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mainswriters · 2 years

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Bundle files premiere cc 2017

#Bundle files premiere cc 2017 update#

#Bundle files premiere cc 2017 pro#

#Bundle files premiere cc 2017 free#

After Effects got some love and that is detailed by Adobe as well. The Adobe blogs has more on all the new features as well.

#Bundle files premiere cc 2017 pro#

Those are a few of the things I noticed while working with Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2017 today. It will save some steps for those social media tycoons as they export video from PPro to go to the web. That’s a nice reminder.Ī new social publishing pane was demoed at Adobe MAX today but is not in the new release. If you try to apply one of those old audio effects you get a message that can apply the new one. These have been updated with more modern effects from Audition. Hit the Effects tab and you’ll see a bunch of old audio effects. Note that this fx disable DOES NOT stick on output. You have to add this button from the Program monitor Button Editor or via keyboard shortcut. It will “temporarily disable all non-intrinsic effects in a sequence.” That means things like Scale, Position, Rotation remain while filters will be disabled. Man … it took a lot of years to get this feature. Push they keyboard keys and it’ll show you exactly what is mapped. There are a lot of PPro shortcuts and they are a lot easier to map with the new Visual Keyboard Editor. This makes life a lot easier when mapping keys and no more overwriting a layout with the same name is saves your settings when you close the keyboard editor. It’s nice to have a nice, big visual keyboard editor.

#Bundle files premiere cc 2017 update#

The biggest thing I noticed while working in the update today is the new clip and sequence icons.īy comparison, the old PPro interface feels a lot more crowded. Nothing too dramatic but enough to let you know it’s new There’s been a redesign of some icons and interface elements. The first thing you’ll notice is a subtle update to the interface. Most of the features have been covered as Adobe talked about the update at IBC and we covered it here. Old versions of the app can’t open new projects. I always leave the old version of PPro behind. And be careful if you don’t want overwrite the old version. But you might want to read this first if you’re in the middle of a project. If you haven’t checked your Creative Cloud app then do so now and get your updates on. You can watch a replay of the Adobe MAX keynote here. These are being called the 2017 release to take us into the new year. It was a big day for Adobe the Adobe MAX conference kicked off and a who batch of updated Adobe CC video tools went live. Premiere Pro CINEPACKS Extension to Streamline All Packs directly into Premiere Pro.A new Premiere Pro means a new splash screen.LIGHTDROPS (200+ Light Transitions Overlays 4K & 8K).HYPNOTINKS – 200 Colorfully Abstract Ink Backgrounds.GLAM! (100+ Glitter Bokeh Overlays 4K, 6K).FRACTAL (150 Experimental Light 4K, 6K, 8K).CINEDUST (100 Authentic Dust Mattes 4K, 6K, 8K).LEAKPUNCH (14 4K Light Leak Transtion Mattes).ANAMORPHIC CREAMS V2 (Over 150 Real Anamorphic & Spherical Glares – 8K).ANAMORPHIC CREAMS (Over 75 Real Anamorphic Glares – 4K).FILMMAKER VFX Suite + 4K Elements – Film Look Toolkit.DISRUPTION VFX Suite + 4K Elements – Glitch Toolkit.FRIGHT NIGHT Horror Pack (7 After Effects Horror Titles – SFX – Color Presets).HAZE – (Over 150 Fog – Fire – Lens Damage Elements).TRAILERPUNCH – (65 Cinematic Styles and Mixes for Trailers).The Ultimate TRANSITIONS SOUND PACK (475 Transition SFX – 24bit).TRANSITIONPUNCH (1200+ Transition Presets for Adobe Premiere CS6 & Above).TRANSITIONPUNCH 5.0 Drag & Drop with SFX (Premiere CC2017 & Above).Get Creative with CINEPUNCH!įOREVER GROWING & EVOLVING! UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES!

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#Bundle files premiere cc 2017

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acollectionofhalftruths · 4 years

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Better son and/or foot of this hill?

I talked about Better Son here but here is another snippet!

Qui-Gon narrowed his eyes. “The Council can shove it.”

Running from the Healing Halls, wading in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, talking back. He was testing his boundaries, trying to find where the line was before he was in danger of reproof. Anakin had done much the same at that age--felt the need to test those closest to him, to prove that even when he was disobedient and lashing out, they wouldn’t turn their backs on him. Obi-Wan raised one eyebrow and folded his arms into his cloak sleeves. “I am the Council.”

“Oh, right.” He sloshed out of the fountain onto the grass and wrung out his tunic. “Then I don’t know what you’re worried about.”

“At the foot of this hill” is a canon compliant one-shot set a year or two before ANH where Luke and Beru get caught in a sandstorm on Tatooine, and he ends up using the Force to get them to safety.

Luke looked up from the broken droid, his forehead furrowed, gaze distant.

“What’s wrong, Luke?”

He turned his head like he hadn’t heard her and stared at the eastern horizon toward the mountains. Beru tightened the bolt on the evaporator’s filter and wiped her forehead on her wrist. “Luke?”

Her nephew looked up at her and finally saw her. “I have a bad feeling.”

A bad feeling. She frowned. Luke’s bad feelings were right more often than not. She closed the filter door and turned to the speeder where the rifle and the macrobinoculars sat on the front seat. Adjusting the knob, she peered at the horizon where he’s been staring, and Luke shifted beside her, his boots tapping dully on the ground.

There, in the distance, a haze hung over the edge of the world. Tinted green by the lens, it almost looked like a mirage, but there was a heaviness to it that made the hair on her arms stand on end. The wind hit her the next moment, kicking up grit that stung her face. A sand storm.

They had maybe five minutes before it hit the ridge, ten if they drove fast.

Beru dropped the macrobinoculars into the speeder. “Grab the droid. We have to go.”

#my writing #asks #thanks! < 3

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hanopem-blog · 5 years

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The best polarized sunglasses you can buy

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Ray-Ban/Facebook

The Insider Pick: · The best polarized sunglasses for you are going to vary based on the shape of your face and the activities you plan to engage in, but our favorite all-around unisex pick for those of you who plan to do a bit of everything is

Ray-Ban's Clubmasters with an aluminum frame

While sunscreen and skin care have been a popular topic in light of a recent FDA ruling on ingredient listing requirements, many of us neglect to give our eyes the protection they deserve. Cheaply designed sunglasses that we don't mind scratching may seem like the way to go when they're so easy to lose and scratch regardless of cost, but poorly designed sunglasses often leave our retinas exposed to harmful UV rays that can lead to macular degeneration, cataracts, and myriad other troubles down the line.

Then there are more immediate matters for concern, like snow blindness, especially when we're near water, which is highly reflective in all its physical states. While snow blindness clears after a few days, it will leave you with the unpleasant sensation of having something along the lines of smoldering embers trapped inside your eyes, which is a mild nuisance at very best.

When choosing a pair of sunglasses — no matter how much you want to spend, and whether they're polarized or not — make certain that the lenses have a UV rating of 400, which indicates that they effectively prevent the maximum wavelength of UV rays (measured in nanometers) from passing through to your own lenses.

Polarized lenses add another level of protection by reducing glare brought on by reflection, or horizontal light. While not always necessary, polarized lenses are generally worth having, even if you go for a cheap pair. The main difference with a cheap pair of polarized shades is that you won't have the clarity of a high-grain glass or quality resin, which might leave you squinting a lot, and you'll have a harder time seeing your phone screen while wearing them, which, in our opinion, is worth dropping a few extra dollars for most people.

The best polarized sunglasses overall

Sunglass Hut

Why you'll love them: The lightweight but sturdy aluminum frame and thick, scratch- and shatter-resistant metal-rimmed glass lenses keep the timeless

Ray-Ban Clubmasters

on par with the best.

