Words to Lyrics Ben Ho's observations from the cloud

7 July 2010

Sydney Universities Dates: Semester 2 2010

Filed under: Forward Thinking — Tags: , — Ben @ 11:59 am

I assume everyone is having a restful uni break. So, here are the dates for Semester 2.

Hope you find this useful!

DATES 2010

Notes: As reported by the university, therefore weekends may or may not be counted. If you have additional information or spot a mistake, please email me.

S2 Start Mid-semester break Study Vacation Examinations S1 2011 start
MQ 2 Aug 17 Sep to 4 Oct 17 Nov to 3 Dec 21 Feb
UNSW 19 Jul 4 Sep to 12 Sep 23 Oct to 28 Oct 29 Oct to 16 Nov 28 Feb
USYD 26 Jul 27 Sep to 1 Oct 1 Nov to 5 Nov 8 Nov to 20 Nov 28 Feb
UTS 2 Aug 27 Sep to 1 Oct 13 Nov to 3 Dec 28 Feb
UWS 26 Jul 20 Sep to 24 Sep 1 Nov to 5 Nov 8 Nov to 28 Nov 28 Feb
ANU 19 Jul 25 Sep to 10 Oct 30 Oct to 3 Nov 4 Nov to 20 Nov 21 Feb

Summer Term

Summer Start Summer End
MQ 3 Jan 11 Feb
UNSW * *
USYD 4 Jan 25 Feb
UTS 6 Dec 11 Feb
UWS 29 Nov/3 Jan# 11 Feb
ANU

# – Short session/Long session

Sources:

MQ: http://www.mq.edu.au/calendar.html
UNSW: https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/resources/AcademicCalendar.html
USYD: http://www.usyd.edu.au/future_students/domestic_undergraduate/admissions/semester_dates/index.shtml
UTS: http://www.handbook.uts.edu.au/dates_academic.html
UWS: http://www.uws.edu.au/currentstudents/current_students/managing_your_study/dates/2010_academic_year_dateline
ANU: http://info.anu.edu.au/ovc/Committees/110PP_Principal_Dates

6 April 2010

Photography Roadmap 2010: Part 2

Filed under: Forward Thinking — Tags: , , — Ben @ 10:38 pm

After writing out my Roadmap last week, I thought I’d explain further my wish to do more sports photography.

Sports photography isn’t something that I have a great amount of interest in, but I think it can teach amateur photographers like me a thing or two about shooting in ‘tight conditions’. As I said before, the recent Winter Olympics sparked my interest in this. Which just happens to go well with my wish to do some ski photography this year.

I’ve done very little sports photography before (exactly: 2 sessions in Europe and touch footy last year) with a mixed bag of results. Some shots were good, others not so.

Good Bad
Good Bad

Shooting a sports event requires a lot of precision and accuracy. The main challenges to overcome are fast moving subjects and the fact that you are usually far away from them (on the sideline). These challenges are partially solved with some good equipment (specifically long-range, fast lenses e.g. 200mm f/2.8)

Being quick and accurate leads to the styles of photography I’d like to specialise in, namely, live events and music.

Now, to the Winter Olympics influence. As I discovered in Europe, shooting in the snow produces a sharp subject almost every time, because cameras can not find a focus on white backgrounds. (Un)fortunately this is a little cheat one can use to create the illusion of stunning photographs. This in turn leads to a morale boost! It also has led to a desire to shoot in the snow more.

There’s probably a million other insignificant reasons why I’d want to do photography in the snow, but I’ll spare those for the time around the warm fire in the lodge.

So this is why I want to head down to the slopes this winter. To sum up, it is part of the learning experience in becoming a great photographer.

30 March 2010

Sydney Universities Dates 1H 2010

Filed under: Forward Thinking — Tags: , — Ben @ 9:11 pm

Edit: ANU added to list.

I’ve decided to compile the semester dates for the major Sydney universities, so it becomes easy to plan your plans! And also in true Wikipedia style, I’ve listed the websites from which the information comes from, so you can verify yourself if you need to.

Hope you find this useful!

DATES 2010

Notes: As reported by the university, therefore weekends may or may not be counted. If you have additional information, please email me.

