RXA

I was just thinking as I was sitting here in front of the computer, working away and importing every photo of mine I can lay my hands on how good it felt to be doing this to music. It seems over the past couple of days I have bought listening to music back to the fore of my core.

Huh? You say? Yes I always listen to music, you can’t help but not. It’s everywhere. But lately I’ve had the headphones on even when I’m inside and had the music going as I do dishes, work, eat dinner (Lucy was on a teleconference) and other times. And it seems to help me do whatever I am trying to do. Especially when I am working it seems that the best way for me to focus is to blast my ears with music.

Right now the playlist is “RXA” which is all songs marked either 4 or 5 stars on my iPod. Currently working on a wedding pitch I have tomorrow night. Getting a bit tired so my chuck a DVD on the MacBook and fall asleep to that.

This post has been bought to you by: “Say” (John Mayer), “Something’s Missing” (John Mayer) & “Are you going to be my girl?” (Jet)

Just a quick message before I melt in the 35 degrees Celcius it is here in the house.

Happy New Year.

I hope your 2008 is all you want it to be. For me it is going to involve a lot of changes. Changes I both want and need to make. Whatever you decide to do … do it to the best of your ability.

I’d like to take a minute to thank a few people for a few things.

Mum and David for providing a roof over my head and food in my stomach without asking for a cent in return.

Matthew for loving me just as mch as when his mother and I were together.

My family and friends for encouraging me to follow my photographic dreams.

Those who have trusted my abilities enough to have paid me to take photos of and for them.

I thnak the readers of my blog (and there are a LOT of you) for inspiring me to put my thoughts to paper so to speak.

Lastly but by no means Lucy for being who you are and for loving who I am although I know at times it goes against your wishes. You have made me a better man in the short time I have known you and I have never been happier. Your smile warms the heart and advice soothes the often turbulent paths of my life. Because of you I am striving to be a better person in 2008 and beyond. Thank you for being such a wonderful friend to Matthew. He loves being around you and talks about you and Jake whenever you are not around. Thank you for feeding me and all the healthy eating and living advice. I assure you I am listening.

Have a great New Years Eve and make sure what ever you do you get home safley so we can all begin 2008 together.

I look forward to catching up with as many of you as I can as soon as possible.

Richard

135/365 - Christmas Day

Originally uploaded by RXAphotos

I awoke on Christmas morning and woke up Lucy to inform her that Santa had been and left us stockings. After prying both her eyes open we took a look at what the big jolly guy had left us.

I then drove to Matthew’s to watch him open his stocking and presents from his Mother and I (we decided after our separation that his Birthday and Xmas presents would still be from the both of us to avoid an air of competition).

Next it was back to Lucy’s to open the presents under the tree. My gifts from the lovely lady included a gorillapod and the Muppet show season 2 DVD.

After opening Jake’s stocking (he got a new collar and tag and lots of doggy treats) we took him for his morning walk.

It was then off to Mornington for a great day out with Lucy’s family.

Eventually we returned home and after walking Jake we crashed on the couch and watched about six episodes of the Muppets.

A most enjoyable Christmas.

I’ve been asked by several people over the last three days what I would like for Christmas.  So I’ve spared a few seconds (it is 1 am and I have things to do!) to try and ease your pain.

• Borders gift voucher (there’s a couple of books I would like to get)
• JB Hi-fi gift voucher
• Officeworks voucher
• Ted’s camera gift voucher
• Comb binding machine
• Guillotine (at least A4 size)

That’s all that comes to mind except for the hideously expensive stuff which no-one I know can afford or would ever spend on me anyway.

RANT WARNING

In a recent post I said I was confused why some of my shots made it to explore on flickr.

Let me first state that I know how explore works … I wish it didn’t work that way but I know how quickly people comment and “favourite” your work has a bearing on what makes it.

I was merely stating that some of my images that are in explore, supposedly the top 500 photos of the day, should not be there as I don’t feel they are good enough.

That’s all I was saying. I wasn’t saying I’m better than all of you or that you all suck because we all know that in both cases that is not true. I was merely using my assigned space on the tubes to vent about how I feel my recent popularity on flickr is not always reflected in my work.

Let me also say that yes, I am trying to get into this photography thing full time. Please do NOT think for a minute that I think I am better than any of my friends or family at wielding a camera. If we line up all our photos together we all have very different styles. I am just fortunate that some people like my style enough to pay me to turn up and point a camera at them. And after paying me to do that some of them even like me enough to pay for the photos.

Take it from me, there is nothing more humbling then being able to charge a shooters fee that covers your time on the shoot but does not include any photographs or images. That’s the best compliment a client can give you.

Rant over. Go back to what you were doing.