Friday, December 22, 2006

Imperfections = magic

Sometimes the magic is in the imperfections writes Kathy Sierra. Creating Passionate Users is one of my favourite blogs. I especially love the graphs and this post is no exception.
Those flaws that come from having a low budget, or not enough time, tend to keep things real. It keeps us conscious of the human behind the creation and that's a good thing. Check it out.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Bushfire sky

The sky in the afternoon in Latrobe Valley. The fires are at Toongabbie which is about 10kms away.? It was windy and the light was eerie
Formats available: Microsoft Video (.avi)
Tags: , , , ,

Monday, December 18, 2006

Magnify.net

I have just noticed that my channel on Magnify also called Falling Brick is featured on their page at present. This has led to a wonderful surge in stats that I am really pleased about.

I spent some time last night tweaking my sites and have found there have been a lot of improvements to the Magnify site since I last spent a lot of time there. There are so many more ways that you can tailor your channel to serve your purposes. I love it.

There are now over 1500 channels to watch. Most of them allow participants to submit videos also, so it is a great way to get some more exposure for your clips.

If you want to create your own channel it is really quite easy and they are very supportive. You can put videos from a number of places on there such as Revver,Yahoo,Blip TV, Youtube,or Google. Other video site users such as Videoegg have also submitted clips to my sites, so I imagine that almost any could be included. Even if you don't make channels it can be a great way to share with your friends what video's you like.

Blogger can put a widget on their site that will feature a selection of the videos you have on your channel.

If you want to make money, they share the proceeds from the Google Ads and the Revver videos with you via your existing Google or Revver accounts. I don't have a Google account, but I can benefit from the affiliate income from Revver.

Outdoor Cinema

In Melbourne there is an outdoor cinema. The current program looks really good. Many of my favourite films are listed as showing.
What could be better than to be outside watching a film on a warm summer night?
There was an article in the Age about it on the weekend that I posted to my newsvine. There is one in Sydney as well.

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Friday, December 08, 2006

Peter Gabriel on TED Talks

The following clip is a must view. Peter Gabriel, who is after all a wonderful musician, is also a human rights activist. In this clip he explains about the Witness organisation. Their motto is: See It, Film It, Change it. What a great way to use your camera.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Revver 1.1

It's good. The guys at Revver keep getting better. I can't say enough to praise their efforts. Check out these little clips to learn more;


But Wait, there is more.......

How entertaining was that!
Well maybe there is a little bit of advertising/promotion in there, but fair dinkum, if you want to make and share video's, Revver is your guy!

Friday, December 01, 2006

Tom Waits "God's Away on Business"

Thumb_defaultIt seems to be music video week on my blog right now! This Tom Waits video clip is good. This is from the 'Blood Money' CD, an oldie but a goodie. You gotta love that voice.The lyrics are here This clip complete with umbrella,emu's,balloons and bubbles is worth a watch.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Metacafe - A Comment!


Bus trip in Melbourne - video powered by Metacafe

Not a nice one though! A nice one would be better don't you think?

Monday, November 27, 2006

Forgotten Animals

Nalts latest post on 'Will Video for Food'
is not the self promotion he has been up to lately. Not that I think there's a problem with self promoting. If you can't promote yourself on the Internet, you're likely to be talking to yourself mostly. Anyway, he's highlighting a cause that I feel is very worthwhile. Take a look at this video:Thumb_default
In my experience dogs are generous and loving beings and I applaud video's being made to promote this work and any other problems we have in our world that a bit of attention, awareness and cash could address.

Monday, November 20, 2006

300 Clips on Revver

I have just uploaded my 300th clip on Revver. It is a video I took of Ella, our wonderful whippet who died earlier this year. I still miss her. The great thing about this clip for me personally is the memory of her and one of the funny little things she used to do. She would walk into the water and just stand there. We would laugh. She had an amazing personality and would do random and spontaneous things that always allowed us to know she had preferences and made her own choices about her behaviour.


Most of my clips on revver are just little glimpses of things I liked to look at as I move through my life. They are not rehearsed or staged, but just random little shots of the everyday that I find enchanting. I take them for myself. I am happy that others enjoy them too. I have made over $800 US dollars on Revver. I opened my account in March this year after reading about Revver on Robin Goods site as I have previously mentioned. It has been a fun little interest and I feel satisfied with this collection I have shared.
I aspire to creating stories and making real videos. I am a full time school teacher and I don't have time to play as much as I would like. I love teaching too. I intend to make videos to entertain and to educate or ideally inspire, but it will have to wait. For now I am just learning about all the little bits I need to do that. I am enjoying the journey though.