Thick glass lenses held by an aluminum frame make the Ray-Ban Clubmasters an easy, nearly indestructible choice for people on the move, and while they're still among the more popular — and arguably tired — designs, they at least give the Aviator and Wayfarer shapes a rest.

I was gifted a pair a couple of years ago, and while it's safe to say almost every pair of shades I've owned before or since has taken on a scratch or two at least, this pair has survived just about everything. I should add that I'm extremely rough on sunglasses. I even managed to sit on this pair — strictly for testing purposes — and unbend it from an unnatural 45-degree angle without creasing, let alone snapping the bridge piece.

I've also dropped and kicked them (again, for testing) across fiberglass decks, marble floors, and concrete sidewalks, and they've somehow survived it all. These things are just simply not like the others.

Aesthetically, the Clubmasters seem to suit just about every face shape and outfit, no matter how formal or relaxed, and perhaps that's why they're so iconic. While they lack the full wraparound protection of sportier options, we don't assume most of you will be bopping about town in what could reasonably be mistaken for a tinted pair of safety goggles pilfered from your father's workshop — We certainly won't be. But we'll never judge, and if we're completely out of touch, there's an option below for you, too.

Pros: Fit for any occasion, sturdy

Cons: A small amount of light passes through the sides, which doesn't make for the best protection in direct sunlight

Buy the Ray-Ban Clubmasters with aluminum frames from Sunglass Hut for $213

Buy the folding Ray-Ban Clubmasters with acetate frames from Sunglass Hut for $233

The best polarized sunglasses for the great outdoors

Maui Jim

Why you'll love them:

Maui Jim's World Cup polarized sunglasses

are built with high-quality carbonate lens and frames that thoroughly prevent stray light.

While polarized lenses are a given, the best sunglasses for a day at sea are only as good as their frames. And since most of us won't probably won't succumb to wearing cataract sunglasses or the like— at least not until our rightful time — Maui Jim's World Cup shadeswill better than suffice.

Apart from their renowned lenses, Maui Jim's World Cups are designed to seal potential gaps where stray light gets in with a design that cups your eyes and offers full wraparound protection. This induces a goggle-like effect that some may find unflattering, but they're not nearly as loud or clunky as other options, and should be low-profile enough if you find yourself strolling the street after you've left the beach.

A similar, more affordable on-the-water option is Native Eyewear's Sightcaster, which is similar in design and profile, but about half the price. The Sightcasters come with Native's interchangeable N3 lenses, along with a lifetime warranty, which might be reason enough to choose them over Maui Jim's World Cups, whether you're on a budget or not. And, to appease your inner environmentalist, their frames are constructed using a castor oil as opposed to traditional petroleum.

Yet one more good option, which we must highlight for anglers, is Smith's Guide's Choice. While they're probably a little large for the more casual crowd, their larger lenses and frames, along with the rubber nose pad that keeps them from sliding, make these a great pair of polarized glasses for sportier souls.

Pros: Full wraparound sides, Maui Jim's scratch- and solvent-resistant SuperThin glass lenses, corrosion-resistant hinge springs

Cons: Maybe not styled for some, expensive, a brief 2-year warranty

Buy the Maui Jim World Cup polarized sunglasses from Sunglass Hut for $229

Buy the Native Eyewear Sightcaster polarized sunglasses on Amazon for $108.71

The best sustainable polarized sunglasses

Best sustainable polarized sunglasses Frames Direct

Why you'll love them: Detailed but still sleek,

Costa x Bureo's Pescador polarized sunglasses

are made from sustainable materials.

Sunglass manufacturer Costa recently teamed up with skateboard company Bureo, which has been producing these sunglasses with frames made entirely from recycled fishing nets. Now that Costa is popping its high-end glass lenses into the glasses, they're a little pricier, but we think they're worth it. Plus, you get to help out the environment and a Chilean fishing community through your purchase.

A slightly sportier take on Wayfarers, Costa x Bureo's Pescadors are tumble-finished for a detailed finish and grip to keep them neatly propped on the bridge of your nose. The lenses are Costa's patented 580 Lightwave glass, and they offer full 400 nm UV protection while selectively filtering out high energy visible light (blue light) and yellows to cut haze and offer better crispness, which any angler ought to appreciate.

Anglers should also take Maui Jim's World Cups to scrutinize over light in basically the same way, but these glass lenses are much more scratch resistant, and potentially more durable — We'll report back on our findings once we've had them for a while.

For a less-expensive, similarly eco-friendly and sustainable pair of sunnies, check out Swell Vision's Women's or Classic unisex glasses, which are made from bamboo. They're ultra-lightweight, come with sturdy double-jointed metal hinges that allow for a little play in the temples, and did we mention that they float?

Pros: Sustainably made, high-end lenses, full 400 nm UV protection

Cons: Pricey

Buy the Costa X Bureo Pescador polarized sunglasses for $199.99

Buy the Swell Vision Classic polarized sunglasses for $99.00

Buy the Swell Vision Women's polarized sunglasses for $99.00

The best polarized sunglasses with a prescription

Warby Parker

Why you'll love them: If you don't want to spend upwards of $500 on a pair of prescription sunnies,

Warby Parker

has a ton of styles ranging from $175 for a basic prescription to $375 for progressive lenses.

Born out of necessity by traveling students who were fed up with replacing overpriced glasses, Warby Parker has established itself as the budget-friendly, socially-responsible option for prescription lenses and sunglasses alike.

While you'll spend a small fortune ordering prescription lenses along with some of the other frames on this list, Warby Parker covers a good swathe of styles while staying kind to your wallet. The company also promises that for every pair of glasses sold, a pair will be donated to someone in need.

If you can afford them, it would be hard to build a case for not buying your sunglasses from Warby Parker, but they do fall short of offering a set of frames that cater to sportier souls who might like or require a pair that offers a little better protection from stray light.

In most every aspect, Warby Parker should probably have you covered. We like the sleekness of the unisex Durand model, but they touch on everything from aviators and wayfarers to Lennons and Jackies.

Pros: Affordable, durable

Cons: No warranty (apart from one-year scratch repairs), no thick frames for protection from intense, direct sunlight

Shop Warby Parker's prescription sunglasses starting at $175

— (

Men's

)(

Women's

)

The best cheap polarized sunglasses

Amazon

Why you'll love them:

Gamma Ray's Polarized Wraparound Sport

and

Cheaters

are fully serviceable shades for an exponentially lower price than the rest of the sunglasses we recommend, so losing them won't keep you up at night.

If you're looking for a cheap pair of driving lenses, or just aren't willing to dish out for another pair of Ray-Bans or Maui Jims because you've lost and broken so many that it hurts, a pair or threeof either Gamma Ray's Polarized Cheaters (a Wayfarer-style) or Wrap Around Sports (the sportier version pictured above) should do you well.

While they're nowhere near as durable as the other sunglasses we're recommending here, they do come with a lifetime warranty (though we haven't tested it, yet) against both scratching and shattering. If you can manage to find a case for them, they might last a whole lot longer.

Gamma Ray has gotten praise from both Wirecutter for the Cheatermodel, and Lifehacker for its computer glasses. Meanwhile, more than 400 Amazon buyers gave the Wrap Around Sports an average of four stars, and nearly a thousand Amazon buyers gave the Cheaters an average of 4.1 stars.

Pros: Metal-reinforced hinges, budget-friendly

Cons: Cheap nylon frames will break if you're not careful

Buy the Gamma Ray Polarized Cheaters on Amazon for $8.99 per pair or $16.99 for a three pack

Buy the Gamma Ray Polarized Wrap Around Sports on Amazon for $12.99

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Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the

Insider Picks

team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team.

