Metro Online
Tuesday, February 07, 2006

I have to rectify my recent posting with regards to online printing services because I have found a better one than YourPIx.... well, in my previous posting I did state that YourPIx was the best consumer printing service and I guess that still stands, but if you're after something a little more professional, then you should head over to Metro Online.

I found them by a chance introduction to the managing director of the company, Ben Richardson, outside my framers studio. However, I have since realised I knew of them anyway, but had never considered them as a print shop... why!??! Ben said he would match whatever I was paying at the moment and provide me with a much more professional service. He's done just that... one of the guys at Metro phoned me today and walked me through my new online account. With Metro Online you can edit, share and manage your images from anywhere, at any time. It provides a digital workflow which can be used to share your images with clients, download file formats of your choice, order retouching through Dialogue , order prints and proofs, and process your camera files from RAW. The Lightbox facility allows selections to be made and the secure archive protects your data and makes sure it is always available.

I love the share facilty with this. It's a brilliant utilisation of the Internet. Through my control panel I can set up another user and allow them access to image folders of my choice, from where they can download low res copies; or high res if I allow them. They can even specify which format they would like to download: jpg, tiff, gif, eps etc. They can alter the size of the image, the resolution and whether they want it sharpened. The software does all of these things regardless of the format of the oringinal upload. The file is then zipped up and downloaded to the users desktop.

Comprehensive, easy and secure... there will be no more unprofessional emailing of pics to clients only for them to say "Could we have them as jpg's please?" ARRGHHH!

Check 'em out.

posted by Finn at 6:39 PM    

It's dumping out here!
Wednesday, January 18, 2006

A sporadic post from the piste... it's been snowing now for about 36 hours, deep deep powder piling up, which is a welcome change from the icy pistes we were first greeted with on Monday. The weather is due to clear this evening leading to blue skies and sunshine for Thursday: perfect conditions and time to use the Fresh Traxxx motto "no mates on a powder day!"

The chalet is spectacular. Really. Super comfy leather corner sofas wrap the edge of the living room and look onto a raised log fire. A hot tub constantly bubbles at 40 degrees in a lean to log cabin adjacent to the chalet. Dinner each night consists of 3 course "michelin starred restaurant quality" meals cooked by the resident chef Stu. We also get welcomed home each evening by the lovely Sophie who makes the very finest cakes - she will make someone very happy one day! Our brilliant mountain guides Leroy and Lochie, ensure we always get the best days riding out of the mountain, moving us around the valley according to the weather conditions, and guiding us to cliff drops, couloirs and windlips to throw ourselves off.

Apart from a gastric bug which has worked it's way through most of our group knocking each person out for 48 hrs, I can't complain about a thing and hadn't realised quite how much I missed snowboarding... thinking, quite seriously, of doing a season next year.

Snapshots can be found here: Snowboarding Pics. They are literally snapshots... spent more time riding than I did clicking!

posted by Finn at 9:07 AM    

Snowboarding
Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Off for a weeks snowboarding in Chamonix on the 15th of January. 8 of us in all, staying in a proper nice chalet run by the very sound crew at Fresh Traxxx.

From the Fresh Traxx website:
Downstairs, there are 2 of the double bedrooms, the kitchen (that you can avoid at all times!), dining room (with pool table), two bathrooms and ski prep area and drying room with table football. Upstairs are the rest of the bedrooms, a big bathroom . . . . and then the living room where it all happens. Complete with a bar, log fire, Sky TV (a load of good videos, DVD’s and music), XBox, PS2, CD & MD, board games and backgammon; you will not be bored. Outside on the sundeck there is a monster BBQ, and a 7/8 man Jacuzzi to bubble away all those aches and pains. Ideal for big or small groups and lone travellers alike!

Can't fucking wait to be honest... it's been 5 years since I was last in Chamonix, but the memories are still some of the best! Awesome ski areas with huge off piste potential... it's also nice to do it in a bit more style than usual, the last time we were in Chamonix 5 of us were rammed into a tiny self catering apartment. This years High Mountain Lodge is a fully catered affair... breakfast and dinner cooked for us?!

Looking forward to shooting some shots in and around the snowpark too... fast ol' shutter speeds should create some quality static memories to take home. The chalet has broadband and wi-fi and the trusty Powerbook will accompany me on the trip so check back soon for sporadic updates and accompanying photos.

posted by Finn at 10:50 PM    

Your Pix
Tuesday, December 13, 2005

After extensive and expensive user testing of all the consumer online digital printers, in my opinion Yourpix comes out on top. The firm is part of the D.S. Colour Labs company established in 1954 and they will print your photos to sizes up to 18 x 12" and offer a glossy or lustre (satin matte) finish. They are the cheapest, don't have bizarre automated cropping built into their software such as the appauling service offered by Jessops and the photos arrive in no more than 48 hours! I've also been really impressed by the print quality... no fuzz as experienced by Bonusprint. They deliver clear, sharp, good colour saturated images. I still find no need to invest in a colour printer just yet, the only downside is their software isn't Mac compatible... come on guys!

