I don’t know what the correct name would be, but it seems that surfing around Wikipedia is an engaging way to spend a few mins. Links between subjects show themselves in ways that mightn’t always have been apparent beforehand….something like a self-propelled update of James Burkes Connections.

So we have in mind the popular music combo Goldfrapp (what splendid photos on that page incidentally…). Now Ms Goldfrapp has toyed with a Marlene Dietrich, Weimar Republic, Berlin Cabaret sort of image. Clicking on the Weimer link gives us the historical perspective and a further link to the capital city of Berlin. Obviously this place is the centre for several important incidents of world history, one of which is the Battle of Berlin. And surely the focal point of acts in the 20th century was the Fuehrerbunker and its inhabitants as the Soviet army circled and concentrated its attack on the final destination of the Austrian corporal.

One of the less well known inhabitants of the bunker was an SS medical doctor, Werner Haase.  After being taken prisoner by the Soviets he is believed to have ended his days in the Butyrka Prison in Moscow. One other celebrated inmate of this fearsome prison is the Russian inventor Leon Thermin, after whom the musical instrument the theremin is named. And oh, were do we find ourselves now but with a list of famous theremin players, bringing us back after a rather unexpected tour to Goldfrapp.

There must be untold curious connections like this…enjoy. 

Picasso’s creative force drives through art like a juggernaut but despite being frequently quoted on the power of photography, his work in this field has received little attention….more of a tricycle than a juggernaut.

However there’s a site throwing some light on this particular artistic vehicle: Picasso’s Camera. Take a peak to see how he used a broken camera to visualise the ground-breaking cubist perspective - his photographs, and photography.

Picasso’s quote:
“I have discovered photography. Now I can kill myself. I have nothing else to learn.”

(did he plan to kill himself under a juggernaut?)

Some more of his quotes at the Quote Database.

Twenty five years ago, a tin-pot dictator confronted an Iron Lady and they came to blows over islands in the South Atlantic. I leave it to the reader to make his or her own mind on the matter (if it hasn’t already been been made), but June 2007 marks the anniversary of the successful prosecution of Operation Corporate and the defeat of Argentine forces in the Falklands.

Not surprisingly, there is an exhibition at the Imperial War Museum in London focusing on the conflict. One of the exhibits is the camera that took surely the definitive image of the conflict; a Royal Marine yomping towards Sapper Hill and a final clash with Argentine Forces on the outskirts of Port Stanley. The marine’s green lid is also on display. The card in the display case reads, “Beret worn by Royal Marine Peter Robinson during the Falklands war. The Union Jack was attached to Robinson’s radio aerial. Lent by Peter Robinson. Peter Holdgate’s camera and iconic British photographic image of the Falklands. Lent by Peter Holdgate.”

The offical MoD version of this shot can be seen. You may notice that it’s slightly cropped compared to the print in the Imperial War Museum. I think Holdgate’s camera is a Nikon F2 with metered prism and 50mm lens attached.

For stacks more photos and information go to this thread at militaryphotos.net. An interesting fact quoted there is that some of the Argie officers were surprised that the inhabitants of Port Stanley didn’t welcome them as liberators

Flickr has a group for the Falklands and South Atlantic; there are several scans of photos of events from 1982 and also some more recent ones. Several photos also demonstrate the stark beauty of the islands and its flora and fauna.

There isn’t much information on the web about using HIE infrared film with the Ilford one-shot developers like LC29 and Ilfosol.

I’ve successfully developed HIE in Ilfosol 1:9 for 8 mins at 20 deg C.

This was with the camera TTL meter set at ISO400 and a dark red filter on the lens - I’ve used the R25 B+W and Nikon “deep red” equivalent, not the dedicated IR filter that Hoya does. I’ve also used Ilford LC29 developer 1:19, same conditions at 5 minutes dev time.

I always found it was best to underexpose in overcast or indoor conditions by at least one stop with this camera set up - infra-red film doesn’t really come into its own until there’s clear sunlight on the scene.

Example: Cutty Sark in Greenwich - compare with these taken at Tikal that don’t really “work”.

I’ve used the Ricoh GR1 successfully with HIE; there’s some fogging at the bottom of the frame from the LED frame counter in the camera…say about 1-2mm on the film itself. The Contax G1 also works well with HIE with no fogging.

I got this link sent to me by a friend: Kidd of Speed. This is definitely worth a look for the chilling pictures of a nuclear wasteland left after the catasrophic failures at the Chernobyl nuclear plant.

The speed in question relates to the fact that the author of the article was passing through on a motorbike.

The whole scenario brings to mind many of the works of fiction centred on nuclear warfare, e.g Neville Shute’s “On The Beach” and also the intransigence associated with the Soviet era. Thought provoking stuff indeed.

The Google Map service has been about for a while, but I’ve noticed it’s also available through the flexible Wikimapia site.

It’s fun to zoom in on places you know…obviously coverage isn’t 100% but most population centres are covered around our globe.
There doesn’t seem to be a nice line marking the 0-degree Meridian through Greenwich unfortunately!
The view here was taken in the hot summer of 2003 I think; parched grass and some construction work further down the river in Dagenham that was taking place at the time makes me say this.

Well, complaints about the quality of service of trains around the south east abound. Usually though, most people would express themselves moaning to their friends, swearing under their breath or maybe even writing a strongly worded letter on a strong bit of paper..
[html]This chap has gone a step further in an almost artistic, graphic, fashion…perhaps a step too far…

To quote the Beeb: A man has been defecating in trains across south-east England, causing damage costing £60,000 to repair.

British Transport Police have released CCTV images of the man, who has struck on at least 30 trains since August.

He waits until he is alone before committing the offence, smearing excrement inside carriages.

Stop press: looks they’ve got him. Hope he’s got some bog roll in his cell.

Stop the stop press: he’s been sectioned under the Mental Health Act, indefinitely.

I found this site whilst searching for some panorama software: photo-freeware.net.
There’s a wide variety of software for altering modifying and cataloging photos on a PC and Mac too….and it’s all freeware so you can play for nowt!

I found some local history resources whilst surfing:

gasworkstodome.org.uk
In their own words, “This website encourages people to both explore and contribute to the history of East Greenwich and the Greenwich Peninsula. We are looking at a period within living memory (1920’s to present day), using oral history and photographs.”

…and…

Greenwich Industrial History Society
…has the following aims and objectives:

1. To research the Industrial History of the Greenwich Area
2. To aid the publication of this research where appropriate
3. To hold a watching brief on industrial sites in the relevant area and to comment on any issues which might arise in the course of redevelopment, planning applications, etc.
Both are doing a worthy thing of attempting to preserve details of past lives and people.

Well, I got there in the end….thanks to an unbelievably sh*t web host ([code]123-reg.co.uk[/code] to name names) I lost all of this website…and no back-up since early February. Wasn’t too impressed at that to say the least.

We’re now cooking on gas with Menalto Gallery and Wordpress and a better host.