Sean's Blog

Out and about.

Despite my rushing today I noticed the first daffodil in the verge near me has bloomed. I also say a few primrose so I'll drag the Sigma 105mm Macro out for a few shots.

posted by SeanMcC @ 4:16 AM 0 comments   

Sunday. The day of rest.

For some. Nor for me today. Matthew was not at all inclined to sleep in the cot after feeding and then falling asleep on my as I was editing photos and surfing. Even after I was actually in bed I still ended up having to put him on my chest to get him to sleep. He's a lot heavier than you might think though, so after very disturbed sleep I eventually managed to get Cyn to take into the other room so I could sleep. That was 9am this morning.. That would be fine if I wasn't getting up to go to the Gym at 12. I did as much of the routine (which is way too long anyway) as I could fit in, in order to be home by 2:10. I'm glad I was cycling.
I pegged it down to cover a Galwegians Ladies cup match at 2:30 and made it before the game started. They lost 15-11 to UL but still played well enough. One thing I will say is there was really not enough hard tackling. I know these are ladies but they're a tough bunch. Wegians were the better tackling team though and UL were better in the running game.

From there it was into the Roisin Dubh for Sean Tyrrell's Sunday Sessions. From there to the store to prep PA for the frames gig on Thursday. And onto The Quays for the Weightless Astronauts. Needless to say I'm tired!

posted by SeanMcC @ 4:14 AM 0 comments   

Galwegians Vs UCD Photo Gallery

Galwegians Vs UCD Photo Gallery by Sean McCormack at pbase.com.
Shots from last weeks game are up at Pbase now.

posted by SeanMcC @ 5:47 AM 0 comments   

brando.

The band brando spilt up 2 1/2 years ago or so. I had been their soundman for 2 years or so by then. I didn't mix the final gig, mostly because the band were using it to pay off debts and I didn't want to be an added expense. I'm sure I was busy anyway but in hindsight I should have done it for the memory. We travelled a bit mostly around Ireland but made a few trips to England. In The City was a band promo/contest in Manchester, which had Brando declared best band best band by Music Week magazine. They also listed them as one of their 10 bands to watch. We got a few gigs in London over it. Ah the stories. Anyway why do I bring it up. Well a few things have happened to bring it to mind. Elton Mullally , the singer and main songwriter) played for the Slatehouse Sessions during the week. It was really good to hear the stuff again after so long. They really are great songs. The second thing was finding that the brando message board was still active. I put up a message to indicate that Elton was still performing Brando songs. I added a link to some downloadable songs. And finally I've been trying to find old digital photos I took to edit and save, mostly travel shots. As I was PC based at the time I was searching through my box of PC CD's and found a backup disk that contained the now defunct brando website. Seeing as some porn site has hijacked the old brandoland.com site I've decided to host it on one of my currently under utilised sites. You can check it out at http://brando.fnraudio.com.

posted by SeanMcC @ 3:40 AM 2 comments   

Ah Exercise

In a moment of thrift/future laziness I skipped the cab home and went to my lockup and got my bike. 20 minutes of pain later I arrived home. "Pain?" I hear you say. No, not the cycling itself but the fact that I was on a bike set for me in runners, but wearing a pair of New Rock boots. Alas the extra thick soles were only part of the pain with no full thrusts to be made. The main part was my corns being gladly revived by the boots rubbing. Ouch. The trip home will bear fruit tomorrow in the amount of time I'll save getting to and from the Gym. After all what's the point of walking 20 minutes to get on an treadmill for another 10?

posted by SeanMcC @ 2:26 AM 0 comments   

Typos

Just reading all my typos and missed letters from last night. The keyboard on the iMac needs to be hit hard to register a letter so sometimes when I'm typing I miss letters without knowing until it's been sitting online all night and day. My other excuse was that for a lot of the typing I was doing it one hand while holding a baby and bottle in the other!

posted by SeanMcC @ 2:06 AM 0 comments   

Sunset

After a good day the other day we had a marvelous sunset. If I'd not been daycare daddy I'd probably have picked Ballyloughane/Salthill/Silverstrand as my location to shoot but alas It was merely the clump of trees out my back! Here's one as the sun is only just barely peeping through the branches before it disappears.

