Gordon's Ramblings

Desktop Wallpaper for February 2012

2012-01-27T06:34:00.001Z

Desktop Wallpaper for February 2012, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

The shot was taken last February near Barrhead on the south side of Glasgow using a Nikon D300S. The calendar was created with fd's Flickr Toys

If you like the image then please feel free to download and use it.

The Art of Forgetfulness

2012-01-26T21:23:00.000Z

One of the things that the Internet, digital cameras, MP3 players and tablet devices have done is to allow us to record and archive our huge aspects of our lives. I am as guilty as anyone else. I take lots of photographs, keep a blog, tweet, etc, etc. It has allowed us to create an online commentary of a huge amount of everything. It is great to share with people and see what others are up to as it happens. I have learned a lot and enjoyed keeping up with friends who are scattered across the globe.

I think there is a down side, however. As we now record everything we may find it far harder to forget things. Why would we want to do that? Surely remembering stuff is a good idea. I would like to contend that it is a good thing but there is also a downside. If we remember everything then we fail to forget the things we actually should forget. Our brains are good at filtering out the things that are worth remembering and the things that we don't need to remember. I am not talking about the traumatic events that keep us awake at night or cause us to worry. That is a whole other ball game. If we fail to forget then perhaps we will do ourselves a real disservice. Our minds are not designed to remember every tiny detail of everything that has happened to us. If we record it all, however, perhaps it becomes harder to forgive, harder to leave things alone and harder to sort our thinking and remembering into a good order. Issues and challenges that should have been assigned to the waste basket of life leave a digital imprint somewhere on the web. For example a future employer could find photos on a long forgotten social media site and decides that perhaps they might not employ you after all. Or a relationship becomes fractured and broken due to ill thought words recorded and repeated rather than disappearing into space and never thought of again.

One of the great things about being an apprentice of Jesus is the understanding that grace is big enough to allow things to be forgotten. The things that should be forgiven and forgotten have been by a God who loves and cares for each of us.

Perhaps I am over reacting to an issue that is not an issue at all. In any event I do think we should be thinking about the implications of what we save for posterity and what should be consigned to the bin and never remembered again. Let's not remember everything. We need to remember the art of forgetfulness.

Getting to Grips with Google+

2012-01-21T14:19:00.001Z

I think I may be a wee bit late to the party on this one. Although I have had a Google+ account since they were only being issued by invitation I don't really think I have got to grips with it yet. This brief post is really a way of helping me to understand it myself. If I have got it wrong then please feel free to let me know!

Stream
This is pretty obviously the same as other social media sites. The thing I have struggled with a bit here is being able to share things across different platforms. I have always managed to post tweets to Facebook. This isn't straight forward with Google+ (yet). I have, however, managed to find a script in ifttt ("if this then that" - if you don't know about it then it is worth exploring!) that posts from Google+ public posts to Twitter so it is at least possible.

+1
In some ways this is similar to the Facebook ‘Like’ feature but it provides you with a much more personalised experience. You may have noticed it appearing on a lot of websites recently. As you search the web, you can start to see where your friends have been and what they like.

Circles
When you share something on Facebook you share it with all your friends. On Twitter you are telling everyone everywhere (unless you restrict access to your posts). Life in the real world isn't really like that. Google+ Circles allow you to share with specific people within your networks based on your choices. This feature is a major plus for Google (did you see the play on words there?) I don't share everything with everyone in the real world so why would I want to do that online? On Facebook and Twitter this lack of flexibility tends to restrict what I say. Circles allow you to share things in a different way. If this feature really catches on then it is a big improvement over many other social media sites.

Hangouts
I really haven't looked into this yet so I am not going to comment here.

In Summary
Google+ is quite different to Facebook. It is making me think a bit differently about social media and how it might develop in the future. I am not sure if there is anything particularly revolutionary about it. Having said that I quite like the integration with all the other Google tools (like Blogger) that I use on a regular basis.

Will Google+ catch on? That is not really for me to decide. Facebook certainly seems to have a bit of a strangle hold on the market at the moment. One thing is for sure and that is the pace of change isn't getting any less fierce so the Facebook monopoly cannot be assured for any length of time. Remember Bebo after all!

If you are not on Google+ yet then come and join us and find out whether it's worth the effort.

The Future of the Book

2012-01-21T10:16:00.001Z

There is a lot of discussion about books just now. The Kindle appears to have been a huge success and new versions are flying out the door at a great rate. On top of that Apple have updated iBooks and introduced the idea of textbooks with the release of iBooks Author for the Mac. With all this going on I have been starting to think about whether the bound volume version of a book has a future at all.

My youngest daughter does not like e-books. She will tell you that there is something special about the smell and feel of the bound volume. She may not use these words but I think she feels that the texture of the book adds value to the experience of reading. So is there something special about the bound volume or will the ease of access and portability of the digital version win the day?

I am certainly not convinced either way at the moment. I love the ability to find information easily and quickly using search functions on line. I don't remember the last time I used a physical reference book or text book. This is less an argument about books and more about the nature of the world wide web, however. I certainly have a bit of difficulty trying to work out in my head what the release of textbooks in iBooks actually brings to the party that is different to reference material on the web. The other announcement from Apple relating to iTunesU is far more interesting from this point of view.

On the other hand I still read books which are printed and bound. I like to know how many pages there are until I reach the end of the chapter. I want to get a feel for how far I am through the story. It is good to understand the context of the bit I am reading within the big story of the book. I was discussing this issue with a group of people last weekend in relation to getting the context of the whole story from the sense of order of the bound volume. For example the Bible is a very big book with very dense text. There is a flow of the story from Genesis to Revelation which is important if you are going to understand God's big story. So many people have misused the Bible text by taking something out of context. So perhaps the physical nature of a bound volume does matter.

Of course the availability of printed books is actually quite recent. Even although the printing press resulted in a revolution in relation to access to the printed word the vast majority of the population still couldn't read! The printing of the King James Bible over 400 years may have allowed ordinary people to read it for themselves but most people still wouldn't know what to do with it. I don't have to go very far back in my family tree before the birth certificate says "his mark". In other words illiterate! Perhaps this then becomes quite a divisive argument between those who are "educated" and can access the printed material and those who are too scared to even try.

Looking round the room I am writing in there are a great many paper books on the shelves. Whatever the future of the book I think it will be a long while before we remove those shelves of bound volumes. Perhaps there is room for both. I wonder what you think.

Life in a Facebook World - Seminar Notes

2012-01-14T22:39:00.002Z

These notes are to support a seminar at the SU TL conference on Sunday 15 January 2012. It is not really possible to write up the conversation that took place as we went off on a number of tangents that very helpfully allowed us to consider a range of idea which impact on how we work with children and young people. We ended up getting in to some important conversations about community, the transient nature of much of social media and the changing nature of literacy.

The seminar was recorded so if the audio is made available then I will post a link to it.

I have tried to tag everything using SUTLFacebook to make it easier to find reference to the issues after the event.

Social networking on Prezi

The following seminar notes only cover the headings. There was far more detail covered in the conversation.

The main aim of the seminar is to answer three main questions ...

How is social media affecting the way we think, behave, communicate and relate to others?
How does it impact on the desire for community, understanding of friendship and relationships?
How does this impact on the relational setting created at camps and missions?

To do this we are going to look at our understanding of community and how that may or may not be changing as a result of the development of social media and mobile technology.

So what is community?

a social construct (or model)
may not be physical
more than just the people in it
has fuzzy boundaries
they can change and move

What is social networking and who is using it?

A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who, for example, share interests and/or activities.
Some examples - who is using what? Notice the transient nature of much of what we see today. Who still uses Bebo?

What is going on?

share then congregate vs congregate then share - Clay Shirky
digital immigrants and digital natives - Marc Prensky
ad hoc groups can form and dissolve easily with no external requirement
The Internet is good at distribution but it is also good at creating conversations
literacy is changing - webs rather than lines
sources of knowledge and information becoming democratised
traditional models of authority challenged
campaigns and special interests
the recording and sharing of everything - tagging

Relationships still matter

no one is an island
how do we develop a sense of community?
how do we relate to each other?
we still need community- but it might look different
we need friends and support structures
the art of forgetfulness

What are the challenges?

pace of change
digital inclusion
Continuous Partial Attention (CPA)
skills vs content - learning to explore
freedom of speech
privacy and openness
child protection, cyberbullying and pornography
instantaneous vs sustained
changing literacy
mobile access

Finally ...

social networking has pros and cons
ecological rather than additive change is real
we need to think through the issues
we need a social media etiquette
it doesn't need to be about dumbing down
an opportunity as well as a threat
we need to remember to forget

Links:

The easiest way of finding all the links referred to is to use the Del.icio.us links below: http://delicious.com/gordonmckinlay/sutlfacebook

Social networking sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites

Clay Shirky: http://www.shirky.com/

Continuous Partial Attention: http://www.businessweek.com/business_at_work/time_management/archives/2008/07/continuous_part.html

Is Facebook Killing our Souls: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/tech/features/23024-is-facebook-killing-our-souls

Krish Kandiah on social media and the church : http://krishk.com/2012/01/social-media-church/

Marc Prensky on Digital Natives: http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf

CEOP: http://ceop.police.uk

There's an app for that

2012-01-13T07:25:00.001Z

I have just linked my blog to my Google+ account and found that there is a blogger app available for the iPhone. It is very basic but works. The functionality is basically a simple text editor and it is pretty straight forward to use.

When I am away at the SU te leaders conference this weekend I think I will have a go at using it.