I ordered a Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Flash for my Nikon today via Kea Photo on eBay. When used in combination with Nikon's latest digital SLRs, the D70, D200 or D2X, the SB-600 supports Advanced Wireless Lighting as a remote Speedlight that can be positioned off camera as one of multiple remote flashes to significantly extend creative possibilities.

I also bought a Stofen Omni Bounce "famous the world over" according to the blurb, this neat little gadget clips onto the front of the flash and disperses the harsh flash and gives a nice soft wrap around of light with a soft shadow behind the subject. These are all in aid of improving my portrait work; there being a distinct lack of this style and subject matter within my portfolio...

posted by Finn at 10:00 PM    

Composition and Aperture
Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Brilliant article on Compositional technique by a guy called Phil Straub. It focusus on conceptual painting, but all the techniques explained here can be applied to photography and the lens.

I also now have and am using Apple's pro digital photography application: Aperture. Unfortunately I'm not yet convinced and am certainly not as blown away as I was hoping to be after watching all those dazzling quicktime movies on the Apple website. Can't yet decide whether I'm having to learn a new program and am therefore yearning to return to Adobe's Camera RAW or that actually the program ain't (yet at least, remember it's only version 1.0) up to scratch. This Aperture Review seems to think the latter!

Watch this space...

posted by Finn at 9:12 AM    

Represented
Monday, November 21, 2005

Last Monday I did a 30 minute phone interview with the features editor of Photography Monthly. My shots from California are due to be showcased in the magazine... a five page spread along with an interview with myself.

Tuesday had me talking to the Editor of Photolibrary Wales. Representing the work of over 150 photographers, living and working in Wales, The Photolibrary Wales has over 100,000 original images and is now the largest searchable resource for contemporary images of Wales. Steve was impressed by my "graphic style" and asked me to become their contributing photographer for Hay-on-Wye and the surrounding areas.

Friday saw my submission to Alamy Stock Agency accepted. See the following link for my photographs now online and for sale: Alamy.

posted by Finn at 5:26 PM    

Nikon D200
Thursday, November 03, 2005

Hmm I've been thinking about upgrading my D70 for the past month now. Mainly down to the fact that Image State, the agency I wish to represent my photographs, don't accept images from the prosumer model cameras. I have been thinking about the D2X and at nearly £4000 I was having to do some serious thinking! However, it seems Nikon have answered my prayers and released the D200 just in time. Due for release at the end of 2005 the D200 is a cheaper digital SLR camera for pro photographers.

Read the reviews for more, but in short the D200 can shoot continuously at up to five frames per second, capturing up to 37 JPEG images or up to 22 NEF (RAW) images. The camera has a magnesium alloy chassis and body cover, as well as an 'environmental sealing system' that helps protect exterior seams from potentially damaging moisture and dust. It employs a new 10.2 effective megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor and 1005-pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II system. Plus a whole host of external command dials and buttons which will definitely help my photography. I've lost count of the times I have missed an opportunity due to ploughing through the menu system via the LCD display.

I know what I want from Santa this xmas.

posted by Finn at 12:20 PM    

Aperture
Thursday, October 20, 2005

Will my evangelical like praise for Apple never cease?! Not so long as they keep releasing groundbreaking products and software it won't.

Apple introduced a new product for pro photographers today. Called Aperture it has been designed from the ground up for professional photographers. Aperture provides everything you need for after the shoot, delivering the first all-in-one post-production tool for photographers.

I always shoot in the RAW format despite the fact that the post production of such weighty files is laborious, cumbersome and time consuming. I haven't used Aperture yet, but the blurb and quicktime demos of the product are convincing enough to make me pre-order the product. Featuring a RAW-focused workflow, Aperture makes RAW as easy as JPEG, letting you import, edit, catalog, organize, retouch, publish, and archive your images more effectively and efficiently than ever before. From capture to output, you work directly with your RAW files, never having to first convert them into another format before viewing, adjusting, organizing, or printing them. Final Cut for stills perhaps?

posted by Finn at 9:00 AM    

Venice - The city of Canals
Friday, October 07, 2005

Click here for more Venice Photos
Heading to Venice (Italian: Venezia, the "city of canals") this weekend. The city stretches across numerous small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea in northeast Italy. In the old center, canals serve the function of roads, and every form of transport is on water or on foot. In the 19th century a causeway to the mainland brought a railroad station to Venice, and an automobile causeway and parking lot was added in the 20th century. Beyond these land entrances at the northern edge of the city, transportation within the city remains, as it was in centuries past, entirely on water or on foot and is Europe's largest carfree area. A perfect contrast to the US!