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photographytips00 · 3 years

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High Contrast Fashion Photo.

why spend hours when you can spend just minutes creating dynamic photo effects instantly today we are looking at the top 10 free photoshop actions, and while freeze nice you can't beat the guaranteed quality of a premium photoshop action, so i've also gathered up some of the best premium photoshop actions the internet has to offer all found on envato elements get unlimited downloads of design assets templates and fonts with envato elements millions of creative digital assets with simple commercial licensing and you can cancel anytime subscribe now with the link down in the description let's start with some of the best premium resources you can find.

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and traditional drawing now for our top 10 free photoshop actions the free vintage red action pulls out the red tones of any image for a vibrant reddish gold cast great for fashion portraits and ideal for cosplay photography while soft and warm photos are lovely sometimes you need something cold, and intense intensify provides just that capture the sharp edges of a winter's day with winter breeze a chilly action that will turn the warmest photos into a winter wonderland a soft creamy cast is perfect for animal and landscape shots alike use the free creamy photoshop action to bring your audience into a warm summer's day some scenes are just best suited to timeless black and white,

and that is exactly what this pack of bold black and white actions has to offer to some photographers a light leak might be a defect, but to many it's a feature bring them to your photos for free with light leak no reason to scrap those dull and lifeless images just yet the free photoshop action colourpop can bring out the hidden color in any photo looking for something on the darker side instantly give any photo a dark, and moody vibe with the nightmare photoshop action relive a past sunny day with the lens flare driven action summer haze finishing up our top 10 free list we have the sunlight,

and sundown action this action can bring either a warm sunny glow or a dark midnight blue depending on your mood let's finish up with five more premium photoshop actions that will take your work to the next level just as the name suggests this premium action allows you to create an ever trendy double exposure effect to your photos quickly, and easily seeking hot results for frozen scenes try out the premium winter photoshop action this unique action has it all rain snow or shine there's an effect for every occasion trying to capture the look of your favorite film you can now bring them to your work instantly with this pack of 18 center stock photoshop actions great with photography,

but not so good at painting no worries use this action to transform your photos into beautiful watercolor works of art topping up our list we have the pinhole photography photoshop action use this set of beautiful, but straightforward presets to speed up your work, and produce a pinhole color grade technique with just a few clicks, and that does it for our roundup of the top 10 best premium and free photoshop actions creating amazing photo effects on a budget has never been easier want any of the premium resources featured here today subscribe to enviro elements to access millions of creative digital assets including everything you've seen here and thousands of blog courses,

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littledraga · 7 years

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Pretty Photograph

Prompto and Noctis want to do nothing for summer vacation, Gladiolus has other plans. A candid photo of Iris helps Prompto realize he can make friends.

The first day of summer vacation had come for Prompto and Noctis and both boys had full intention of living up to its fullest potential. In Prompto’s living room, both boys laid on the couch. Noctis using his arm as a pillow as he stared off into space, enjoying the music that was playing. Prompto on the other hand had chosen to sit upside down, feet leaning against the wall, and his head bobbing to the beat, blond locks brushing along the floor. This moment was everything they wanted in a vacation, windows up warm winds blowing in the sounds of summer into the house. The sounds were drowning in the music, the heavy beat of the drums taking over the sounds of traffic, the stray scream and laughter of children occasionally drifted above the sound. With a heavy, happy sigh, Prompto looked of his friend, grinning when he saw Noctis doing the same. If they ever had to move again, it would be too soon, he thought, but such thoughts were invitations of misfortune.

A heavy thud rattled the walls, causing the CD to skip in it’s player, and the duo to jump up in fright, at least Noctis jumped up. Prompto tumbled to the ground in a heap, trying to scramble to his feet as he heard a loud voice boom through his home.

“Prince Lazy! It’s almost five in the evening, you’re late for training!” Gladiolus walked into the house and into Prompto’s living room, not bothering to remove his shoes. Prompto opened his mouth to protest him walking in with shoes, but quickly closed it again. The body guard was far too intimidating to worry about scuffs on the hardwood floors, besides, his mom was unlikely to see him long enough to scold him about it anyway. Noctis however let out a loud sigh, shoulders slumping into a pout.

“It’s vacation, Gladio! Can’t I have a few days where I don’t have to do anything?” Noctis whined, crossing his arms behind his head. The fore mentioned body guard continued into the house until he stood in front of the prince, crossing his own arms across his broad chest, his face showed his annoyance, as did his voice.

“You’re the crown prince Noctis, and a soft one at that! How do you expect to take over after your father when you can barely lift a sword?” Anger shot down Noctis and coiled in his stomach, fists clenching. Before any trouble could befall his house or his friend, Prompto stepped between them, pressing a hand to both of their chests. Doing his best to hide his nerves from being this close to the mountain of a man that guarded Noctis, Prompto looked them both over.

“Hey hey hey now! No fighting in the house, I don’t want to have to try and get blood off the couch okay? Gimmie a break guys, please?” Pouting up to both boys, he silently prayed they would listen to him. Much to his surprise, Gladiolus stood down first. Heaving a heavy sigh he uncrossing his arms and resting his left thumb in his pocket. Quickly after, Noctis relaxed as well, giving an apologetic look to his friend. “Sorry, Prom,” He mumbled, shoving both hands into his pockets and kicking imaginary dirt with his foot. With a small chuckle Prompto rest both hands on his hips before he said, “No worries, no one ruined anything so we’re alright.” Gladiolus took a step back, turning part way to the door.

“Alright, no harm done, but you still need to train your Highness. If we hurry we’ll still get enough sun light in.” Groaning, Noctis took a step forward before turning to his friend, than to Gladiolus, “Can we at least take Prompto?” Looking over Prompto once, Gladiolus shrugged his shoulders, raising a hand in a dismissive wave as he made his own way to the door.

“Fine, just as long as he doesn’t get in the way.” Smiling, Noctis grabbed Prompto pulling him along. At first Prompto panicked, but quickly relaxed, knowing he would rather be with Noctis during training than home alone as he always was. He quickly pulled on his shoes, grabbed his camera and made sure he had keys in his pocket, running to meet up with the other two at Gladiolus’ car. It was older, and there was some obvious rust spots, but when he turned the ignition, it came roaring to life and drove smoothly through the streets.

Sitting alone in the back seat, Prompto fiddled quietly with his camera. There was no reason for him to be so nervous, he knew that. Noctis and Gladiolus would train, and he would sit on the sidelines, probably taking too many pictures of the two, nothing about that should have made his heart race. Adjusting the wristband yet again, he made sure it was secure, not that it ever slipped. If one began to stretch out he immediately got a new one, no use being risky. No one would see it, no one ever questioned it, yet he still felt afraid when he was out of his comfort zone that it would happen, every time.

Trying to fidget as quietly as possible, Prompto missed the engine turning off as the car came to a stop. Noctis opened his door and glanced into the back seat, seeing his friend eyeing his lap. With a small, understanding smile, he cleared his throat, knocking Prompto from his haze. “Hey, we’re here, time to get out.” Both boys stepped out of the car looking at the Amicitia house. Out side the door stood a young girl, waving enthusiastically as she ran down the small sidewalk to meet them.

“Noctis! I was worried you weren’t coming today.” His shoulders shook in a quiet laugh, placing his hands on his hips and leaning forward a breath before he spoke, “Yeah, like your brother would let me skip out on training, he all but dragged me here today.” Pointing a thumb to his blond friend the prince added, “At least he let me bring Prompto with me, maybe it wont be so boring.” Gladiolus gave a grunt before moving to go inside.

