RichardX - internet, images & ideas

Three new sites...

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:51:00 +0000

Busy times at X central with the launch of 3 news sites almost simultaneously:

Ski Paddle Norway
A site for James Baxter to support his journey skiing the length of Norway then paddling a kayak back down the coast. Content managed site using Wordpress, with a photo feed from Flickr and GPS tracking.

Always Sunday
A sunny refreshing cafe in the heart of Edinburgh's old town - the brief was to create a site which reflected the look and feel of the cafe and could be updated via a simple content management system.

Martin Treacher
Redesigned site for Martin Treacher - pianist, singer, bagpiper, humorous song composer, sing-song entertainer, Burns Supper MC and Noel Coward performer.

In Vision 2009 Caledar

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:31:00 +0000

Another of my images is now on sale, this time on the front cover of the 'In Vision 2009' promotional calendar (I'm also 'Mr October'). The image in question is Ledaig Point.

For details see www.bemroseonline.co.uk.

Scotland Outdoors - Winter 2008 Cover

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:53:00 +0000

This month's edition of Scotland Outdoors magazine features my photo of Gairich from Spidean Mialach shot in March.

Scotland Outdoors highlights the very best of Scotland's natural diversity from its dramatic coastline to the high tops of its iconic peaks. From north to south and across the many islands that decorate its fringes, Scotland's landscape is both alluring and challenging.

Stockists include high-quality accommodation providers, wildlife tour operators, adventure travel companies and activity centres, subscriptions are also available. For full details see their website: www.scotoutdoors.com

Amber Films on the telly

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:09:00 +0000

A rare chance to see some of Amber's films on the TV with a More4 Season celebrating their 40th anniversary and the unique contribution to British film of Murray Martin, Amber key visionary, who died last year.

The Pursuit of Happiness (2008) - Sat 6 Dec, 10.35pm
Shooting Magpies (2005) - Tues 9 Dec, 11.55pm
Eden Valley (1994) - Wed 10 Dec 2008, 11.05pm
Seacoal (1985) - Fri 12 Dec 2008, 11.45pm

See: Amber Online / More4

You know what you've got to do...

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:31:00 +0000

Vote

Number Crunching

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:00:00 +0000

18 thousand complaints - to the BBC over the Ross/Brand prank call (ref)
6.4 billion pounds - BP's profit for the three months July-Sept '08 (ref)
6.6 billion pounds - Shell's profit for the three months July-Sept '08 (ref)
13 billion pounds - losses incurred by hedge funds and other short-sellers of shares in Volkswagen AG (ref)
1.8 trillion pounds - estimated losses of world's financial firms (ref)

10 Big Things...

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:14:00 +0000

The 10BigThings forum was held yesterday at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh. It preceded the ScotSoft 2008 Gala Dinner with the aim of bringing together software and ICT professionals with cutting-edge ideas, and insights from leading industry figures.

Amongst the ideas discussed were:

The future of Cloud Computing
Developing Software as a Service
Microsoft's interactive table - Surface
Rich media experience - Silverlight
Three-dimensional photographic environments - Photosynth
The evolution of personal computing devices into fashion items
Social Networks on the balance sheet
Online governance with Emergent Democracy
The professionalism of security as a market opportunity
Perpetual Beta

This was followed by champagne reception and a slap up meal, many thanks to Net Resources for inviting me along as their guest.

The Big Grey Man of Ben MacDhui

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:14:00 +0000

Here's a full version of the film The Big Grey Man of Ben MacDhui which I co-produced with a team from ScottishHills.com. It went on to win the award for 'Best Highland Amateur Film 2007' at the Fort William Mountain Festival.

For more details see: www.biggreyman.co.uk

Meaningful Funerals by Ewan Kelly

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:31:00 +0000

This morning I took delivery of a new book by Ewan Kelly - Meaningful Funerals, Meeting the Theological and Pastoral Challenge in a Postmodern Era. It uses for its cover an image I shot in Mortonhall Crematorium.

In the book he describes how it is possible to work with bereaved families in the construction of rituals which meet their spiritual needs and explores the nuanced meanings of 'spirituality' in the midst of its contemporary religious and human complexity (so says the back cover). I've not read it yet, but it will be in my bag next week as I drive through France.

The image was donated for use on the cover without charge.

Magento: open source e-commerce

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:11:00 +0000

It's been a good couple of years since I developed an online shop (Napiers, 06) and in that time shopping cart software has come a long way.

My experiences with OScommerce and Zen Cart left me certain I didn't want to use them again (no offence guys, but you've not moved very far). Asking around and some some searching revealed what looks to be the bright new hope of Open Source e-commerce software - Magento.

