Saturday, July 9, 2011
A Hilltop Cottage in Nova Scotia
Two interior designers from Los Angeles fell in love with Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia and built this simple Scandinavian-style cottage on the bluff for only $350k. It overlooks a national park to the north, the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the west, forested hills to the east, and headlands to the south. Sweeping views and seclusion... my top two requirements in a dream home.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
X-Ray Art
Steven N Meyers was a medical x-ray technologist for 30 years. His profession piqued his interest in the photographic process, so he began to experiment with the x-ray imaging of flowers and plants. I find it so inspiring when someone is able to use their unique skill set to turn a technical career into an artistic one.
The Starbucks Proposal
I love a good proposal story, who doesn’t?! Today, I’m sharing the proposal of Mikaela and Shane. Their first date was at a Starbucks, so Shane decided to build a Starbucks in the woods - seriously! Wait until you see it! :) Shane told Mikaela (who is a photographer) that they were going on a photo field trip to this great place he discovered, well he led her to a clearing in the woods and had Mikaela close her eyes. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw this…
Monday, July 4, 2011
Mission Voice Over - ACCOMPLISHED !
When I was all but 9, I sat at an inaugural function where my grand-father was a chief guest.. and it was on that day I decided I am going to condition myself in a way so as to be A SOMEBODY who gets invited places just to cut ribbons. And much to my amazement a few years down the line I was cutting a ribbon ! Alright alright – you didn’t have to do much to become a chief guest at Dominoes Pizza ! But it’s as if all these years my WISHLIST had been forgotten by GOD… and he has only just found it.
Ofcourse on top priority on this list is also lending my voice to a LIVE / a recorded PROGRAM ! And this is it -- ! Saturday I get a call from my soul brother – AAKASH SHAH. He auditioned me to do a voice over for a leading hair colour brand - they are partners to an upcoming movie Zindagi Na Milegi Doobara.. ! Of course, for all those who know me for donkey years, know that When opportunity STRIKES – I like to be number 1 in queue. And so I was… I rehearsed these promotional lines a couple too many times to get the wording correct over the weekend.
On D Day – which was this morning, I got to the Future Works Studio an Andheri. Now – if you are wondering whether it looks like that… array that… that yaa… That Entourage, HOLLYWOOD, MGM Studio types. Big modern building, large office spaces, big A/c Lobby, secret passage leading to a million other rooms, walking past the IN-SESSION Boards, quite corridors, heavily carpeted floors et all..!! Yes … Everything was just the same.. alright, maybe just a little smaller than you are now imagining… Yes, that’s perfect, just this much it looked !!
I reached to find The CORE TEAM of ARCHLIGHTS MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT PVT LTD all smiles. Mr Shashwat, Mrs Sonali and Mr Aakash – all dressed casually – no suits and boots here.. but once they started they were super professional in their approach.
It started with a small brief – with a couple of sample pieces which were discussed only to give me a rough idea of how it is supposed to be. The brief was simple and precise. There were 2 rooms, I in which the team sat – And I had to then walk to the other room – which is a sound proof room, all dark and dingy with only one spot light on the podium with the mike in front of me … And I got behind it then.
Yes folks, the mike is just like an Elvis Priestley’s mike with a little filter of sorts – just to make your voice clear and precise. Yes – at this point in time I was half tempted to break into a song to fulfil my weekend long khwaaish of recording a song at the studio ! That would have to wait I thought.
After doing a couple of takes and a couple of other styles of delivery – we were inching close to what they really wanted. For a person like me, I was feeling a little bit constricted. I speak with my hands and my eyes and my head bounce. And here I was – behind these shut doors with only my voice !!! That’s when I turned by back to them – and without them noticing I started using my hands and my rolling eyes etc while delivering !
IT WORKED !!! Everything after my secret actions started being approved. Line by line, and after patching bits of it…It was CUT – and PACK..!! Ofcourse they didn’t say that… I said the CUT and PACK UP also in my head.