“Come on you guys, no point in wasting anymore time.” He gave them no chance to respond as he made his way inside. Giggling, the girl turned to Prompto, holding out her hand, “I’m Iris! Nice to meet you Prompto. Noctis talks about you a lot!” Feeling his ears heat up, Prompto laughed it off, taking her hand.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you Iris, I hope he hasn’t said anything too terrible.” Noctis gave a small snort of laughter as he made his way to the house, followed close behind the other two. Inside the house was nice, if a bit spartan Prompto had thought to himself, but there was hardly time to look as they immediately went to large sliding glass doors that lead into the backyard. To one side there were flowers, but mostly it was bare, dotted with patches of dirt and torn grass, likely from Noctis and Gladiolus. Unable to resist, Prompto pulled out his camera, continuing to look through the lens, snapping pictures as he felt appropriate. He got a picture of the guys together, stretching before practice, and the flowers at the end of the yard. As he looked through his camera, it settled on Iris, who was watching her brother and Noctis rather intently. Prompto grinned as Iris jumped slightly and looked to his camera in surprise and distress as she heard the shutter.

“No, I wasn’t ready,’ she whined, trying to reach for the camera, smiling despite acting upset just a second ago. Laughing, Prompto held his camera high above his head, quickly step away from the girl’s reach. Iris chased him through half the yard, Prompto easily running backwards, before he let himself get enough distance between them to bring his camera back to his face. Grinning behind the lens, he spoke, “Well, you weren’t ready before, here’s your chance to get ready.” Eyes wide, Iris stopped and stammered, before quickly trying to fix her hair, and brush out her blouse. Putting both hands by her face, she held up two ‘peace’ signs, and gave a large happy smile, her eyes closing. Taking the hint, Prompto quickly adjusted his camera snapping a few pictures, taking an extra second to use a few filters.

“There! You look amazing! Wanna see?” Laughing, Iris moved to stand next to Prompto, leaning against his shoulder to get a better look. His ears were hot again, Noctis was the only person he was used to being so close to him, no one ever tried, he decided he liked it and held up the camera so she could see the display screen easily. Showing her the original first, he slowly flipped through the ones he took with a filter. On the last one, Iris jumped up excitedly and pointed at his camera.

“It’s so good! I look really pretty!” Prompto chuckled as she continued to gush over the picture, putting the camera away, he smiled at Iris and spoke, “Then I’ll make sure to get a print for you next time I print them off, okay? I’ll give it to Noct to bring over.” “Why don’t you just bring it over yourself?” Ask Noctis, he was sitting on the ground, taking a break from training, both of them were watching Prompto and Iris. Prompto stuttered, tripping over his words before, “It wouldn’t be appropriate, would it? Just to come over to give her the picture?” At his words, Gladiolus stood up, walking over to Prompto, arms crossing over his chest, looking down at the smaller boy. “But taking pictures of my baby sister without permission is okay?” Raising an eyebrow, Gladiolus smirked down at Prompto as he flushed and stammered again, “S-sorry, she just, she just looked really photogenic watching you guys and, and, and it was too go-good a shot to pass up.” Bowing to Gladiolus, he turned to Iris, doing the same, “I’m really sorry Iris, I should have asked, that was rude of me.” There was nothing but silence for a long moment while Prompto stood, bowed in front of Iris, and suddenly there came a booming laugh and a large hand came down and Prompto’s shoulder. Soon both Iris and Noctis were laughing as well, leaving Prompto to look up confused.

“It’s alright, Prompto. You can stop over when ever to give Iris the picture. You’re welcome to come over with Noctis to train too, ya know? Hell, he might actually train more often if you come along.” Prompto stood to his full height as the other man rested a hand on his hip. Before he could question his own disbelief, he dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out his camera again, holding it a second in a quiet request, before quickly snapping a photograph of Gladiolus. Iris immediately looked over his shoulder, commenting, “You’re really good Prompto. You even make Gladdy look good.” Laughing, she stuck out the tip of her tongue as her brother playfully glared at her.

“Hey, we both know I’m the best looking brother you have, Iris.”

“You’re also her only brother,” Noctis added, finally standing himself, as everyone laughed. Gladiolus turned back to Noctis, making his way back over. Turning his head, he called to Prompto as he picked up his sword, “Next time is day after tomorrow, you better be ready!” Prompto gulped, Gladiolus was really going to make him train.

(Chapter break)

Fidgeting, Prompto checked again to make sure the picture was safe in his bag. Noctis groaned, “Come on Prompto, it’s fine! It’s been there the last fifty times you’ve checked, besides, it’s just a picture.” The photographer’s cheeks puffed up as he glared at Noctis from behind his bangs, before he could tell Noctis off, he defended himself, “I just mean Iris isn’t really going to care if you didn’t bring it.” Sighing, Prompto kept walking, holding his hand over the photo, just encase.

“It’s a big deal for me, she’s the only person other than you that has even that much interest in my photography. And it’s a really good picture, she should have it.” Shaking his head, Noctis gave him friend a pat on the back, as they round the corner to their destination.

“Yeah, but how often do you let people see your pictures? I mean, you have to give them a chance to see them, ya know? Besides, don’t your parents like,” He stopped and glanced over at Prompto who had stopped walking, tilting his head in confusion. Prompto held his breath, he had no idea if his parents even knew he took pictures, let alone liked them. Glancing up, he saw his friend’s look of concern and quickly smiled, laughing as he started walking again, hurrying to the gate.

“Come on! We don’t want to be late do we?” he called over his shoulder, ringing the bell on the gate. Noctis sighed again, and hurried to catch up, Prompto was right, he didn’t want to be late, didn’t want to be there at all, but at least now he had Prompto with him, so it was better. Iris came running down the path way as soon as she heard the bell announcing guests, swinging the gate open. Holding her hands behind her back, Iris smiled and ushered them inside. The house was empty, and they could see Gladiolus through the glass doors, swinging his practice sword in the same place as last time.

Noctis was the first out the door, waving at him, “We’re here.” Prompto stepped aside to let Iris out first and slid the door closed behind him. Reaching into his bag, he was going to pull out the picture for Iris, but she ran ahead to talk to her brother and Noctis. That was okay, he thought, there was still time, he could give it to her later. Pulling his bag over his head he placed it by the door, sitting down watching the three interact it was easy for them, natural. Prompto began to feel himself fall farther from them all. Noctis was the crown prince, Gladiolus and Iris were nobles, a shield to the royal line, and Prompto? He was just rat in disguise.

Hand over his wrist band, over what marked him as different. He was less than a pleb, he was a Niflheim. Sighing, Prompto moved to his feet, he did not belong here, he should just head home before anyone notices. Grabbing his bag, he stopped, flipping it open he saw the photo he promised Iris. He remembered last time he was here, and even though Gladiolus had scared him, he was kind to him, and they seemed to enjoy his company. Prompto stood still mind churning around thoughts as he fought with himself. Desperately he wanted to fit in and feel like he belonged, but in the back of his mind, it felt like a lie. With a frustrated sigh, he flipped his bag closed and went to throw it over his head, when he saw Iris was staring at him curiously. Smiling, he gave a small wave, pulling the bag over his head.

“I forgot I had stuff to do tonight, so maybe next time.” Before he could turn to the door, Gladiolus was already walking towards him, holding his over sized practice sword over his shoulder. Before he had closed the distance, he had begun to speak, “There’s no weaseling out of it now, Prompto. It’ll be good for you anyway, if you’re as bad as Noctis actually moving for a change will do you some good.” Prompto chuckled a little, trying to relax, “I do more than lay around, but I’ve never fought, well like that.” He nodded to the weapon Gladiolus was holding. He had been in fights sure, but using his speed not to get hit and trying to get away was really all he was good at. Laughing, Gladiolus nodded, ushering Prompto off the porch and into the yard. He took off his bag and did just that, taking the much smaller practice sword Noctis had handed to him.

“You get to go first, good luck.” Noctis said as he moved to sit next to Prompto’s bag. Iris also moved out of the way, sitting really close to Noctis Prompto thought, but he had little time to think about that before a large piece of wood came at his face from above. Screaming, as manly as he could of course, Prompto quickly stumbled backwards as the faux blade struck the ground.