It's a Small World

2012-01-07T07:38:00.004Z

This is a fun wee web app which uses Google Streetview images to create a small world around the centre of the map. This is an image is of our street (before we had the building work done last year). It's called Street View Stereographic which is a stereographic projection) and is very straight forward to use.

Portrait Photography

2012-01-04T19:00:00.002Z

Meet the Parents, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

I am always looking to improve my photographic skills. One area that I have little experience of is portraiture. In my reading and experimenting over the Christmas holidays I cam across a site describing a classical approach to portrait photography. The guide was originally written by Joe Zeltsman. It is an easy read and is well worth having a look. I have certainly found it very useful.

Click here for the contents page.

Perhaps my portrait photos will start to improve this year.

January 2012 Desktop Wallpaper

2012-01-04T10:06:00.001Z

January 2012 Desktop Wallpaper, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

January's desktop wallpaper photo was taken in January 2011 at Lendrick Muir near Perth in Scotland. This beautiful house is part of an estate run by Scrioture Union Scotland as part of their work with children and young people.

You can find out more about the centre by going to www.suscotland.org.uk/centres/lendrick-muir

If you like this photo then please feel free to download and use it yourself.

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

The Path

2012-01-02T08:48:00.001Z

The Path, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

This photo was taken on New Year's Day 2012 on Glasgow Green. I have used a shallow depth of field to give a sense of perspective and distance along the path. At the start of the year we can often think about the passage of time and the path we follow through our lives.

Why are we so caught up in the passage of time? At the end of a year and the start of a year we become very aware of the passage of time. Why is this? There is nothing different about January the 1st 2012. We can see nothing of what the coming year will bring. The joys and sorrows are shrouded in darkness. Yesterday is gone. We can't change the choices we have made, the roads we have travelled and those we have touched. There are those who no longer walk the road with us. Paths have crossed and diverged. Actions and reactions have all been and gone although we may live we the outcome of any of these. Time passes by and will continue to do so in the coming days, months and years.

How we spend our time is far more important than the amount we have of it. Psalm 97 reminds us that God is above and beyond all that we experience of the passage of time yet he holds our moments in his hands. As the days unfold may our choices by wise, our feet by placed on firm rocks and the light shine on those we meet today, tomorrow and next week.

Happy New Year whatever 2012 brings.

Left Overs

2011-12-30T09:08:00.001Z

Left Overs, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

What is left over once the turkey and tinsel are gone? If Christmas is just about the food and drink, the presents and the decorations then it is a pretty hollow and empty festival. If by boxing day the only left over is a collection of brussell sprouts then was it really worth all the effort? We sang Carols and munched mince pies. Is it all just a nice thing to do amid the rampant consumerism or does the baby in the manger ever grow up? Does the child become a man? Why do we still tell that story 2000 years later?

As we pack away the decorations for another year and the sprouts end up in the recycling bin why not think on about the story of the unmarried mother who delivered her child in a dirty stable a long way away and a long time ago. It may be Christmas but Easter is coming.

Taking Better Photographs

2011-12-30T07:16:00.003Z

Riverside Museum, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

If a skill is not improving then it is stagnating. Over the past few years I have set myself a number of challenges to help me to focus on looking at what I see and taking better photos as a result. For example, I spent two years taking a photo a day and sharing them on Flickr. You can still see these as One a Day 2007 and One a Day 2008. These sets of photos tell a story as the year goes on. If you have never tried then it is well worth the effort. As I write this it is coming up to the turn of the year. This offers a great opportunity to start the project at the start of the year.

One of the most important things I have learned over these years is that it really isn't about the kit but about using the eye to look at the world around. There are lots of things that good kit helps with but it can and never should be the driver for any photographer. To this end one of the things I have done when buying a new lens is to stick it on the camera and leave it there until I am absolutely convinced that I have worked out how to use it properly.

So as we head into the new year my challenge is to continue to improve and develop this skill which I love. An area I am interested in doing more of is portraiture. I shot my first wedding this autumn. Although it was quite stressful I am really pleased with my efforts and want to see what I can do to make this area of work better.

One of the things I always try to do is to use the online resource of the Digital Photography School. There are a range of excellent tutorials and weekly challenges to make you go and think about how to interpret something. Sharing the results online is an important part of that process so keep watching the Flickr photostream. I am sure I should go and join a local photographic society but I have always struggled a bit with finding the time and confidence. Maybe I should look into this again.

Here are a few tutorials that I particularly like:

My ongoing thanks to the Digital Photography School for helping me to improve! So as soon as there is some light in the sky I think I should go out and take some photos. Watch my photostream on Flickr to see the results.

Light and Love

2011-12-18T07:49:00.001Z

Light and Love, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

My interpretation of the Digital Photography School weekly challenge for w/b 18 December 2011.

This shot was taken with Nikon D300S and Lensbaby Composer with a heart shaped mask to get the effect on the lights in the background.

The celebration of Christmas is all about Jesus, the light of the world coming into the mess and squalor of a dirty stable and live amongst us for 33 years to demonstrate God's love for us.

Happy Christmas everyone!

Find out more about the Digital Photography School weekly challenge at: www.digital-photography-school.com/bokeh-lights-weekly-ph...

Testing the Lights

2011-12-10T15:37:00.001Z

Testing the Lights, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

It's a fortnight until Christmas and the tree went up today. Catherine had to check the lights were working before the were put in place.

This shot was taken for this weeks Digital Photography School weekly challenge: DIY Lighting. The idea was to take and submit a photo which used lighting from an unusual source. The only lights here were from the tree lights themselves.

Desktop wallpaper for December 2011

2011-12-01T06:34:00.001Z

Desktop wallpaper for December 2011, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

This photo was taken at the start of December 2010 during the period of snow which caused a complete shutdown of most of the infrastructure in Scotland. It doesn't look like there was very much snow from this shot of Paisley Abbey! The shot was taken using a Nikon D300S and then created with fd's Flickr Toys

Reflection

2011-11-19T13:31:00.002Z

Reflection, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

This is a self portrait taken for the Digital Photography School weekly challenge: "Photographer in the Picture". One of the reasons I take photos is to avoid being on the other side of the lens! Anyway, this is my contribution to the weekly challenge.

Find out more at Photographer in the Picture: Weekly Photography Challenge

Live it like a song

2011-11-12T15:59:00.002Z

We were in Edinburgh on Thursday night to hear Switchfoot live in concert. The show was truly amazing and we all loved every minute of it. Fiona and Catherine were particularly excited at getting the opportunity to meet the band before the event.

The new album, Vice Verses, includes a track entitled "Where I belong". The lyrics compare our lives to the story of the Israelites in exile in Babylon. On introducing the song Jon Foreman noted that his wish would be that this song would be the last the band ever played.

One of the verses says:

And on the final day I die
I want to hold my head up high
I want to tell You that I tried
To live it like a song

What a great song, great lyrics and absolutely brilliant thinking.

Here is a video of the song being performed on Thursday night:

Thanks for a great evening and some great music!

Thanks also to Fiona for her photo. I didn't take my camera!

Scan Me

2011-11-08T21:20:00.002Z

Watching the Gadget Show tonight and found this link to allow you to create your own QR code. I have been becoming more aware of these appearing more often around the place and have been interested in how they can be used to allow people to use their phone to quickly access a range of information. As Wikipedia defines them ...

A QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response code) is a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional code) first designed for the automotive industry.

Anyway, I just wanted to note that I have created my own using Scan Me. Click the link and log in using your Facebook account to create your own.

Life in a Facebook World

2011-11-02T20:10:00.005Z

I am starting to prepare a workshop session with a group of youth workers on social media and young people. The brief is outlined below.

"How do new means of communication such as Facebook and Twitter affect the way young people think, behave, communicate and relate to others; how do they impact on their desire for community, understanding of friendship and relationships? How does this impact on the relational setting created when we work with children and young people? Not how we use the hardware, but looking at how we work with young people whose lives are shaped by them."

As I started to prepare I thought, why not use social media to help in the preparation process. So here I go. What should I try to cover and how should I cover it? The workshop will be very interactive in nature (I always think it's good to engage and involve any audience!). I am also going to use Prezi for any visuals that I might use (if you have not used Prezi then give it a try at Prezi.com). Click here to see a very early version of the presentation.

The work of Clay Shirky and Marc Prensky both give very useful background. This video of Clay gives an interesting premise regarding relevant issues...

The final step on his ladder about collective action has been highlighted quite a number of times in recent weeks and months.

All comments, suggestions and ideas welcome.

November 2011 Desktop Wallpaper

2011-10-30T08:34:00.002Z

I wasn't sure what sort of photo to use as my desktop wallpapr for November. Looking around I felt that the colours of the autumn leaves were still bright and interesting so popped on the Lensbaby and took this shot. The photo was taken using a Nikon D300S with Lensbaby Composer. The image was then processed with Photoshop Elements and fd's Flickr Toys.

If you like the image then please let me know and download and use it yourself.

Primary Colours

2011-10-22T09:39:00.001+01:00

Primary Colours, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

This closeup shot was taken for the Digital Photography School weekly challenge. I haven't contributed to this for months so I thought it was probably about time I did so again.

This shot was taken using a Nikon D300s with Lensbaby Composer and macro attachment.