It must be pretty special... supposedly one of the most photogenic cities in the world, it should keep me entertained. Heading out there with the extended family to celebrate my Dad's 60th birthday. The folks have opted for a hotel and we are staying with my two sisters and their boyfriends in some fancy pad with Jacuzzi and roof terrace overlooking a canal. Nice.

Photos will be uploaded when I return on Wednesday. Lets hope my mac is lying and the sun will shine!

posted by Finn at 7:08 PM    

Nano Scratch
Saturday, October 01, 2005

I bought myself an iPod Nano whilst in the states. A 2Gb version - the Apple Store in San Francisco had sold out of the 4Gb. I love it. The size, the design, the battery life (14 hours!), but there does seem to be a problem with the screen on the device.

I thought it was just my bad luck that after 2 hours of being in my jeans pocket it had a large scratch on the LCD display, but I've just discovered the following article on BBC news online:

Nano owners complain about damage

It seems the problem is not isolated with my player but is widespread. I realise screens get scratched over time. My 20gb player is properly scratched, but I don't mind that... each scratch has a story and is a sign of its age and where it's been in the world with me. It's the immediacy of the problem that is the issue with the Nano, where's the story for the large scratches experienced after owning the product for 2 hours... err I took it out my jeans pocket?!

It shall be interesting to see if Apple react to the problem.

UPDATE
Apple does the right thing

posted by Finn at 12:39 PM    

Love Parade
Sunday, September 25, 2005

Back in Blighty and it's cold and wet, but this is ok considering we haven't seen rain for 3 weeks. Feeling a little weird and jet lagged but figured I should write up the Love Parade which was wicked fun.

About 35 floats decked out in various styles and colours and MASSIVE soundsystems take over San Francisco's equivalent to Oxford Street and thousands of people take part in one huge street rave! Many decided the excitment was far too overwhelming and removed all of their clothes as the party progressed up the street. Each to their own ya know.

Every different style of electronic music was catered for... some quality jungle and acid techno along with Goa Trance (thought that died years back) breaks and hip hop. The Love Bus complete with Ghandi atop (see pic) was the best for us... maybe it was the foxy girls pole dancing on the back that swung it ha ha! I've posted a couple of vid clips below that probably do a better job of showing the party off than words and pictures. Unfortunately my cameras microphone couldn't handle the volume of the rigs, so the sound quality suffers..

Random Dancing
Moonshine Saloon
Techno Truck
Dirty D'n'B

they don't do it justice, you had to be there....anyone up for a dedicated trip to San Fran for this next year?

posted by Finn at 10:44 PM    

Santa Cruz
Thursday, September 22, 2005

Packed up the camp for the last time and left most of camping equipment in the racoon boxes nest to the picnic table. Some lucky camper will find everything they need to make a meal and coffee if they choose plot No 7 in the Andrew Mollera State campground!

Hit the road to Santa Cruz. Weird and wild surf, student town, it's a mish mash of styles and fashions. From heavy grunge to punk, prep and rock. Lesbian capital of the west coast, anything really goes in this place. Refreshing when compared to the cliquee exclusivity of the LA and Big Sur suburbs. A funky youthful place with volleyball courts lining the clean town beach. The 100 year old rollercoaster (shut unfortunately) and 50's boardwalk which featured in the film 'The Lost Boys' gives the place an aged style. Yep we like it here and should have arrived sooner. Good motel in the name of the Bay View Inn overlooking the seafront and pier. It's soooo nice to have a bed and shower!

Just returned from the cinema. Went to see the 'March of the Penguins'. Narrated by Morgan Freeman it's a documentary telling the remarkable story of the journey Emperor Penguins make each year to their breeding grounds. However, I did think it was a rather bizarrely anthropomorphic version of the far superior productions by David Attenborough.

So we are sat on our motel bed on the penultimate night of the trip listening to the crashing surf and bark of sea lions under the Santa Cruz Pier. This will be our last posting from American soil, but of course we have a day in San Fran to come and the annual Love Parade street party to witness before we fly out...

posted by Finn at 6:52 AM    

Underwater
Wednesday, September 21, 2005

We are camping in a beautiful campsite in Andrew Mollera state park. A large open meadow, metres from the beach. We are sharing the field with black tailed deer and a bunch of marauding bandits in the shape of racoons. Bastards attempt to gain entry to the tent each night!

We left the peaceful seclusion of our meadow and hit a very busy road which led us into Monterary. It seems that the private number plate in america can be whatever you choose depending how much you pay. We've seen some great ones including "Luv me do", "Dr Groov" (driven by an aging, balding, bespectacled anything but groovy type of guy), but todays "NUKE OPEC" on a MASSIVE dodge twincab truck complete with 'Vote Bush and Cheney' sticker has to be the best I've seen to date!

