The Flying (Golden) Tomato
No matter what you think of him, you cant deny that Shaun White is the man. Just watched Mr. Tomato win Olympic gold for a second year in a row. Congrats goes out to the best rider of all time…hands down! If you haven’t seen the Double McTwist 1260 yet I really think it’d be a good idea to check it out HERE
Shaun White pushing the crowd at the Winter X Games '10 in Aspen, Co
More photos from the the X Games to come….check out last year’s images while your at it – http://www.mikenyff.com/photography/event/xgames/
It Might Get Loud.
Jack, Jimmy, Edge
“If Larry had never put that message up, I would have been in another band. It wouldn’t have been U2, God knows who it would have been. Would I be doing what I am now? …probably not…I mean I could be doing anything. I could be, I don’t know- working at a bank somewhere or something.”
The Edge talking about what could have been if U2 had never met in a Dublin high school. A great moment in the film where one of the most famous guitar players in one of the most successful bands in history standing in his hold high school reflecting on if he had lived another life. Who among us will be the next? Who will find their passion, surround themselves with passion and bread passion for all mankind to see? A good lesson in following what you love and not quiting!
A great documentary about with Jimmy Page, Jack White, and The Edge talking about their style of playing and what inspires them to make music. All three rock icons are driven by different aspirations and motivations but use the same instrument to bring to the world. A MUST watch! …now where’s my guitar, I want to dust it off!
World’s Largest Camera – On Wheels!
The Cameratruck: the world’s largest traveling camera. It creates images 3,000 times LARGER than that puny little 35mm you have in your hands right now. Creator Shaun Irving has transformed a mail truck into a giant, mobile camera obscura which means it’s basically a giant pin-hole camera with a lens one side and a 4-by-8-foot sheet of light sensitive photo paper hanging on the other….and of course on top of four wheels and an engine. When exposed to 5-30 second exposures, serve
as giant negatives. This camera has potential to travel the far reaches of almost anywhere and create massive images that could fill a billboard!
Here’s one of my faves
I love this project because it takes photography back to when it was primitive yet simple. You where intimately involved in the image capture and processing (which takes a least 1/2 an hr for each image) and working in the scape of only one fixed lens at a time. Even an old military submarine periscope is getting a second life! You can actually see the brush strokes from the chemicals being applied on the edges.
Motion/Picture – Short film by Shaun Irving – explains the art and science behind his cameratruck project.
Features samples of his work. Visit http://www.cameratruck.net to learn more.
A great story from NPR….
http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2009/11/the_worlds_largest_camera_is_o.html
…and still want to learn more? A great interview of Shaun…
In Honor of Earth Day
For almost three decades, John Francis has been a planetwalker, traveling the globeby foot and sail with a message of environmental respect and responsibility (for 17 of those years without speaking). A funny, thoughtful talk with occasional banjo.
John Francis Walks the Earth, carrying a message of careful, truly sustainable development and respect for our planet, and truly learning and connecting to people by simply taking your time and listening. He is an inspiration to become a better human being and to truly take value in connect with others, learning to make yourself better, and finally taking responsibility for our actions and the environment!
Did You Know?
An amazing and eye opening graphical look at globalization and the information age. To answer the question; NO I didn’t know! ….But now I do.
I particularly like the last question. What does it all mean? How can keep pushing technology and information at such a high rate and at the same time increasing our dependency on it to grow in the future. All this information passing back and forth at increasing rates and capacities will eventually come to a head….someday. I think all we want (in the end) is to be connected with each other, so reach out and touch someone today 
Credits are also given to Scott McLeod, Jeff Brenman
Couchsurfing Milestone
Recently CouchSurfing celebrated having 1 million members with a party in NYC. CouchSurfing is simple: you sign up to host and/or be hosted by other members. And as per their policy, there are no fees – it’s completely free. But it’s not just for backpackers and other frugal types, although they greatly appreciate it. Doctors, business owners, and other “regular people” are also users, making this a growing community that is also increasing its status and opportunities for networking.
There are many places abroad that are listed, but you can also stay in homes accoss the U.S. Take a chance and make a new friend by hosting or being hosted. Listings include user recommendations and address verification.
This NYTimes article is full of testimonies on traveler’s experiences and info about the recent gathering celebrating 1 million members. CouchSurfing’s website offers info on how to sign up and FAQ.
