in a psychopathic world [entries|friends|calendar] velvetink [ userinfo | livejournal userinfo ] [ calendar | livejournal calendar ]

flying by to say hi to my LJ friends... [05 May 2009|08:31pm] one of my sketches Life takes us on strange and unexpected travels. This year so for me has been more busy and complicated and frustrating than expected with plans and goals falling down like dominos. Be that as it may, I am studying accountancy (not at all in any original plan of mine), still acting as taxi mother, commuting back and forth to Sydney to ill parents, and valiantly trying to pick up new skills (to me)in how to fix a crumbling house (roofing is a whole new ball game to me)... Not always happy, not always sad. Standing still yet going forward. Same with my health & work with supporting and spreading awareness of PID. Generally flipping sides of yin and yang. Balancing and juggling. You get the picture. Anyhow when I've had time still taking photos (not as much as I'd like though) or working on photos. Am pleased :) with some photoshop efforts. Managed to finally scan in a lot of my grandfather's images he took during WW2 in the middle east, and also worked on some old family Anzac images. Perhaps by next Anzac day I might have it all completed. Think I am in a period of reassessment of my life and beginning to see a picture of not so much meandering and dabbling in things because of indecision but because of pressures and commitments to others (perceived or otherwise actual). In the main it's made me less talkative overall while I try to find a sense of balance and direction - difficult too in these economic times. I want to find the path back to where I want to go rather than continue to take the detours presented when nothing else kind of fits. And speaking of derailing & rambling, I seem to do it to myself. Without further ado..some pictures I've up on flickr and a few more they deem "interesting" Stay well. V. 14 comments|post comment

donate items to Victorian bushfire victims [12 Feb 2009|09:15pm] donate items to Victorian bushfire victims, originally uploaded by velvetink / s perrin. (Apologies for posting two in one day on the same subject... but thought I should try and get as much coverage for this as possible...there's been over 183 confirmed deaths now in the Victorian fires, apparently you can see the smoke trails from space..and so many homeless....this might help them a little). For Central Coast (NSW) people who want to help out those struck down by the Victorian bushfires can donate items to Colway Express (Berkeley Vale). The company will be trucking items down to victims on Saturday 14th. It is accepting donations such as canned food, clothes, blankets,toiletries & nappies. (No large furniture). All donations need to be at their stores by lunchtime Friday 13th. People can take their donations to 6 Journeyman Close, Berkeley Vale. NSW. Central Coast. Inquiries; 42884098. (info via expressadvocate.com.au This photo orig shot on ilford film canon AE1. reworked in photoshop Thanks everyone Velvetink. 3 comments|post comment

Peats Ridge aglow (bushfire) [12 Feb 2009|09:00pm] Peats Ridge aglow (bushfire), originally uploaded by velvetink / s perrin. Peats Ridge aglow (bushfire central coast nsw) Couldn't get any closer, this was enough to see. Lucky no lives have been lost in this fire only about 300 hectares of bush (it was arson!). This is only about 15-20 mins from my house. Unlike Victoria and the utter devastation there -over 135 dead and the hospitals overflowing. Donations would be really welcome at the Red Cross about now, either $ or blood or plasma. There's a secure online donation thingy at the Australian Red Cross here; www.redcross.org.au/default.asp late edit; this photo now published at; my.nowpublic.com/node/2159213/footage/list?page=1 to accompany the story "For many survivors, aftermath will go on long after Oz fires end" btw want to say a BIG thanks to the Firemen who put out this blaze! Do check out Rossco's photos (he's a Fireman as well) he was there! www.flickr.com/photos/rustie/ Sorry I've been awol again..had a lot going on but will be back soon . Hope all my friends are doing ok and that none have been in harm's way. Velvetink. 17 comments|post comment