Find out more here: http://www.digital-photography-school.com/primary-colors-weekly-photography-challenge

Remembering Clarkston

2011-10-22T09:14:00.003+01:00

Clarkston Disaster - plaque, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

It's important to remember the past, the things that shape us and change us forever. This week has seen an anniversary which had a huge impact on me when I was growing up. The Clarkston disaster rocked our community 40 years ago. On the 21st of October 1971 a build up of gas caused an explosion which resulted in the death of 22 people. I was in primary 3 at Carolside Primary School at the time. I remember the sound in the distance and not knowing what it was. Most of all, however, I remember the impact on lives and families afterwards. Although I was only young I understood that for many people things changed forever on that day.

It has been good, therefore, to remember. East Renfrewshire council are to be thanked for marking the anniversary. Even although I am not a fan of such things I recognise the importance of marking events such as this.

We can look back with regret and bitterness or remembrance can allow us to look forward and upward.

Even today I don't react well to the smell of gas but it's only a smell.

_________________________________________________________

Here is a link to a BBC news story on the anniversary ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-15393422

Wedding Photography

2011-10-16T08:27:00.005+01:00

I recently took my very first assignment as a wedding photographer. Friends were getting married and asked if I would do the deed. Whilst delighted to be asked, the mix of emotions was somewhat overwhelming! Portrait photography is not something that I had a huge experience in and I had certainly never taken formal portraits at a wedding before. If you have been anywhere near this blog before then you will, of course, be aware of my interest in photography and the fun I have in going out with a camera and taking lots and lots of photos. This was different. The stakes were much higher and the idea of failure much more serious. This was particularly clear to me as the photographer at my daughter's wedding let us down quite badly such that the only photos they actually have are once taken informally by friends and family.

The day was a bit of a whirlwind. I took hundreds of photos and I don't think I made too many mistakes. Following the wedding I have spent about two or three days editing to get to a set that I am fairly comfortable with.

So what lessons have I learned from this assignment?

Preparation and planning are key. I think I got most of this right. Spare batteries, memory cards, lens cloths and the like were all fine. I also visited the venue the day before. This was vital for getting the settings right.
Have a clear list of the photos you want to get and have someone who knows everyone to act as the "go to guy".
Don't take too much equipment, it just gets in the road. I had various lenses, tripods, etc. I didn't really need them and I certainly didn't have enough time to start swapping lenses anyway.
Remember to think about the camera settings often. There was one section where I had been shooting in aperture mode in order to get a fairly shallow depth of field. I then forgot to change it so some of the larger groups were not as sharp from front to back as they should have been.
Be confident or even bossy. This is where I fell down a bit. I wasn't bossy enough. I am very happy with the shots of the bride and groom, etc but the larger groups seemed a bit untidy. In future I would try to be more definite about arranging these.

So would I do it again? I have no intention of giving up the day job. Unless I get made redundant I am not really looking for a career change. On reflection, I did enjoy the task and I would do it again if asked. I am not going out looking for work but would be happy to talk to someone about it if they wanted an amateur and couldn't afford the high rates that the far better professionals need to charge.

This is not meant to be an advert nor am I touting for work but I would be happy to talk further if you want to drop me an email.

October 2011 Desktop Wallpaper

2011-10-02T20:53:00.001+01:00

October 2011 Desktop Wallpaper, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

In keeping with the current theme of returning from our fabulous holiday on the P&O Azura I felt it appropriate that the October desktop wallpaper should be taken from that holiday. This photo was taken one evening from the promenade deck on board Azura as the sun gently set. The wallpaper image was created with fd's Flickr Toys

Building Work - Gettng There

2011-09-10T08:25:00.001+01:00

Aga, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

The final big purchase was installed in the new kitchen yesterday. That now means we have got some finishing off work to do after we return from our holiday but all the big stuff is now done.

Desktop Wallpaper for September 2011

2011-08-31T06:34:00.001+01:00

Desktop Wallpaper for September 2011, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

Taken in September 2010 on the Forth and Clyde Canal. Please feel free to use it.

What Should I Read Next?

2011-08-21T20:30:00.001+01:00

Day 294/366 - Reading, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

We are off on holiday in just over three weeks time. We have never had our main summer holiday in September before. We have also never been on a cruise before. So what books should I take to read when we are away? We will have a couple of days at sea so will need some good recommendations.

World Photography Day

2011-08-20T06:37:00.001+01:00

World Photography Day, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

I only realised very late on in the day that Friday 19 August was World Photography Day. The aim was to celebrate the photograph and post something online that was taken on that day.

Having waited too late it was pretty dark so outside was not really an option without getting tripods and long exposures involved. Instead I went for a macro shot using my lensbaby and a close up attachment to take this shot of a Nikon 50mm prime lens. I quite like the textures and felt that it says something about photography.

Happy World Photography Day. What did you take?

August 2011 Desktop Wallpaper

2011-07-31T07:48:00.001+01:00

August 2011 Desktop Wallpaper, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

Our August Desktop wallpaper picture was taken this time last year on Simon and Sheila's boat in the Firth of Clyde. This wallpaper was created with fd's Flickr Toys

If you like the image then please feel free to download it and use it yourself.

Building Progress

2011-07-24T20:03:00.001+01:00

Progress, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

Back from leading an SU holiday at Scoughall to ongoing progress with the building work. Doors are up, windows are in and the internal walls have been broken down leaving dust everywhere.

SU Holidays - Summer 2011

2011-07-16T06:21:00.004+01:00

Every year we spend a week leading a Scripture Union holiday with about 50 primary aged children. This week is no different. This morning we are off to Scoughall in East Lothian. We have 49 children booked and we will be working with a team of 20 other people. The weather is not great this morning and the forecast is not looking good either. I can currently hear the rain battering on the roof of the new extension which is currently being built. I think we will need to make sure we have plenty of wet weather alternatives ready!

We have been doing this every summer for longer than we care to remember. This year is slightly different as we are going to be away over our silver wedding anniversary on Tuesday. 25 years doesn't really seem like very long at all. How did that happen?

Anyway, we are as prepared as we can be. The final packing needs to be done then we head off. Below is the text from our prayer letter from the week. We would love to know of your support as we take on this challenge.

See you next week.

__________________________________________

S4 2011 : 16^th to 22^nd July

PRAYER LETTER

Hi there,

We are off to Scoughall on the east coast of Scotland from the 16^th to the 22^nd of July leading a Scripture Union holiday again. We really appreciate your prayers both prior to and during the event and we hope you find this prayer letter helpful. While we are Scoughall the team will meet together daily to pray and explore God’s Word. We will be exploring the good new of Jesus with the children through the life of Paul in Acts. Please pray for those who lead and speak and share the good news of Jesus as we explore this in word and deed throughout our time together. If you would like email updates during the week of camp then please drop Philippa or Gordon an email before Friday 15^th July. We will also try to update our Facebook and Twitter status on a daily basis while we are away to give you the chance to pray intelligently throughout the week.

Please pray for the team as we prepare for the event:

Team Leaders	Team members			Catering team
Philippa McKinlay	Morag Bain	Catherine McKinlay	Liam Somerville	Elaine Nicoll
Gordon McKinlay	Dave Brett	Rachel Miller	Nicola Somerville	Chris Rossi
Assistant Team Leader	Stephen Buwert	Robbie Newton	Elizabeth Twynam-Perkins	Sharon Meek
Assistant Team Leader	Morag Gent	Fiona Shields		Bruce Nicoll
Heather Young	Alistair McKinlay	Russell Shields		William Wilson

Many of the team are returning to lead at SU events which is great. There are others for whom this will be the first time they have been involved in this work. Pray especially for Heather as she puts together the programme; for Elaine as she plans menus and orders food; and for Gordon & Philippa as they put together the final preparations for the overall plan and the teaching for both the team and the children.

The children:

There are 49 children booked to come to S4. They are all between P5 and P7 at primary school. Many of them will be away from home for the very first time. This can sometimes lead to homesickness, particularly at bed time! Please pray that they may see the love of Jesus in all that is said and done throughout the week at Scoughall. During our week together we will share the good news in word and deed as we build a temporary Christian community together.

Saturday 16^th July

Most of the team will arrive at Scoughall before lunch time on Saturday to plan and prepare for the kids arriving. Please pray for us today as we travel and get to know each other better. Please also pray that the site will still be fresh and in good condition for this camp. Please pray that the team will enjoy their time of fellowship and training together before the children arrive this afternoon. Pray that the children will be excited about their week ahead, but moreover that their hearts will have been made ready to receive the message of Jesus’ love.

Today’s theme: Stoning of Stephen, Acts 6- 8

Sunday 17^th July

The team meets every morning before breakfast to pray, read God’s Word and think about the day ahead. Please pray that we will all be strengthened by these times. Pray also that the children will have a really good first day and will settle in to camp life, getting to know each other and their group leaders. Pray especially for safety in all activities both on and off site; for protection in transport as the mini bus is used most days.

Today’s theme: The difference Jesus makes, Acts 9: 1- 31

Monday 18^th July

The event is now in full swing. Pray for safety in transporting the children to and from off-site activities. Pray that as the group leaders get to know their groups that they will be able to share their lives as Christians on a personal basis. Please also pray that the children will be comfortable in asking questions as they seek to find out more of what God can do. Pray for the smooth running of the programme. Every evening there is a time when we open God’s Word with the children and explore what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Please pray that these would be interesting and engaging times when the children might see and hear about the love of God clearly.