posted by SeanMcC @ 7:28 AM 0 comments   

Camera club and a DSLR dilemma

We got to the door of Cluain Mhuire about 8:10 so I still had time for a quick chat. Now I think the name of the guy I chat to up there is Robert but I can't actually remember, which is a little embarrassing. Anyway he's been debating buying a Fuji S7000 to replace the little A205S he has. Now I myself had one of these 2 megapixel compacts and it's a fine camera with good skin tones even when using the flash, But like all non SLR digitals the shutter lag is desperate. I said to him last week to save his pennies and get the Nikon D70 instead. He has lenses already from his film body so it seems like the logical choice. Others on the net have persuaded him he'll outgrow the S7000 quickly so he's on track for a DSLR. This week he's contemplating the new Pentax digital *ist and the Olympus E-300.
Me? I'd avoid the Pentax simply because it's taken too long to come to market and they have no digital pedigree. The E300 would be more attractive to me as a first DSLR if I was buying today because I like the company's products. I've had both the C2020Z and the C750Z which were good cameras. (The 2020 was better for handling but the 750 had a great zoom). It would be a natural progression to an E-300. The Pentax though does have loads of available new and used lenses and accessories, unlike the Olympus which uses the still very new four thirds system. When I step back from the situation I see 4 entry models to buy. The Canon 300D (or the Rebel as it is coming from 7dayshop.com) is STG£559 with 18-55 lens (STG£599 for the black version), the Nikon D70 with 18-70 Dx lens is STG£689, the Pentax is £800 list (I've no street price for it) and the E300 is £699. Pricewise the Canon wins hands down. The D70 appears to be a better camera (though by no means a 20D beater) so for a Nikon film user.. Buy the D70 and use your other Nikon lenses. If you are changing system then get the Canon so you can access Canon's wealth of great L lenses and IS lenses. The 300D combined with the Russian firmware is a great camera.
Meanwhile back at the Camera Club Ann Sweeney displayed her wares from a trip to Barcelona and it's environs. Ann teaches the beginners classes. I've never been so I've no idea what they are like. Her slides were mostly good and well composed. She was apologetic about things she had no control over like wires and other tourists but the stuff was still fine. I did feel that some of the shots could have been improved by changing angles. For a Dali fountain she could've gone done low and eliminated a lot of people and for some of the flower shots would have benefited from a tighter crop in shot. For my Paris stuff I made the mistake of going wide all the time to capture it all, instead of getting all the details shots too. She did have loads of detail shots from Barcelona Cathedral though. They were so Intricate though there was nearly too much to look at. A little overwhelming! Ann was followed by Martin Whyte with a collection from Cobh, Inisheer and Ballinsloe horsefair. While there were a number of outstanding shots (Inisheer Lighthouse for example) there were a few snapshots in the bunch too. He made good use of angles in a lot of shots. Brendan Lawlor (the Chairman) displayed some of his old (made in 89-90) IR prints. John (my lift) was going so I didn't get a look. Unfortunately!

posted by SeanMcC @ 7:03 AM 0 comments   

And onto the Gym

After Cyn arrived in I didn't need to mention Sonja had been over, the two had met. Love when it works out easy like that! Anyway with Cyn home earlier than usual I went to the Gym to do the first session with the new Fitness Program I go as part of my fitness chck on Monday morning. (One of the things I meant to blog-Basically I got up after 3 hours sleep and did the usual weight, height, blood pressure stuff that you get in medicals, before getting a tour of the machines and the fitness program that runs on the computer there).
Now once I got in I went to the computer to type in my ID to get my program on screen. Needless to say there was a typically cryptic Windows error dialogue visible instead of my needed program. I remembered what I was supposed to do roughly, so I headed to the threadmill for a 10 minute warm up walk (Stretched first folks. I must say the stretching felt great, now I only need to learn all the stretches to do properly!). The machine wouldn't take my ID so I just did it manually. Onto the Upright Bike then for 15 mins and the Cross Trainer. I was supposed to do 15 mins on it, half forward and half going backways. Have you ever tried to move back on the Cross Trainer? It's a real feat of mind over balance. It took ages to get the hang of and eventually I finished up going forward again!. The onto the rower. After 10 minutes of it I was bushed. Hopefully I'll be able for longer soon. That said I was on the maximum resistance setting. The it was upstairs to the weights machine. The first 2 worked fine as I inputed my code and sorted out my lift positions and maximums. Needless to say the third machine crashed after it accepting my range of motion measurements. Sigh. So I did the other machines sans records too. Kinda makes a computerised systhem pointless. I definitely do 2 sets the next time. I had to go because I was heading for the camera club and needed to eat first. After brisk walk I was home at 7:40 (I also called my cab for the club before I got home-the 40 minute wait last week was no joke). So after my scrambled egg and soda bread I got my cab to the club.