Being Open Source it is free to use and adapt, but more importantly it has been developed by a team who clearly understand the needs of modern online shops. This means that along side a well designed template system which is well optimised for search engines it also includes features which in other applications may require bespoke development.

In just about all areas it has provided a way to meet the client requests without resorting to bespoke programming. That's not to say the development has not been without it's issues. Part way through the project a new version was released. The jump from v1.0 to v1.1 included a major revision to how the templates were handled meaning they had to be rebuilt from scratch. On the positive side this upgrade did eliminate many bugs which were in version 1.0 - the result is a full featured shop which would have been out of the reach of the budget available for a start up e-commerce business only a couple of years ago.

Visit www.tootsieandfudge.com

Profiling comes of age with SAAB

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:20:00 +0000

SABB launch their stunning profiling microsite, visually compelling and beautifully crafted. Surely the art of personal profiling comes of age:

SAAB Turbogene

Daylight saving

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:11:00 +0000

Daylight Saving Time (or summertime as it is called in many countries) is a way of getting more light out of the day by advancing clocks by one hour during the summer. Throughout history there have been several variants such as half adjustment (30 minutes) or double adjustment (two hours), and adjustments of 20 and 40 minutes have also been used. A two-hour adjustment was used in several countries during the 1940s and elsewhere at times. A half adjustment was sometimes used in New Zealand in the first half of the 20th century. Sometimes DST is used for a longer period than just the summer, as it was in the United States during World War II. From February 3, 1942 to September 30, 1945 most of the United States had DST all year; it was called 'War Time'.

WAR TIME!

I had never thought of it like that.

From Time and Date

Glastonbury 2008 Review

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:24:00 +0000

Having been to the last couple of festivals we thought we would give it one more go to wash away the memories of the previous deluges. Early rain soon gave way to sunshine and a warm wind which dried things out nicely, this made moving around much easier and we never seemed to get tired of sitting down where we liked!

I'd not found the initial line up especially inspiring, lots of things I quite liked and loads more I'd not heard of, but nothing which was a 'must see'. This turned out to be a blessing as we were able to wander the site taking in a wide range of things - some familiar, others new, all good in their way.

Highlights? Spiritualized in the John Peel tent, Goldfrapp on the Pyramid, Trash City after the main stages finished, all the lovely people we met - oh, and the weather. Thanks to all who work so hard behind the scenes to make it the best festival in the world.

Friday

* Kate Nash (Pyramid Stage) - left after 10 mins, that was quite enough!
* Royworld (John Peel Tent) - never heard of them, but will be following up
* Santogold (The Park) - uber cool dub/ska - listen out for more from her soon
* Sons & Daughters (The Park) - didn't really know their stuff but liked a lot
* Sian Evans (The Glade)- Kosheen's front woman with great new material
* Zion Train (Dance West) - some classic dub/dance instead of the Ting Tings
* Nick Warren (The Glade) - his classic sunset set, oh the irony!
* Soul of Man (G-Stage) - fabulous funky breakbeat
* Kings of Leon (Pyramid) - headline for the evening, much excitement
* Then onto Trash City - impossible to explain, think Mad Max meets Dante!

Saturday:

* Shakin' Stevens (Pyramid) - served the purpose of getting us up and out
* Holy F*ck (John Peel Tent) - couldn't resist the name, pretty good actually
* Dub Pistols (Dance West) - fancied a dance and the Pistols always deliver
* The Raconteurs (Pyramid) - Jack White's ongoing love affair with Glastonbury
* Elbow (Other Stage) - worried they would lost up there, no need - superb
* Hot Chip (Other Stage) - great to see how far they had come in a year
* Massive Attack (Other Stage) - dark & brooding set, awesome and inspiring
* We kind of wandered, danced and explored till late...

Sunday:

* Brian Jonestown Massacre (Pyramid) - US new-psychedelia, best new find
* ZubZub (The Glade) - mix of dub, breaks, d'n'b, trance, techno & psychedelia!
* Tony Benn (Green Fields) - a Glasto traditio, always inspiring to hear him
* Michael Eavis (Green Fields) - Q&A session to get feedback and ideas
* Goldfrapp (Pyramid) - her voice + dancers + sunshine - a 'Glasto moment'
* Spiritualized (John Peel Tent) - another highlight, great set and atmosphere
* Groove Armada (Other Stage) - finished with a bit of 'shaking your ass'!
* The off exploring the darker corners of the site again...

See you all there next year!

The Highlands (.com)

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:37:00 +0000

I've been sitting on this domain name for a long time waiting for the right vehicle to come along. Tired of waiting and having already rejected an offer of $10,000 for the domain I decided to start it myself, combining some of the things which interest me most. The aim is to build the site into a much larger project - at the moment TheHighlands.com is dedicated to bringing together the finest mountain film and photography as well as news from 'highlands' around the world.

