Abraham

Posted By Mark on Jan 2, 2014

80s Computer Games TV Adverts

Posted By Mark on Dec 28, 2013

I don’t recall ever seeing a TV advert for a computer game in the eighties. This was possibly because we watched BBC more than ITV – yes, we were a BBC family; what of it? – but it might also be because they were absolutely horrific and my brain sensibly removed them from storage immediately after viewing. See for yourself with this selection of three television commercials for games available on the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Oric, Dragon 32, Atari, Acorn Electron, Amstrad, and even the MSX. Remember MSX? Hunchback Classic platformer and the only game of the three featured here that I actually played (on a friend’s Commodore 64 as I didn’t actually own it). The Young Ones I didn’t even know there was a Young Ones computer game but I’m sure I would have remembered this advert. You wouldn’t forget an advert this excruciating would you? Rasputin I had some isometric 3D games but not this one. The advert is particularly bad because I can only assume it’s being targeted at cockroaches or ants or some other non-human species that communicates using clicking...

Street Photography By Tadashi Yamashita

Posted By Mark on Dec 22, 2013

Another post in my occasional series of photographers I’ve discovered on Google+, this time featuring Tokyo-based Tadashi Yamashita. There are quite a few Japanese street photographers on Google+ and there’s something about the style of street photography from Japan – and, particularly, that from the big cities such as Tokyo – that always appeals to me. And it’s not just the occasional Godzilla sighting or tentacle-related attack on schoolgirls that creeps into every series of photos (although that doesn’t hurt); rather, it’s the buzz of activity, the claustrophobia, the closeness of the shots, the prevalence of nighttime-shooting with its Blade Runner-feeling neon and rain… it’s all of that together and many more intangible things. In short: I really like Japanese street photography. So, here are some shots from one of its proponents who I happen to follow: Beautiful tones in this shot; the low contrast, subject matter, and presence of those lines make this look like Tadashi travelled back in time to the 1950s to snap the photo. And there’s every chance he did. Tokyo is still a hub of amazing, emerging technologies. You can’t engage in street photography for long in Tokyo without taking a picture of the metro system. It’s actually a law – and one of the more sensible ones in case you’re wondering – and it’s nice to see that Tadashi is no lawbreaker. Photographer in front of her, photographer behind her, and she picked this day of all days to dress up in her wampa outfit. No wonder she’s sporting an icy stare. Icy! It’s a pun! One of the great services to mankind that a street photographer can do – and there aren’t many, admittedly – is capture those aspects of society that we aren’t always comfortable being reminded of. Here, Tadashi has convinced a nose-bunger to pose for a portrait. Nose-bunging is one of those taboo activities in the far east of Asia, rarely discussed, hardly ever documented. Great, poignant shot. Street art isn’t very popular in Tokyo as most Japanese art needs to be pixellated but occasionally something different appears and the street photographer is usually on hand to illuminate it. In this case: are we our possessions or are our possessions us? And if we are our possessions and our possessions are mostly cardboard boxes will we get soggy when it rains? Thought-provoking. A not-overly-concerned citizen looks up as Mothra once again fills the sky. There’s a belief that everything is smaller and better in Japan – think of Japan as the anti-Texas if you will – and while this isn’t strictly true it does hold out for their superheroes....

Smiles

Posted By Mark on Dec 21, 2013

Miles and miles of smiles, all thanks to the Coca-Cola truck paying a visit to Chichester yesterday (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neonbubble/sets/72157638878750734/) to spread joy in the form of tiny cans of coke, photos in front of the aforementioned truck, and Christmas songs from a group of enthusiastic singers. #StreetPics #StreetPhotography +StreetPics +StreetPhotography  Google+: View post on...

Surviving Drone Attacks

Posted By Mark on Dec 19, 2013

With the vast amount of drones in the sky spying on us all and executing people without trial there’s never been a better time to embrace our mole man heritage and return to the subterranean caverns from whence we came. Unfortunately, however, the behemoth that is Amazon hasn’t recently invested in a robotic tunnelling delivery system so there’s every chance they’ll wield their mighty power to prevent all this from happening which means that the future is a drone-filled one, like it or not. How will we cope? Well, one particular site has compiled a helpful guide to surviving drones: http://dronesurvivalguide.org/ As you can see, the site contains a handy chart you can download and print showing some of the most popular types of drones in the skies over a swarthy-looking individual near you right now. Or over you, if you’re a bit swarthy-looking. Or if you once talked to someone a bit swarthy-looking. Did you know there were so many different types of drones? I didn’t. I also didn’t know that India’s Rustom I drone… … was clearly designed by a fan of Klingon Battle Cruisers. If India arm their drones and kill you then at least you can enter Sto’Vo’Kor safe in the knowledge that it was a good day to die. So, just what advice can be given to someone looking to survive a drone attack? Hire body doubles as decoys and to give youngsters a rewarding – if short – job in these troubling economic times Surround yourself with anti-drone drones to frighten off the drones Fool thermal imaging cameras on drones by setting light to everything near you with a flame thrower whenever you take a walk Surround yourself with anti-anti-drone drones to protect you from the anti-drone drones that defect Remain in your Fortress of Protection at all times Run really fast everywhere, changing direction a lot, trying not to look suspicious Dress like a drone so that the anti-anti-drone drones that rise up against humanity will think you’re one of them Don’t accept a wedding invitation in Asia or the Middle...