| Wednesday, February 24, 2010 |
| Front row for the sunset |
Opposite view from the Lights of Knowledge shot from a few weeks ago. I have a list of about 20 places to take pictures around Fayetteville but a) it's cold outside and b) I'm lazy and the library is close to work. Eventually I'm going to run out of things to shoot near home/work and I'll have to branch out. Hopefully it'll be warm by then.
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posted by Brian @ 9:30 AM  |
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| Friday, February 19, 2010 |
| Sunrise Road |
With the weather finally starting to warm up it's time to get all of these cold weather pictures out of my system. I'm ready to take pictures without gloves and of trees with green leaves. Who's with me?
Taken out at Lake Fayetteville the same morning as the other icy lake shot. If you look on the left you can see the dock the other shot was taken from.
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| posted by Brian @ 10:10 AM |
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| Monday, February 8, 2010 |
| A Fire So Big The Heavens Can See It |
I love long exposure photography. Leave the shutter open long enough and it just soaks in all the colors of the night. I took a couple dozen pictures this night (and then a couple dozen more once I realized I had forgotten to reset my f-stop after shooting a portrait the day before) and with most of them at 30 seconds - it took a while. Lots of standing around in the cold.
And why the heck is the sky orange? I have no idea. It did look orange to the naked eye, but the long exposure really kicked it up a notch. I actually had to tone down the orange so it wouldn't actually look like the sky was on fire.
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| posted by Brian @ 9:53 AM |
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| Friday, February 5, 2010 |
| Top 7 albums of 2009 |
Well it's February, so I've had time to reflect on all the new music from 2009 and narrow it down to my favorite albums of the year. I'm not sure if I'm becoming more and more out of the music loop or if it was just an off year for music. Either way, I'm down from 12 favorite albums of the year last year to just 7 this year. There were more than 7 albums I liked this year, but only these 7 stood out. So, without further ado, here they are:
7. Losing Sleep - Parachute
It barely feels like an album. The songs contained within vary from from a slow guitar serenade to pop to rock and everything in between. But the songs are good, and while none are awe-inspiring, the entire album is pretty darn surprisingly good.
Favorite track: She is Love
6. Up to Now - Snow Patrol
More of a "best hits" album than a new album, but Up to Now has some tracks that are previously unreleased under the Snow Patrol name including You Are My Joy, Just Say Yes, and On/Off. It also includes most of my other Snow Patrol favorites. All in all it's a 30 track, 2-disk album and worth getting if you're a big Snow Patrol fan.
Favorite (new) track: You are my Joy
5. Cycles - Cartel
I've always had a soft spot for punk (or probably more accurately "pop-punk" in this case) so it should come as no surprise that Cartel makes this list. The first time I heard these guys was when they opened for Copeland in a show in Springfield MO and I've liked them ever since. It's not music to relax to, but I dare you to put on Faster Ride, go for a run, and not get pumped.
Favorite track: Faster Ride, Only you (tie)
4. Ocean Eyes - Owl City
Don't like Owl City? Too bad for you. I've heard more complaints than compliments about this band, but sometimes I think people just think they have to hate bands that become popular with the non music snobs (I also doubt most have heard anything but Fireflies before making that judgment). Fact is, this album gave us what we've been missing since Postal Service. Now, they're nowhere as good as Postal Service, but still very good in their own right. It's synthy, popy, and catchy. Gotta love it. You definitely don't have to always love Matthew Thiessen's (of Relient K) corny lyrics. But the melodies are good, so slow your judging roll and enjoy some good music.
Favorite track: On the Wing
3. Love is on the Move - Leeland
These guys continue to impress, coming up with Christan music that doesn't sound like your typical Christian music. I said it in last years list but I'll say it again, they're truly unique in their genre.
Favorite track - Via Dolorosa
2. Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella!
This album made me fall in love with a cappella. Ben Folds, after seeing videos of university a cappella groups performing his songs, decided to make an album of them. I like Ben Folds, but I like nearly every track on this album better than his version.
Favorite track: Not the Same
1. Three Flights from Alto Nido - Greg Laswell
Ok so technically this one came out in 2008, but I didn't find it until 2009, and I liked it so much I've got to include it on the list anyway. He released Covers in 2009, but I didn't like it as well. I'm not even sure why I like it so much, but I've been listening to it for almost a year and I have yet to tire of it - which is rare with even music I like.
Favorite track: Not Out (also check out his cover of Girls Just Want to Have Fun - thanks Blake!) |
| posted by Brian @ 3:50 PM |
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| Tuesday, February 2, 2010 |
| Lights of Knowledge |
I love that we have public libraries, and I love that people use them. I mostly use them for pictures, but I did checkout a few audio books for my drive to Texas over the weekend. It's like reading without reading.
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| posted by Brian @ 9:49 AM |
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