Today’s theme: What do we make of Jesus, Col 1 ;15- 23 Romans 3:23 - 26

Tuesday 19^th July

Remember the cooking team in the kitchen. Pray for their safety and strength as they turn out food in great quantity and frequency! Pray too that they will be very much a part of camp and not forgotten, spending, as they do, so much of every day in the kitchen. Please pray for safety in travel and fun in all the activities. Every day we pray for each other as a team and for the children in our care. Please pray for a happy and relaxed environment where the children can learn more of Jesus. Some will already know Him – pray that they may walk closer to Him as they grow up. Give thanks for the privilege and freedom to minister in this way, praying that God’s Word spoken this week will touch the lives of many.

Today’s theme: Miracles, Acts 14: 1 -18

Wednesday 20^th July

We are all having a day trip to North Berwick today. Please pray for safety in travel (a bit of a logistical nightmare!) and fun and enjoyment in all that is planned for the day. Please pray for the work of SU worldwide. Remember other Christian organisations working to spread the love of Jesus around the world. The team may be tiring now but pray that God will sustain their strength and give them the energy to keep up with the physical activities and a fresh enthusiasm each day to tell of Jesus and his love.

Today’s theme: Fitting in or standing out, Acts 17 ;16- 32

Thursday 21^st July

This is the last full day of camp. There’s a lot going on today with inflatables, time on the beach and all sorts of other fun. As we enjoy this last day please pray for safety and that no-one would get overexcited! Please pray that this will have been a memorable and important week for everyone involved and that God will have touched lives and brought young lives closer to him.

Today’s theme: A life focussed on Christ, Acts 27

Friday 22^nd July

Pray for the children as they go home. Pray that God will be with them at home and that the experiences and lessons learned at camp will help them to grow in their Christian faith or to keep asking the right questions. Pray for safety in travelling home. It is really important that children find a good church and SU group in their school. Please pray for local groups as they seek to support new and enthusiastic members!

Finally…

Give thanks for God’s rich provision to us all. Give thanks for each child who has heard this week that Jesus loves them. Pray that those who may have shown no interest will remember the message and take it home with them, and that in the days, months even years to come, they will seek and turn to the Lord Jesus.

Thank you again for your support.

Gordon & Philippa McKinlay and the team of S4 2011

More Progress

2011-07-15T17:45:00.001+01:00

More Progress, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

Today's progress on the extension involved doing the wooden frame at the front of the house. We continue in a state of mess and guddle but the work is going very well and ahead of time.

The Next Phase

2011-07-14T19:40:00.001+01:00

The Next Phase, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

I came home from work this evening to discover a building in my back garden! The foundations are all laid and the frame for the extension at the back went up today.

The Old Has Gone

2011-07-11T20:49:00.001+01:00

The Old Has Gone, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

The old building at the back of the house has been demolished and the mud and mess everywhere tells it's own story about the digging of the foundations for the new building.

I was not impressed, however, to find that one of the builders had unplugged our freezer contents have defrosted. That will be a phone call in the morning that I am not looking forward to.

What Happened?

2011-07-11T18:06:00.001+01:00

What Happened?, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

We arrived home from Ireland last night to a garden full of diggers, bricks, wood and muck everywhere. As my neighbour said this evening "you can't make an omelette..." I think I am going off omelette!

Day 0 - A First Delivery

2011-07-05T20:15:00.001+01:00

Day 0 - A First Delivery, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

The builders arrive tomorrow. Before they do we got a wee delivery this afternoon. I want a shot!

Day 0 - Before they Start

2011-07-05T20:06:00.001+01:00

Day 0 - Before they Start, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

We are about to get some building work done so I thought it would be good to show the progress as it happens.

We got a phone call this morning asking if they could start a few days early. As a result the work starts tomorrow.

This is what the back of the house looks like at the moment. The old extension will get demolished and replaced as well as a new porch and front door.

Watch this space for an ongoing progress report.

Summer Time

2011-07-03T09:29:00.001+01:00

Barbecue Time, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

The summer has been very slow to make an appearance this year. We started well around Easter time but then it all went horribly wrong. Since May it has been wet and pretty miserable most f the time. There has been the odd nice day but it keeps getting followed by a week of miserable days.

It has been lovely, therefore, this weekend to have more than one nice day in a row. It is warm and sunny and everything always feels better when it is like this.

We had better make the most of it. It might be raining again tomorrow. I am going outside now.

July 2011 Desktop Wallpaper

2011-06-24T16:29:00.001+01:00

July 2011 Desktop Wallpaper, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

The desktop wallpaper for July was taken using a Nikon D300S with a Tamron 18-200mm lens. The calendar was created with fd's Flickr Toys

I have started creating this as widescreen image so that it fits my new iMac better!

A New Toy

2011-06-18T15:51:00.001+01:00

iMac, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

I have been thinking about it for days, weeks, moths, years! I got rid of my last Mac a long time ago and replaced it with a Windows PC. It looked as though the whole world was going in that direction. It looked like the right thing to do. I was wrong. I am happy to freely admit it. It was a poor reason for changing. A lot of what I do at home is about high end graphics and video.

Well I'm back! I suppose I started to come back when I bought an iPad last summer. I fell in love with it within minutes of touching it in the Apple Store in Glasgow.

The new iMac was delivered on Thursday. It is sleek, quiet, the graphics are beautiful, it is fast. Need I go on. Photoshop has been installed as is all my Nikon software. iMovie seems a bit different from the last time I used it. I believe I have made a good choice.

I look forward to boring anyone who reads this for the coming weeks.

Eye-Fi

2011-05-22T08:47:00.002+01:00

I am looking for some information. Has anyone used one of these Eye-Fi cards?

I was thinking of buying one to stick in my Nikon D300S in order to transfer photos wirelessly over our home network.

Any comments would be gratefully received.

June 2011 Desktop Wallpaper

2011-05-22T07:04:00.001+01:00

June 2011 Desktop Wallpaper, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

The June 2011 wallpaper image was taken using a Nikon D300S with a lensbaby Composer, plastic optic and macro attachment. The wallpaper image was created using fd's Flickr Toys.

If you like the image then please feel free to download and use it.

MIICE Annual Conference

2011-05-20T21:13:00.003+01:00

I got out of the office for the morning on Friday to attend the MIICE Conference which was being held in the University of the West of Scotland. It was good to be able to see some old friends and hear some good stories of how ICT is being used to enhance learning in school.

MIICE stands for Measuring the Impact of ICT on Children's Education. The project aims to provide evidence to support school self evaluation in relation to the quality of learning and teaching where ICT is involved. On Friday we heard from a couple of projects where this is undoubtedly the case. I was very encouraged to hear that GLOW is alive and well and growing in it's effective use and that many class teachers have been making really good use of the resources available to them to make the learning experience a rich and more engaging one. The seminar room at UWS was packed with practitioners eager to learn from each other.

I was only sorry to have to leave at lunch time but I did come away feeling quite encouraged.

iPads in the classroom

2011-05-20T07:01:00.003+01:00

An interesting discussion on EduTalkr last night about the use of iPads in the classroom. There are some important debates to be had about the viability of some of the newer technologies in schools. Have a listen here:

EDUtalkr online panel discussions about Scottish education #7: The practicalities of using iPods and iPads in classrooms

Exam Time!

2011-05-12T06:55:00.000+01:00

I know it's a long time ago now but I still remember sitting exams in school as though it was yesterday. I was always very average at school. I really hated English. I never understood why I needed to know what Hamlet was thinking or what emotion that line of poetry conveyed. I was always more interested in science and maths. That seems quite surprising now considering how much of my time I spend reading and writing.

I can remember the exam hall laid out with rows and rows of tables and chairs. Why did I always get the table that was wobbly? The invigilators had squeaky shoes and I was always sure they were looking at me. I always found what other people had written on the desk more interesting than the exam questions. The sounds and smells are still alive and well in my memory. I was back in my old school a few years ago and sitting in the hall made all those feelings of utter terror and inadequacy flood back. Those exams had a lasting impact in more ways than one.

The outcome of my exams was not what I had dreamed or wanted. I didn't end up doing what I had planned but it did end up being far better than I could ever have believed. That's when I remember that I believe that there is something bigger than me that holds everything together.

Hundreds of years before Jesus was born Jeremiah was writing to the people of Israel. They were not where they wanted to be and they were having a pretty tough time of it. In Jeremiah 29 the writer tells the people to settle down where they are and do their best at whatever they are able to do. In verse 11 it says "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".

So when it all gets too much and I wonder why I am bothering with all the effort it is important to remember that there is more to life than this. It may or may not be what I am wishing for but it will be good! In fact it will be the best thing imaginable.

Thnking about Facebook again

2011-05-01T15:15:00.004+01:00

I spotted this article in one of @ewanmcintosh 's tweets yesterday. It talks about the fact the teachers in New South Wales are now being allowed to use Facebook , Twitter and other social networking tools in their teaching and learning. They have established a full policy and guidelines for staff before starting. New South Wales has been a pretty interesting area for educational theorists to consider.

The policy starts with the following...

The department supports its employees’ participation in social media online applications such as social networking sites, wikis, blogs, microblogs, video and audio sharing sites and message boards that allow people to easily publish, share and discuss content.

Perhaps it will be worth listening to what they are saying on this subject as well.

The debate opens again. Any thoughts?

