konstantinos’ blog

Ένα πρωϊνό του Απριλίου ταξιδεύοντας στην κεντρική Ελλάδα προς Αθήνα, μια φωτογραφική μηχανή σε ένα αμάξι που κινείται και λίγο ή πολύ Photoshop.

All photos taken in Riga, Latvia on 27th and 28th of September 2008. Click on the thumbnails for hi-res photos. Thanks to Christos (aka Marvin the Martian), his bebe and Sofia for this nice weekend.

…was the weekend that has just given its turn to the third Monday of this month. A weekend characterised by one thing; rediscovering how interesting life in London can be. In a few words and in chronological order, a masters course mates reunion and the discussion that took place around a “new kind of subject” untouched until very recently (my mistake!), an amazing new night-life spot which I want to believe that few people in London already know (call me “Shunt”), a retrospective exhibition at Tate which makes me realise that even sculptor is a new art territory of interest for me (call me “Juan Muñoz” exhibition), a visit to a relatively new and promising (g/c)lubbing space in Soho (call me lo-…) and finally a sunny Sunday spent at various districts of this city (Picadilly, Tottenham Ct Rd, Angel and Canary Wharf… ouf) including a nice lunch (call me “Satsuma), a quick “business” meeting, a “pastitsio from Alkisti, Kely and the new couple” dinner and a great movie (call me “There will be blood”).

What else can someone ask from his weekend? … a repetition in 5 days could be a good proposal… although next weekend starts on Saturday evening… so a repetition in 6 days could be the proper proposal.

“Spanish sculptor (b. June 17, 1953, Madrid, Spain—d. Aug. 28, 2001, Ibiza, Spain), created moody and challenging installation artworks, most of which featured monochromatic human figures placed amid unnerving architectural spaces and often incorporating animatronics and sound.”

Time to be creative …and seems that my mind travels to space…

Original photo taken on a flight from London to Berlin on 6 October 2007.

Make: Canon
Model: Canon PowerShot S70
Shutter Speed: 1/15 second
F Number: F/4.0
Focal Length: 11 mm
Date Picture Taken: Oct 6, 2007, 8:44:33 AM

A new photo for my photographic portfolio! This time is a portrait… a foreign territory for me, but I think the result is pretty good. Of course, the place of the shoot - the Holocaust Memorial at Berlin, Germany - helps a lot in that! Anyway, hope you like it. The comments I’ve received up to now from the deviantArt community are ehmm  …let’s say few… lol

Model: Canon PowerShot S70
Shutter Speed: 1/30 second
F Number: F/2.8
Focal Length: 6 mm
Date Picture Taken: Oct 7, 2007, 6:27:23 PM

New photo/deviation/artwork after 1,5 month! This whole dissertation situation not only dominated most of my time the last two months but also changed my priorities in the things that I would like to enjoy now that I have (some) free time. Anyway, the good thing is that I am in the mood of showing something new and moreover of participating again in my beloved dA community which I had been neglecting for a long time now… (more looooong comments are coming!)

So here it is: “Autumn Walk”, simultaneously launched on deviantArt, Flickr and dpgr.gr!

Hope you like it. Photo was taken during a walk at Hyde Park in London, but not on an autumn day! Nevertheless, it usually feels like autumn in London … and I like that

Model: Canon PowerShot S70
Shutter Speed: 1/318 second
F Number: F/2.8
Focal Length: 6 mm
Date Picture Taken: Feb 4, 2007, 6:25:22 PM

Let’s cheer up! I introduce you to Foals (if you haven’t already heard of them)

“Combining poly-rhythmic casio guitars, pulsing analogue synth, vocal melodies and chopping drum-lines, Foals create organic agitated dance-pop. This is accessible techno for kids who hate techno but love guitars” (from the description on last.fm). The five-piece dance-punk band from Oxford has another interesting characteristic (for me): a Greek vocalist/guitarist named Yannis Philippakis.

Enjoy the clips of their two debut singles (after having signed to Transgressive Records): Hummer and Mathletics(!)

Thanx a lot Darren for this suggestion

A little gift from all the readers of this blog (if there is anyone!)

Tada… a collection of wallpapers! All made from photos I shot during my vacations in Skiathos, Greece. Each wallpaper is available in two screen resolutions: 1280×1024 (common desktop TFT resolution) and 1280×800 (common laptop TFT resolution). If, I say if, you can’t leave without one of them and your screen resolution is bigger or stranger (mac users again!) just ask me to send you a bigger file.

Hope you like them… c&c always accepted.

1280×1024 - 1280×800

1280×1024 - 1280×800

1280×1024 - 1280×800

1280×1024 - 1280×800

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1280×1024 - 1280×800

Photo taken at Brighton, UK.
One of the moments that you have to wait until something interesting will happen inside your frame!

EXIF

Model: Canon PowerShot S70
Shutter Speed: 1/500 second
F Number: F/2.8
Focal Length: 6 mm
Date Picture Taken: May 26, 2007, 3:42:21 PM

Chrysa, one of my best friends from dA, posted first this video on her journal commenting that “here is something that made my day … and enhanced my summer mood. Listen and experience the trip”. After I heard that song I immediately agreed with her.

Beirut according to “Billboard” is “the moniker of 20-year-old Brooklyn resident Zach Condon, a high school dropout who spent some time in eastern Europe soaking up the culture and music styles of the “old world.” Beirut’s MySpace page describes his music as sounding like “Jewish immigrants,” which rings very true. “Gulag” is his first offering and is a gorgeous collection of traditional-sounding eastern European folk songs, which are accented by a horn section and accordion throughout.”

“While it may sound like an entire Balkan orchestra playing modern songs as mournful ballads and upbeat marches, [Gulag Orkestar] … was almost completely recorded at home. Horns, violins, cello, ukuleles, mandolins, glockenspiels, drums, tambourines, congas, organs, pianos, clarinets and accordions (no guitars on this album!) all build and break the melodies under Condon’s deep-voiced crooner vocals, swaying to the Eastern European beats that sound like they’re being brought to you by a 12-member ensemble.” [via last.fm]

I don’t know if being a Greek (and therefore a Balkan) plays an important role in loving Condon’s music but I think that when an American 20-year old guy makes that kind of music the outcome will certainly be interesting and original!