Museum of Contemporary Art - Sydney [10 Jan 2009|04:00pm] Museum of Contemporary Art - Sydney, originally uploaded by velvetink / s perrin. January sees me busy again - catching up on house chores mainly & waiting for things like college to start up again end of the month, hoping 2009 is working out for everyone so far. Minor excitement for me photo wise...I'm now in Schmap Sydney Guide. Museum of Contemporary Art - Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art - Sydney This image published in the newly released sixth edition of the Schmap Sydney Guide: Museum of Contemporary Art www.schmap.com/sydney/sights_museums/p=36783/i=36783_22.jpg you'll need to cut and paste the above link into your browser, it works from flickr but seemingly not from here. go figure. You can also view Schmap on your iPhone or iPod touch, iPhone version here; Museum of Contemporary Art www.schmap.com/?m=iphone#uid=sydney&sid=sights_museum... Wishing everyone well Velvetink 12 comments|post comment

xmas boo 2008 [31 Dec 2008|01:58pm] xmas boo 2008, originally uploaded by velvetink / s perrin. Boo amid the presents. Libby picked a blue christmas theme this year. We had a few anxious moments when Boo decided to eat some wrapping ribbon, but he has survived till now with no ill effects! You can see he's putting on weight again since the poisoning, and I hope that is all behind us. My birthday yesterday was quiet and lovely, with daughter springing cake and presents upon me. This time of year kind of goes by in a blur what with christmas, birthday and new year within a 5 day span and while in wilder days used to go out partying, kind of fairly over that and just getting through the christmas dinner with family is enough for me, since it involved a lot of preparation, and traveling . Anyhow just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year for 2009!!!!, and for those with birthdays coming up in the next few days..Happy Birthday to you all. .I've been having a continuing LJ glitch with the options on viewing my friends pages...cannot view just friends but get the whole caboodle of groups etc and it's too big to scroll through ..and can't figure out how to fix it just yet. Suspect I will have to delete the groups or something. So sorry for not commenting but I've been giving up after about 3 pages of not finding friends posts. Thinking of you all so frozen in the snow, it's once again outrageously hot here with periodic heavy showers and thunderstorms. Hopefully it won't rain tonight and we might get to see some of the fireworks. Much love to all velvetink . ps decided that I'm not very good at photographing actual events in my life when it comes to having family around, most of them don't like getting their photos taken, and think it's rude or something, the follow on is that any I do take are badly composed, badly exposed, in bad lighting and have the quality of a bad old leaky grainy diana camera. 4 comments|post comment

2008 Christmas with mum. [28 Dec 2008|05:35am] 2008 Christmas with mum., originally uploaded by velvetink / s perrin. I read once Robert Frost wrote that a poem begins with a lump in the throat. I suspect that is true. It's also true for some portraits. Especially this one. We tried to give mum a good christmas, but the sadness of her illness overwhelms us, and she's overwhelmed by the morphine. 26 comments|post comment

finding buddha [24 Dec 2008|02:35am] buddha bookmark, originally uploaded by velvetink / s perrin. Now that my daughter has learned to iron :) I've had time to clear away the junk and mountains of old bills on the notice board (last cleared humm 2 years ago). Underneath was this buddha bookmark - nothing spesh, just cardboard and now adorned with wrinkles, but everytime I look at it feel calm. Memory is dim where I first came across this Buddha? on one of my travels somewhere but I've had him a long time, around 20 plus years or more. I think that the saying that "you can find buddha anywhere" is true, you just have to clear away your junk. :) Looks like no resolutions this year but some kind of mantra to fuel me for 2009. nirvana or bust. ;) Peace. 9 comments|post comment

Matryoshka doll [24 Dec 2008|02:27am] Matryoshka doll, originally uploaded by velvetink / s perrin. A Russian Nesting doll that my daughter Libby brought back from Russia for me. I've been fairly slack in reporting her trip overseas. Partly because she's yet to upload her photos. I love this matryoshka doll though, it has 6 more inside. :) "Matryoshka" (Матрёшка) is a derivative of the Russian female first name "Matryona", which was a very popular name among peasants in old Russia. The name "Matryona" in turn is related to the Latin root, "mater" and means Mother. A set of matryoshkas consists of a wooden figure which can be pulled apart to reveal another figure of the same sort inside. It has, in turn, another figure inside, and so on. The number of nested figures is usually five or more. The shape is mostly cylindrical, rounded at the top for the head and tapered towards the bottom, but little else; the dolls have no hands (except those that are painted). Traditionally the outer layer is a woman, dressed in a sarafan. Inside, it contains other figures that may be of both genders, usually ending in a baby that does not open. The artistry is in the painting of each doll, which can be extremely elaborate. This one wasn't the cheapest to be got, was about $25AU, there were cheaper ones and some that cost over $100. 7 comments|post comment