We drove towards the wharf and onto our ultimate destination the Monteray Bay Aquarium. One of the biggest in the world, it houses some fantastic exhibits. Highlights were the sea otters, the outer bay tank which holds one million gallons of water home to amongst others large schools of angry yellow fin tuna, sharks and sea turtles, the sea kelp forest and of course the jellyfish tanks (see pic).

Loved the aquarium, but the town of Monterary is kinda strange.. it has a decentralised feel to it, the majority of shops and services catering only for the masses of toursits the town now relies on for survival since the collapse of the sardine fishing industry in the 40's. Once the capital of California when under Mexican rule, it was a little sad to see the invasion of tacky tourist shops selling bad taste cards and candy, especially as it was obvious from the spanish colonial architecture it had once been a handsome port town.

Back to Deetjen's for the best meal of the trip so far. No burgers in sight. Sea Bass with balsamic vinegar and strawberry rus, and a chocoalate torte of small but powerful proportions. Nice.

posted by Finn at 6:48 AM    

Cloudy Day
Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Today is the first day of crap weather on our trip so far, not bad considering we have been here for nearly 3 weeks. Thick sea fog has enveloped the whole coastline scuppering our lazy plans of spending the day on the beach.

We start with the best pancakes (cinnnimon and apple) at the Grandpa Deetjens. A small restaurant off Highway 1. Headed up the coast soon after en route to the 17 mile drive. A privately owned loop of road that runs around the Monteray Pennisular. $8.50 gave us access to what seemed to be an incredibly exclusive, expensive housing estate. 3 of the worlds best golf courses reside within the drive. It may be worth doing on a clear day for the views of Monteray Bay and the surrounding coastline, but all we could see was fog.

Nice to stroll along the many surfing beaches and watch them do their stuff. Damn cold and windy day though, but I guess that makes for good surf.

posted by Finn at 6:36 AM    

Beach Days
Monday, September 19, 2005

Pfeiffer Burns state park now takes pole position as best campground. Large walk in site with secluded camps nestled amongst the giant red wood groves that cover the hills around here. Hot showers and toilet blocks sit inconspicuously amongst the trees... makes life so easy.

Easy hike up to Pfeiffer Burns waterfall trail, pretty enough, but pale in comparison to what we have seen over the last few weeks... a 50ft waterfall seems quite tame when you have seen one drop over 500ft! Hot and sweaty we headed for the beach. A quiet horseshoe shape bay with white sand and and crashing pacific surf. The collection of mediochre surfers were put to shame by the appearance of a sea otter gliding down the barrels!

Not much else to say. We lay down in 28 degree sunshine, read books and sunbathed, took photos and watched the sea fog roll in at about 5ish. For the first time it felt like we were on a conventional holiday, so we have more of the same planned for tomorrow. Nice.

posted by Finn at 2:45 AM    

What a pad!
Sunday, September 18, 2005

Left San Louis Obispo on route for Pfeiffer Burns Park on the Big Sur coast. Decided to pop into Hearst Castle whilst on route as a couple of people had mentioned we should check it out. I wasn't expecting much to be honest.... a castle built by an american had to be of questionable taste especially after last nights meal at the Madonna Hotel. However, I swallowed my objections and payed my share of the $40 entrance fee (for two). After a bus ride up the five mile long drive complete with "fascinating" facts about William Randolph Hearst (Publishing Magnate in the 1920's responsible for most newspapers and also Good Housekeeping and Cosmo) I was convinced we were on a Jurassic Park esque tour of a theme castle. How wrong I was and full respect to Clare for insisting we go. A glorious home consisting of the main house and several smaller guest houses sits atop a ridge over looking the coast far below. A great tour by some wacky west coast dude revealed Hearst also had a home in Wales: St Donnaughts castle. It's a splendid place with some fabulous artworks hidden within. Most were bought as a salvage from European sellers; 12th century choir stalls from a Spanish cathedral, 3rd century mosaic floors from Rome an outdoor swimming pool that is constantly filled with mineral water from fountains at its head. Wonderful stuff. I shall need to earn an estimated 17 million a year (and this was in 1921 remember) before I can realise such a house for myself. Back to Vegas?

Next stop Julia Pfeiffer Burns state park for a picture postcard photograph of the Mcway Falls (above) a fresh water spring that comes to its spiralling end dropping 80ft onto the beach below. A glorious scene as the sun set into the ocean...

posted by Finn at 2:41 AM    

San Luis Obispo Curlews
Saturday, September 17, 2005

Sat on the bed in Motel Los Padres after a most bizarre evening spent at the Madonna Hotel. More on this later.

