Tempus fugit ....

A Latin expression meaning "time flees", but more commonly translated as "time flies", which seemed appropriate for this piece given it's exactly one year on from the last time I published anything here! Indeed if you agree with the saying "Time flies when you're having fun" then this last year must have been a ball!

This is your Captain speaking ....

I reached one of those milestone birthdays back in May - yes, the big Five-Oh.  Hard to believe given my youthful looks!  

Anyway, having arranged helicopter flying lessons for my 30th and 40th birthdays, my Wife surpassed this and helped me realise what has been a lifelong ambition ....

Black Weekend for Air Displays

This past weekend will be remembered for all the wrong reasons following a trio of fatalities at air shows here in the UK and in the US.

Flt Lt Jon 'Eggman' Egging from the RAF Aerobatic Team The Red Arrows, seen here leading at the Cotswold Airshow, lost control of the aircraft after the main display, the risky stuff, was complete.  There is much speculation as to the reason for the crash but some sort of catastrophic failure of the aircraft seems probable.

As we were coming to terms with this tragic news reports began to filter through of the death of a pilot in the USA.  Bryan Jensen, flying a biplane at the Kansas City Air Show, was doing a series of aerobatic moves but failed to recover from a downward spiral.

Then on Sunday we heard from the Selfridge Air Show in Michigan, USA, that daredevil wingwalker Todd Green fell to his death as he tried to transfer from an aircraft to a helicopter.

All involved knew, and accepted, the risks, and there is perhaps some solace in that they were doing something they loved.  My thoughts are with the families and friends of Flt Lt Egging, Bryan Jensen and Todd Green.

What Value Copyright .... ??

I've just been having an exchange of messages with other users in the 'Talk Photography' forum over the real value of copyright when it comes to photographers and their images.  And I have to say that as a result my views have changed!  Will I be doing things differently now?  In my personal work probably not, but in my business life, maybe!

I don't mean to be controversial, but ....

Is the London Art Scene so far up its own backside as it appears to be?!  First we had the Turner Prize, so-called contemporary art depicting, well, anything BUT art in some cases!  Now the National Portrait Gallery is getting in on the act with a double whammy on the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize!  Is there no such thing as bad publicity …??

Wishing Robert Kubica a Speedy and Full Recovery ... a personal perspective

Like most F1 and motorsport fans I was saddened to read of the horrific crash suffered by Robert Kubica on the Ronde di Andora rally on Sunday morning.  Progress reports give cause for optimism but you have to wonder, given the extent of the injuries reported, if he will be able to get back into F1.  I do hope so.

Arrested for Sitting by a River!!

Well, not arrested exactly.  In fact not even close!  But, there I was, quietly sitting by the river, sipping my cup of tea, when two West Midland Police CSOs deemed it necessary to enquire as to the nature of my activities!

Let me point you to an interesting article ....

"The iPad, One Year On" although, to quote the article, I'd have prefered to have called it "The iPad - the great love/hate device where both sides are equally right"!  Anyone who read my post 'iPad - big iPhone or small Laptop?' will understand when I say ..  

Marmite!

Yet Another 'Must Have' iPad Apps Selection

OK so this is a very personal view on the 'must have' apps for the iPad, but these are the ones I really wouldn't want to be without anymore.  So, in no particular order ....

iPad - big iPhone or small Laptop? Well, both really ...

There's not much that creates such extremes of reaction like Apple products do.  And the iPad must be the one that has created even more extreme (and often ill-informed) opinion than anything before.  And yet, those who use it appear to love it - so what has it got that these users feel is worth the five-hundred or so quid it costs?