a christmas card from the Ukraine [24 Dec 2008|02:21am] a christmas card from the Ukraine, originally uploaded by velvetink / s perrin. Veselykh Sviat! (Happy Holidays) Sent by my daughter before she left - (it's just arrived).... she was home several weeks ago. :) I thought it was cute. ;) The greeting inside says Sincere wishes for strong health much fortune clean water in the well in the fields robust wheat bread-salt on the table and harmony in the soul. 7 comments|post comment

moneyplant (for xmas). [23 Dec 2008|02:22am] moneyplant (for xmas)., originally uploaded by velvetink / s perrin. Wishing all my friends on LJ a very Merry Christmas!!!! (It's the most christmasy looking thing in the garden). ps the moisture droplets are inside the unopened flower pods! The folklore of the Money plant is that you plant some at the front door so you have money coming in, and some at the backdoor (but not as many). I apparently have too many in the back garden = money always going out but not much coming in. I need to do some transplanting. 10 comments|post comment

Writer's Block: Untimely Passing [10 Dec 2008|01:21am] RIP John Lennon. The list of sudden and unexpected celebrity deaths is long—Princess Di, Heath Ledger, Kurt Cobain, Marilyn Monroe, and many more. Which one affected you the most on an emotional level? View other answers Janis Joplin 13 comments|post comment

"There are fairies at the bottom of our garden." (self portrait) YET I NEED HELP CONVERTING TO CYMK [09 Dec 2008|04:54pm] [ mood | confused ] [ music | yellowcard ] So I had this photo I reworked in photoshop up on flickr and have been invited to submit it for publishing to the THE Magazine, THE magazine is Santa Fe's Monthly Magazine of and for the Arts, for their special February 09 issue on Photographers. And I'm thrilled. http://www.themagazineonline.com/home.html HOWEVER, the work is in RGB and they want it converted to CYMK (for paper printing) (and enlarged to 11 inches in height) - easy huh? , well in theory....when I do that the colours become super saturated and it doesn't look right. Now I've talked with some people and they say to soft proof it, and with a few grands worth of software it would be easy. But I'm having a hard time doing it the hard way (without the software) which is basically re-editing the image...making it lighter so that when you convert to CYMK the colours are how they should be and either not washed out (the blacks) or too saturated. Basically you have to do it blind, over and over and I've done it about nine times now and feeling there must be an easier less time consuming way???. So am calling on anyone who has experience with converting an RGB image to CYMK to allow for the saturation increase that occurs with printing. Please anybody know an easier way to do it.? Appreciate any advice. Tx. the original text I had below the image was..... "Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop. " - should apply to playing in photoshop.. "She generally gave herself very good advice, (though she very seldom followed it)."Lewis Carroll" (reworked self portrait from the late 70's - originally shot with canon AE1, ilford film and paper...texture layers shot more recently on canon S3 IS.) If anyone would like to have a go at converting the image to CYMK (allowing for saturation so it's exact as the original)... for me?????? you can see it big here; Thanks big http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2753438875_1dd86a60b8_o.jpg 13 comments|post comment

spoilt boo [08 Dec 2008|03:32am] spoilt boo, originally uploaded by velvetink / s perrin. He's still recovering from his smaller dose of the poison and missing Vesta terribly, but he's over the worst, and getting his appetite back. Tonight he had lamb and cream!!! He needs to bulk up some more. I'm trying to catch up with my lj friends posts, however keep getting waylaid by *fivecats old school photos & trying to figure out which one is himself! 15 comments|post comment

