Change - Ian Goldin / Tim Elliott (Fri 09 Jun 2017)

Broken - Learning to Fly - Glebe (Mon 05 Jun 2017)

Ian Goldin on Change:

The challenges are great, but change is incremental. If you can make a small contribution, then that's great.

via Nelson Mandela adviser Ian Goldin on our chances for a new golden age by Tim Elliott.

On Dogs, Humans and Love - Richard Glover / Spectrum (Sat 12 Sep 2015)

Me and Teal - "Always be nice to a dog - always say hello to a dog" - Victor Hugo Market Restaurants / Toulouse / France (Sun 19 Sep 2009)

Richard Glover on Dogs, Humans and Love:

Worse things have happened to you and worse things have happened to me, but there's nothing like the death of a good dog to bring tears that are so hot and unrestrained. [..]

Every dog has lessons to teach. They are experts, of course, in demanding love. Humans, quite often, seem to doubt whether they are worthy of love, but dogs have no such uncertainties. "Look at me, just look at me," Darcy would say and, as my eyes met his, it was impossible not to submit to his unspoken demand.

"What a good dog. What a handsome dog. You are the best dog that ever was."

Then Darcy would return the favour, looking back as if to say: "What's next boss? You, after all, are my favourite human and I would follow you anywhere, through hot deserts or raging streams or high mountains."

This giving and receiving of love seems so right, so nourishing, one wonders whether it might have useful application outside the world of dogs. I'm guessing that's what Darcy was trying to teach us.

via Do you ever get over the death of a dog? by Richard Glover.

Something about our pets that makes us more Human. A touching article and it brought a tear to my eye for many reasons. Some obvious, but others less so ..

Trent Parke and The Black Rose - John McDonald / Spectrum / SMH (Sat 25Apr 2015)

Tunnel Creek - Tunnel Creek / WA (Sat 13 May 2001)

Tree - Tunnel Creek / WA (Sat 13 May 2001)

John McDonald on Trent Parke:

Parke is a storyteller, and the story is that of his own life captured as if in the fragments of a broken mirror

via Review: photographer Trent Parke's double shot of darkness by John McDonald.

Photo - The Black Rose / AGSA (Mon 23 Mar 2015)

When it Works - Christopher Nolan / Andrew Purcell / Spectrum (Sat 08 Nov 2014)

Crossing the Garonne - Toulouse (*) / France (Sat 19 Sep 2009)
Christopher Nolan (*) writes Inspiration (*):

when something works the way you intended it to, just in that moment it's a tremendous thrill.

via Interview: Christopher Nolan (*) by Andrew Purcell (*).

Yes. We all know that feeling. It happens when that program compiles and runs the first time, and works exactly as you intended. That's a rarity, but it happened a lot when I was using Eiffel (*). It happens in sport. It happens with photography, though sometimes you don't know it worked until years later.

Always get a nice quote out of the Interview from the Saturdays Paper Spectrum Magazine (*).

On Memories, The Past and Moving Forward - Claire Monneraye / Hiromi Tango (Sat May 17 Aug 2014)

Untitled - Alexandria (Wed 28 May 2014)
Claire Monneraye (*) writes On Memories (*) and Moving Forward (*):

emotion (*) and pain (*) and memories (*) can’t be put aside, [..] But new memories can be created by reusing and rebuilding the past (*). [..]

Hiromi Tango (*) adds:

Art has helped me to recover from certain times when I was having difficulties and has helped me cope with memories and emotions,

via Hiromi Tango finds relief from postnatal depression in her craft (*) by Andrew Taylor (*).

On Your Path in Life - Richard Glover / Spectrum (Sat 19 Oct 2013)

Two Doors (not too far apart) - Barcelona (Mon 05 Aug 2013)
Richard Glover (*) writes On Your Path in Life (*):

the closed doors (*) determine your path in life as firmly as those that open.

via Fail and all your dreams might just come true (*) by Richard Glover (*).

On Constraint and Design - Kevin McCloud - SMH Spectrum (Sat 12 Oct 2013)

The eljeiffel House - Handover Day - Alexandria (Mon 14 Oct 2013)
Kevin McCloud (*) writes On Design (*):

When you're in a hole with no money, you have to be creative (*).

He astutely adds:

Money is an enemy of good design (*) because it stops people thinking (*)

via Broken dreams and home truths (*) by Andrew Taylor (*).

The same can be said when working with a small space. It forces good design and it amazing to watch a great architect (thanks Kerry) create space out of nowhere.

A new life starts today for a beautiful old house that is just on 106 years old. The space is small but it feels big.

This project was something I had never planned for, but life always presents challenges and opportunities we can't predetermine, one of the beauties of life, if you chose it to be.

Once the decision was made, a lot of thought, planning and effort has been put in to get to this point.

While it is a little sad to see bits of the old go, it feels the right thing to do and it is exciting to bring new life to a solid foundation.

May we, who have accepted this challenge and opportunity, be blessed with good fortune to make it happen with a smile on our face.

Looking forward to the 7 month transition that will give you the opportunity to provide another 100 years of sanctuary to whoever seeks haven under your roof.

Let the renovations begin.

On Adaptability - Edmund Capon - Spectrum / Andrew Taylor (Sat 07 Aug 2013)

Portrait Wall - Barcelona (Tue 06 Aug 2013)
Edmund Capon (*) writes On Adaptability (*):

I think the human animal is amazingly adaptable (*).

via Still serving the people (*) by Andrew Taylor (*).