“At least warn me first will ya?” Prompto yelled, trying to hold the sword at the ready, it felt bulky and uncomfortable, but before he could try again, Gladiolus attacked, this time swinging for Prompto’s left side. Prompto stepped to turn to the weapon, his own in front of him, his right hand on the hilt holding it up, his left pressed against the flat of the blade trying to block the attack. He went flying.

Landing, he slid across the ground a few feet before stopping at the porch, by Iris and Noctis. Looking up he gave them a goofy grin, “Hi guys! Betcha didn’t know I could fly huh?” Both laughing, Noctis lightly kicked his friend before helping his up before commenting, “What made you think you’d be strong enough to block his attack?” Standing up, Prompto brushed off dirt, laughing, “Don’t know until you try right?” Picking up the sword he moved back over to Gladiolus.

“So how am I supposed to hold this thing anyway?” Gladiolus grunted a small laugh and mimicked a hold on his own sword for Prompto, “Like that, but make sure it’s comfortable for your hands. And there’s more to strength when it comes to blocking. Next time, bend your knees and ground yourself. It’s less likely that you’ll fall and become prone.” Nodding, Prompto moved the sword in his hands, right over left until it felt right. Looking up to Gladiolus he spread his legs and bent them, ready for the next attack. Instead, Gladiolus relaxed and waved a hand to usher Prompto to him. Sucking in a deep breath, he steeled himself to attack, that seemed a lot harder than just not getting hit. Raising the sword, he charged in as quickly as he could, swinging down as soon as he was in range. Gladiolus’ eyes widened a moment before he brought his sword down, knocking the blow back, sending Prompto stumbling, but this time he stayed on his feet. He had no idea Prompto was that fast, or that he would recover so quickly. Jumping back he narrowly missed another swing across his torso. Prompto kept up with the movement, charging the blade point first at his opponents stomach, Gladiolus used the flat of his blade to block the blow. He was rash and easy to block, but Prompto was fast, moving each bearish attack into the next leaving Gladiolus little time to attack himself, until; Gladiolus side stepped an attack, bringing his own weapon down on Prompto’s back, knocking him to the ground.

Iris jumped up and ran over to Prompto, scolding her brother, “That was harsh, Gladdy! You can’t hit somebody that hard when they’re just starting!” As she checked Prompto, making sure he was still awake, Noctis walked over, hands in his pockets. A small smirk on his lips, the prince looked up to his body guard, “Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, Prompto runs every morning.” Grumbling Gladiolus helped Prompto to his feet, as he laughed.

“Yeah, but for all the good it did me, you’re still going to lay me out every time.” Stretching his hands over his head, he moved them to his back where he tenderly rubbed where Gladiolus as struck him. Prompto was sure he took it easy on him, but that was still a painful swing. Bending down, he picked up the sword and handed it to Noctis.

“Your turn,” he sang and the prince took the wooden weapon with a sigh. Prompto deserved a break, he was new and all he supposed. As Iris guided him to sit on the porch, the other two moved to start sparring.

Prompto flopped down onto the wooden porch, and winced, his back had taken most of his beating today. Leaning back a little, he watch the other two go at it, their motions were much more fluid, even as they crashed into each other. Gladiolus still obviously had the upper hand, but Noctis was fairing better than Prompto had dared to hope, and he sighed.

“I’ll never be that good.” Idly, he began to fish in his bag for his camera and he felt some smooth and flat. Running his fingers over the picture, Prompto thought about how he felt like he didn’t belong, but right now, he believed it a little less. Pulling out the picture, he looked it over again, how the light caught in her hair, and how happy she looked even though she posed. It was a great photo and Prompto was glad he had managed to get it.

Before he could even turn to show Iris, he heard her give a sound of excitement before leaning against him to reach for the picture. Prompto held up and away from her smirking as he spoke, “Hey, didn’t anyone tell you grabbing is rude?” Iris sat back and pouted up at Prompto, a well practiced pout. The corners of her mouth pulling down just enough to push out her bottom lip, her head tilted so she had to raise her eyebrows just slightly when she looked up. Prompto’s heart turned to mush in an instant. Bringing the picture down, he handed it to her, her mood suddenly changing back to it’s previously excited demeanor. Shaking his head, Prompto laughed quietly to himself at how easily she had gotten him, but he was quickly distracted by her gushing over the picture in her hands. He had had it blown up to be a portrait of her, so the details of the light on her face were more apparent.

Iris stood up suddenly, waving at the others, “Come here and look, it’s even better printed!” Giggling she spun on her toes and carefully hugging the picture to her chest as her brother and the prince came walking over. With all the commotion, Prompto felt his face heat up. He was hoping she would like it, but this was more than he expected. Gladiolus leaned over his sister’s shoulder looking at the portrait and grinned. Looking up to Prompto, he laid a gentle hand on his sister’s other shoulder as he spoke, “That’s really good. She looks great, Prompto. You’re quite the photographer.” Giving a nervous chuckle, Prompto felt his face getting hotter.

“Thanks big guy! It’s been a lot of practice, but I’m glad you like it.” As he spoke, Iris leaned over, looking into his bag, “Do you have any more pictures? I wanna see.” Her brother seconded her request with a nod, “I think that’d be a good way to have a break, if you don’t mind.” Prompto nearly jumped with excitement as he dug back into his bag. They had stopped to pick up his prints on the way over, and he was going to put them in the album while he waited for Noctis, so he pulled out a thick envelope, and the album. Sheepishly, he explained why he had so much with him, but no one seemed to mind, Iris was nearly humming with excitement. Gladiolus sat down on Prompto’s other side sitting his bag on the ground carefully.

As they started in on all the pictures, Noctis smiled and crossed his arms over his chest. It was good to see his friends getting along, but it was better that Prompto got to share his love of photography with more people. Better he thought, as he climbed to sit next to a now blushing Iris to look himself, than not having to train today.

#ffxv #ffxv fanfiction #ffxv fanfic #prompto argentum #Noctis Lucis Caelum #gladiolus amicitia #iris amicitia #pictures #friends #self hate #self love #spoilers #prompto spoiler #This was just supposed to be a training quick fic O_o #ENJOY!

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iabdtba · 5 years

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April 25th 2018

In other news. I just got back form the peak district. This might be a long one.

The ND filters arrived the day of m,y flight, and worked perfectly. The problem was the camera, after 40 years of use the lens had lost its threading, and the 49mm screw didn't fit. The monitor didn't arrive until the day after I left, but I picked it up when I got back. Despite what I previously thought, It was only Jacob, Gokhan, Hassan and myself going to the peak district, which was fine, but I wanted a few more people to be there...

Nice cottage, middle of fucking nowhere. Perfect.

Half an ounce of weed and a 10 sheet of 200ug acid, what could go wrong? Don’t forget 4 rools of film, and beautiful weather. The week started nicely, excited objectives being made, food bought and Xbox set up as we settled in.

We had a minor scare on three as we ran out of food and couldn’t find any taxi drivers to take us into town, nor signal to call them with. Somehow I know not how, we figured it out and go what we needed for trip day tomorrow (We always do ;))

Now, throughout the first few days, Gokhan, who I had only had a handful of conversations with (albeit on XTC), kept on making strange remarks. Taking me back to a time years ago when I was just beginning the journey of discovering my sexuality. As the Monday trip day got closer, his remarks got less subtle. Before the tab hit his tongue, his shirt was off and he was prowling for dick. It’s funny because the day before Jacob told me he hopes the trip doesn’t end up like how our hang out used to back in secondary school. (Yikes!)

I had an amazing trip, roamed the tops of the rolling hills, Lived a thousand lifetimes, died and was reincarnated. All to the soundtrack of Led Zeppelin I, IV and the Magical Mystery Tour. Jacob kept getting himself in a loop about giving Hassan Xanax. But apart form that, it felt as though we were on the same trip. It was pure bliss.