We spent the day at Moro bay. A pretty little harbour town surrounded by a 2 mile sand spit, it is marred only by the usual assortment of overweight tourists and nuclear power station. We bought fish and chips (nowhere near the quality of Toffs in Muswell Hill) and went for a long ol walk along the spit. Accessed by scaling 60 foot sand dunes (more fun on the way down) the bay is a haven for birds, seals, sea otters, whales and sea lions - the latter was dead and smelt pretty bad... the picture was going to feature for this post, but C thought it was a bit grim so you get a curlew silhoeuette instead!

Got back to to the motel to get ready for our first posh meal out. The Madonna Hotel is set in 2000 acres just off the 101 highway. Owned by a one Alex Madonna - champion cattle rancher and horse breeder - it is the most ostentatious, brash, gaudy, bizarre place I've ever been to. Complete with badly sculpted gilt cherubs holding up the shocking pink pillars that hold up the glittered starlit ceiling, it beats Las Vegas hands down. Unfortunately I forgot the camera, so have no evidence of this. It does redeem itself with the food however, producing without doubt the best steak we have both ever eaten. It was a hilarious meal, topped by my restroom experience. Fashioned out of polystrene rock, the urinal is a cave... as you take a piss, your body breaks an infra red beam that triggers the flush. A waterfall that cascades over the fake rock face and onto the mosaic floor. I don't think the architect had banked on the volume of splashback so figure the yellow Caution Wet Floor sign wasn't part of the overall design.

Back to the wilderness tomorrow. Hearst's Castle and the Big Sur coastline.

posted by Finn at 5:21 AM    

Santa Barbara
Friday, September 16, 2005

Sanata Barbara could almost be the perfect place to live. The town was entirely demolished by an earthquake and rebuilt in a Spanish style i.e. No high rise buildings. It has wide open streets with tree lined avenues, a palm fringed beach with wooden pier looking out to the mist shrouded channel islands just off the coast. Combine this with sunny weather most of the year and a friendly atmosphere and you can't find much to fault; apart from shops like the Dog Bakery of course. Seriously. A bakery that bakes cakes for dogs out of dog food! The shop next to it was Prada. It's just so LA!

Spent the day mooching round the many funky shops, watched the sunset over the pier looking back at the city nestled into the mountains behind. Very pleasant stuff. A warm welcome back to California and a world away from last nights motel.

This evenings accommodation is a tent. We hadn't banked on most of LA heading up the coast for the weekend too so our campsite is 30 miles north. This made for a long drive back from the cinema this evening. We went to see The Constant Gardener. The new film by Fernando Meirelles, the director of City of God. Tragic, but important stuff. Originally shot by a brilliant filmaker, it's a thought provoking, intelligent and ambitious film tackling the subject of western parmacutical companies messing with Africa and using it's population as a testing ground for new medication. It shows you what you already know, but don't want to believe. Subject matter apart, I love Meirelles use of colour to illustrate different parts of the world... yellow filters for Africa and cold blue for the UK (similar to Soderbergh's Traffic). Good use of different stock too; the cine film and messy camera angles during harrowing scenes contrast well the conventional film used throughout the rest of the movie. Top stuff. Go see it.

Heading north to San Louis Obispo tomorrow.

posted by Finn at 1:40 AM    

Roy's Motel!
Thursday, September 15, 2005

Sat on a bed in a rather scutty motel... the two leering fat guys nextdoor, clad in dirty vest and boxers, don't give the place the best West Coast vibe, but after 10 hours on the road (7 of those driving through a seemingly endless desert) we're sleepily content.

Helped along by the radio station "Route 66 Goodtime Oldies KZ KE", we drove from Flagstaff to Ventura today straight through the Mojave Desert (the most inhospitable in the US). Nothing really to report, just miles and miles of barren rock strewn land. 37 degrees for most of the way, I just can't understand why people want to live in such a place. We passed several small caravan trailer settlements complete with satellite dish! The small towns along the route are pretty insignificant although Barstowe's church advert caught our eye: "Get fit today, take a walk with the Lord." Quality.

We took a detour from the Interstate 40 to travel a stretch of existing route 66 and stumbled on Roy's Motel. Seems familiar from somewhere? The whole complex is deserted and weird. Puts Bodie to shame when it comes to ghost towns... pretty spooky.

posted by Finn at 2:27 AM    

Canyon Sunrise
Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Up early at 5.30am to watch the sunrise over the canyon at Mather Point. Trek America student groups had positioned themselves in the best spot complete with pizza for breakfast. Clare and I, still in pyjamas and surely a sight for sore eyes, managed to muscle in and catch a great spectacle. Many people lined the cliffs around us - see pic opposite - but it was definitely worth the scrum and the early start.