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Robin Good

I would like to acknowledge that Robin Good's blog Master New Media was the place where I first heard about Revver. I read an article there about it and thought I would give it a try.
I have just read an article there:
Internet Video - How To Monetize Your Independent Video Content
His site is worth reading at least once a week if you want to participate in any form of Internet publishing. I like his design as well, making it easy to read and interesting to look at.
Thanks Robin Good, you are good.

Time Lapse



This is a neat time lapse composition. Enjoy!

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Monday, November 13, 2006

Sunrise at Foster, Gippsland, Australia

Sun rising over water at Foster in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia.
Formats available: Microsoft Video (.avi)

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Revver, Fame and I!!

When I read this post this morning, "Fame TV live this week" on the Revver Blog, I had no clue it would apply to any of the little clips I've submitted! But alas, this afternoon I have received an email to say that possibly, On The Beach Thumb_default and learner driver No.6 Thumb_default
"have been selected for possible inclusion in our first broadcast TV initiative! "


So I am pretty stoked about that! Fame TV hey! Well it all remains to be seen.

Loch Sport Beach

A beach about 10kms out of Loch Sport, unspoiled, isolated and with no one around. Plenty of shells and sponges. A perfect beach.
Formats available: Microsoft Video (.avi)

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Metacafe - Abandoned Beach


Abandoned Beach - video powered by Metacafe

My latest Metacafe clip. Watch it. It's a beautiful beach with not another living soul on it. Hmmm want to be there now....

Monday, November 06, 2006

Creek near Mt Tamboritha, Australia

The creek that runs along the plain near Mt Tamboritha. The plains are dry and this clip was taken early November 2006. Mt Tamboritha is located in the Victorian high country in Australia.
Formats available: Microsoft Video (.avi)

Monday, October 30, 2006

Metacafe - Looks different

I dropped in on the Metacafe site over the weekend to check out how my little clip has been going for the past 12 months. I submitted another one that got an inactive status and a negative comment fairly instantaneously. No real problems there I guess, they aren't highly entertaining, just interesting.
I have noticed that Metacafe have improved their site though. It is easier to use and I can understand it more now. I might put some time into it soon. It has my attention.
With the review system, I imagine it will be tougher than revver, but I am up for a little challenge.

Friday, October 27, 2006

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Blip TV

I have posted a couple of video's on Blip TV to see if it is all that others say about it. I still love Revver though and my stats are improving again, yet still not back up to that large hill that was pre the new revver site. That's ok though, others have mentioned they suffered a loss with the change, so it seems like the price we pay to have all the new functions.

Anyway here is a clip that is ONLY on Blip TV. Revver rejected it. It was an amazing trip along that road as I recall.

In the NSW Outback the road to Menindee from Lake Mungo is dry and dusty. The red dust gets in everywhere. It was 50 degrees this final day of 2005 as we headed toward Menindee. Even the kangaroos where looking for shade!

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Revver API News


And from the Revver blog post:
"I wanted to take a moment to provide an actual “real life example” of what you can do with the API. In this example I’ll be using the new Revver Whitelabel PHP SDK 1.0.1."

I want to learn more...

Epic 2014

Watch this video if you're interested in the Future History of the Media. It takes about 8 minutes and you need to click on a link from the page. Worth it though.Epic 2014

Monday, October 09, 2006

This Moment



This video takes a while to load to watch, but it is worth it. It goes for 4minutes and 18 seconds and you may want to download it to enjoy it properly.From the Revver Site:
This short screened at SUNDANCE as part of KEVIN SPACEY's Triggerstreet TOP 10. A short film about any given moment and the many things that may be happening in it.

enjoy!