Scottish Mountain Photography

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:07:00 +0000

With a growing portfolio of images from the Scottish mountains I've put together a collection which display some of the best at a larger size. I will be adding to this with new material and work from the back catalogue. There's space for comments, I appreciate any and all feedback. See the Scottish Mountain Photography Gallery.

Spring Conferences

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:02:00 +0000

There are two web conferences coming to Edinburgh this spring:

First off is the Highland Fling 2008, an annual one-day conference in Scotland aimed at web developers and businesses with an interest in standards and accessibility. When/where: 3rd April 2008, Symposium Hall, Edinburgh.

This is followed immediately by Scotland on Rails - the first Scottish conference dedicated to Ruby on Rails. When/where: 4th-5th April 2008, Pollock Halls, Edinburgh.

Both offer an excellent chance to hear the latest ideas in web and application development as well as meeting some of the key players in the industry (there's a chance of a couple of beers too). Put together they are a must for any self respecting Internet professional.

Skiing Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:36:00 +0000

Recently returned from a week in the French Alps where I was on skis for the first time in far too long. Aside from the skiing, blue skies, excellent company and perfect photography conditions the high point of the week was the Gorzderette. Now in its 5th year it is a competition comprising of several events, including cross country skiing, pulling a straw laden luge, negotiating a mountaineering style obstacle course and climbing on the impressive Tour de Glace. See the Skiing Gallery

DigiDIY - a short film course

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 11:55:00 +0000

Have just finished a 5 day Digital Film course run at the Screen Academy Scotland with support from SkillSet Scotland. It covered everything from scheduling to editing with a bit of everything in between. There was a lot to take on board, but with great support and advice from the tutors and guest speakers I think everyone took a lot away with the. My conclusions were:

1. digital film making is as complex a field as web production
2. while the technique can be mastered working with people is the real art
3. producing drama is time consuming, beset with risk and frustration
4. a clear vision of the outcome and methodical preparation is a good start

Thanks to everyone involved in making it a great learning experience.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:39:00 +0000

I'm delighted to announce the launch of the major project of the last 6 months - a new site for the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. I've been working working closely with Net Resources as Project Manager on this large and complex redevelopment, helping to successfully deliver a fully content managed site with lots of features and enhancements. See: www.rbge.org.uk

Kendal Mountain Film Festival

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 09:24:00 +0000

I've just returned from the Kendal Mountain Film Festival, where I spent 3 days indulging a passion for mountain films. The event was very well attended and goes from strength to strength each year. Also showing was the ScottishHills.com film 'The Big Grey man of Ben Macdhui' which as co-director I presented to a full house on Saturday morning.

For a full review see: www.thehighlands.com.

Prospect Host - hosting & support

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 18:15:00 +0000

We have just taken over the running of our own server under the name 'Prospect Host Ltd'. Our aim is to provide reliable & affordable hosting with friendly & jargon free support.

We offer full set up and support for your site and email. Your hosting package comes with Webmail and Stats as standard plus there are lots of optional extras such as Blogs or Galleries. To enquire about our services please got to the Prospect Host Website.

New site - Easter Duiar

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 09:57:00 +0000

Originally a gamekeeper's cottage, Easter Duiar has been substantially extended to provide excellent self-catering accommodation for 2 - 12 people. Initially photographed in late May the site has been developed in conjunction with the owners to advertise this large and comfortable holiday cottage in Speyside.

HNC Validation

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:13:00 +0000

Last week I was invited to Glasgow by the SQA to be one of the validators for a new HNC in Interactive Media. My role was to being an industry perspective to the discussion, checking that the course would give students the skills they need to progress to further education or out in the workplace.

The day gave a fresh perspective on the work of an organisation which has received criticism over the last few years. The process was rigorous and exhaustive and the design team were not let off lightly. In the end we send the programme back with 11 conditions which need to be met before validation is considered again.

No doubt I'll be back to Glasgow before long to finish what we started.

Ben Nevis Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Wed, 30 May 2007 20:09:00 +0000

Two days camping at the base of the North Face of Ben Nevis was an excellent way to get to know this unique mountain environment.

To celebrate the place I've put together a small Ben Nevis Gallery...

Helvetica is 50

noreply@blogger.com (RichardX) — Wed, 09 May 2007 17:17:00 +0000

The font face Helvetica is 50 years old today, make sure you sing it happy birthday when next you see it.

There's a film too - Helvetica is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. I'm hoping the Scottish Documentary Institute can arrange a screening.

Today's post was bought to you using the font 'Helvetica'.