Lost and Found

2011-04-30T07:36:00.003+01:00

On the 26th of June 2008 we released a travel bug into the wild called the Tartan Traveller. I have mentioned him before on this blog. If you have heard of geocaching then you will at least know something of the idea behind using mutli million pound satellite technology to go looking for bits of tupperware in the woods! A travel bug is a small trinket with an ID tag attached which is moved from cache to cache with a specific mission. When the Tartan Traveller was released his mission was to see the world. This was going well until August 2009 when he just vanished. This does happen fairly frequently where someone finds a cache by accident and takes things or it goes in a pocket and never reappears. Out of the six we have released only three are still in circulation. At this point the Tartan Traveller had actually covered over 10,000 miles and was somewhere in Pennsylvania in the United States. Nothing had been heard for the past eighteen months and I had assumed that he had gone for ever. Well now he has reappeared! We have no idea what he has been doing for the intervening period and I suspect we never find out. Many thanks to the geocacher who found him in a cache near Buffalo and has now moved him. I have had a short email conversation with him and he has assured me that the bug will be placed in another cache very soon. So the adventure continues. The travel bug that was lost has now been found and continues on his travels around the world.

LTS on iTunes U

2011-04-27T07:00:00.004+01:00

I can be pretty slow sometimes so it is probably not a huge surprise that I have only just found out the Learning and Teaching Scotland have a channel on iTunes U.

iTunes U is part of the iTunes Store offering free audio and video materials for education, with resources from British and American universities as well as LTS and other education organisations.

This is a huge and varied resource of audio and video educational material and very well worth having a good rake around in.

Click here for more info and here to go straight to the section on the iTunes store.

May 2011 Desktop Wallpaper

2011-04-25T17:19:00.001+01:00

May 2011 Desktop Wallpaper, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

This month's photo was taken in May 2010 on the beautiful island of Arran in the firth of Clyde. The photo was taken in Brodick close to the ferry terminal. The summit of Goat Fell is just obscured by the foliage in the foreground. I love Arran and am happy to use this image on my desktop for the month of May.

The photo was taken using a Nikon D50 with a Tamron 18-200mm lens. The wallpaper image was created using fd Flickr Toys.

If you like the image then please feel free to download and use it yourself.

Making Notes

2011-04-25T14:16:00.004+01:00

I often find myself with large sheets of paper and marker pens trying to sort out my thinking on a subject prior to turning it into something sensible. Here is an app for the iPad which might help. iBrainstorm is a free application which allows the user to gather notes using a combination of free hand drawings and sticky notes. It is possible to share and collaborate with other users of iBrainstorm. Sharing notes and drawings between users in a local setting is a simple matter of "flicking" an item to another user. Watch the video below to see iBrainstorm in action.

It is also possible to have groups of people working together and sharing notes...

I don't like the name of the app but it's quite a neat wee idea and well worth a try.

He is Risen

2011-04-24T08:17:00.001+01:00

He is Risen, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

A beautiful sunny Easter Sunday morning.

"Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you."

Matthew 28:7

______________________________________

Photo taken with a Nikon D300S and Tamron 18-200m lens.

Why do we Play?

2011-04-23T08:47:00.002+01:00

I find the theory and practice of play to be a fascinating and important principal both in education as well as for all of us throughout adult life. This Ted Talk by Stuart Brown. Imagine a world without play. The UN convention for the rights of the child includes the right to play (article 31) as fundamental. Perhaps we need to take play more seriously.

Easter Weekend

2011-04-23T07:21:00.001+01:00

The Old Rugged Cross, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

This photo was taken of a rough wooden cross erected in NMBC for Easter in 2011. It was made frm the trunks opf the two Christmas trees which had adorned the church a few months previously. The image moves from our celebration of his birth to our remembrance of his death. The Christian faith doesn't end on the cross, however. As the old preacher said: "It's Friday, but Sunday's coming"!

The words of the old hymn capture my thoughts far better than I could manage.

1.On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.

2.O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary.
(Refrain)

3.In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me.
(Refrain)

4.To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I'll share.
(Refrain)

George Bennard,
1873-1958
___________________________________

The photo was taken using a Nikon D300S and aLensbaby Composer with the plastic swap optic. The light was only the natural light available within the church. It was edited in Picnik on Flickr.

Sh2011

2011-04-17T09:09:00.001+01:00

Big Top, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

Spring Harvest is over again for another year. The weather was fabulous, the teaching was great and the company was superb. Unfortunately we all came back with the mother of all colds! I am now at the stage of coughing furiously with most of my body aching no matter what I do. I am sure we shall recover but at the moment I would just like to roll into a small ball and hide until next weekend.

Anyway, I have uploaded some of my Spring Harvest photos to Flickr. There is a Spring Harvest Flickr group as well although not many folk have added to it.

Perhaps I will update this post once my brain is feeling a little less fuzzy.

More Spring Colours

2011-04-03T20:28:00.001+01:00

Yellow, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

i am still experimenting with the macro adaptor for the Lensbaby. Composer. I took this xloseup shot of a daffodil flower using my Nikon D300s with Lensbaby Compser, plastic optic and both x4 and x10 macro adaptors. Getting a sharp imag is the biggest challenge as the depth of field is very small. Sometimes filling the whole image space can be quite interesting.

Street Photography

2011-04-03T20:24:00.001+01:00

Street Lights, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

The weekly challenge from the Digital Photogeaphy School this week was to take a picture on the theme of street photography. I took this shot using a Nikon D300s with a Lensbaby Compser with the plastic optic. This gives the slight blurring towards the edges which softens the whole thing a little.

Up for a Challenge?

2011-03-27T07:33:00.006+01:00

The Bible is very old, dusty, full of hard language and irrelevant to life in the 21st century. Perhaps that is how you feel or perhaps you don't even think that much about the World's best selling book of all time.

We were thinking about how we could encourage the young folk at NMBC to explore the Bible for themselves. E100 has allowed us to do just that. The E100 Bible Reading Challenge is based on 100 Bible readings (50 from the Old Testament and 50 from the New Testament) designed to give the reader a good understanding of the overall Bible story from Genesis to Revelation. The 'E' stands for "essential" and helps to paint a picture of the big story of the book. It doesn't mean the rest doesn't matter but it's a good place to start.

The E100 website has some resources to help or there is a book with some commentary on each of the readings. If you are at all curious about the message of the Bible then this might be a way of letting you get a sense of the depth and richness of the text. Who knows where that might lead. We managed it.

Internet Safety and Responsible Use

2011-03-26T22:11:00.004Z

Ollie Bray has highlighted and allowed access to a great set of cartoons on Internet safety and responsible use in this blog post. These would be great for anyone organising some professional development on the subject. The full set of pictures are on Ollie's Flickr Photostream.

All of the pictures are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic License.

Including, Involving and Engaging

2011-03-26T15:29:00.003Z

Following some questions posed by Krish Kandiah in a recent blog post entitled "It Takes the Whole Church" we have just done some work in church (NMBC) on thinking how we ensure our children and young people are included, involved and engaged in the life of the church. We took the questions raised by Krish and used them as a basis for our discussion. These questions focussed on what we called six big themes. This is a very brief summary of what came out in our discussions:

The over-riding sense from the discussions is that including, involving and engaging children and young people means that they need consistent long term relationships with adults who are Godly and consistent in their own walk. These adults include parents, youth workers and a range of others who all make up the whole church family.

1. Hospitality

There was a strong focus in the discussion on the need for adults to behave in a consistent, Godly manner, to be generous in giving their time and resources and to be open to building a strong and stable community. Programmes and activities only help to support. They do not drive how children and young people feel welcomed, included, involved and engaged in the church family.

2. Joined Up Thinking

It is important that all those who work with children and young people get the chance to see the bigger picture. Parents and families need to work in partnership with church groups if there is to be a consistent message received by our children and young people. Parental involvement is key to ensuring joined up thinking across the church family.

3. Ethos of Encouragement

Encouraging our children and young people is far less about programmes and structures than it is about relationships and opportunities. Involvement of children and young people must not be tokenism. Real opportunities need to be exploited and developed across generations. We need to see s deep sense of volunteering developing and

becoming embedded.

4. Disciple Making and not just Head Filling

The discussion outcome led to a very clear sense that disciples don’t happen over-night. Disciple-making is a very long term process and we need to consider the very longer term impact of what we do, who we are and how we behave rather than on any short term gain of single programmes and activities.

5. Catching Fish and Leaky Buckets

An increasingly mobile population can result in reduced consistency and sense of being rooted in a single community. Again, it is clear that ongoing consistent relationships are key to keeping people in the family for whatever time they are around for. We need to think bigger about church and community as it changes so dramatically in the 21^st century.

6. Biblical Literacy

We live in times where literacy is changing. Digital literacy changes the way that people view written text. The idea of digital natives and digital immigrants gives rise to the view that different generations view the written scriptural text differently. This means that we need consider Biblical literacy differently from times before the internet and mobile technology. This gives opportunities and challenges for us as we seek to engage with Scripture in a variety of ways that include rather than exclude. This is a whole study in it’s own right!

And Finally ..

Thanks to everyone involved in the discussions. A particularly big thank you to Krish Kandiah for posing the questions and Martin Boyd from SU for helping us to understand it all as we are going. These will certainly help us in our next stages of thinking.

April 2011 Desktop Wallpaper

2011-03-26T08:41:00.001Z

April 2011 Desktop Wallpaper, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

April generally equates with the celebration of Easter (I know, it's sometimes in March!) and our annual attendance at Spring Harvest in Skegness. In order to get ready for this I thought that a photo taken of the Spring Harvest Big Top taken last year would make a nice bright desktop image. So here it is. The photo was taken with a Nikon D50 and Lensbaby Composer. The wallpaper was created with fd's Flickr Toys

Please feel free to download and use it yourself.