Mid-Semester Break Study Vacation Examinations Mid-year recess Semester 2 start
MQ 5 Apr to 16 Apr 8 Jun to 25 Jun 26 Jun to 1 Aug 2 Aug
UNSW 2 Apr to 11 Apr 5 Jun to 10 Jun 11 Jun to 28 Jun 29 Jun to 18 Jul 19 Jul
USYD 2 Apr to 9 Apr 7 Jun to 11 Jun 14 Jun to 26 Jun 27 Jun to 25 Jul 26 Jul
UTS 26 Apr to 30 Apr 12 Jun to 2 Jul 3 Jul to 1 Aug 2 Aug
UWS 19 Apr to 23 Apr 5 Jun to 9 Jun 10 Jun to 27 Jun 28 Jun to 23 Jul 26 Jul
ANU 2 Apr to 18 Apr 5 Jun to 9 Jun 10 Jun to 26 Jun 27 Jun to 18 Jul 19 Jul

Sources:

MQ: http://www.mq.edu.au/currentstudents/undergrads/campuslife-dates.html
UNSW: https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/resources/AcademicCalendar.html
USYD: http://www.usyd.edu.au/future_students/domestic_undergraduate/admissions/semester_dates/index.shtml
UTS: http://www.handbook.uts.edu.au/dates_academic.html
UWS: http://www.uws.edu.au/currentstudents/current_students/managing_your_study/dates/2010_academic_year_dateline
ANU: http://info.anu.edu.au/ovc/Committees/110PP_Principal_Dates

28 March 2010

Photography Roadmap 2010

Filed under: Forward Thinking — Tags: , — Ben @ 10:54 pm

I wrote about my technology roadmap earlier on, and now I’d like to share with you my ambitions for my photography this year. It’s better to write it down, than to reproduce it in verbal form when someone asks.

With the workload from university steadily increasing, less time is being spent on getting out there and shooting things. The upcoming mid-semester break invites more chances to shoot stuff, but sadly, it will still be filled with work.

The first step for the next three weeks or so, is to start again, and find things to shoot.

I’m also finding interesting places for photo shoots, because I really want to focus on portrait photography this year. Other genres that deserve my attention this year include music photography and to a smaller extent, sports photography.

For music, it is simply going to people’s gigs and shooting it. Very simple. If you have seen my work from ‘Coffee House’ in years past, you will understand what I mean.

While sports isn’t something I want to specialise in, the Winter Olympics has reminded me of the occasional sports shoots that I have done. And do you get that feeling where you want to occasionally revisit something that you like but don’t normally do/have? Well that’s how I feel about sports photography.

But let me tell you what I want to achieve with portraits. What motivates me is the thousands of ugly, disproportioned, and terrible photos on Facebook. (I might have written this before…) I want to give people nice photos of themselves, for free.

The most difficult part is to start, and that is what I must overcome soon. Because a lazy attitude won’t get me anywhere, but leave one in the pits of misery.

In the meantime, you can browse photos that I shot in the past from the links of my main website.

22 February 2010

Heads Up: French Film Festival

Filed under: Arts,Forward Thinking — Tags: , , — Ben @ 10:16 pm

From now on, I’ll be writing more about the ‘arts’ scene in Sydney. This includes music, film, art etc… I want to eventually spin this off into a new blog, but first I need to gather a few supporters. So enjoy.

The Alliance Française French Film Festival is happening in Sydney from the 2nd March to the end of the month. In the Palace Cinemas in Paddington and Newtown, a total of 43 films will be shown and essentially be used to garner interest into the world of French film.

If you think about it, many films that come out of Hollywood follow the same dry boring formula. Which makes foreign films relatively ‘fresh’ when compared. Now this makes every film equally interesting to the average movie goer. At this stage, I’ll take this position to broaden my view of French film.

After having read some of the synopses of the films, there are already a few that jump out at you. One that I want to see called “LOL” deals with the search for life and love from two contrasting perspectives. Another, “Welcome”, explores separation, risks and persistence.

As with any film screening, theatre production, or music concert, it is always much better when one is accompanied with someone else. This is not only to not look awkward being alone, but also provides a bouncing board for criticism and discussion. So, I encourage you to go along to a film with someone for what I think will be a great night out.

French Film Festival: Sydney website

8 February 2010

Technology Roadmap for 2010 and beyond

Filed under: Forward Thinking,Tech — Tags: , , , — Ben @ 11:31 am

I thought I’d write about my technology roadmap so you can understand why I decide to change certain bits of technology after certain times. With new products and developments being announced so often these days, it is hard for many to keep up.

So here is the roadmap for my laptop, phone, and some other things too.

Laptop

Current: MacBook Pro 15″ (early 2008) purchased February 2008
Change every: 3 years
Next purchase: MacBook Pro 13″ after February 2011

I have decided to change laptop minimum every three years, because specifications after three years often improve enough to supersede the previous models. Also, I apply the rule that a laptop battery lasts three years under normal usage. That is 100 discharge-recharge cycles each year, totalling 300 cycles. By then, the battery would not hold as much charge as when it was brand new.