posted by SeanMcC @ 6:00 AM 0 comments   

Onto the 'photo shoot'

Sonja S. called over and I dressed Matthew in his snowsuit and put him into the Baby Bjorn carrier and off we went to take pictures for Sonja's website assignment. When he started to get upset (he's not the biggest fan of the carrier-but it is an unfortunate necessity sometimes) we went back to the apartment. I edited down the photos and fed the little man at the same time. It was wonderful fun trying to type keyboard shortcuts in Photoshop while attempting to hold both baby and bottle. I then did a little crash course in HTML for her which was fully example led. Hopefully she took something of use away with her sbesides a book!).

posted by SeanMcC @ 5:41 AM 0 comments   

Busy day-The wake up call.

Well I got a slight shock this morning when I woke up with my elbow on the young 'un (I wasn't aware he was even in the bed-bad move). I had been woken and informed earlier but it was more of a 'yes dear' moment than legitimate conversation. Now normally I will haul myself over on my elbow to change sides quickly so you can imagine my surprise waking and finding it planted firmly on Matthew. I think I was starting to move and in my sleep realised something wasn't right. Anyway he's all fine and dandy and slept on despite his daddy's unintended gaff. He was smiling when I was feeding him when he woke after I got home from work and was good for Cyn all evening, laughing and all, so we can only assume everything is fine. I have of course suggested that Cyn not put him directly beside me if she has to put him in the bed, which in truth I'd prefer she didn't. At least, when she's not there too. Too much stress. I think I'll blog the other stuff separately rather than one big long one today. Too much to say after no saying enough again.

posted by SeanMcC @ 5:35 AM 0 comments   

Galwegians new website

After not being able to access it for ages it turns out that the new Galwegians website is up and running. Looks great, but not enough pictures. I wonder if I can solve that issue and improve my gear at the same time? Probably not!

posted by SeanMcC @ 5:24 AM 0 comments   

Wegians V UCd

Well besides the incessant blog reading I've been doing, I'm just starting to edit my photo's from the last Galwegians game. The run of luck was gone though and they lost 19-13. Unfortunately the last kick of the game was a penalty that UCD won. Still because they lost by less than 7 points they got a bonus point which puts them at 9th place in the league. You get 4 points for a win and can get 5 points if you win and get more than 4 tries in a game. They also launched a new website but it still seems to be the old one there. I'll add a pic here from the game once I've edited a few more.

posted by SeanMcC @ 7:54 PM 0 comments   

Out of touch

I've meant to blog more than a few times this week but never got the chance.
Currently reading through a few things online. First off I'm particpating a lot on the DPReview Lighting Forum

I'm also reading all the archives of the North Atlantic Skyline which came via Brendan's blog.

And from one of those archive's I'm perusing I Used To Believe which is very funny.

I'm also minding Matthew all day during the week with Cyn in work. Sigh. It's a full time job.

posted by SeanMcC @ 6:54 AM 1 comments   

And for today...

I ordered the iPod shuffle and iLife '05 anyway. Alan from Galmac reckons 3-5 weeks. He bit the bullet himself and ordered the more expensive Mac mini ( the 1.4 superdrive model). I'll attempt to get a go of it when it arrives for the Gadget Gear Grind.
Double gig tonight. A Taste of Rory followed by Sugarcuts. Both were pretty loud gigs. The early one was a pay in and was well sold. Good gig. Late gig was fine but a little messy setting up and loads of people left in the meantime. Wrecked now and heading for bed..

posted by SeanMcC @ 3:29 AM 2 comments   

Galway Camera Club

In case anyone cares and didn't know, Galway Camera Club resumes it's meetings in Chluain Mhuire (The GMIT arts complex in Wellpark) tonight. Official start is 8.15pm but most people meet up before that to chat and socialise. According to the Winter-Spring programme I was sent in the post the Guest tonight is Peter Wilcox presenting "Pictures on a Page" (a lifetime in newspapers). I'll be talking to the chairman tonight about setting up a website so we can include the calender and contact info on it. I'd like to include a little history and have competition winners shots on it (with their permission of course).

posted by SeanMcC @ 11:23 AM 3 comments   

Macworld etc.