Trucked east towards Deserts View - a lighthouse shaped tower sitting precariously on the lip of the canyon overlooking the Navajo Indian prairies. Great views of the colorado and an interesting building. "Oh my god this was built in 1932!!" "Gee really, that's so old!". The people, especially at the tourist hotspots are an endless source of amusement.

Headed south on US89 towards Flagstaff. Passed through the Navajo Indian reservation witnessing their modern lifestyle; comprising of sad little roadside buffalo jerky and jewellrey stalls and delapadated trailer homes.

Flagstaff in northern Arizona (2 hours south of the canyon) is a cool little place. The main thoroughfare, Santa Fe Avenue, used to be route 66. Northern Arizona University students add an air of funkiness to this classic Wild West town and the people are overtly friendly and welcoming. May have to come back here to sample their skiing!

Big drive tomorrow westwards towards the Big Sur coastline, so I'm off to bed.

posted by Finn at 2:24 AM    

Grand Canyon
Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Great campsite on the southern rim of the canyon contributed to the best nights sleep in a tent so far. We slept in and drank coffee brewed on our campfire around 10am. Decided to hike from Hermits rest back to the tent - 7 miles of easy terrain from West to East. Good views of the Colorado river far far below, but the canyon seems washed out and appears as one giant fractal in the midday sun, much better to witness the changes in colour and shadow at sunset or sunrise.

Kebabs and corn beef hash mixed with baked beans for dinner... much to the disdain of our American neighbours who seemed to have packed everything including the kitchen sink and shelve unit complete with spice rack!

posted by Finn at 2:19 AM    

Tooth Ache
Monday, September 12, 2005

Spent most of this morning in the 24hr Harman Medical Centre. An infected erupting Wisdom tooth required me to spend $180 on a consultation with Dr Am Ling and some antibiotics to reduce the swelling and pain. I have to say the experience and treatment was superb. 8 different members of staff saw to me... 1 on reception, 1 to call me through, 1 to take my vital signs, 1 to lead me to the waiting room, 1 to take me to the doctors room, 1 doctor, 1 to lead me through to the paperwork nurse and 1 to show me the exit. A clean, cheerful and efficient medical service; provided you have the money to pay of course. I am by no means an advocate of the US Medical Service, but it was nice to experience and even nicer to actually utilise the personal insurance taken out before the trip!

Left Vegas on the US93 East and instantly felt better. Crossed the Hoover Dam which was an under-whelming anticlimactic experience. Heavy on the security - apparently so after the attacks of 9/11. There followed a long drive to the Grand Canyon with Clare at the helm. US prescribed paracetomal seem to have a rather trippy effect on me! The road delivered us to Mather Point for sunset at about 6.30pm - see pic opposite. An incomprehendably large chasm in the otherwise featureless surroundings, it has to be seen to appreciate its scale. No photo or description can do it justice. Amazing.

posted by Finn at 2:14 AM    

Vulgar Vegas
Sunday, September 11, 2005

A strange city Las Vegas, as you approach it's like all the other desolate, isolated communities that litter the Nevada desert. Sprawling suburbs that appear run down and poor, it certainly wasn't the lavish theme city we were expecting. That was until we hit Las Vegas boulevard. Opulent but utterly tasteless, the strip has to be seen to be believed really. We have walked around New York - side streets complete with dumpsters and trees, Paris with the Eiffel tower and of course Egypt - our hotel is the 2000 roomed Luxor pyramid (see pic).

Top room overlooking the strip and the sphynx(!) the problem is it's hard to leave it... perhaps it's the fact we spent last night in a 38 degree sandstorm and we're just soaking up the splendour, but I kind of think we're hiding from the peculiar breed of toursit this place attracts. Overweight and tacky, watching lonley figures pumping quarters into one armed bandits is wholly depressing. I find the maze of flashing lights and constant bleeping of video poker machines opressive and stifling... or am I just pissed that I didn't win a dime!

I really can't understand what attracts so many people to this place that it warrants a new school to open every month - a fact! No, I'm not a fan and can't wait to leave... the grand canyon via hoover damn will be a welcome relief.

posted by Finn at 7:24 AM    

Ghost towns and the Valley of Death
Saturday, September 10, 2005

Left Bridgetown early this morning on our way to Bodie Ghost Town. A gold mining town 10,000 strong in 1879, it was soon deserted when the gold ran out. We passed the Bad Men of Bodie on our way out of town - the direct descendants of the original outlaws, they return each year to socialise and re-enact life in the town. Strikes me they just get very pissed and beat each other up - not disimilar to Bodie life in the 19th century perhaps...

Bodie itself was eery and fascinating. Over 9000 ft up, the town experiences snow drifts of up to 20 feet each winter. Extraordinary that anyone could live in such extremes, let alone in wood shacks with tin roofs. Many in fact died each year due to exposure.