Mobile Phone

Current: iPhone 3GS purchased June 2009
Change every: 2 years
Next purchase: Next iPhone after June 2011

The majority of mobile service contracts have a two year duration. The telcos market to you every two years to change your phone to the latest models. Most mobile phone companies do not release phones on a regular schedule, so one has to rely on what is offered. The other option is to buy the phone and the plan separately (which I have done before), but sometimes that can be more costly.

Camera

Current: Nikon D80 purchased March 2008
Change every: 3-5 years, or until image quality deteriorates/equipment fails
Next purchase: Next Nikon dSLR

Fortunately, dSLRs don’t deteriorate as quickly as laptops and phones. This is because even entry-level dSLRs share design principles from professional-level models. As some photographers will say, “The body doesn’t matter, it’s all in the lens and your skill”. But even bodies become inferior to their successors, so one has to update occasionally.

Portable Music Player

Current: iPod (5G) purchased December 2005
Change every: When it breaks
Next purchase: iPod classic

I don’t listen to music from my iPod too much these days. It now comes from my iPhone or on the computer. But I do use it to backup all my music, photos and video.

Do you have any rules you follow when it comes to updating your technology? Share it with us in the comments.

Much, much more momentarily.

13 November 2009

Staying together after the HSC

Filed under: Forward Thinking — Tags: , — Ben @ 3:55 pm

Now that the HSC is over, it’s going to be interesting to see how we all keep in touch. Nowadays it is much easier with the internet and various social networks like Facebook. But I thought I’d suggest a few other networks you might consider.

1. Dopplr (www.dopplr.com)

Screen shot 2009-11-12 at 10.56.30 AM

Dopplr is a travel social network (primarily for business travellers, but still very fun to use) that allows you to share your travel plans with other people. You are able to see where your friends are travelling, and Dopplr will also let you know of any ‘coincidences’, that is, when you and a friend are in the same city at the same time. The Social Atlas has listings of places to stay, see and eat in many cities around the world. As with many Web 2.o applications today, Dopplr links to other social networks, like Facebook and Twitter, which receive updates on when you start and finish trips.

Here is a link to my public profile to see what outsiders will see. I’ve linked my profile to my Flickr photos as well.

A note about ‘friending’: Dopplr uses a two-way friending system. When you share trips with someone else, their trips will not automatically show up on your home page. The other person has to click ‘share trips’ for you too. So make sure you tell your friends to share trips with you.

(click more to see more…)


(more…)

4 November 2009

Normal Service

Filed under: Forward Thinking — Ben @ 8:53 pm

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, I have finished my HSC exams. It is a great relief.

As such, normal service will resume as soon as possible. There’s another post about my photo work flow, and plans for next year.

One thing, all posts regarding post-HSC stuff will be embargoed until November 13, in respect to those who sit the last exams (French Extension, Textiles, and IT (VET)).

Thank you for continuing to read my blog.

BH

PS: I promise to be more reliable than CityRail.

5 October 2009

Two More Pieces of Advice

Filed under: Forward Thinking,Reflection — Tags: , , — Ben @ 9:23 pm

After writing the last post, I remembered that I had two more things to say.

1. Everyone is saying, “Make sure you thank your teachers for all the hard work they have done for you.” Well, the best way to thank them is to gain the best possible result in the HSC exams. They’ll be happy that their hard work has paid off, and you will be happy that you have a great result.

2. It’s almost a week since that wonderful last day of school. There are probably many thank you messages that you didn’t write on people’s shirts that morning. May I suggest that you hand-write letters to these people. I know I am…

All the best for HSC 2009.

4 October 2009

Crucial Last Weeks

Filed under: Forward Thinking — Tags: , , — Ben @ 9:41 pm

At time of writing, there are 17 days until English Paper 1.

As blunt as it sounds, the celebrations are over. The last game has been played, the last hurrah called. It’s time to hit the books, one last time.

I hope everyone isn’t finding it difficult to study. These are the last set of examinations, the most crucial ones. As has been said many times, “Your performance has an effect on other peoples’ performance.” I don’t want to explain how the system works, I think that overused statement is enough.

There are so many great things that will happen after this last set of exams. 4 weeks in retrospect isn’t much effort to ask for.

On the other hand, this is a great opportunity to get back into a normal routine. Simple things life having enough sleep and three meals a day, will make you feel better over the next few weeks. There is no reason to pull an all-nighter to cram; all that’s needed is to re-organise the schedule.

All the best for HSC 2009.

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