When we got home, Gokhan had lost all subtlety and was just being a pure creep, touching everyone when uninvited, saying awkward things. If he had simply been up front, he may have actually got somewhere, but instead he decided to be a creep, that never shut the fuck up.

Two bars of Xanax and a few days later, we are in a haze. Time to gather ourselves, more weed? Yes please.

Day 7, we go for a long walk into the nearest town, Youlgrave. Pop to the post office; money, supplies. Pub; drinks, darts. Church; pray, meditate.

It’s turning into a beautiful evening and we decide to split the remaining 800ug between the three of us (Hassan couldn't handle anymore). We walk to the nearby lake and get some fantastic portraits. We are walking up past an old sun dial, to a felled tree at the top. The acid is kicking in, time for some music, Wish You Were Here seems appropriate. We spend sundown clambering this maze of a felled tree, before lying down for a joint, as I put on Dark Side of The Moon. Gokhan and Hassan decide to try and climb a tree a few meters down the hill.

In the moment of silence, while Jacob and I are lying watching them, sharing the last of the joint. I say

“I feel it would be easier if we just tell Gokhan”

“Tell him what?”

“That he’s gay”

Jacob sat up

“I knew you were going to say that! Or at least bisexual.”

I sit up too

“Dude, I’m bisexual”

Jacob contemplated for a second

“me... but you me more...”

“Yeah” I laugh “But it’s not like I’m trying to move to anyone”

By this Time It was apparent Gokhan and Hassan couldn’t climb the tree, they come back to our spot and lie down defeated. It’s our turn now. Jacob and I run down the hill and quickly strategise. I boost him up, he pulls me up and before you know it were at the top of the tree surveying the land. Jacob mentions the metaphorical implications of us being able to climb the tree and the not being able to, there was a strong universal connection between us in that moment.

It started to get dark very quickly, we started the long walk home. When we get back, Hassan jumps in the shower, leaving only Jacob, Gokhan and myself sitting on the sofa playing assassins creed. I say softly

“Gokhan - We know your’e gay”

*Silence*

“And it’s fine, nobody cares”

“Yeah” Jacob chimes in.

“I mean what is sexuality anyway” I continued

An awkward silence hung in the air, Gokhan looking at us incredulously.

“What are you talking about!?”

(oh boy)

“I’m not gay, I fuck girls! you guys are fucking with me”

He continued blabbering about how gay he isn’t, I look at Jacob.

“If it’s not supposed to be now, It’s not supposed to be now”.

I change my tone and direct at Gokhan.

“Let’s be real here, like really real”

Jacob starts chuckling, I continued.

“Don’t worry. You can talk to us. Sometime, there will be a moment and it will all make sense”

Gokhan continues rambling, he wasn’t prepared for an ambush. I just wish I had someone to talk to five years ago when I was having those conflicted feelings as I was discovering who I am, so IDK.

Another bar of Xanax, another hazy day. The last. We pack our things, and the farm owner a southerner who retired up in the peaks dropped us off at the pub. He was a yid so we had a good talk about football and what we are doing with our lives, he was a cool guy. We ate, smoked and got the bus into Sheffield only to miss out coach. So I had to buy a new set of tickets and get an Uber to another station. It was the only time during the week I got visibly angry, while eating, Jake started saying we need to get a move on and I told him to not ‘give me that look’. We made the coach and sat in almost complete silence contemplating what the fuck just happened over the last week.

All in all, what a fucking week. It’s a beautiful day to be alive.

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damonmei-blog · 6 years

Text

Types of Camera Lens Filters

On the off chance that you are, or are thinking about taking interesting photos, then you should consider about acquiring some camera lens filters. Camera lens filters are an essential piece for any picture taker as they have numerous utilizations with regards to digital photography. On the off chance that you are new to photography and wish to learn more about lens filters, then this guide is the perfect place. All through this article, we will examine what lens filters are, and additionally, unique sorts of filters accessible for buying. As said already, lens filters are a fundamental embellishment for any genuine picture taker. Not exclusively do they lessen glare, enhance the immersion of photos, and give additional assurance to your camera's lens, yet they likewise enable you to make embellishments that can't be made with other advanced altering strategies. To enable us to better comprehend lens filters, we should talk about the diverse filter types and the impacts that can be acquired by utilizing every one of them. The first sort of lens filter that you may consider acquiring are UV filters. These filters are by and large used to shield your camera from damage, for example, UV beams, dampness, dust, fingerprints, and scratches. These filters are awesome notwithstanding for non-proficient picture takers since they help to keep your lens from getting to be harmed or broken. On the off chance that you wish to buy a UV filter, ensure you get one that is multi-covered to guarantee the best quality. Another sort of filter is the polarizing filter. Polarizing filters shield your camera from being harmed, as well as help to diminish reflections that can be caused from water or glass. When acquiring a polarizing filter, make a point to get the correct kind (either circular or linear) for your camera. In the event that you shoot a ton of outdoor photos in the daylight, then you may consider buying a neutral density filter. These filters enable you to decrease the measure of light traveling through the perspective without changing the shade of the photo. In the event that you are hoping to adjust colors of your photos, then you may wish to buy a color filter. These filters are extraordinary for shooting or altering highly contrasting photos. In the event that you are hoping to add effects to your photos, you may think about obtaining an infrared filter. These filters just enable infrared light to enter the lens, making surrealistic impacts for photos. There are additionally numerous different filter accessible for those of you who get a kick out of the chance to play with enhancements. These incorporate, star filter, cross screen filter, soft filter, and haze filter. On the off chance that you are, or are thinking about turning into, an expert picture taker, it is proposed that you experiment with no less than a couple of the distinctive sorts of lens filters. Get your filters today to protect your camera lens and have fun with your photos! For more types of camera lens filters, please visit - https://xlightphotography.com/types-of-lens-filters/

#photography #photography tips

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carp3n0c73m · 7 years

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Frozen in Memory: People, Activities, Objects - Chapter 5

As I arrived at the bottom of the stairwell, I was rewarded for my tenacity (and climbing skills) with no further hallways, landings, or stairs, but with what I assumed was the under carriage of the theatre, spread out before me. It was still slightly misty therein, but mostly it was low-hanging vapor and light haze; it would not have surprised me if the haze was coming from the stage, artificial in nature, being pumped from a small electric unit to provide the canvas on which a lighting director paints beams and patterns. It was also hot and slightly humid, most likely due to the wet weather outside. Ahead of me was a doorway framed in white-painted brick with an angled mirror at the top right corner and, what drew my eye, a small sign taped below it with a large arrow pointing straight ahead that read “Stage”. To my left was another doorway, unmarked and without doors, which led to a small hallway that looked like temporary storage. To my right was an open area that contained a callboard hanging on the wall just to the right of another doorway whose door was ajar. I could see ironing boards and hanging costumes and waist-high tables overlaid with a thick plastic sheet for cutting patterns; I had found the wardrobe room. Further along the wall with the callboard were what looked like small offices and it looked like the room opened further into a common area and I could faintly detect the warm smell of dry laundry and lint from that direction.

I took a step forward, getting my bearings and enjoying no longer being cramped by narrow passages and lions literally stacked to the ceiling when I heard the whoosh. That is best that I can describe it, like when one goes to light a gas BBQ grill and the propane is on, but it is taking a long time for it to catch, accumulating slowly in the tray of the grill and then it goes WHOOSH! catching all at once and igniting the collected gas cloud all together in a loud, hot, eyebrow-scorching ball of burning fuel. That was the sound that came from just behind my right shoulder. It was not scary or disconcerting (although there was an accompanying and startling flash of heat), just out of place, but then again that seemed to be the theme of the afternoon. I turned my head and fight or flight kicked in, hard.

