Photo Walk Belfast

As you've probably guessed, I'm getting into my photography more and more. We're more than halfway through the 365 photo challenge, and Flickr keeps me taking and sharing photos, and seeing the work of other people (which is so much better than mine).



Every so often, we have a Flickr meet-up in Belfast (photo from the last I was at, just before Christmas!), normally setting off from the City Hall gates and heading off in a particular direction to see what we can see and take photos of. But this Saturday, things are going international. It's time for the third annual Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk in Belfast.

At present there are over 28,000 people signed up to do over 1100 photowalks worldwide, and there's one this Saturday in Belfast. Meeting at 9.45am we'll go for a dander, some craic, some photos, and some food (hopefully). There are still 33 spaces for the group of 50 max, so if you've got any sort of a camera, come along - it'll be well worth it for the fun alone!

If you're not in Belfast, check out the website for other walks happening this Saturday.

Some time next week I'll upload the photos from the day on Flickr and share some here too...

Explored

Flickr seems to be cropping up a lot in my posting these days. It is probably the best photo hosting website community in the world, with a staggering 7 million photos uploaded each day (Flickr reckons there's roughly 5000 every minute). The community aspects are great, so it's really nice when people comment on your photos and appreciate what you've been trying to do.

Flickr have a special (and infuriating) feature called Explore, using their unique programme of 'interestingness' to find the most interesting photos uploaded each day. Out of the 7 million, 500 make it into Explore. The ratings seem to be based on comments, favourites, speed of comments, who commented (friends or those who aren't your contacts), number of groups added to, and a few other factors too.

My last Explored photo was Belfast by night from Hallowe'en 2008, but I have great delight in presenting to you my latest Explored photo, taken on the night of the Flickrmeet at the Continental Market:



Belfast Wheel reflected in the windscreen of a Metro bus which just happened to be sitting in the right place at the right time - with no driver!

In other photography news, it appears that we're going ahead with the 365 challenge. Ali has even been recruiting more people to take part! Anyone else going to join in?

Photo 365?

I'm considering launching a 365 project next year. What's that, I hear you say. It's a challenge that has been doing the rounds on Flickr, in which you take a photo every day for a year - a sort of mini photo-log of your year.

The disadvantages? Well, you have to take a photo every day for a year. At the minute, my camera gets maybe one outing every fortnight or so - it would be a complete change to be using it every day. It could also be tricky to think up fresh inspiration for 365 photos from my daily life, given that I tend to do the same things fairly frequently...

The advantages? Getting to know my camera better and moving from the more automatic settings to the fully manual settings - properly using the camera. It'll also test my commitment, and make me think through what I'm doing, as well as developing my photographer's eye for shots.

Any advice or tips? Am I just crazy to even think of something like this, let alone do it?

In the meantime, here are links to a couple of friends who have been doing the 365 challenge: MacBern, JDHolic, and Zcott.

Internet: Isolation or Inclusion?

Does the Internet draw people together or separate people? Most folk seem to think that the upcoming generations are becoming withdrawn, only interacting through the medium of a computer monitor or mobile phone text message. The interweb must be a bad thing and people need to re-learn how to interact in 'real' life.

Even when communicating through msn messenger or google talk, everyone sits in their own house in front of their own computer, being isolated. Perhaps it's just becoming normal. For example, Facebook tries to be helpful by suggesting friends of friends you may like to add as your own friend too. Fair enough, but now it's going a stage further by bringing up the wee box with suggestions of friends to reconnect with. The other day I was sitting and in the suggestions box there was one of the ladies from church. You haven't spoken to Ruth on Facebook recently, why not write on her wall? Well, why would I talk on facebook when I've seen her at church meetings and events and talked to her there???

An example of the Internet bringing people together is the Flickrmeet. The what? The Flickrmeet. It's a group of photography enthusiasts who use the website Flickr and meet up to go on a photowalk. We had one last week in Belfast, around the Christmas Continental Market at the City Hall and on to Victoria Square to get some photos of the dome. A great night with some good friends. Plenty of laughs, some new knowledge and tips for the camera, and a couple of good shots.


Say hi to Clair, Bernie, Faye, Steve and Jonny!

Reflected Perspective

Took a wander in Belfast city centre the other night having left Lyns round to start her night shift. Night photography is one of my favourite styles, using the available light to get a new perspective on the city. I also like finding new angles on familiar features, and puddles are great for that - so this is a combination of night time and unusual perspectives.

You can see more of my photos over at my Flickr photostream.

One Hour ...

I've recently joined a new group on Flickr called 'One Hour.' It's designed to host mosaics on a related subject, with all the photos taken within one hour. Not having had the opportunity to take a new batch of photos for a mosaic, I put together a couple of mosaics from photos already on Flickr. This is one of them, entitled 'One Hour on our Wedding Day.' Check out the group and see the brilliant mosaics already uploaded!

Visually Stunning

They wish!
Originally uploaded by davymacflick.

Or so the propaganda goes...

Last Saturday I went on one of the Flickr Meet-ups in Belfast. Take four photographers, release them onto the streets of Belfast (BT1 to be precise), and you get an afternoon of great craic and hopefully some good photos as well.

We had a wander from City Hall down Donegall Place, and along High Street to the alleyways into Ann Street. There, we encountered a Magical Mystery Tour on bicycles (part of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival), which was prevented from passing through Victoria Square by security guards, and then one solitary policeman.

We then moved on to check out the remains of St George's Market as most of the stall holders were packing up for the afternoon. As we came back through Victoria Square, we noticed this on the wall and thought it an apt assessment of the gathered photographers!

Even more hilarious, though, was the moment when Davy (on the right) asked a lady passerby would she take a photo... only for her to start posing - thinking she was going to be the subject! Eventually he persuaded her to be behind the camera, and this was the result! A big thanks to Phil, Andy and Davy.

Andy is organising another Flickr Meet-up in Belfast on Saturday 24th May - meet at the statue of Queen Victoria outside City Hall at 12 noon with some money for lunch and/or drinks. Oh, and bring a camera!