I hate undue celebrity being foisted upon the latest reality tv star, so it’s with a heavy heart I’ve started to use the term ‘Flickebrity’ — but I think this is due.

With a few exceptions — fame (or infamy) on Flickr is generally gained through talent, creativity and a talent for effective socialising. I accept that, whilst I have a natty habit of getting things done around the photo-sharing site, that I’m far from having some form of celebrity status.

I used the term originally to describe Cybergabi and Tootdood — both who came by their status by posting interesting imagery in an almost soap opera way — by giving us a glance into an edited version of their daily life through the ‘365’ images they have posted daily.

I realise that their celebrity is limited and it is closer to local renown than anything else — local being their social network sphere, rather geographically but it is great to see that people can achieve some level of fame from more than ‘right place, right time’ methods generally found in the mainstream broadcast media.

I remember when Amazon first set up. It was an underdog; no one thought it would ever beat Barnes and Noble.

Now, with the arrival of Amazon Fresh in Seattle I’m starting to wonder if Amazon isn’t in line to be the biggest global retailer sometime in the next few years.

As reported by Leelefever (on CommonCraft) it starts to make you question the future of the supermarket. I don’t think it will stop us using a supermarket but, if Supermarket shopping could be given the Amazon usability tratment and, if Amazon manage the supply chain by delivering too… could this mean a few less sheds on the edges of or cities?

I went supermarket shopping last night and, whilst I don’t hate it; I wouldn’t miss the experience. There is simply very little pleasure in grocery shopping — I would embrace Amazon Fresh if it replaced my big Asda shop…

The question now is… why don’t I feel the same way at using Asda for delivery?

Well, after several months of planning Photocamp Leeds {2008} is now over.

The main event, at Old Broadcasting House within Leeds Metropolitan University was a roaring success — attended by over seventy delegates from as far afield as Glasgow, Rotterdam and Oviedo in Spain.

Between them the delegates delivered 24 sessions on subjects such as off camera flash, night time photography, pinhole, composition, studio lighting and unusual ways of using light in photography. In addition we had renowned flickrebrities, Cybergabi and Tootdude talking about their 365 self portrait sets.

Delegates at Photocamp Leeds {2008}

photo by Cybergabi

I will be posting more evaluating the event and how Photocamps could be delivered elsewhere — something I’m more than happy to discuss with others. But for now I am happy to say that this one was a wonderful success and to thank all those that helped make it so!

Following my last post about Sigma’s dodgy customer contentness factor — I’ve another whinge about them.

I sent my flash in to be repaired — and got back a POSTED letter for me to complete. Only, when sending it out, they didn’t bother to check they’d attached the correct quote… they hadn’t.

And now, despite them having my email address I am waiting for them to post out a second… so, don’t think I’ll be buying from Sigma again in a hurry.

But good stuff:

Last Friday I bought (‘won’) a Nikon SB24 flash on eBay. It arrived, from Japan, on Monday morning. Well done that seller.

Last weekend the brass ‘nipple’ for the fastening on my Billingham camera bag vanished. I was a bit upset as the bag was a present (and not cheap) — so I phone up today and the very nice man from Billingham offered to send me a replacement in the post. He even apologised that his post for today had already gone. And he told me how to attach it so it hopefully won’t fall off again. I know it shouldn’t have fallen off — but now it has done I’m re-assured by the great support they offer.

That said — I’m fancying a Lowepro Slingshot to make me look less like an old man.