What I had not seen (I didn’t even glance at the mirror, much to my detriment) was a tiny doorway that contained a bi-level door, one of those barriers that has a horizontal separation in it so that one can open the top portion while leaving the bottom part shut. The top of the door was open now and what I saw behind the half door spoke to every nightmare from my childhood and chilled me.

She was midnight black, her rippling muscles flexed lazily beneath her flawless scales, each possessed of a faint inner light giving her an almost imperceptible glow, just enough to make one question whether one was dreaming or awake. Her underside was a deep metallic purple with larger plates of impenetrable chest armor. Her fearsome wings were leathery and tucked back behind her. Her black horns adorned her serpentine head in a horrific crown that spoke of agony and death and becoming nothing more than a crunchy bite for her mouth and the daggers within that entrance to burning hell. Her eyes glowed with a shimmering green luminescence and while they were not trained on me at that moment, I hoped against hope that they never would light upon my poor self for they were bewitching eyes, filled with suggestions of suicide and torture.

Before me, come from the pages of fairy tales by way of evil dreams, was a black dragon.

I could feel her aura (and I knew it was a her, not a him, though how, I am uncertain), palpable in that closed space, burning off her like a raging fever. I took in the sight of her, like Bilbo looking on the terrible magnificence that was old Smaug, and slowly backed up to give her as wide a berth as I was capable when she shifted her position slightly and I heard a metallic clicking followed by a low muttering.

So impressed was I at the initial sight of the dragon, it wasn’t until that small detail, the clicking sound, provoked my brain to come back online and logic took over (as much as was possible in that place). I realized then that the room in which she was reposing was far, far too small to hold her, and yet there she was, not looking diminished or cramped whatsoever. I paused in my retreat, curiosity getting ready to kill the cat, overtly standing directly across from her doorway and observed her, for she was not paying attention to me in the slightest.

She was crammed into a tiny alcove of an office, a closet really, meant for someone to receive deliveries and lock and unlock the stage door (I saw a CCTV monitor on a little shelf just inside the doorway and realized that it was this dragon that had been watching as I had burst into laughter at Charles de Gaulle’s antics up top). She should not have been able to fit. She was massive; I could feel her size in her presence, and yet there she was in a space that was far, far too small. I noticed that there was a slight lensing effect if I stepped off of center and viewed her from a slight angle. It was like looking through imperfect glass and she would warp just slightly and then I would step back to look at her straight on and all would seem, well, normal is not the right word, but all would seem right again with the view. If I didn’t know better, I would say that she was an optical illusion, but she was much too real and I perceived her with all of my senses (save touch, of course; I had no wish to be devoured, but yes, I could faintly taste the smell of dragon).

Throughout all my reconnaissance, she paid me absolutely no mind, though twice over the course of four or so minutes that I initially observed her did I witness her WHOOSH again. And it turned out to be exactly what I thought it was: a ball of fire. She was muttering under her breath and on occasion she would inhale sharply, but with a vocalization that sounded like a young sheep being turned inside out, a screech, an inward singing pterodactyl scream of a hiccup, hold it for a moment, and with a belch blow out a sizable orb of flame from her mouth and nostrils that quickly dissipated, but was no less impressive. It was further curious to me that the flame never crossed the plane of the doorway. I could feel the heat and hear the sound, but it was all contained behind that barrier.

After having observed for a bit, I became unable to further foil my curiosity, even at the gamble of personal risk, but history (all five minutes of it) was telling me that on the list of priorities for dragons and other magical creatures in the immediate vicinity, chomping me to bits was not particularly high. I crept on soft tiptoe (which really was soft heel-to-toe) across the eight-foot void to stand just in front of her door and looked inside. Though I was expecting anything (I thought), what I saw stopped me for a moment and brought forth from my mouth that age-old ejaculation which up until that point I felt that I was doing well at not evoking: “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?”

The entire was room, I now saw, was filled with guns.

There were guns of all sorts littering the floor and piled up in heaps in the corners, spreading out further than I was capable of perceiving: handguns and pistols and six shooters and .22s and .38s and shotguns and rifles (elephant and otherwise) and muskets and tiny little Derringers and .45 magnums and Walther PPKs like James Bond uses and cannons and AK47s and Uzis and Gatling guns and tommy guns like the gangsters in Chicago used to use too. A vast, vast armory stretched out before me as I peeked through the top of the split door and it was all contained, along with a dragon, within a little closet-of-an-alcove that looked as though it could barely hold the 275 pound doorman from Brooklyn who no doubt inhabited it, let alone a she-dragon and her arsenal.

I found myself close enough to finally make out what the dragon was muttering; it wasn’t until later that I marveled that dragons speak English.

“72,343… 72,344… 72,345…”

She was counting the guns in her lair. Yes…

A BLACK DRAGON was COUNTING GUNS.

And it was indeed a dragon’s lair that I saw through that doorway, the kind described in children’s stories that exuded archetypical architecture and atmosphere. It was a huge vaulted space with stone arches and flagstone floors (though from my view through the door, it seemed small). Dim light was filtering from above somewhere, but the majority of the illumination came from numerous torches along the walls in cobwebbed sconces. That being said, it was missing the most characteristic (in my opinion) aspect of a dragon’s lair: gold. For what is a dragon’s hoard without gold? There were no piles of gold-minted coins with rubies and sapphires and emeralds cascading along the ground, littered with crowns and tiaras and bejeweled rings aplenty. There weren’t even partially melted suits of armor collapsing and rusting in the corners. However, though not what I was expecting, this cache of weapons was most obviously her hoard and she was overtly relishing the act of cataloguing her dangerous cornucopia.

“72,346… 72,347…”

How was it possible that everything that my eyes were witnessing now could fit within that space? It wasn’t enough for my brain to simply say that I was likely dreaming or at least that in the time/space reality into which I had drifted it was possible; I had never done well with accepting the answer “It’s that way because it is” or “Because I said so”. There was quite certainly more going on to make this witchery happen. Then, suddenly, with the thought of that word – witchery – I suddenly lit upon what I was seeing.

The doorway was acting like a lens (or like a cauldron or crystal ball that a witch might use to scry the future, or in this case, as a window to peer into the goings-on in a different location), a gateway to another place contained within the confines of the little space and the door was the barrier; a portal like Mary Poppins’ bag, bigger on the inside than on the outside. Like looking through a pair of binoculars from the wrong end, what I was seeing was a tiny, shrunken version of somewhere else with all the proportions intact, but smaller than in real life to fit the screen that was the doorway. Her lair had to be enormous and in a moment of inspiration/stupidity, I decided to test out a hunch. I was hoping that she most likely couldn’t see me. I carefully pushed my hand through the space of the doorway and into the office. It felt as though it was entering into water, but with no temperature change or wetness, more like the air became heavy and thick. My hand slowly disappeared, and then my arm up to the elbow, and reappeared far below (I saw by looking down into the office), at the base of my vision coming out of what looked like a tiny archway.

All of the sudden, I felt something fill my hand, a most worrying feeling when one’s hand is in a magic portal, what amounts to basically a blind hole, a fox den or gopher tunnel that may or may not have some small vermin at the opposite end with a view of feasting on my invading digits. I immediately withdrew my hand with a jerk, not consciously in control, but rather my reptile underbrain reacted to the stimulus presented and disliking the odds, went to work surviving, but at the same time I kept hold of what had brushed my fingertips. As I pulled my hand from the gateway, I was relieved to see that there was no damage and thankfully no sensations of pain presented themselves to my nervous system. Having avoided what I was subconsciously anticipating as a snake bit, I looked at my hand closely to see what my prize was. Three playing cards lay in my hand, their values coming to my mind even before I turned them over to confirm their identities. I put them in my pocket and looked again at the dragon.

The dragon continued to count aloud, scooping up a huge claw-full of weapons (thus the clinking sounds) and letting them drop one at a time into the piles surrounding her.