Friday, October 06, 2006

Confession

I am amazed that I have made hundreds of dollars on Revver, not thousands as others have but hundreds and I have really only put on mostly short video shots that are in no way professional or edited even. I think I did play with two but play is definately the word. I want to move on to producing better videos, but find it hard when what I am doing seems to be returning something and I have very limited time available to me to play around with this stuff.
I read today on Nalt's site "Will Video for Food" about George Lucas changing directionl I have added the feed from his blog to this blog because if you are interested in online videos or viral videos, I think his blog is probably a simple and informative place to start. He has heaps of great information on there if you are interested in getting online with your videos in any capacity.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Revver Recovery

I don't know about other revver users but I have found my stats are recovering nicely from the drop they received when the new revver 1.0 started. I had began to think that it would no longer be worth the effort, minimal that it is, and have been pleased to see that my patience has paid off.
I have been away on holidays for a week and continued to receive a modest trickle whilst not uploading any more clips.
There are so many video sites online now. I still think revver is the best and I like the simple and reliable way they communicate and improve the site.
Good for them. Good for me.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

What We Are



This is really popular at present. I can see why. It's quite amusing.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

New Revver Site

Change is the challenge. I am poking around on the new Revver site and although I am confident it will be an improvement once I have learnt how to use it, when I need to upload a video or do something I go back to the classic version, because it is familiar and I know where I stand with it. I am pleased they have retained the classic version because it made me a lot less frantic in the transition.
I certainly don't understand the implications of this but it is going to provide a lot more possibilities once I understand how to use it. I look forward to learning. For now it has meant my revver income has slowed down to a crawl, so that will motivate me to learn I imagine. It was just building gradual momentum that had began to excite me.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Magnify - sunday drive

Magnify is a site that allows you to have collections of videos and manage your own channel. Others can review and comment on the videos, but I haven't seen a lot of commenting or reviewing. It is still in beta though, so early days.

Revver vs Metacafe

Revver has made some changes already. It's looking good. I am really happy with Revver and have decided that Metacafe is not for me. I love the simplicity and clarity of Revver. Although Metacafe emailed me which possibly massaged my ego a little, I gave it a go and don't think it is for me. I notice some other Revver users are having good successes. To be fair, if you are interested you should read this article by Nalts. His site Will Video for Food, is a good source of information and he makes it his business to inform. I'm just playing.


Before:


After:

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Metacafe


Road Trip #1 - video powered by Metacafe

As I have said before I love revver, but I am having a little trial of Metacafe also. They have different features so it will be interesting to 'play with some new toys'. I don't know if Metacafe have the audience that I want. I have been thinking a bit about the whole viral video thing and whilst I want an audience, I don't want my video's to be performances. I want them to be authentic and real views of the world. Anyway, we'll see....

Monday, September 04, 2006

Sunset Willows


Another beautiful walk by the creek

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Cape Conron 2005



This is one of my favourite little videos. The powerful sound of the ocean as well as the clouds and the colouring. Not many hits on Revver though!

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Windmills - I love them



This display is at the Melbourne Museum. I love all windmills.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

DOOR TO DOOR CENSUS



Wow, and I thought our recent census was weird!

Monday, August 14, 2006

Under Bridge



Kinda freaky as a passenger.

Beautiful Willow

Walking along this path through the willow trees has a dreamy feel, especially in the late afternoon. Anything is possible.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

platform ghosts



This is a clip I want to work more on. This is the beginning though.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Celebrate 100th Upload


More fireworks to celebrate my productivity. I love revver.

Monday, August 07, 2006

Fireworks 05



Bonfire Night 2005 - can't wait till this years!

Friday, August 04, 2006

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Distant horizon


This has only once been viewed till this moment. I'm baffled as to why that is.

Friday, July 28, 2006

The Chase

Friday Funnies....

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Saturday, July 22, 2006

the Urge

Reminds me of 'Count Munch', or something like that. It was one of my favourite picture books.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

miragles

This is truly amazing. You have to watch this. I wonder if it is true that someone could run that fast and be that brave?

Monday, July 17, 2006

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Sunday, July 09, 2006

the path



I love this leaf shaped path.

Starring 'the feet' from 'Wet Toes'. Don't miss the first appearance by 'the feet'!

Wet Toes



This was taken at Cape Conron January 2005.

Saturday, July 08, 2006

Southern Cross Windmill


These windmills are great. They are dotted all around Australia. They are an Australian icon.

Saturday, June 24, 2006

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Change the world

So silly and ridiculous this is the only place it would belong.

Monday, June 05, 2006

Sand Surfing

The birth of 'Falling Brick'

I have a little brother called Shaun. When he was around 4ish, he used to have this long winded joke. The punchline was 'falling brick'. It was stupid as and annoying.We laughed cause he was little and we wanted him to feel good about himself. Then we laughed cause he really thought he was funny and that was funny. Laughing is always good. So laugh - lots - at anything. In the spirit of that I begin.....