Studio Engineer

Posted By Mark on Mar 9, 2013

Market Stall

Posted By Mark on Mar 2, 2013

"I see you're interested in my pickled onions." "I wasn't even looking at them! How dare you! Anyway, what do you expect when you're sitting like that? Oh! You mean the ones in the jar? Oh! Ha ha! You cheeky monkey!" "Not quite, but… we've got some eggs left and we're down to the last few jars of lemon curd and preserves. Anything take your fancy? Other than my pickled onions, of course." "Hee hee! You are a one! No, no, what I'm really looking for is fresh cantaloupe." "Melons?" "They're tucked beneath my jacket where you can't see them! See! Two can play at that game! But yes, cantaloupe melons. I'm making a cake for my niece and she does love cantaloupe melons on top." "That's… quite bizarre. No, sorry, no melons, cantaloupe or otherwise. Very difficult to get hold of cantaloupe melons when you're a dog." "On account of the U.N. embargo? Is that still going?" "Afraid so. One little bloody melon uprising against humans and nobody seems able to forget." "But you've got lemon curd." "Well, I've got some friends who are cats. I shouldn't really have it out on the stall – no, not that you saucy minx! – but I haven't been bothered yet." "Oh, that's a shame. Oh well, best be off." "Okay, have a good day." "I will. You too." "I haven't always been a dog, you know." "What's that?" "I said: I haven't always been a dog." "Really?" "Really. I used to be a puppy!" "Oh! You!" "That's a dog market stallholder joke! You take that with you for free, okay. Good luck with your melons." "Thank you! And I hope someone deserving gets their hands on your pickled onions too." #StreetPhotography #StreetPics #MonochromeWorld   Google+: View post on...

Balancing Act

Posted By Mark on Feb 27, 2013

There comes a point in every bicyclist's life when he, she, or it discovers the singular joy that is keeping the bike as still as possible, standing on the pedals, and trying to keep balanced whilst wind, the dizzying force of the Earth's rotation, or butterflies alighting on shoulders do their utmost to assist gravity in sending the vehicle's owner crashing to the ground. That point in life is usually around the age of seven or eight and it forms part of that area of growing up that involves trying to beat friends and impress people of the opposite or same or no sex. Occasionally, though – just occasionally – this joy of balancing comes late in life to a cyclist. But just because it happens at an older age those desires to outdo friends or colleagues or show off aren't necessarily suppressed by wisdom. It happened today to this man and tomorrow it might happen to you. The women were not impressed. The bus driver that swerved to avoid him was also not impressed. A butterfly alighted on his shoulder and sent him sprawling. Google+: View post on...

Fashion Faves – Miscellaneous

Posted By Mark on Feb 24, 2013

A bit of a change in the occasional series of “fashion favourites” posts I do where I’m going to select a miscellaneous set of photos showcasing style instead of a series from a single shoot or model as I’ve done in the past. Why’s that? you ask. None of your damned business! No, sorry, that’s rude of me. The real answer is that this is my site and I’ll do what I like. Admittedly, that’s only marginally less rude. And now, of course, I’ve mentioned the words rude and fashion in the same paragraph which means I’ll get occasional searches from perverts the world over looking for naughty pictures of models in skimpy outfits and poses no normal person would ever adopt. Oh, woe is me! How will I cope? That answer – in case you didn’t take it for the rhetorical question it was – is: with indifference. Enough waffle? I think so. Let’s take a look at and critique some photos from the world of fashion, all of which were recently spotted by me on the excellent Fashion:::Victims site: For Harper’s Bazaar Brazil February 2013 issue is Cindy Crawford – yep, she’s still modelling! – shot by Nagi Sakai. Lovely warm colours in this pushing the whites towards yellow and great tonal match between the simple and elegant dress with that of the surroundings; the little bit of swimming pool provides a nice contrast lacking in the picture elsewhere. Criticism? Oh yes. I don’t like the hose pipe in the background – if there was need for something else to break up the picture then a potted plant would have been far better – and I find the chopping off of Cindy’s foot distracting too. I wonder how long it will be until someone searches for Cindy Crawford having her foot chopped off now. If I know the internet like I think I know the internet… There’s a lot to love in this photo of Anja Rubik taken by Mario Sorrenti for Vogue Spain. In fact, the whole series is wonderful but I’ve picked this one out for a number of reasons: firstly, there are the colours. Look at the colours man! Both in the wonderful dress and those horrifically wonderful bathroom tiles. Great contrasts that just make the style pop out. Secondly, there’s the PVC cape. If ever there was a piece of fashion designed to be worn while cleaning your teeth before heading out for the evening then this right here is it! Thirdly, Anja’s pose is great; lovely curves that take the eye from the backside right up the neck to the top of...

Lounge Triple

Posted By Mark on Feb 23, 2013

Ah, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve played a little bit of old lounge music to friends or colleagues and been met with a stare that says “are you out of your mind?” Yes, some of it sounds like it could accompany long elevator rides but I still like it; it tugs at my nostalgia ganglion and releases warm showers of endorphins. But enough about my bizarre biological processes! Enjoy a trio of soft tempo lounge music tracks accompanied by videos appropriate to the era, all provided – also appropriately – by the YouTube account SoftTempoLounge. Seduction ’69 The Stockholm Scene Some NSFW scenes in this one The Pan American...