Contrasting Colours

2011-03-26T06:18:00.001Z

Colours, a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

Every week Digital Photography School sets a challenge. This week's challenge is to take a photograph which has bright and contrasting colours which are very dominant. As we head into spring the colours of the spring bulbs are always such a blessing. We don't just have the contrasting colours of the flowers themselves but the contrast of moving from the dark of winter to light of spring and the promise of summer,

This photo was taken using a Nikon D300S with a Tamron 18-200mm lens. It was set to aperture priority and underexposed slightly to get more of the richness of the colours.

You can see more of my photos on Flickr.

Post

2011-03-19T18:13:00.001Z

Post a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

This shot was taken for the Digital Photography School Weekly Challenge: Vibrant Colour at the National Museum of Flight in East Lothian.

Click here to find out more:

www.digital-photography-school.com/vibrant-color-weekly-p...

Trying Lightroom

2011-03-19T08:02:00.002Z

Adobe are currently offering the Lightroom 3.4 Release Candidate as a free download from their website so I thought I should give it a try. I have been using Photoshop Elements for a while and recently upgraded to version 9. I have heard a fair amount about Lightroom so thought I would take the chance to give it a whirl. It certainly provides a lot of features for photographic workflow but it also appears pretty complex. I think I shall need to use it for a while before I decide.

Off Camera Flash

2011-03-19T07:10:00.005Z

Sometimes my blog posts are just a way for me to take notes for future reference. If these notes end up being any use to anyone else then that's fine. For this post I am looking at using a flashgun wirelessly off camera. I have been trying to get a bit of a better handle on taking portrait photos without them looking really flat or with really unhelpful shadows all over them. The video below is from the Photo Answers website.

I am using a Nikon D300S and SB-600 flash gun.

To set up the built in camera flash the settings need to be:

Using the camera menu options custom setting menu

Select the "bracketing / flash" option
Select "flash cntrl for built in flash"
Scroll to "commander mode"
You can then stop light from the built in flash and select "TT"L for Group A
Finally check the channel number and press OK to save the settings

Now you need to set up the flash gun. I am not using the same one as the video so the steps are a little different

Press "ZOOM" and "-"
Use the "+" and "-" keys to select the remote symbol
Press "ZOOM" and "-" to finalise

That should be it. It's a bit of a fiddle but once it has been set up it seems to work fine.

Snow Drops

2011-03-16T21:31:00.001Z

Snow Drops a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

Spring is sitting in the corner shivering. The weather has taken a turn for the worse and the signs of spring have run for cover. It is the middle of March and yet we have snow on the ground again. I know it is not that unusual but we have really had enough snow for one year. It would be nice to feel the warmth of the sun again. It has been too long.

Waxwings

2011-03-15T21:44:00.001Z

Waxwing a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

It was Friday evening and beginning to get dark. It had been raining all day and the forecast was for snow. Snow in March! After this winter this was not a welcome weather forecast. It looked like a flock of starlings as they descended. There were about twenty of them. They weren't starlings at all but waxwings. They were after the berries on the bushes in the front garden. There had been reports earlier in the winter of waxwings in the west of Scotland. We had been looking out for them all winter but hadn't seen any sign.

As it was getting dark it was hard to get any descent photographs without camera shake. This one wasn't too bad but the focus is not as sharp as I would have liked.

After ten minutes feasting on the berries they all flew off together again and we haven't seen them since. They were a welcome visitor to our garden and we hope the get back to to their usual Eurpoean home without any problems.

Breakfast Time

2011-03-15T21:36:00.001Z

Breakfast a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

The heron had been flying backward and forward to the pond in the grounds of the Auchrannie all weekend. We couldn't see any fish in the pond so we were not sure what he was watching so intently. He stabbed at the water and appeared with what looked like a bunch of grass. It was only later that we realised that the bunch of grass was actually a frog.

I was happier with the breakfast offered at the hotel but the heron seemed quite content with what he had managed to find.

Being Surprised

2011-03-15T21:28:00.001Z

Otter a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

It was Saturday morning in Kildonan on the south side of Arran. We stopped the car to look for seals. It was cold, windy and threatening to rain. Catherine spotted one on a rock. We watched as it scrambled about with some food. I managed to focus more closely with the long lens on the camera. This was not the seal we expected. I have never seen an otter before. What a treat and surprise.

If we don't slow down and look more closely we will often miss something well worth seeing. Isn't it good to be ready to be surprised by what we see around us.

Spring is Sprung

2011-03-05T21:33:00.001Z

Gorse a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

Spring is definitely beginning to make itself known. We have had snowdrops, crocuses and dafodills all beginning to flower. As we donned our boots and went off walking today on the beautiful island of Arran it was clear that spring is coming. the gorse may not yet be in full bloom but it is coming. This photo was taken at Seal Point near Lamlash.

The colours at this time of the year always seem very fresh following the drabness of winter. As we look on to the spring, longer nights and warmer days I am struck by a number of things. Clearly the beauty of creation is a fundamental part of my thinking. I can't accept that this all came about by accident. As it says at the start of Genesis - God saw that it was good. If we take time we might just spot the hand of the creator this spring.
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The photo was taken using a Nikon D300S with a Tamron 18-200mm lens at f5.6 and 1/80s. If you click on the photo and access the EXIF data then you will be able to find out more about the technical detail of the photo.

Peace and Quiet

2011-03-05T09:43:00.001Z

A Room With a View a photo by Gordon McKinlay on Flickr.

"But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."
Luke 5:16 (NIV ©2011)

I am not suggesting that the Auchrannie Spa Resort on the beautiful island of Arran is a particularly lonely place but as I took myself out for a brief walk this morning I was struck by the quiet and the sense of tranquility that often evades me. It is good to come away for a while no matter how briefly and let the noise seep away. The last few weeks have been particularly frantic so this weekend is particularly timely.

The plan for the day involves not having a plan for the day. My diary rarely allows for such an idea! I have my camera and my walking boots and two of my girls as company.

As Winnie the Pooh is know to have said "Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits".

Lighting Up

2011-02-27T15:41:00.001Z

Christmas Rose
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

The sun is shining today. It is warm and feels as though spring might not be too far away. At this time of the year it can often feel very dull and everything feels mucky. The pavements are covered in sand and grit and there are very few signs of life in the garden. The Christmas rose is so much more obvious then with it's bright colour shining through in the midst of it all. The flower is so different to everything else round about it. A light in the darkness. We need more lights in the darkness.

Changes

2011-02-26T09:18:00.002Z

So when did the Blogger design interface change so radically? I have clearly not been looking for a while. I have just spent a wee bit of time giving the template a makeover. What do you think? It would appear that the flexibility of the templates is now far better. I can even upload my own photos for the background without having to measure out all the different dimensions, etc. A big step forward. Sorry it took me so long to realise.

Flickr as a Shop Front

2011-02-25T06:49:00.003Z

The Top of the Big Top
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

I have been using Flickr for ages now. I like being able to share my photos with a wider audience than just the poor souls in my family who have to suffer it every day. I have no intention of making a business out of my hobby but it is nice when someone asks if they can use one of my photos for something. It can also be a wee bit annoying when someone just decides to use a photo without asking! Flickr provides one way of having that shop front for my pictures. Just before Christmas I was asked if this photo could be used in a Spring Harvest publication. I am delighted and flattered to agree to these requests. I am not looking to make money out of it. It's just nice to see something you have done appear in print. Maybe when I get made redundant my view on the making of money will change!

Over the past year Strathclyde University, Scripture Union and now Spring Harvest have all used photos because they have appeared on Flickr. If you are looking for a way of letting the world see what you can do then it might be worth thinking about.

Click on the link below to download the Spring Harvest Newsline referred to.

We will be going to Spring Harvest in Skegness again this April. We are looking forward to it already! To find out more about Spring Harvest see below.

March 2011 Desktop Wallpaper

2011-02-19T07:23:00.001Z

March 2011 Desktop Wallpaper
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

I couldn't resist going back to some old photos of daffodils for the March desktop wallpaper. Everything seems so dark and gloomy at this time of year that I think we need cheered up a little. As the days lengthen just remember that spring will come again! The photo was taken using a Nikon D50 and standard 18-55mm lens.

The wallpaper image was created with fd's Flickr Toys

Please feel free to download and use this photo if you like it.

Peter Pan

2010-12-31T10:00:00.001Z

Peter Pan
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

We were out doing a little geocaching yesterday and one of the things we came across was this statue of Peter Pan in the grounds of the old Mearnskirk hospital.

Mearnskirk Hospital was officially opened in 1932 as a children's TB hospital. Over the years TB became less common (presumably because of social developments and a vaccination programme). Also, effective treatments for TB were introduced and the policy of long hospitalisation for tuberculosis and other infectious diseases died out. Mearnskirk developed to become a regional cardiothoracic centre, amongst other things.

In the 1990's the hospital and grounds were sold for residential development although some of the original buildings are still there.

The Peter Pan statue was erectedin 1949 as a memorial to Dr John Wilson, the first superintendant at Mearnskirk. It may be that Peter Pan was chosen because this was a children's hospital, however, it's believed that the father-in-law of Dr Dale (one of Dr Wilson's colleagues) had been one of J.M. Barrie's childhood friends in Kirriemuir. Only the top part of the original statue survives at the front of the Mearnskirk House NHS Continuing Care facility.

Find out more at by clicking here

January 2011 Desktop Wallpaper

2010-12-31T09:58:00.001Z

January 2011 Desktop Wallpaper
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

I was struggling a bit to find something I was happy with for the desktop wallpaper for January but I found this shot of the Clyde Arc taken last January. It was taken using a Nikon D50 and lensbaby Composer.

If you like it then please feel free to download and use it.