I came out… We heard the pieces together. The equipment is also things we have never seen – except for in the making of films – especially when Anu Mallik sits on a swivel chair and goes like Kya sur hair, mazza aa gaya dialogues !!!
My VOICE OVER Assignment finished in less time than I had imagined ! But in all it was an amazing experience. MISSION VOICE OVER ACCOMPLISHED I SAY !!
Ofcourse on top priority on this list is also lending my voice to a LIVE / a recorded PROGRAM ! And this is it -- ! Saturday I get a call from my soul brother – AAKASH SHAH. He auditioned me to do a voice over for a leading hair colour brand - they are partners to an upcoming movie Zindagi Na Milegi Doobara.. ! Of course, for all those who know me for donkey years, know that When opportunity STRIKES – I like to be number 1 in queue. And so I was… I rehearsed these promotional lines a couple too many times to get the wording correct over the weekend.
On D Day – which was this morning, I got to the Future Works Studio an Andheri. Now – if you are wondering whether it looks like that… array that… that yaa… That Entourage, HOLLYWOOD, MGM Studio types. Big modern building, large office spaces, big A/c Lobby, secret passage leading to a million other rooms, walking past the IN-SESSION Boards, quite corridors, heavily carpeted floors et all..!! Yes … Everything was just the same.. alright, maybe just a little smaller than you are now imagining… Yes, that’s perfect, just this much it looked !!
I reached to find The CORE TEAM of ARCHLIGHTS MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT PVT LTD all smiles. Mr Shashwat, Mrs Sonali and Mr Aakash – all dressed casually – no suits and boots here.. but once they started they were super professional in their approach.
It started with a small brief – with a couple of sample pieces which were discussed only to give me a rough idea of how it is supposed to be. The brief was simple and precise. There were 2 rooms, I in which the team sat – And I had to then walk to the other room – which is a sound proof room, all dark and dingy with only one spot light on the podium with the mike in front of me … And I got behind it then.
Yes folks, the mike is just like an Elvis Priestley’s mike with a little filter of sorts – just to make your voice clear and precise. Yes – at this point in time I was half tempted to break into a song to fulfil my weekend long khwaaish of recording a song at the studio ! That would have to wait I thought.
After doing a couple of takes and a couple of other styles of delivery – we were inching close to what they really wanted. For a person like me, I was feeling a little bit constricted. I speak with my hands and my eyes and my head bounce. And here I was – behind these shut doors with only my voice !!! That’s when I turned by back to them – and without them noticing I started using my hands and my rolling eyes etc while delivering !
IT WORKED !!! Everything after my secret actions started being approved. Line by line, and after patching bits of it…It was CUT – and PACK..!! Ofcourse they didn’t say that… I said the CUT and PACK UP also in my head.
I came out… We heard the pieces together. The equipment is also things we have never seen – except for in the making of films – especially when Anu Mallik sits on a swivel chair and goes like Kya sur hair, mazza aa gaya dialogues !!!
My VOICE OVER Assignment finished in less time than I had imagined ! But in all it was an amazing experience. MISSION VOICE OVER ACCOMPLISHED I SAY !!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
No Man's Art Gallery
This is all that we got in a mail on our Internations group… An expose called No Man’s Art Gallery.
“No Man's Art doesn't take the conventional routes when it comes to exhibiting art. Pop up galleries, guerilla galleries, Blitzgalleries, always combined with a small or big party to celebrate the art and artists are organised on a regular basis. We support arty initiatives and we are not bound by geographical borders. We make an effort to exhibit in as many countries as we can, showing as much talent as we can and make it accessible for as many people as we can.”
So we had to RSVP – and the secret location would be revealed only 3 days before the event. An amazing marketing technique – a build up Ami Gathani, My sister Dhwani Doshi and I had been waiting for. It was my first of a kinf Photography Exhibition that I was going to. And I was kicked.
The beautiful Curator Emeelie Koster explained to us that she is a part of Erasmus Mundus Program for Law and Economics - through which she travels to a different part of the world every 3 months. After 2 successful shows in Netherlands and 1 in Germany, No Man's Art Gallery is in its 4th edition. Apart from some world over artists, they also had some local artists displaying their works.