All the macheads are of course going nuts over new Apple products like the iPod shuffle (I want one too-even Russell Beattie bought one after already buying a creative!). Yes folks I know I've a 2G and a 3G iPod but I'd rather have a music player that's a drive too useable anywhere. I carry an iPod and a Disgo. This would minimise some stuff for shorter journeys.
As I mention in my latest post on Gadget Gear Grind, I'm really looking forward to iPhoto 5. I've preordered my iLife '05 copy just there now. Garageband 2 gets a mention in that post too, I'm looking forward to that now too. Now I just need to get out and shoot more and play more too! Instead of wasting my life reading rubbish on the net!

posted by SeanMcC @ 11:16 AM 0 comments   

Katie portraits

I shot a bunch of stuff yesterday for Katie for some stuff to stick on her CD cover. Here' s few of them:



She was great to work with and had loads of ideas for her poses. I used the Latolite Triflector II for the upper body shots and a single Portaflash (silver) reflector for the 3/4 shot. Lights were one Portaflash 336 with 60X60Cm Softbox camera left and a 336 on snoot and honeycomb camera right from behind the background (a Lastolite black/white collapsable).

posted by SeanMcC @ 11:05 AM 0 comments   

On hold. And price difference.

I spent over 30 mins on hold this morning to Permanent tsb Visa. I rang England immediately and got straight through. That never ceases to amaze me. I very happy I got through. That made the money I paid via online banking yesterday available to me for an order from Calumet that had been declined. So I have a Bowens Esprit 500/500 2 head kit on it's way to me. And almost €500 cheaper than the same kit in Dublin. That's disgraceful. It's costing STG£599 ex vat which works out (inc carriage) at €1015 compared with €1512 from DML in Dublin. Half as much again. Even if it breaks and I send it to England, it's still way cheaper...

posted by SeanMcC @ 9:59 AM 0 comments   

Galwegians win again

After finally winning a league game (they did win to go into the senior cup final) against Cork Con. 'Wegians beat Buccaneers last Sat 20-17. I was at the match shooting and I put up a gallery on Pbase. It's here. Don't forget to vote for the Gallery too. Incidently clicking on a shot will enlarge it and then you can use the Previous/Next buttons to go through the shots.

posted by SeanMcC @ 4:57 PM 0 comments   

Flu, Flu.

Since my birthday last week I've been as sick as a small hospital with the flu. I've been back to work over the weekend but feel a bit weak and woozy today. My chest is rattling a little but cough is not too deep. My neck glands (yeah I know saliva glands) are swollen again after being better yesterday. I've got cover or this evenng so I'm off. It'll be Lemsip and bed soon, along with more time reading hopefuls on the net regarding the latest Mac rumours re: Macworld tomorrow. Headless iMacs ahoy etc. Most people who have had this flu still have symptons weeks later so I'm not really up to being sick for ages. My lips are pretty chapped too. Sigh. Enough of the sick moaning...

posted by SeanMcC @ 4:46 PM 2 comments   

A Sad Start

When my son Matthew was born, he weighed 5lb 10. Light. He was tiny. Before he was even born, when his head had only come out, he let a huge roar to let the world know he was here. He looked so delicate that I feared for him. There were times when I thought he was too small to make it. He's bigger now. Still smaller than others his age but fighting fit. Last night I heard a friend of mines baby just died. I'm really uspset about it. Enough to write a little (bad) blank verse about it.

I texted this to him this morning. I hope he gets it in the spirit it's meant.

My hopes, sunk and darkened
like a forest in the deepest valley.
My soul, torn and pulled asunder
lost in a savage wind of change.
My heart, too sore to touch,
too tender to cover, naked to my pain.
Come my love, my wife,
Let us bring our half hearts together,
that we may again be made whole.

posted by SeanMcC @ 11:08 AM 0 comments   

Numero uno

With the demise of In A Weeks Work I've decided to start a more personal and much more rambling blog, covering pretty much anything and more. My others blogs are too limited in scope to keep at so having one to bear and bare my musings is much better. At least it means blogging in the original way. This'll be under wraps for a while until I get settled with it. And then will be unleashed with a tremedous lack of fanfare to the more linkable public.

posted by SeanMcC @ 9:41 AM 0 comments