brentvardy.com

Hard disk problems

Bad news, my external iomega minimax hard drive as failed today. Having spoken to iomega support they think that it's the power supply which is faulty and are going to send me a replacement. However they say this may take up to 10 days so I'm not going to be able to finish off my current video projects until the replacement arrives. This means possibly no posts for a week or so. I'l keep you updated so pop back soon. Thanks

Eiffel

Eiffel Movie

Part 4 in a series of videos taken during a weekend break to Paris in August 2000.  This video concentrates on the Eiffel Tower and views shot whilst at the top. The video runs for just over 4 minutes and was shot in widescreen using a Sony TRV-110 camcorder. To watch the video click here. The other three videos in this series are Skaters, Paris @ Night and Paris By Day.

[Eiffel.mov]

Paris By Day

Paris By Day Movie

This video is the third video blog posted from our trip to France in 2000. This time we take a look at the sites of Paris during a hot summer day. To view the video click here. The other two videos from this series are Skaters and Paris @ Night.

[ParisByDay.mov]

My First Attempt

Stop Motion Test

This latest post is my first attempt at stop motion animation. For the characters in this very short (41 seconds) video I choose to use some Lego figures, two policemen and a fireman. The result I feel are acceptable as a starting point but I'm not totally happy with the walk animation which I hope to improve in my future attempts. As usual to check out the video click here.

[testanim.mov]

Paris @ Night

Paris @ Night

Here's the second vlog from our trip to Paris almost six years ago. In this movie you get a brief look at the Louvre, the River Boats, a bridge over the Seine and a brightly lighted Eiffel Tower in the distance complete with search lights. All this taken during a warm and dry night. Click here to watch Paris @ Night now.

[ParisAtNight.mov]

Skaters

Skaters Movie

This movie is the first in what I hope will be multiple video blogs produced from the footage taken during our weekend break to Paris during the August Bank Holiday in 2000. This video blog, featuring music from John Holowach, shows French rollerbladers skating their home-made obstacle course whilst waiting for the rain to stop. Click here to watch the video.

[Skaters.mov]

Tunisia Photographs

Tunisia 2000 Photos

To complete my posts of content taken from our trip to Tunisia in 2000 I've managed to get some photographs taken on a Pentax 35mm camera converted to an electronic format. The images follow our camel ride to visit the troglodyes who still live in caves on the edge of the Sahara Desert and then the amazing ruins of El Djem. The videos posted over the last month or so covering footage from this trip are also available in my video archive. To view the Tunisia photographs click here now. Enjoy!!

London

London 2004 Photo Album

Another set of photographs, this time taken in London on a cloudy Saturday morning at the end of May 2004. Most of the pictures were taken from the top of the London Eye. So if you want to see what a cloudy and cold London looks like click here.

As a foot note, depending on how my assessment goes later today, I may be ok to go back to work soon. This means less posts I'm afraid. I'm actually hoping 'Friday the 13th' is a good sign, and that my physiotherapy is going well. :)

Intel Mac

MacBook Pro

Apple announced the intel path last year and now it's reality. Apple have just announced the new MacBook Pro. Up to 4 times quicker than the current G4 PowerBooks the new Apple laptop is powered by an Intel dual-core processor. Like the latest iMacs the MacBook Pro also comes complete with built in iSight. Costing from £1429 inc VAT here in the UK, it starts shipping in February providing you place your order now. Looks like I need to start saving.

El Djem

El Djem Movie

Heres another video edited from the footage taken in October 2000 whilst visiting Tunisia. This time the video shows the impressive ruins of the 3rd largest colosseum in the world. Built by the Romans but not in Rome, El Djem is probably the best example of the glorious Roman Empire outside of Rome. I think I also have some photographs of the ruins taken on a Pentax 35mm film camera somewhere. If I manage to find them and have time to convert them to a digital format I'll post them as an album. Click here to view El Djem or here to view my other video shot in Tunisia, Camel Convoy.

[ElDjem.mov]

New RSS feed online

FireANT

I've now created a new RSS (XML) feed with feedburner using enclosures so that the video content can now be viewed correctly using RSS aggregators like FireANT. FireANT is a RSS video aggregator and media player which allows you to subscribe to any RSS 2.0 channel and automatically download fresh media content to watch and listen to. iTunes can also be used to do exactly the same as FireANT by adding my feed as a podcast subscription. My new feed URL is http://feeds.feedburner.com/brentvardy. If you already subscribe using my old feed please re subscribe using the new Feedburner feed.

March Of The Penguins

Penguin Movie

Well not exactly, but it was inspired by the successful documentary, 'March of the Penguins', released last year. Obviously Morgan Freeman wasn't available for my movie's narration, so I had to do without. The backdrops are just as dramatic though, and the acting... well what can I say :). Anyway click here to see for yourself what all the fuss is about.

[Penguin.mov]


Pinnawela Elephant Orphanange

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage

During our tour of Sri-Lanka in November 2000 we were able to spend a full day with the elephants at the world famous elephant orphanage at Pinnawela. These photographs were taken using a small point and shoot 1.3 megapixel camera. However we also took a number of photographs with a standard 35mm which I also hope to add to this album at some later date when I get them converted to a digital format. To view the Pinnawela album so far click here. I will make further posts to notify you when I update this album with images taken on the 35mm camera.

Washing lines through time

Sooo True

I was just sorting through my inbox and came across a joke I was sent some weeks ago, that I found quite funny. So I thought I'd share it with you all. I'm unable to credit the author as I have no idea who they are.

PM and Videoblogging

Not sure if you saw any news yesterday but I picked up on a story about Tony Blair filming his working day and posting it on the internet for all to see 'how hard he works'. I'm not saying I support our current government but I definitely support them using the Video Blog idea to get information out to the masses using the public domain. It allows whoever, in this case the government, to publish content without having to use the worlds media and restrictions that come with it. If you want more information and want to see his 'Video Blog' click here.

Wreck Photographs

Wreck Photographs

The next photo album I've published online contains more photographs taken last year in Barbados. This time they are images taken whilst diving on a shallow wreck just off the beach in Bridgetown. These snaps were taken using my Sony DSC-P8 digital camera with a 40 m underwater housing. I hope you find the world of the oceans as interesting as I do. Click here to view the slideshow.

Barbados Snaps

Barbados Photographs

I'm still sorting through my many photographs taken over the years looking for snaps to publish online. This time I've added 20 pictures taken whilst in the Caribbean on Barbados during January last year. To watch the slideshow click here or on the thumbnail above. I also have some video footage taken in Barbados which I will edit and publish online at some point in the future.

Happy New Year

Just a short first post for 2006 to wish everyone a Happy New Year. And of course hope it is a prosperous year. Don't forget you can still read my posts from last year using the 'Blog Archives' available in the sidebar on the right. I just hope I'm able to keep up regular posts again this year.