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

December 2010 Desktop Wallpaper

2010-11-21T08:24:00.001Z

December 2010 Desktop Wallpaper
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

This photo was taken in December 2009 following the heavy snow just before Christmas. It was taken near the weir at Waterfoot between Clarkston and Eaglesham on the south side of Glasgow. The wallpaper image was created with fd's Flickr Toys

November 2010 Desktop Wallpaper

2010-10-30T06:55:00.001+01:00

November 2010 Desktop Wallpaper
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

Every month I upload a photograph which seeks to depict something of that month that I can use as my desktop wallpaper. This month I tracked back to November 2008 when I was learning about taking night time photos.

This photos was taken of the SECC in Glasgow. The wallpaper image was created with fd's Flickr Toys.

If you like it then please download and use it.

Converting RAW Files

2010-10-09T09:04:00.001+01:00

Chesterfield Canal
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

I have been using Photoshop Elements v5 for a while. It allows me to do the basic editing without being to heavy on processing power. When I got my new camera, however, it couldn't read the RAW images created by the camera. I was thinking that I would need to upgrade to the new version of Elements. I have found out that I don't need to do that just yet. Adobe have a free utility called DNG Converter. This takes in a bunch of RAW files and converts them into universal RAW files that can be read by Photoshop. It adds another step in the workflow but at least I don't need to be in such a hurry to upgrade.

Autumn Colours

2010-10-02T16:43:00.001+01:00

Autumn Colours
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

I love the colours and textures at this time of the year. As we move into the autumn the light becomes much softer and allows some really nice images to be taken. Even although it was quite overcast today I was able to take some nice shots which really show the colours and textures well.

This photo was taken with a Nikon D300S with a Tamron 18-200 lens.

Exposure 1/100 sec
Aperture f/5
Focal Length 60 mm
ISO 200

October 2010 Desktop Wallpaper

2010-09-26T07:48:00.001+01:00

October 2010 Desktop Wallpaper
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

This photo of the Maid of the Loch on Loch Lomond was taken in October 2009. The calendar image was created with fd's Flickr Toys

If you like it then please feel free to download it and use it.

Geocaching App

2010-09-05T15:58:00.002+01:00

We have been out of a lovely walk on a very pleasant Sunday afternoon. While were out we managed to find a couple of geocaches using C:GEO on Philippa's Android phone. If you are looking for an app that is easy to use, free and works on Android then you will struggle to find an app that is any better than this. You need access to a 3G network and GPS in the phone. once you have that sorted the rest is easy. You can search for caches near to where you are, read the logs and even log your find while you are out on the field. One of the big plusses is that it is free! Very highly recommended.

September 2010 Desktop Wallpaper

2010-08-28T09:37:00.001+01:00

September 2010 Desktop Wallpaper
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

This month I have trawled back through some photos from a couple of years ago. This shot was taken in Crail, Fife in September 2007. The calendar was created with fd's Flickr Toys

If you like the picture then please feel free to download it and use it yourself.

Using the ipad - Part 3

2010-08-12T07:17:00.004+01:00

In this post I am going to jot down some notes on my reflections on battery life with my new iPad. I am not going to do any form of test. You can find plenty of information like this elsewhere on the web...

iPad Battery Life Seems to Exceed Apple Expectations
iPad test notes - batter life

Apple itself claims:

Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
Up to 9 hours of surfing the web using 3G data network

I have never believed the battery life figures in the technical specifications for any device. They never seem to reflect real life. It has been nice, therefore, to use the iPad and realise that the battery does last for a long time! I have been using it with wi-fi and 3G both switched on. That should reduce the battery life a bit but it still seems to go on and on and on! The big downside to that is that you forget to charge it all and it then comes as a bit of a surprise when the battery goes flat.

Charging can be done either from the wall socket or via the USB cable. You have to remember that Apple changed the pin configuration on the docking port a couple of years ago and older USB cables won't charge the iPad at all. This is the same issue that you might have if you have an iPod Touch and an older generation iPod. I don't know why Apple insist on doing this! Anyway, charging takes a fair wee while and considerably longer using USB so I would tend to try to remember to plug it in at bed time to make sure it is fully charged before going out on a trip.

My own wee experiment this weekend meant that I started with a fully charged ipad on Friday night. I kept both wifi and 3G switched on. I used it for a range of tasks over Friday night and Saturday. This including web surfing (both wifi and 3G access), using Pages to draft documents, email, listening to music, reading an ibook and watching video. The battery lasted at least 9 hours before it finally gave up. Whilst not a scientific test I am absolutely convinced that this is the longest battery life of anything I have ever used. Well done Apple for managed to develop a mobile device with that sort of battery life!

Using the ipad - part 2

2010-08-09T06:54:00.004+01:00

In this post I will cover my experience of general usage of my new ipad. I only bought it a couple of weeks ago so am still learning as I go. This may mean that some of my thoughts change in time. I will look at a few sub headings within this post. What follows contains a number of negative comments as these are the wee niggles that I have pickjed up in the last couple of weeks. I should point out, however, that my overall impression is a very positive one. I wouldn't swap it for anything and it really fulfils the roll I need it to fulfil.

Browsing the web
The ipad has a built in version of the Safari browser. This works fine in the main. As it is Apple Flash is not an option. If you are an iPhone or Mac user then you will already be used to that. Multiple windows are possible but the browsing is not tabbed and doesn't appear to cache either. If you open a number of web pages and then go out of wifi or 3G range then you will only be able to view the current page. Where a web page has content within it that can be moved around (such as a Google map part) I can't work out how to move around in the web part without moving the whole web page. If anyone has worked that out then please let me know.

Reading Files
iBooks allows the user to read epub files and pdfs. There is an online store for downloading titles. There are many classics available at no cost which is where I have started. The screen is very comfortable to read from, even for me! There are also many other sources of free eoub and pdf ebooks which can be downloaded. You can't do this on your ipad, however unless you use a separate reader such as GoodReader. The easiest way of getting ebooks is to use another computer download them there and then add them to the iTunes library. Once this is done they will sync the next time the ipad is connected. This is not ideal and I don't know why Apple have this locked down so much.

I use DropBox to synchronise files between our main desktop PC and our laptops. There is also a free iPad version pf DropBox which I have installed. This allows the user to download any files in the DropBox folder on your computer and to save or edit them in an appropriate application. For example pdf files can be downloaded directly into the iBook reader and MS Word files into iWork Pages. Unfortunately it doesn't work the other way round. The only files that DropBox allows me to upload are photos and videos. This is a bit of a pain.

Editing Files
Quick notes can be taken using the Notes app. This is fine when you are jotting things down but it does not allow you to do any fancy editing.

Evernote is a web based application for taking and editing notes which I have been using on other platforms for a while. There is an iPad version which has much the same functionality. This is a really useful mobile way of being able to enter and store data for access anywhere that you have wifi or 3G access. Using Evernote on the ipad is a good experience although I have yet to work out how to use some of the organisation functionality.

For more serious off-line word processing I have paid for iWork Pages. So far I have not even thought about Keynote and Numbers. Pages is great. It allows me to edit and save MS Word files and can also export to pdf. I don't think the ipad is the sort of environment where I would want to try to do much by way of fancy desk top publishing but entering and editing text, formatting and adding the odd graphic file works very easily. Word files that have tables in them can be a bit more fiddly as the tables seem to float over the page resulting (at least for me) with me struggling not to move the table around).

Video, Photos and Music
Video, photos and music in the itunes library can be synchronised with the ipad. As I only have the 16G version I have been quite careful about how much I have added. I also have an ipod which I use in the car so I am not really looking for the ipad to take over as the source of all my music. Apart from anything else I have about 70G of music files so I couldn't fit them all on even the biggest version. These areas all produce lovely results. It's great being able to show people photos on a decent sized screen and watching video on the device is an absolute joy!

Syncing with a PC
I use MS Outlook on a PC for all my contacts, diary, etc. iTunes allows all of these to be synchronised with the ipad. This is very useful as it allows me to add entries when I am away from my desk and know that they will update on the home computer as well. As mentioned above, iTunes is the means by which all files are transferred in and out of the ipad. This is a bit clunky and I would like to see an improvement on how this works.

In Summary
That's a bit of a whistle stop tour of general usage of the ipad. It may raise more questions than it answers. If that is the case then I will do my best to answer these questions! As I said, it is a great piece of kit and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for something portable and usable. It is certainly working for me.

Some Questions on the ipad

2010-08-09T06:25:00.002+01:00

Chris had a few questions about the ipad so I'll deal with these before moving on to my planned comments over the next few posts.

This doesn't need to hitch onto someone's WiFi, right?

The version of the ipad I bought has both wifi and 3G. I already had a 3G contract for 1G a month for £5 so I am using that contract. In the Apple Store in Glasgow they were offering a number of fairly good 3G contracts varying from about 500M a month up to 10G a month.

When we were away last week there was very poor mobile phone access at the site so I couldn't access email, etc there. When I went off site I managed to get good quality 3G in North Berwick, Haddington and Dunbar and it worked very well indeed. It is not as fast as wifi but good none the less. If I am out and about I am likely to use wifi if I can get it. For example in Starbucks or BeanScene.

Is that expensive to use?

It doesn't look as though it's going to be too expensive. I have avoided video, etc when using 3G but last week I used less than 150M of my monthly allowance so it doesn't look as though I am going to have much of a problem.

Did you download files onto it before you went off?