busy as a bee [25 Nov 2008|01:32pm] [ mood | busy ] bee on parsley, originally uploaded by velvetink / s perrin. ******** (POST EDIT = so my insect photo friends on flickr Didi and Baubo inform me this is not a Bee but a "Schwebfliege" or hoverfly masking itself as a bee for protection) {This is why I still love the internet! despite the many glitches). ******* The universe continues to send me too much keeping me too busy and awol from LJ. Apologies to all I've not managed to keep up with. So much to update since my last post, might not try - it's been mammoth. point form maybe; * daughter had successful jaw op, & recovering * daughter went os - did the world trip thing during the instability over there and the money crisis but loved every minute * daughter returned safe and inspired * self still grappling with aged parents and mother's constant decline * self had many deep thoughts & moods while daughter away * self still networking and working with other PID patients for awareness and protests and proposals to au govt for better Primary Immunodeficiency care * Vesta the cat died, poisoned. L, Boo and I still shell shocked. * Self enrolled in college again to teach (in college) eventually. Started already. Weird being a student again. * Self unwell for a bit with CD4 numbers in the crapper (148) , but working on it. Hoping summer gets it's act together soon. Despite recent unpredictable weather and wanted rain, would like some stability. 23 comments|post comment

Silent Spring....... a legacy [07 Aug 2008|07:41pm] [ mood | cold ] [ music | wilderness - sunny days set free ] Silent Spring....... a legacy, originally uploaded by velvetink / s perrin. Silent Spring....... a legacy Self portrait inspired by the symbolist painter Lucien Levy-Dhurmer and his painting "Silence". One of the less bleak versions. ( view it large ) Silent Spring by Rachel Carson was published in 1962 and had a huge impact on the way that we see the world. Prior to Silent Spring we went on doing whatever we wanted and assumed that the earth was too big to be impacted by anything that man could do to it. We assumed that technology could do no wrong. Following Silent Spring, we banned DDT, which then led to more careful assessment of other chemicals. We started having environmental impact statements, water and air pollution legislation and the entire environmental movement. Protecting the environment is now seen as a core responsibility of government, included with such things as defending the borders and maintaining the justice system. One of the reasons for the impact of Silent Spring was the title and the cleverly written first chapter describing how horrible things would be, if we did not change. Carson describes a world in which pesticides have killed not only the insects and birds, but animals and people as well, so there is silence in a once happy and prosperous town. "Some evil had settled on the community: mysterious maladies swept the flocks of chickens, the cattle and sheep sickened and died. Everywhere was a shadow of death." "There was a strange stillness. The birds for example – where had they gone? ... The few birds seen anywhere were moribund: they trembled violently and could not fly. It was a spring without voices." - Rachel Carson, Silent Spring. The silence is a superb metaphor for death. She then backs up the images in the first pages with technical discussions of the impacts of pesticides. The microscope of time has shown the claims she makes in the first chapter could never happen and not everything Carson put in her technical back-up was accurate. Despite this, the powerful image was very effective. It is not surprising that environmentalists since that time have tried to replicate the doom and gloom message to make a similar impact. It worked well for Carson, in fact it changed the way we look at the world, so why not use it again. Jared Diamond’s recent book Collapse has an evocative title like Silent Spring, but he avoids the doom and gloom. He simply describes how some societies throughout history have collapsed, and identifies the causes using archaeological evidence. He clearly shows the causes as rapid population growth, environmental damage, unstable trading partners, climate change and pressure from enemies. He makes comparisons with current events and policies, but he does not drop into doom and gloom mode. He wants everybody to make their own judgment based on his book and hopefully other books. I think it is a wise strategy, because people will not take real action unless they are convinced in their hearts that action is needed. We won’t be convinced by one story anymore. A second aspect of the Silent Spring success is that it led us to believe environmental problems are separate from other problems that society needs to deal with. Ban the offending chemicals and the birds will come back. Require tertiary treatment for inland towns and the rivers will be cleaner. Legislate for low emission exhaust from cars and urban smog will be reduced. These have all worked brilliantly for their separate problems. When the problems become tougher and require more sweeping changes, these old approaches don’t seem to be effective. When big lifestyle changes are required, we need to include everybody. We need to get everybody on board because we are asking everybody to make changes. The more difficult challenge for environmentalists now, is that we are asking for sweeping changes to be made to solve complicated problems. For most people the problems are too complicated and that means we just continue with business-as-usual. That is understandable. The opponents of actions to improve sustainability, are happy with business-as-usual. They say that everything will work out. It almost always has. BUT we may be getting close to the last straw. The permafrost in the north is only one degree shy of melting. In Alaska and Northern Siberia you can already see trees in ancient forests falling down from the result. Then again you know maybe things won't pan out as before. Take a voyage into the Arctic to witness the vanishing of the vast sea ice... Can it be halted - or is it past tipping point? there's a flash video and windows media video here; www.abc.net.au/4corners/specials.htm Uploaded by velvetink / s perrin on 6 Aug 08, 12.10AM EST. 13 comments|post comment

