learn to judge my focus distances better. There are a few slightly acceptable blurry shots that I kind of like as well.


So not great but I'm not deterred. Just means I've a little learning to do with my LC-A+. I'm still mega excited to own it and look forward to all the adventures I'll get to have with it along the way.

Laters,

P x