“72,361… 72,362… 72,363…”

What I couldn’t understand was why the dragon’s preference was for guns as opposed to the more classical (and, it seemed to me, practical) jewels and riches. I also wondered if she slept on the piles of guns and if so, which style was most comfortable? Were the guns loaded? Did she ever accidently shoot one by rolling over? Was that dangerous for her if the gun had an armor-piercing round in it? Was she just a modern dragon and knew that guns were valuable? Did she sell them on eBay? These and a plethora of other questions ran through my mind, but ultimately I decided that rather than tempt fate and the ire of the dragon, it would be best to move on and explore the theatre. I considered trying to speak to her, but she seemed very involved in her counting and I don’t know what she would do if I made her forget which number she was on; I’m doubtful that she would have heard me anyway. So I very quietly (out of habit, I suppose, since nothing I had done had disturbed her) moved along towards the callboard.

#mnemonic #magic

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thesunlounge · 5 years

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Reviews 238: Jura Soundsystem

Last year, Isle of Jura’s Kevin Griffiths spun off a new imprint called Temples of Jura in order to focus on contemporary and original artist material. The label’s first release was Dear Adrian / Udaberri Blues, an incredible 12” that featured Len Leise paying tribute to Adrian Sherwood with a glacial riddim excursion and Griffiths unveiling his Jura Soundsystem production moniker with a tripped out spacedub adventure spread across three different versions. In the time since, Temples of Jura also released In the Senses by Filmico, an album from balearic bass funk wizard Fernando Pulichino that swapped out his usual tropical groove euphorics for faded cinematic vistas, hazy VHS dreamscapes, and synth-prog fantasias generated by bleary pad layers, downtempo beat hypnotics, and occasional kisses of Badalamenti-style noir jazz. And now for the label’s third release, we return once more to the sonic environments of Jura Soundsystem with Monster Skies, which sees Griffith’s building on the cosmic hypnotics and seaside psychedelics of “Udaberri Blues” while also spreading out in every direction, resulting in a diverse and adventurous journey encompassing heatwave boogie motions, old skool house jams, hand drum ceremonials, Yoruba creation myths, breakbeat exotics, fuzz guitar aquatics, Afro-folk dreamspells, amorphous cosmic collages, dub hallucinogenics, and layers of immersive jungle ambiance.

Jura Soundsystem - Monster Skies (Temples of Jura, 2019) “Carafe Denim” starts with a tubular bassline jacking beneath hand percussion layers, cushiony kicks, and finger cymbal sparkles. A voice speaks a Yoruba creation myth, detailing how Oduduwa was sent by his father, the Great God of the Sky Olorun, to a primordial Earth covered in water…all while barely there synth vapors waver, shimmer, and intertwine with muted tribal chants. As Oduduwa spreads sand upon the surface and uses a chameleon to test its firmness, the background pad layers erupt into full view…like whispers growing into aquatic wave fronts while cosmic oscillations swirl all around. At some point the bassline cuts out while squawking electronics evoke Oduduwa’s hen, who in the overlying narrative flings about dark earth to create the Great Continent of Africa. And as the word “Africa” is narcotically looped, Griffith’s smoothly drops the bassline back in, resulting in a hands-in-the-air zone out accented by roaring lions, quivering pad atmospherics, echo-morphing claps, and squiggling space liquids that at times sound like underwater turntable scratches. At the other end of the side sits “Monster Skies,” which also basks in African sunshine while colorful birds flutter and sing all throughout the mix. Sweltering blasts of mirage synthesis drift in on warbling delay currents while a beautiful and shambolic kalimba melody weaves a sunrise lullaby. A human voice hums peaceful dream incantations, though everything is delay shrouded…as if beamed in from another dimension. And as the folk singing and kalimba cut away, we are left in a glorious expanse of rainforest ambiance and kosmische radiance.

The irresistible balearica of “Mamma Capes” sees skittering breakbeats surrounded by a jungle of light, with bird chatter and interstellar oscillation trails intertwining while neon fluids snake through vines and palm frond layers. Clipped conga rhythms flow into the mix as Mike Burn’s blissed out fuzz chords melt down from the sky, with infinite delay feedback carrying the tones towards an eternal ocean horizon. A joyous bubble chime cascade descends then miraculously splits into two divergent strands of pearlescent echo magic that repeatedly shoot up each side of the stereo field and things really take off into a world of slow burn dub psychedelia once Duncan Grey enters with a heady three note bass guitar riff…his methodical cosmos-grooves sitting alongside breaky kicks and snares, choppy hi-hat patterns, finger-rolling hand percussion, and off-beat tambourines. Single note guitar pulsations evoke rainbow puffs of gas before giving way to anthemic fuzz wails, which then miraculously transform into backwards flowing currents of aquamarine haze. It feels like time is moving in reverse as the spirit is enveloped by shimmering clouds of sea-spray spiritualism and in that way, I’m strongly reminded of the work of Steven Wray Lobdell and his Davis Redford Triad. There’s a passage where the rhythms back down into tapping cymbals, panning tambourines, and outerspace debris layers that rocket through dub-echo chains and as we move towards the end, the vibed out rhythms add in muted cowbell taps while gliding within bird of paradise dreamwebs.

The centerpiece of the B-side is “Parrot Rhythmic Space Jam,” which is about as well named as any track could possibly be. Kick drums flow through breaky patterns and skittering shakers, hissing machine hats, and bopping hand drums lock into otherworldly polyrhythms while floating on housey sub-bass hypnotics. Interstellar rainbow sequences ride in on bubble clouds…these hovering arpeggiations that filter-morph and echo-modulate through neon liquid landscapes. Griffiths again employs a psychoactive stereo effect that sees simple melodic patterns splitting into several divergent strands that bounce all around the mix and he constantly manipulates attack and decay, so that the sequences and arpeggios continuously transition between long-form blurs and staccato light trails. Elsewhere, delay-soaked dreamtime melodies are woven from Afro-folk synthetics…like some sort of shimmering paean to the sun that sharply drops into low slung synth bass and skipping breakbeat heat. Sometimes, silvery chime strands blow in a warm tropical breeze as the track transitions into an extended ambient nod out, the basslines having dropped away as the drums smack and crack through sea-spray layers and sci-fi soundworlds wherein alien pulsations and spacey LSD sequences dazzle the mind with synthesized tracers and ever-evolving webs of threaded color.

Preceding “Parrot Rhythmic Space Jam” is “Boogie Tune,” which states its intentions outright as kick and dub-echo clap patterns bring boogie break dancelfoor heat. Double time cymbals are intercut by open hi-hat sizzles and electro-toms converse across the spectrum while fat-bottomed bass synths slide through body moving progressions and electro-funk motions. As smoldering dial-tone synths trace funk spirals in the air, I’m reminded of the freaked out boogie futurisms of Mystic Jungle…just pure confidence and euphoric minimalism uniting together for stretches of cosmic club heat. At some points, the sexual squelch melodies give way to Roland cowbell dances and crystalline cymbal taps and there’s a rhythmic drop in the middle where big chewy bass waves flutter and float above double-time hat shuffles and hand drum percolations. After cutting back to the electrofunk jam out, psychedelic sequences snap through the sky with reverb and echo trails carrying through each ear…the whole thing coming together for a magical stretch of star-surface breakdance ecstasy. Closing out the set is “The Lantern Story,” which features looping freak folk abstractions constructed from swelling cymbal hazes, drunken arps, clacking metals, and disjointed acoustic guitar riffs. Vaporous synthesizers weave fragile prog majesties through a desolate sky while snippets of muted trumpet swell over shaker rhythms. Extra-terrestrial cave liquids drip sideways, wood flutes moan, and screeching drone clouds pan rapidly as the track floats in a hallucinatory dream state and eventually, everything is washed away by radiophonic feedback flutters.

(images from my personal copy)

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