Kieran
Making videos is hard!
So, you’ll notice that I haven’t blogged since September. If you follow me on YouTube you’ll probably have noticed that I haven’t made a video since the end of October. If you didn’t know I did the YouTube stuff please do check me out by visiting my YouTube channel. Although life has gotten in the way of it all a little, there are other reasons why I’ve neglected these things.
When I started making YouTube videos (on my channel), it was after being inspired when watching other, well established YouTubers doing it, and doing it very well. I find I’m very good at coming up with ideas and so I (rather arrogantly) thought that I would automatically be able to come up with videos straight away, without practice and/or experience. This was not the case. I would record a video, I would then edit it and continue to do so, even though I was unhappy with most aspects of it. It was as though I’d convinced myself that because I’d decided to start a YouTube channel and because I’d uploaded my first video, more had to follow otherwise I had failed.
Here’s the video:
Also, as I mentioned in my video titled “Thank You YouTube” I’m quite self concious, mostly about being somewhat cross-eyed. For some reason, when starting the channel this didn’t even enter my head. Several of the videos that were uploaded back then are gone now. My self conciousness would take over as soon as I’d see myself on the screen. As a result I very nearly stopped before I had really begun. That and the bolt thread going on my camera, making it impossible for me to attach it to a tripod left a huge gap between videos.
You wont know this at the time of writing this, but I make videos for another channel. I sing in a parish church choir (no I’m not religious, but I’m no Dawkins fan either), and since the Summer we have been regularly uploading videos to YouTube and they’re doing quite well. I really enjoy filming, editing and making these videos and I’m sure it shows in the quality of the work, I’ve not needed to worry about the tripod for this channel so I’ve continued to make the videos even since October. Because these videos don’t focus on me I’ve not had to be self concious If you’re interested in getting an idea of what I mean you can look at the channel for yourself. The Choir of St Mary’s, Maldon YouTube Channel.
The point I’m trying to make is that making these other videos for the choir has reminded me that it’s a hobby, one I really want to keep working at and really want to enjoy. The sole purpose of it is to have fun. I’ve nothing to prove That’s all it is, nothing more and nothing less. It’s me that’s making it less fun for myself and no one else. So as I managed to do a temporary fix on my camera so it is at least usable (for now) I’m back, feeling fresh and inspired and full of ideas. Still working on the confidence but hopefully that will come in time. I’ve also made quite a nerdy purchase today which makes me chuckle and smile everytime I look at it on the shelf over my desk, this has somehow inspired me even more. I guess it shows off my Android love. 
Bit of a long post this one, I hope it helps people to understand me a bit more thank you for reading to the end and for your continued support.
Back very soon.
Kieran!
Thoughts from Italy
The following blog was written 2 weeks ago today (11th August 2011).
I’m currently on a train to Pisa to catch my plain home to the UK after a fabulous 16 days in Umbria and I have been struck by many things on my travels here.
It’s probably best if I start by explaining something I witnessed not long after arriving in Italy and on our way to Scheggino (In Umbria). We were killing some time at Pisa while waiting for a train so decided to head to a bar across the road for a beer. On arriving we noticed an American couple at the bar trying to order some red wine. Clearly lacking the Italian vocabulary necessary for the task they asked in English. Pisa of course is a popular tourist destination for people from across the globe so you can be forgiven for hoping that bar staff opposite the main train terminal may posses enough to understand “A glass of red.” rather than Vino Rosso,” however, it’s not something to be taken for granted. To the dismay of this couple the girl behind the bar didn’t understand their request. So here,s the bit that gets to me. Instead of trying to use some Italian that they may have, reaching for a phrase book or even asking someone near by if they can help (the bar was full of native English speakers from both sides of the pond) they simply asked again in English but not in a civil manor, oh no! This time they felt the need to raise their voice and talk very slowly as though they were talking to, not a young, charming, friendly and very tolerant assistant but an aged, simple, very deaf pensioner possibly suffering from dementia. Naturally the girl still didn’t understand and eventually someone jumped in to help.
This isn’t something that’s unique to Americans, that’s not the point. In fact it seems to be a trait of the majority of English speaking countries, assuming that everyone can speak it, or at least everyone should.
I find the whole notion quite rude, although I have to admit to being guilty of it myself at points in the past, I guess as I travel more I become more understanding. In fact, I often find myself wishing I knew a lesser known language. Have you ever been in that situation where you’ve been with two foreigners who speak a different language and will do so because they know you can’t understand, but you dare not do the same because you never know who knows English. I am, since making an effort to learn some Italian.
Hopefully the experience has taught me a lesson or two. I’m home now mind, the weather is horrible and typically British. Maybe we could move there and I could work as a bilingual. There’s much work to be done!
A Tribute to Harry Patch by Radiohead
Here in the UK we’ve all heard the news of the death of Harry Patch, who was the last surviving british veteran of World War 1. It’s made a lot of people reflect and sadly a lot of people have taken no notice at all.
Now, I’m not going to go into a rant and tell people what they should think or feel about this, my concern is that with no one left to remind us of this terrible war, people are just going to be free to forget about it.
Anyway, whilst on Facebook this morning a post from the Radiohead Facebook Page appeared on my homepage with a link to their new song “Harry Patch (In Memory Of)” and I just wanted to share it with you.
To download the song visit the Radiohead Website and the link is in an article posted on Wednesday 5th August 2009.
It will cost 1.00 GBP (£1) to download with the proceeds going to the British Legion. I would encourage anyone to download this because, not only is it for a great cause with the lyrics containing an important message, but the song itself is beautiful.
Anyway, I’ll get off your case now. Let me know what you think below.
Enjoy!