On Failure and Persistence - Cate Blanchett - Spectrum / Stephanie Wood (Sat 07 Sep 2013)

Onwards and Upwards - Dubrovnik / Croatia (Sat 03 Aug 2013)
Cate Blanchett (*) writes Failure (*) and Persistence (*):

'I'm not saying I'm happy with what I've done in Blue Jasmine, I'm never happy, but I've got better and it's from tackling those great roles and failing (*) and getting up again (*) every night.

via Return of the queen: Cate Blanchett steps back into Hollywood's spotlight (*) by Stephanie Wood (*).

On Understanding and Expectation - Elvis Costello / Spectrum (Sat 31 Aug 2013)

A Door (*), A Window (*) - Red and Blue - Paddington / London (Sat 17 Aug 2013)
Elvis Costello (*) talks about musical creation (*):

We were somewhat free from expectations (*) because we didn't tell anybody we were doing it, because we didn't know (*) we were doing it ourselves at first.''

via Pump it up: How hip-hop seduced Elvis Costello (*) by Nick Miller (*).

Back home now. A fantastic trip (*) with many great moments and experiences. Not a natural traveller, but this trip I seemed to handle it all better than I ever have and was fully engaged in the moment, not feeling homesick and not wanting myself to be somewhere else.

Hardly gave my work, paddling or situation in life (my usual preoccupations) a thought. A usual thought was to try and understand a place, event or thing, not to judge or to wish it to be something I am familiar with. It is there for a reason, and if I could just understand it a little, then I might learn something about it, life, or even myself.

I also thought how lucky I was to able to do this, to have these experiences and this outlook on life.

Took over 10,000 photos and have much to look at and ponder over the next few months, in particular, and no doubt, for the rest of my life.

Some photos have been taken so I can remember a place, a moment, or a transientary thing - to give it a life beyond its time.

Some have been taken because something caught my eye - a colour, a combination of colours, lines, shadows or maybe just the quality of the light.

Others I think have been captured for reasons beyond my comprehension, just as Elvis explains above. Most of these photos will never be seen by another person and in some ways this relieves me of any expectation or what others might think, as the above quote so nicely demonstrates.

So if you think some of the photos that appear here are a little beyond comprehension, maybe you should be thankful that you don't see some of the others that will never seen by anyone other than me.

Thanks Elvis and Nick, a great interview which allowed me to learn something about myself, which is what great writing and its sharing is about.

On Strategy - J.J. Abrams - Spectrum / SMH (Sat May 2013)

Untitled - NLA / Canberra (May 2003)
J.J. Abrams (*) reveals his approach On Strategy (*):

i have to say there is no strategy (*), other than responding to what feels right.

The other side of the Trek (*) by Paul Byrnes (*).

Song Writing - Struggle and Empathy - Tim Levinson - Spectrum (Sat 09 Mar 2013)

Primitive Markings #1- Swanston / Erskineville (Jan 2013)
Tim Levinson (*) talks to Bernard Zuel (*) on Empathy (*) and Struggle (*) in creating in song writing:

''Part of who I am is, I think, I can empathise (*),'' he says. ''I used to think it was the most normal thing in the world but I realise it's one of the qualities I've been left with, for better or for worse.

''In songwriting, quite often you either come from a point of view of struggle … whether that be heartbreak or circumstances. That allows you to write with conviction.

''For me, I have often seen little windows of that struggle (*) or that heartbreak and it gives me an access point I don't necessarily fully understand. I look at those little cracks of light that come through as an invitation to look into it more.''

via 'The best music is written with conviction' (*) by Bernard Zuel (*).

Primitive Markings #2 (Erasure) - Swanston / Erskineville (Feb 2013)

On Ambiguity - Steven Soderbergh - Spectrum (Sat 02 Mar 2013)

Hand - Corner of Park and Pitt Street / Sydney (Mon 04 Mar 2013)
Steven Soderbergh (*) states On Ambiguity (*):

Wow, so ambiguity is not on the table any more.

via Steven Soderbergh calls it quits*) by Stephanie Bunbury (*).

On Effortlessness - Neil Finn / Spectrum (Sat 29 Dec 2012)

Set it up - State Titles / SIRC / Penrith (Sun 18 Mar 2012)
Neil Finn (*) reveals the truth On Effortlessness (*):

When something looks effortless, like it always existed, like it rolled out of you like a river, then you have done a good job.

But what makes that up is painful small, incremental steps, craft, skulduggery, anything that gets you over the line.

via Culture: Neil Finn - On writing music for The Hobbit. (*) by Tim Elliott (*).

I know exactly what he means. All my life I have been told that I made this or that look effortless - it's actually happened a few times in the last week. Always taken it as a compliment, though sometimes I wish I could have shown how much goes on behind the scenes - to show how much I was trying.

Thanks Neil and Tim for giving some perspective and clarity on the issue of effortlessness.

A great quote and a fantastic little snippet for my 1201st post. Will keep them coming. It might look effortless to post these little pieces of wisdom (*) here, but just as Tim says, there is a lot going on to make it happen (BTW, I don't try too hard to find subject matter, it just seems to find me). I have a lot of fun doing it and it is worth the effort[lessness] (*).