“All the money I made in jobs that I hated, and were killing me. Have been substituted by something that gives me so much worth. And to other people as well, it’s giving to other people, and that changed my life.”
For Denis Smith his photography is not just a way to make a living, it gives him a reason to live. A former alcoholic, Smith got started in photography after quitting his job as a sales consultant and moving to Southern Australia with his family. As a way to cope with the stress his alcoholism, depression, and out of control spending habits had caused him, Smith picked up a camera. With no formal training he was able to create beautiful images with information he acquired online. Smiths light paintings are created by taking a light source (such as a flashlight or lantern) on a string, and swinging it in a circle while simultaneously moving in a circle. This is all done at night under a full moon, the end result is mesmerizing spheres in the middle of beautiful Australian landscapes.
What I find most fascinating about Smith however is that his story could be anyones story. Depression, alcoholism, and debt are an all too common occurrence in this day and age. But Smith provides hope for those struggling, that things can change. Sometimes all one needs is a push to get out, and pursue a childhood dream, or discover a newfound passion. Smiths story is a
reminder to pursue what you are passionate about, and that there is more to life than a well-paying job.
Denis’s official website. Which features a short autobiography, as well as an overview of past and upcoming work, and contact information.
A thorough interview on Smiths work, inspiration and transition from sales consultant to photographer.
Denis’s flickr profile. Which showcases his signature ‘ball of light’ photos as well as other primarily landscape photos.
Below is a short documentary about Denis's work.Ball Of Light from Sam Collins on Vimeo.
What I mainly know David Tennant from, and what most people generally know him from as well, is Doctor Who, the fantastic Sci-Fi series on BBC. He played the Tenth Doctor and was on the show for four years before dying and regenerating into Eleven. Out of the three Doctors that I have seen (I haven't watched any of classic Doctor Who), I would say that Tennant is the one who gave the most to the show and set the bar pretty high for Matt Smith, the actor who now plays the Eleventh Doctor. Aside from Doctor Who, Tennant has been in numerous Shakespeare productions such as Love's Labour's Lost, Romeo and Juliet, The Comedy of Errors, and Hamlet where he was called "the greatest Hamlet of his generation." He is now starring with Catherine Tate in Much Ado About Nothing which plays through September of this year in London.
or and some thread that ties it all together." They compose their own music, and I think it I find it so compelling because they have two different backgrounds that they incorporate into their songs, which makes their sound fun to listen to. Here are some websites I hope you all find enjoyable!
Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana on August 29, 1958. He is known as the “King of Pop” and one of the most significant artists of all time. His music revolutionized the industry and has 13 Grammy awards along with receiving the American Music Award's Artist of the Century Award. He was introduced to music at a young age being in The Jackson 5 music group at the age of 11 with his siblings. He has sold over 750 million albums throughout his career, 13 number 1 singles, and has been inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame twice.
There are not many artists I consider influential to music, but Michael Jacjson is one of the few by revolutionizing the music world with his music to his dancing. The “King of Pop” did it all while entertaining millions of people and doing what he loved to do. You don’t have to love him as a person with his personal struggles, but you can appreciate what he brought to the table and how he has influenced musicians and dancers.
Here are three links that can be useful if you want to know more about Michael Jackson and his career.
This is Michael Jackson’s personal site for fans and here you can listen to the many songs he recorded during his career as a singer, watch videos, or even shop for merchandise.
http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jackson_michael/artist.jhtml
This site shows videos and music of Michael Jackson. There is a biography on his life and has many sections about him as a person and artist.
http://www.youtube.com/user/michaeljackson
This site has many live performances, music videos, and watch the “King of Pop” do what he does best.
Hans Zimmer is a Ger
man born film score composer. He has won over 40 awards for his compositions, including a Grammy for the Dark Knight and a Golden Globe and Academy Award for The Lion King. Over his thirty year career, he has composed over 130 scores. Some of his most memorable scores include the second and third and fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Inception, The Lion King, Gladiator, and The Dark Knight. He uses a broad range of instruments and styles, both which help the film come to life in an extraordinary way. His music has a way of capturing the audience’s attention and truly fitting in with the film. Zimmer creates the types of scores that you want to listen to again, even without watching the movies. Sometimes, a composer just plain moves you.
As a musician, I am very picky about what type of music I listen to, and Hans Zimmer's style captures my attention. That being said, you don't necessarily have to have a musical background to appreciate his work. His work manages to walk the very fine line that encompasses exception musical quality and easy to enjoy for the casual non-musician listener.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001877/
This is the Internet Movie Database page for Hans Zimmer. It includes a basic biography, filmography and trivia facts. There is also a comprehensive list of all award nominations and wins he has received.
The official Hans Zimmer fansite, this includes a list of his works and where they can be purchased, features the latest releases and previews of what’s to come. There are also interviews with Zimmer and information about his involvement with various charities.
http://www.youtube.com/results?suggested_categories=10%2C1&search_query=hans+zimmer%2C+playlist
These are playlists users have made of Hans Zimmer’s work. There are tracks from various movies, including Sherlock Holmes and Black Hawk Down.