il porcellino [29 Jul 2008|11:13pm] il porcellino, originally uploaded by velvetink / s perrin. Today I was in Sydney on many errands and taking a few photos as I went. Not 5 minutes after taking this shot and moving on a very strange Indian guy came up to and blocked my way forward. He said directly to me "I have a message for you....You are a very lucky lady". Of course I was dumbstruck thinking he wanted money or something as there are often odd people in the city, but he did not, and then he did a little bow and walked away smiling. Now hours later I upload my photos and look up the history of this pig statue. I'd seen it many times before but not known it's origins. = Few people fail to notice him! People from all over the world have solemnly stood in Macquarie Street, Sydney and rubbed his nose, made a wish, dropped a coin in his basket and had a photograph taken standing near him. In fact, he would be the most photographed object in Macquarie Street. His name is Il Porcellino. He is not a pig; he is a wild boar. The original Il Porcellino statue is estimated to be over 500 years old, and was unearthed in Rome after having stood for over 100 years in the Uffizi Galleries in Florence. The Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital Il Porcellino, which is a copy of the original, was presented to the hospital in l968 by the Marchessa Clarissa Torrigiani in memory of her father and brother – Dr Thomas Fiaschi who died in 1928 and Dr Piero Fiaschi who died in 1948. Both had been renowned surgeons at the hospital. Thomas Fiaschi was born in 1853 of Anglo-Italian parentage. He trained as a doctor before coming to Australia. As well as being an enthusiastic military surgeon, he owned a vineyard in Windsor and dispensed products from his own cellars in what is now Australia Square. In 1902 he was Hon Surgeon to Governor General and later in 1909 became Chairman of Sydney Hospital Board of Medical Studies. We are told the Marchessa saved for seven years to buy Il Porcellino. Her wish was for him to earn lots of money for the hospital and to make children happy. He had a 21st birthday in 1989 which was arranged by the hospital, in conjunction with civic and Italian communities. The Friends of Sydney Hospital (FOSH) volunteer group always include Il Porcellino in their stalls and special functions, and usually a special garland is made for him to wear. When the Olympic flame was carried down Macquarie Street, he wore an Olympic Garland and every year on Daffodil Day he wears a daffodil hat or garland, to help in the hospital's efforts to raise funds for the Cancer Council. The legend of Il Porcellino is that he will bring you good luck if you rub his snout. The strange thing is that the Indian man could not have known I'd just visited and photographed this pig as I walked a fair way and around a corner before I met him. I pondered the meeting with him until just now. I do hope it is a good omen. :) see big; farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/2713849492_4c267319e4_o.jpg Uploaded by velvetink / s perrin on 29 Jul 08, 10.52PM EST. 8 comments|post comment

I have wheels!!!!!! (finally) [29 Jun 2008|03:29am] [ mood | giddy ] [ music | duffy power - love is shelter ] Can you guess what it is? ( Read more ) 17 comments|post comment

my rock [16 Jun 2008|12:21am] [ music | sade - my rock ] I am in the wilderness You are in the music In the man's car next to me Somewhere in my sadness I know I won't fall apart completely When I need to be rescued And I need a place to swim I have a rock to cling to in the storm When no one can hear me calling I have you I can sing to And in all this And in all my life (Sade - My Rock) ( view big ) 9 comments|post comment

Last shot I took of my favourite beach in May [15 Jun 2008|03:34am] since the car died...Heck I miss it... ( bigger 1000x562 ) 11 comments|post comment

Life is a balancing act [14 Jun 2008|01:43am] [ mood | thoughtful ] A young girl asked the tight ropewalker how he first became involved in his current profession. His response was, ‘Can’t remember really, I think I just fell into it.’ I need to become better at funambulism! 4 comments|post comment

navigation [ viewing | most recent entries ] [ go | earlier ]