Driving south towards Death Valley took us through some unremarkable towns, Bishop and Kneeler, in the Owens Valley. Notable only for theirJesus loves you and Back our troops, we'll never forget 9/11 signs that line the streets. The descent into Death Valley itself is, in contrast, quite incredible... steep winding roads that hug the rust coloured hills, opening out into a saltpan bottom - see pic above. Very fucking hot. We clocked 39 degrees and it was 7.30pm!

Went for a walk down the golden canyon and checked out the lowest point in the western hemisphere - 282 ft below see level. Spent an uncomfortably sweaty night in the tent at Furnace Creek and left as soon as we'd watched the sun rise over the Badwater valley!

Now in the comparative luxury of the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas. A strange strange place that I need to experience more of before I can put it into words.

I'm off to win a million from a quarter!

posted by Finn at 11:15 PM    

Indian Meadows and Hot Springs!
Friday, September 09, 2005

Left Yosemite by the Tioga Pass. Stunning drive that winds through the mountains that edge the East of the park - see pic above. At about 9000 ft up, the mountains open out into the most moving of spaces. There's something about this sacred Native American meadow that I can't describe or photograph, you just have to witness it. Only accessible for 3 months of the year due to heavy snowfall, the air is crisp, clean and refreshing. The views are breathtaking and expansive. Huge skies, slow wide crystal clear rivers wind their way through the meadows and eventually drain into Yosemite valley.

On through the Sierra Nevada mountains and to the charming little town of Bridgeport. Untouched by the passage of time this place is real Mid West America. Booked into the Redwood Motel and drove a couple of miles out of town to some Hot Springs in the mountains above the plain. Hot water seeps out of the rocks and is channeled into 3 stone baths. What a way to end the day... basking in Californian sunshine whilst sat in hot steaming spring water overlooking an endless prairie landscape. The only thing missing were herds of buffaloes and teepees.

Tomorrow holds Bodie ghost town and Death Valley...

posted by Finn at 10:33 PM    

David Hasslehoff
Thursday, September 08, 2005

Easy to Moderate hiking today. Taft Point and Sentinel Dome.

Taft Point is a crazy cliff top. Easy to reach after a beautiful walk through wooded hillsides festooned with wild flowers. You can walk to the very edge of a cliff that drops 3000 ft to the valley floor - see pic opposite - scary shit, my legs feel weird thinking back to it.

Sentinal Dome is 2 miles in the opposite direction. Gives you a 360 degree view of the park and valley below, great views of Half Dome mountain and El Capitan.

Decided to try out the valley floor camping grounds this evening. We were initially jubliant at receiving the only cancellation of the day for pitch 107 in the Upper Pines camp ground. Big mistake. Unless you like camping alongside ghetto blasters playing David Hasslehoff's greatest hits and immaculate middle americans who eat pizza at the restaurant and come back to sleep in their "cruise america' mother fucker RV's don't book a night on the valley floor. Suburbia goes camping.

posted by Finn at 10:32 PM    

Waterfalls
Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Clare's birthday today. I've been told not to mention the age.

Massive, or as the guide book describes "strenuous", hike. 7 mile round trip to Vernal and Nevada Falls through the aptly named "mist trail". Beautiful scenery but fucking knackering - 6900 ft ascent in 4 miles. Well worth it for the view and swim in the icy water at the top however.

Freezing night in the tent. Hard to sleep. The BA blankets I stole don't compare with camping mats. May have to invest in some before the end of the trip.

posted by Finn at 10:31 PM    

If you go down to the woods today...
Tuesday, September 06, 2005

PIcked up the car and hit the road to Yosemite.
A 2 1/2 hour drive from San Francisco to our camp site at Crane Flats. A delightfully secluded spot 6000 ft up... everything is set up to help you enjoy the experience of Yosemite as oppossed to spending your time setting up camp. A large fire pit and bench along with Bear Box nestled amongst massive boulders, all you have to do is pitch your tent and keep your eyes peeled for Bears! One visited the camp next door this evening... he walked straight up to the camp fire and knocked the tea pot off the grill with his paw. Met with screeches and shouts and a poor effort at making themselves large (Ray Mears teaches you this on the flight over) the bear reared up onto its hind legs, cocked its head at our neighbours and nonchanently walked off!

Squirrels are also something to watch out for in this camp, or should I say their food. They climb the pines and nibble off the massive pine cones which then plummet 60 ft down. We have a proper dent in our car bonnet from such an attack!

Exploring the park begins tomorrow.

posted by Finn at 10:29 PM    

Diners and the Bridge
Monday, September 05, 2005

Started the day with pancakes, bacon, eggs and syrup in Betty's on the corner of Eleventh Street - a no frills diner in downtown San Fran. Definately movie stuff and worth the walk from the Mosser if you can handle the freaks that seem to congregate in the area!