Check out this story the BBC ran on this amazing CouchSurfing milestone:
Canon 5D Mark II Stunning Video in Tokyo
Very cool stuff coming from DSLRs shooting video. Only thing is…no auto focus or zoom. Not great for production, but just look at the images! Enjoy
The world’s first non-official short movie shot with the Canon EOS 5D MarkII (1080p video)
1 cameraman with Canon 5D MarkII – 3 days in Tokyo
1 video editor with MacBook Pro – 2 days in France
More informations on:
utsuru.fr (english & french)
Dropping by for a cameo.
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Recently on the Denver Man vs. Food on the Travel Channel….
TED Talks
TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an annual conference that defines its mission as “ideas worth spreading”. The lectures, also called TED Talks, cover a broad set of topics including science, arts and design, politics, culture, business, global issues, technology and development, and entertainment. Speakers have included such people as former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page.
The annual conference now brings together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes!) The TED staff is headquartered in New York City and Vancouver. The conference has been held in Monterey, California, since its founding, but as of 2009 is being held in Long Beach, California due to an increased number of attendees. The TED conference also has a companion conference, TED Global, held in varying locations.
TEDTalks began as a simple attempt to share what happens at the TED conference with the world. Once the talks were released online they rapidly attracted a global audience in the millions. The reaction was so enthusiastic that the entire TED website has been reengineered around TEDTalks, with the goal of giving everyone on-demand access to the world’s most inspiring voices.
Today, TED is therefore best thought of as a global community. It’s a community welcoming people from every discipline and culture who have just two things in common: they seek a deeper understanding of the world, and they hope to turn that understanding into a better future for us all.
TED’s website makes the best talks and performances from TED available to the public, for free. Approximately 370 TED talks are provided for free viewing and download online (best viewed in HD on iTunes for free!). As of January 2009, talks were viewed over 90 million times!
TED Prize
The TED Prize was introduced in 2005. Each year, three individuals are each given $100,000 and granted a “wish to change the world”, which they unveil at TED.
Baraka on Blue-Ray
Hold the phone, you mean to tell me one of the most visually stunning pieces of work ever shot on film is now on Blue-Ray? Hold it indeed!
In a film that features no special effects, no make-up, and no trickery it would seem that Baraka wouldn’t be a top Blue-Ray seller – but this in my mind is precisely what this technology was meant for! When you watch these images in the highest quality we have yet to produce, you will understand why we keep pushing the boundaries of pixel technology! To fully duplicate the stunning quality of the 70mm film used to shoot the film, director Ron Fricke decided to scan the frames at a whopping 8k (8,000+ pixel resolution!) and downgrade to the highest quality we consumers can view the film. Now that will get some attention!
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3rd Installment of the NZ Series! (originally posted 5/21/06)
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FINALLY! The Wellington tribute is up for you all! I think its the most entertaining installment so far so I would like some feed back of your thoughts and concerns, fears and wants, joys and sorrows! ….or just give me an honest opinion
New Home, New Job, New Video! (originally posted 1/22/06)
Hello everyone! Its been awhile since I have written on this and a lot has happened since. After New Years I came back to Wellington to move my things into my new flat and start in on the hunt for a job (so only 2 of the things mentioned in the above title are true…I don’t actually have a job, yet). The move in was really easy considering I had already been acquainted with my three other flatmates over Christmas. My friend Kelsi from New Hampshire, who is also in the BUNAC program and also a flatmate, knows a lot about the city and generally it’s just the two of us that go out and do the exploring. From running up paved mountains to catch the view to witnessing cross-dressing concerts in the park… we’ve done it all, or are at least in the process of doing so… Wellington is a really great city with a creative scene that spans from fine art galleries to BMX comps to the best in NZ music. There is something going on all the time which is good for someone who has a short attention span. As for now I am scanning the newspapers and then internet for possible jobs and hopefully will get something close to where all the action is downtown.
This weekend Wellington held a free two day event sponsored by Vodafone (mobile phones) called the X-Air featuring some of the best BMX, skate, motox, bands, and street b-ball from all over NZ and Australia. They estimated over 140,000 people lined the streets on Saturday and Sunday, making it the biggest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere. My highlight was the motox best trick between two high rise buildings right in downtown. The back flips where everywhere and luckily I brought the camera (…vid coming soon)
But check out the newest video in my growing collection, and as for now you will just have to wait for the “cross-dressers in the park” footage.