Well - There was ample of Nine Hills wine and Carlsberg and some appetizers flowing - just to add a topping on the amazing works displayed.... It was my amazing first experience. Some of these works really caught my eye. I tried to read into it - only to know I am such an amateur. And there is this whole new world of ART and ARTIST that I understand nothing about - but I was glad - this was a start !!
When I coudnt understand much of this series called "A WORLD IN CIRCLES" - the underwater edition by Roman Asmus - I had to ask my didi for reinforcement !!
Here is Dhwani Doshi and Ami Gathani's favourite. These Conaisseurs whose works I personally enjoy on a daily basis - Spent considerable time enjoying this series called "AN ODD PLACE IN TIME" - by Catharina Gerritsen
But one thing I did personally enjoy is this series of photographs by Himanshu Seth - My personal Favourite : ) Don't ask me why - I just like them much.
Other works also included this Sarah Wijzenbeek's - Feeling Blue Series. There is something about this slender sleek woman at the particular angle - super flattering !! Alright - Don't laugh at me - as I said, this is my first time.. and Appreciating art is an art in itself which i am yet to discover.
Here is an online version of the Press No Man's Art Gallery Generated.. In my view - this was an amazing concept which everyone can still go and catch.
Venue : No longer a secret - The Great Eastern Mills Compund
Time : Opend from 4 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Dates : 1, 2, 3 July, 2011.
p.s. - if you want to know whose behind these amazing photographs - its my very own friend - Ami Gathani from the Ami Gathani Design Studio (AGDS)
“No Man's Art doesn't take the conventional routes when it comes to exhibiting art. Pop up galleries, guerilla galleries, Blitzgalleries, always combined with a small or big party to celebrate the art and artists are organised on a regular basis. We support arty initiatives and we are not bound by geographical borders. We make an effort to exhibit in as many countries as we can, showing as much talent as we can and make it accessible for as many people as we can.”
So we had to RSVP – and the secret location would be revealed only 3 days before the event. An amazing marketing technique – a build up Ami Gathani, My sister Dhwani Doshi and I had been waiting for. It was my first of a kinf Photography Exhibition that I was going to. And I was kicked.
The beautiful Curator Emeelie Koster explained to us that she is a part of Erasmus Mundus Program for Law and Economics - through which she travels to a different part of the world every 3 months. After 2 successful shows in Netherlands and 1 in Germany, No Man's Art Gallery is in its 4th edition. Apart from some world over artists, they also had some local artists displaying their works.
Well - There was ample of Nine Hills wine and Carlsberg and some appetizers flowing - just to add a topping on the amazing works displayed.... It was my amazing first experience. Some of these works really caught my eye. I tried to read into it - only to know I am such an amateur. And there is this whole new world of ART and ARTIST that I understand nothing about - but I was glad - this was a start !!
When I coudnt understand much of this series called "A WORLD IN CIRCLES" - the underwater edition by Roman Asmus - I had to ask my didi for reinforcement !!
Here is Dhwani Doshi and Ami Gathani's favourite. These Conaisseurs whose works I personally enjoy on a daily basis - Spent considerable time enjoying this series called "AN ODD PLACE IN TIME" - by Catharina Gerritsen
But one thing I did personally enjoy is this series of photographs by Himanshu Seth - My personal Favourite : ) Don't ask me why - I just like them much.
Other works also included this Sarah Wijzenbeek's - Feeling Blue Series. There is something about this slender sleek woman at the particular angle - super flattering !! Alright - Don't laugh at me - as I said, this is my first time.. and Appreciating art is an art in itself which i am yet to discover.
Here is an online version of the Press No Man's Art Gallery Generated.. In my view - this was an amazing concept which everyone can still go and catch.
Venue : No longer a secret - The Great Eastern Mills Compund
Time : Opend from 4 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Dates : 1, 2, 3 July, 2011.
p.s. - if you want to know whose behind these amazing photographs - its my very own friend - Ami Gathani from the Ami Gathani Design Studio (AGDS)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