Needed to work off the grease, and so rented bikes from Blazing Saddles on Pier 39 1/2 by Fisherman's Wharf. We crossed the Golden Gate in a sort of dreamlike state. It was weird to see such an iconic bridge up close and the sweeping vista from the North side was ample reward for the hill climb from the car park. An easier free wheel down took us to the town beach (pic on right) for some well earned chill time in the sunshine.

Cafe Francisco on Powell St was our lunch spot and is classic San Fran. A cheap neighborhood cafe thats perfect for a quiet lunchtime sandwich with the paper. Glass fronted with Louis Armstrong and the likes piping from the stereo... I'm really starting to like this city... Pity we have to leave tomorrow to pick up the convertible and drive through the Sierra Nevada mountains to Yosemite National Park...

posted by Finn at 5:29 AM    

San Francisco
Sunday, September 04, 2005

So after an incredibly smooth trip we arrive in San Francisco.

On leaving the plane, our introduction to America was an interview with an officer from the Department of Homeland Security (DoHS). Fingerprints and photographs are taken and a few questions asked... 'Are you or have ever been involved with espionage, a terrorist organisation or the Nazi Party?' err let me think about that one for a minute... We're also asked what we're doing in America and what we do for work back home. Clare's answer of 'I organise literary events' was met with a raised eyebrow and another question: 'Maam, what is literary?'
You couldn't make it up!

Nilton our door-to-door minivan driver delivered us to the Mosser Hotel after we escaped America's first line in defence against terrorism. A smart, sophisticated, central and cheap hotel located opposite the Apple store on 54th Street. We dropped our bags and headed towards the financial district in the general direction of the bay. Starving and feeling a little jet lagged we found a burger bar on the bay front. After an enourmous portion of Chinese Mixed salad and the obligatory burger and fries we are full and sleepy and head back to the hotel. On the road for almost 14 hours and 3.30am at home we figured we needed some sleep.

More tomorrow...

posted by Finn at 3:34 PM    

Fungi
Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Found a rather bizarre species of fungi whilst walking the dog today... see pic to right. After photographing it and reviewing some other shots taken over the past year have decided to dedicate a gallery to the things. Amazingly varied mushrooms and toadstools... and I only ever cared about the liberty cap!

Other news relating to our impending California trip... Booked into a night at the Luxor in Las Vegas. £56 per night for two people in a deluxe room in the pyramid via Expedia.

Decided to go for the tackiest and cheapest place on the strip and the Luxor with it's giant spynx in the forecourt should do the job nicely. I was also persuaded by this amazing photo which I shall have a crack at whilst out there.

posted by Finn at 6:59 PM    

California Road Trip!
Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Only 12 days left until Clare and I fly to San Francisco and start a 3 week trip across the states of California and Nevada.

The proposed route is San Fran > Yosemite > Bodie Ghost Town > Death Valley > Las Vegas > Hoover Damn > Grand Canyon > Mojave Desert > Santa Barbara > Pacific Route 1 up the coast > Santa Cruz (remember that fair on the pier in The Lost Boys) > San Francisco.

We booked our car today (Ford Mustang Convertible) and also found out our last night will conincide with the San Francisco Love Parade!

According to the website:
Loveparade has become the annual electronic music mega-event for international followers of the European-bred movement of Techno. As the electronic music movement has diversified and matured, Loveparades have seen the inclusion of many genres under the electronic music umbrella, including house, techno, trance, new school breaks, drum and bass, jungle, and underground hip hop.

Bring it on.

posted by Finn at 8:15 PM    

An Ayrshire Wedding

Spent the weekend in Ayrshire (Scotland) attending the wedding of a good (school) friend of mine - Chris Banks to his fiance Mairi.

After a hell of a trip from Wales, we were initially confronted by two 13 yr olds sniffing glue under the railway bridge. Nice. The taxi driver who picked us up from the rank didn't bat an eyelid. Irvine is a depressing town. Probably saw every make of shopping trolley made adorning the stagnant river that runs through the centre of town!

The wedding held at the Montgreenan Mansion House Hotel more than made up for it however. Fantastic food, great company, a rather touching service complete with piper and, as all British weddings insist on having, a dodgy knees up disco to finish!

Hired a car from Kilmarnock and drove down the coast towards Culzean Castle the next day. However, the £12 per person(!) entrance fee called for a swift u-turn on the driveway. Drove a mile down the coast and walked along the beachfront, to some steps up the cliffs leading onto a coastal walk through some wonderful woods (see pic above). We popped out into the grounds of the castle ha ha! A celebration involving tea, scones and much back slapping ended a pleasant weekend on the west coast of Scotland.

Have a look at the online photo set here

posted by Finn at 4:41 PM