I downloaded a number of files to the ipad before I went. I had all my notes and stuff. I also had a number of pdf files for reference which sit within iBooks for reading very comfortably. I have the DropBox app installed so if I have forgotten anything then I can get it that way.

I would have to say that syncing and sharing files is the most clunky part of the system and I will go into that in more detail another day.

Did you upload photos using the iPad?

No. At the moment I have no way of getting images directly from my camera to the ipad so can't upload to Flickr, etc. If I had synced files previously using iTunes then I could have uploaded them.

I use nothing but Macs - will I find it a smaller version of what I do already, or is there much to learn?

I am finding it quite a different experience from using a Mac. Folk have likened it to a big iphone. That is both a good and a poor analogy. The applications can be the same but the way they work feels very different.

I am using the Pages part of iWork to do word processing for example. This feels quite like it always did on a Mac. The touch sensitive keyboard is great and I find I can type very fast. Handling files is nothing like anything I have dealt with before.

In summary, I am finding it very easy to learn but quite different from anything else I have ever used.

I hope this answers those questions. If I have time tonight then I will start on the next post and hopefully spend a wee bit more time on it. I hope this is helpful to someone out there.

Using the iPad - part 1

2010-08-08T16:25:00.001+01:00

So I have bought an iPad and been using it for a couple of weeks. It is now time to start writing about my experiences so far. I took it away to SU camp last week and used it exclusively for all my notes, files, email, etc. I think this has given me a fair idea of what it is good at and what is a bit clunky. I am going to write a few posts about my experiences in the hope that what I write might be useful for those of you who are thinking about whether it is for you or not.

We bought the 16G 3G version. I had been looking for something for ages and went into the Apple store in Glasgow feeling quite sceptical about whether Apple could actually deliver on the hype. Within a few minutes I was completely hooked. I have used Macs ever since the Mac Plus nearly 25 years ago so I am well aware of the way Apple insists on locking things down. I don't, however have a Mac these days and have been syncing this one with our desktop PC.

So what will I comment on in the next few posts?

1. General use
2. Battery life
3. Sharing files
4. 3G access - the micro SIM
5. Not sure what else...

So that's the plan. I hope it will be interesting and genuinely useful.

August 2010 Desktop Wallpaper

2010-07-29T06:05:00.001+01:00

August 2010 Desktop Wallpaper
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

This month's desktop wallpaper was taken from the top of Berwick Law last August. The wallpaper was then created with fd's Flickr Toys

If you like the picture then please feel free to download and use it yourself.

Preparation

2010-07-28T07:32:00.001+01:00

Preparation
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

This is a week of preparation. Next week we are off to Scoughall in East Lothian to lead an SU holiday again. Having recently purchased a shiny new iPad we are trying to reduce the amount of paper we use by doing as much preparation as possible on the device. We are using DropBox to access files over home wifi and 3G and Apple Pages for editing files. It is all working extremely well and we are very impressed with how easy it is to use.

I will say more about the ipad here over the next few weeks as I get used to it:

July 2010 Desktop Wallpaper

2010-07-15T07:23:00.001+01:00

July 2010 Desktop Wallpaper
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

Better late than never. We have been away on holiday over the start of July so the monthly desktop calendar did not get uploaded. Here it is finally! The picture is of a lovely bridge in Glasgow city centre taken last July.

If you like the picture then please download and use it for your own computer.

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

Signs of Summer

2010-06-20T07:54:00.001+01:00

Signs of Summer #3
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

This is one of a short series of photos I am taking this week to distract me from some difficult stuff at work. The series is called "Signs of Summer" and the idea is quite simply to try to capture some images that make me think of the summer months.

The strawberries in the back garden are a little late this year. As you can see they are still very green. There are few things that remind us more of summer and the sunshine and pleasant afternoons in the garden.

This photo was taken with my Nikon D50 and lensbaby composer with macro adapter. There are more signs of summer in my Flickr photostream.

My Other Blog

2010-05-29T09:18:00.003+01:00

I have another blog. It's not a big deal but for the past few months I have been keeping a separate blog which has focussed far more on reflections on my Christian faith. It is not that I feel that I have to keep work and faith separate. Anyone who knows me knows that that is just not going to happen! It is merely that I have been looking at a way to categorise things better. If you are interested then you can find my reflective ramblings by clicking here (http://gordonsreflections.blogspot.com). If not then walk on by without comment. I will still be posting here from time to time as things crop up so don't go away.

Spending on Scottish Education

2010-05-29T09:05:00.002+01:00

As I have been working on understanding the broad range of my current remit I have been trying to do some reading around the big issues facing us at this time. A report by the Centre for Public Policy for Regions caught my eye as it passed over my desk. The report, entitled "Spending on School Education", gives a great outline for anyone interested on how the regions of the UK compare. The report highlights the fact that spending on education in Scotland tends to be higher in Scotland than in other areas of the UK. There is, however, huge variation across local authority areas and many factors have to be included to make any form of sensible comparison.

The report also highlights the "flat lining" of attainment in Scotland whilst it has been improving in other areas. The other point here, however, is that Scottish education clearly provides very outcomes for a large number of young people.

The complexity of the arguments and issues are evident but the report makes very interesting reading nonetheless. This is particularly important as we are looking at what is really important at a time of real financial constraint. Whatever role we play in the education system, we all need to do some of this deep thinking to make sure we continue to ensure positive outcomes for our children and young people.

June 2010 Desktop Wallpaper

2010-05-29T06:29:00.001+01:00

June 2010 Desktop Wallpaper
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

Every month I select a photograph to use as my desktop wallpaper. Is use one of the online tools from fd Flickr toys to add the calendar inlay.

I took this photo of a dandelion seed head last weekend using my Nikon D50 and Lensbaby Composer with 10x macro adapter.

If you like the picture then please feel free to download it and use it.

Maintaining Some Balance

2010-05-16T08:08:00.001+01:00

I have not posted very much to this blog for the past wee while. I am going through another of those dry patches. This is not so much because I have nothing to say about curriculum for excellence, professional development, learning and teaching or a myriad of other educational issue that usually crowd out my thinking. Rather it is due to a recent change in job. I am currently doing a acting post within Renfrewshire which has taken me away from the curriculum and placed me fair and square in the middle of a very different set of issues related to budgets, buildings and bodies (my summary of the remit). As these are not areas that I am particularly able to blog about for one reason or another the posts have become somewhat sparing. The change of remit has also meant that I have been incredibly busy learning the new remit, etc.

So bear with me as I learn to balance my new responsibilities (for however long the last) with my old, find my feet and generally get a handle on what is and is not important. I will continue to post the odd photography post and educational snippet when I can.

May 2010 Desktop Wallpaper

2010-05-03T07:24:00.001+01:00

May 2010 Desktop Wallpaper
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

I uploaded the May 2010 desktop wallpaper to Flickr last week but forgot to update th link to the blog. Here it is. I took this shot last May on the Clyde coast when we spent a lovely day on Cumbrae. May is often a beautiful month with all sorts of things coming to life, longer days and things coming to a conclusion for the session.

I wonder what this May will bring? As I recently took up an acting post at work it is proving to be very busy as I mix my old and new jobs together. The post will probably be advertised and interviewed before the summer so May is likely to be busy. Perhaps this means that this picture is about as close as I will get to the peace and tranquillity that I love.

If you like the picture then please feel free to visit the Flickr page and download the original size image for your own desktop.

The Travel Turtle

2010-05-03T07:06:00.002+01:00

The Travel Turtle
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

It's a beautiful, bright, cold and frosty Monday holiday at the start of May. We have a day off and are planning to head out geocaching for the day. If you don't know what geocaching is then you have clearly not been reading my blog for all that long. The video gives a really good explanation and you can go to www.geocaching.com to find out more.

The picture shows a new travel bug that we intend releasing today. These are small objects with a code number on them. The code takes you to a special page on the geocaching website to log details of where it is going. The idea is that geocachers will move the travel bug from cache to cache as they go. We currently have another five bugs which we released a couple of years ago. They don't always make it and one of them went missing whilst another appears to have been lost at the bottom of someone's bag for six months! The others have travelled round the world with one currently in Hong Kong and another is the USA.

So it's just a bit of harmless fun that gets us out and walking on a nice day. It has nothing to do with work and that is good! I wonder, therefore, how far the Travel Turtle will get? Bon Voyage!

Slow Water

2010-04-25T07:32:00.002+01:00

Slow Water
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

We were out geocaching yesterday and trying out the new lens to see how it is working. I am always a wee bit suspicious of a lens that covers such a large range (18-300mm) but it is quite nice having a single lens when out and about.

I didn't have a tripod with me so perched the camera on a fence post so that I could hold it steady for the 1/5sec exposure required to take this shot of the water at Roukenglen.

Cruel Nails

2010-04-02T19:15:00.001+01:00

Cruel Nails
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

Today is not about chocolate eggs and bunnies. It is not just a day off work. Today we remember a day long ago when a man was crucified for all mankind. Read Mark 15 and remember him.

I took this photo this morning as I was thinking about how I could create something which represented Good Friday. I used my Nikon D50 and Lensbaby Composer with macro adapter.

April 2010 Desktop Wallpaper

2010-03-28T16:39:00.001+01:00

April 2010 Desktop Wallpaper
Originally uploaded by Gordon McKinlay

This photo was shot wusing my Nikon D50 with Lensbaby Composer and macro adapter. The lily flowers are not particularly April like but as I was quite pleased with the shot I thought I would use it anyway! THe caledndar was added using fd's Flickr Toys

All comments are gratefully received. Please feel free to download it and use it yourself.