FALLING INLOVE ONLINE

We flirted with each other for a month or two. 

I waited tentatively for one week, hoping – praying – that we would be a good fit.

Turns out we were.

xxx

 

PHOTOSHOP RESCUES UNSEEN PHOTO

My father (pictured above), among many things, is a photographer. Go up into the attic of my family home and there you will find hundreds of Ilford Photographic Paper boxes full to their capacity with black and white prints and sleeves of negatives.

The other day Dad was having a tidy up and he came across a strip of negatives which he didn't recognise. He scrambled out in search of a good light source to penetrate the acetate and reveal the images it held.

It bared some old photos that he had taken as an 18-year-old. Among them was this self-taken photo sitting in the back of a car wearing a suit and tie with shoulder-length hair and a moustache.

But there was one frame on this negative that revealed nothing – too underexposed to allow the light to reveal it's secret. It virtually had no image.

Intrigued to find out what this 35mm rectangle was hiding, he scanned the negative and then heavily played with some adjustment layers in Photoshop.

It resuscitated this image of my mother, aged 15, standing in front of her family home in Ranfurly Road in Gisborne. Dad took this photo after they had just met. The roses around the perimeter of the yard were planted and cared for by my British Grandfather whom I never met.

A lot of photographers hate on Photoshop these days, claiming it is slowly "killing" photography. To some extent I agree. But in this case, I am very grateful for Photoshop's capabilities and how it revived such a beautiful and innocent photo that my father took of my mother when they first met.


Thanks, Photoshop.

NOT OF THE NOBILITY

Photos: Tim White

COMMONERS_ALIKE
Winter 2010
By Jae Mills

MAD ABOUT MADGE

Simple, I love Madonna. Watch this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVI_PvdEBT4&feature=related

ODE TO THE CRANBERRIES

I was just listening to Dreams by Fleetwood Mac on YouTube, and what do I see on the side panel of related videos but Dreams by The Cranberries.

I eagerly took a trip down memory lane...

I reminisced over Zombie, Linger, When You're Gone, the slightly more hardcore Salvation and then lastly I came across Ode To My Family. You know the one... "dooo do do do, dooo do do do..."

I don't remember ever seeing the video clip. Or maybe I did but my 12-year-old self obviously didn't appreciate how awesome it was and be able to recollect it 14 years later. And who ever knew that Dolores would bring "singer-in-a-band" envy upon me now! She is so cool in this video!

I kind of owe my determination to learn the guitar to The Cranberries. Zombie was the first song that I taught myself by ear. Em, C, G and D if my memory serves me correctly. With my cassette player blaring in the background for the lyrics and a little distortion added on my amp, it sounded just like it! I was one well-chuffed knock-kneed 12-year-old ready to start a band.

'Preface' I think we were going to be called...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xf5ZlTlrgw

VELVET, LACE & THIGH TAPPING

Fleetwood Mac are coming to New Zealand, to Taranaki to be exact, and the news and successful purchase of tickets (they sold out within minutes!) has created some very excited girls amongst my peers. Myself included.

The "Naki" is about a 5 hour drive from Auckland. This amount of time on the road in a car loaded with friends, iPods and a guitar is almost as exciting as attending the concert! Yes Mums, we will drive safely.

See you soon, Stevie babes!!

R.I.P BLESS