Teach your children well. If you become frustrated teaching someone how to do something, remember the video below and how this mother, without language tools, is able to teach her youngster an essential raccoon skill!
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Street Photography As An Art Form – Jack Simon
Street photography is an interesting art form. Not only does it include one of my favorite hobbies, photography, it often includes a variety of things that can not be anticipated, are unusual and/or hard to believe.
This short video about the street photography of Jack Simon explains it better than any written word can. The photos are generally “strange,” but well-composed and photographically astute. I think you will find the video entertaining in and of itself, but the photographic philosophy and skills are enlightening to those of us interested in this genre.
For more information about Jack Simon, check out his website – Jack Simon Photography
Jack Simon’s Flickr account can be found here
Eric Kim also created a video interview with Mr. Simon and you can watch below (although there is some crossover of content):
Bird Bath – Hand Wash Only!
The translation from the YouTube Video:
“My goldfinch Tweety with a refreshing swim in my hands , I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.”
I found this bird bath relaxing, interesting and somewhat entertaining. I hope you enjoy it too!
A New Zealand Passion for Photography
Mike Langford and Jackie Ranken, two professional photographers from New Zealand, share the reasons why they are so passionate about photography and why they find it so rewarding.
Mike Langford + Jackie Ranken from Untitled Film Works on Vimeo.
Below is the synopsis from the Vimeo page:
A look into the world and minds of award-winning photographers – Mike Langford and Jackie Ranken.
Shot in 4K amongst the breath-taking landscapes of the South Island of New Zealand.
Mike Langford: “I believe landscape photography is about a sense of place”
Mike’s passion is travel & landscape photography and travel book publishing with over 26 books to his name. “I believe landscape photography is about a sense of place, not just about what it looks like, but more about what it feels like.”
Jackie Ranken: “The on-going pursuit in finding new ways of seeing and exploring the landscape. My expertise as a landscape photographer began in 2001 with a series of images called “Arial Abstracts’. Black and white images made while upside down in a loop from my father’s antique bi-plane.”
A Cat on the Hat While Filming a Cat Travelogue
Japanese photographer Mitsuaki Iwago obviously has a passion for cats and one cat in particular. He has created a travelogue series featuring cats from around the world. In the clip below, he is filming in Okinawa, Japan where enjoys an up close and personal moment with a very cute kitten.
From the YouTube Video Notes:
This is the scene from
“Wildlife Photographer Mitsuaki Iwago’s World Cats Travelogue”
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/tv/special/index130815.html
Island Kitten Befriends Animal Photographer
http://lovemeow.com/2014/05/island-kitten-befriends-animal-photographer/
Whale of a Fight – Video
“Swimming with humpback whales was the most magical, humbling, powerful experience of my life,” Karim Iliya writes, but things turned a bit scary when he jumped into the water in the middle of a fight between four adult males competing for the right to mate with a lone female
This video has beautiful, near stunning, pictures of one of earth’s most majestic creatures.
From the YouTube posting:
“Humpback whales are known to be one of the most majestic mammals on earth, but what happens when a diver winds up in the middle of a whale fight?
This weekly storytelling series uses the imagery of photographers and adventurers around the world to give us a deeper connection to and understanding of the human condition.”
The Lucore Forehand Volley
Jennifer Lucore, national champion pickleball player, offers her advice on the forehand volley. Of course, the first thing she emphasizes is to “get the ball in the court.”
Assuming the ready position with paddle held high and realizing that the ball is coming to the forehand while you are at the nonvolley zone line, these are the steps she advises one to use:
- Keep your eyes and head steady
- Align the face of the paddle with the ball early
- Adjust the paddle rotation in accord with the height of the ball in relation to the net
- Hit the ball well in front of you
- Propel the ball forward and rotate your shoulders through the ball to impart the power with trunk rotation
- Finish of the stroke is toward the opposite shoulder with a tight rotation; no wide, loopy rotation
- Maintain a firm wrist and keep the paddle head above the wrist in a cocked fashion.
There is a video on Jennifer Lucore’s website demonstrating the above steps and giving a bit more detail. You can view both at the link below:
Heads Up – European Eagle Owl
This would be both a birder’s and photographer’s delight. A European eagle owl in the town of Noordeinde, Netherlands likes to land on the heads of people. It apparently has had some experience with humans since it does not seem to be the least timid around them. The bird rests where it lands for a brief period and then is off to find another perch!
Inventive Teenagers Improve Our World
As a member of an “older” generation, we often hear people decry the work ethic of today’s youths and the changes taking place within our society that we believe are negative. Of course our parents probably felt the same about the things we did “back in the day.”
Below is an inspiring video detailing how Easton LaChappelle, while he was still a teenager, began to design and create prosthetic limbs. Easton now has his own company and is working to make life better for many people who are challenged. I think you will find the video below very inspiring.
Marian Reekie has macular degeneration. When she found out that a Colorado company had electronic glasses that might be able to help her, she traveled to find out what they would be able to provide. Apparently the glasses were not what she was seeking and they cost $15,000.
Her grandson, Christopher Reekie – an eighth grader at the time, said he could create a pair of glasses for her. The video below shows how Christopher was able to initiate a Kickstarter campaign to create the visual enhancement that his grandmother needed.
What can you offer to help others who face challenges?
Pickleball: Earn the Net
When I first began to play Pickleball a year ago or so, one of the points that was emphasized to me over and over again was to get up to the net. Some proclaimed this edict with a near religious fervor. I watched those around me and they were running helter-skelter to the net as soon as they could.
After a while, I realized this isn’t always the best strategy. As Deb Harrison remarks in the video below and as others who coach have noted, you have to “earn the net.” By this they mean that you need to make a good shot in order to approach or work your way into the net.
You can’t return a serve midway into the opponent’s court directly to their powerful forehand and expect to have an advantage while running to the net. In many cases, the ball will get to you before you are ready, or it will go flying by you at a fast clip.
To win consistently, you must make an “approach” shot. That is, a drop volley or angled shot that causes the player go make a weak return, etc. which facilitates an approach to the net without the odds of an even better shot coming back at you.
Now that I have realized this, I am a bit more selective when working my way to the net with my partners and it has paid off.
Watch Deb Harrison as she demonstrates the best ways to “earn the net.”
Pickleball: Earning the Net, Deb Harrison
Do you think “earning the net” will help your game? Are you purposeful in using this strategy? Leave a comment below!