How a Sandwich can Enhance your blog

A couple of months ago i discovered a sandwich that completely revolutionised my blogging.

If you’re a bloggerist like myself, then this may just blow you away.

But i am not talking about something as simple as this:

Weekly Photo Challenge: (Fresh)

Another week, another fresh challenge… and this time that is exactly what the photo challenge is: FRESH

And if it was up to one image to capture the heart of the whole theme and send me cascading past the rest to break the finish line in the first position [assuming this was a competition, which it’s not, it’s a challenge… an honour even to be nominated, even though we know that however good our pics are Kanye West will think Beyonce’s were better] it would be this one:

Say no more… but because we are not contained to just one picture, and because they say a picture is worth a thousand words, i took it upon myself to share four more thousand words with you [fortunately in picture form, cos in the words of Gob Bluth, “COME ON!”] and so here they are.

First up [although technically second up and because there are two of them, second and third up] here are two pictures of me and then me and the beautiful Val all fresh and ready before we started the 5km Color Run in Philadelphia last year [and before they started throwing paint on us at random intervals, and by “random” i mean evenly spaced at 1km apart, but because we’re in the US of A where they deal in miles, we should stick with “random”]

Notice the looks of “We’re so fresh, we probably think this race is about us, don’t we?” on our faces…

If you’re thinking ‘Fresh’ [and we all are by now, right? It’s the theme, people, work with me here!] then the next image that coms to mind must be paint… especially cos me using the word right there probably helped it gently into your brainmind and so what best than a bunch of freshly painted tyres that are about to be used to transform a dull and listless empty lot into the beginnings of a colourful boundaried park for the local kids in the Kensington, Philadelphia community to be able to play in…

And then finally, how would it be possible to have the word ‘Fresh’ without invoking the image of ‘getting fresh’ or making out [or whatever you call it in this country, in my country and maybe twenty years ago, it at least used to be called ‘Getting Fresh’] and although most of the images of me kissing my beautiful wife Valerie at our wedding have been used countless times for these challenges, here is a *cough ‘Fresh’ one of us getting fresh just above the fresh creation of a 3D chalk design, this time in downtown Philly centre:

If Mr Eastwood was naming this Fresh Collage, I like to imagine that he would go for a title something along the lines of ‘Every which way but Fresh’ which would be a nice try, Mr Clintwood, but kinda missing the point dont’chathink? Sigh. Back to the talking chair, Mr Clint, back to the chair.

Meanwhile to the rest of you, thankx for vibing a fresh vibe with me – what interpretations of the word ‘Fresh’ can you come up with – show me the links…

Weekly Photo Challenge: (the sign says)

This sign I discovered in an international hotel in Malaysia – upon closer detection I was able to ascertain that the one fruit was banned because of its absolute stench and the other because it has hardcore staining capacity. I am not too clear as to what the punishment is if you are caught with either of these:

This one was in the same country but this time on a train – a very difficult one to police I’d imagine but you have the right to remain saliva-free or something like that [and don’t speak back to these cops, cos they do not appreciate the tongue-in-cheek approach either]:

We decided to reinterpret this one on our wedding day after the most kiss-filled ceremony most people had witnessed [who waits til the permission part, seriously?] just to ensure people got the message that this would be continuing for a while [at least until we took a trip in Malaysia by train]:

But a theme titled ‘the sign says’ would not be complete without this beauty from the office wall of the non-profit building I work in, begging the question, what happened and how many times did it happen to necessitate the needfulness of this particular sign’s block 1:

That’s right people. Black and white people must shake hands in this place, but more importantly, don’t poop on the floor. Any more. Thank you.

[For the previous Photo Challenge with the theme ‘In the Background’ click here]

Weekly Photo Challenge: (in the background)

Another photo challenge and this idea i really like – the thing that is not the thing – or the question of focus – is the thing in the foreground of the picture ‘the thing’ or are we meant to be keeping an eye on what is in the background? is it “both…and?”

So many options and so i had to use three different pics which i feel increase in terms of degree or extent of background focus as you journey through so first up it’s this pic – taken at an epic Brett Anderson pool party where the plant takes centre stage but you are invited into the chilled relaxation vibes happening in the background.

Fast forward a couple of moments at the party and we take a step closer and see that once again we have a plant [or the hint of a plant] in front of us, but we can almost eavesdrop onto the conversation and laughter happening in the background. Same party but a sense of the intimacy and investment of the relationships we are facing.

And lastly there is this picture where we have now come completely face to face with the action and now the plant regains its ‘rightful place’ at the centre of the pic with the wall of water behind acting as a barrier of protection against these humans who will invade its space. Our story has come full circle.

[For the previous Photo Challenge with the theme of Escape, click here] 

Weekly Photo Challenge: (escape)

another great wordpress photo challenge theme and so many different places where i could take this from but i decided this time to rather focus on one area – that of improv and my time with TheatreSports, now called Improguise, in South Africa who i got to spend about 11 years with making stuff up with and really just one of the most amazing opportunities and things to be a part of… like ‘Whose Line Is It Anyways?’ we get a stage and a live audience and some basic game rules and then a bunch of suggestions from the audience and we just make up whatever comes up in our minds with the phrase “Yes, lets” in mind – can be absolutely anyone or anything in any variety of locations and just so much complete silly ridiculous fun i can’t even explain… here are just a handful of pics that give a glimpse into the mayhem and madness and hilarity that have ensued…

[For the previous Photo Challenge with the theme of ‘Pattern’ click here]

Weekly Photo Challenge: (From above)

i love the themes that are open to great interpretation or variety and ‘From Above’ is no different… really hard to just stick to one picture and so here is a selection of some images which capture this for me in different ways and contexts:

firstly two shots from the Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia, the first simply giving a sense of the height and the second for me stood out for the uniformity of the scene below which gives a sense of calm and order:

View from Petronas towers, Malaysia

The uniformity captured below.

the next shot was one picture from my trip to Niagara Falls which was way too short and completely moved me just in terms of the power of the water and the beauty of the scene [as someone who appreciates nature but not usually to that extent] – i like the minimalism of this picture with the boat squished into the bottom corner heading towards this wall of water:

View from the top of the Niagra Falls

and lastly an old photo shot with some mates who i stayed with in Old Oak Road, Shepherd’s Bush, London… unity and harmony, friendship and fun, creating our own tower linking back to the first pictures:

[For the previous Photo Challenge on the theme of ‘Up’ click here]

Weekly Photo Challenge: (Colour)

black and white definitely holds something special and extra for me in terms of being able to convey the depth of thought and seriousness in the picture on the left or the heightened mystery and intrigue of the pose in the picture on the right. the shadows in both add a stronger presence to the pictures.

when it comes to injecting colour though:

for me the picture on the left, which has not been worked on at all, has such a range of blue going on starting from almost white and working through various shades, it resembles one of those pick-the-colour blocks you get for choosing backgrounds and is just stunning in its natural effect. the second picture which was done using laptop webcam special affects i like because of the psychadelic nature of the colours used which create an effect of out-of-this-worldness, a sort of gentle surrealness.

And then ending off with these two which are contrasts in hairstyle – the one on the left is me in action with two of the greatest TheatreSports guys i ever played improv with and if you can get past my horrendous hair [worst ever!] then the depth and darkness of the blue is what really makes this pic come to life for me. It has a bold and framing effect which i really enjoy. And what collection of pictures on colour would be complete without one showing the changes of colour to my hair, this one of my favourite times of going for a mix of it:

 

[For the previous Photo Challenge with the theme of ‘A Day in my Life’ click here]