Best wishes!!

For all friends and family all over the world, I really wish you all a warm & cosy christmas and a happy and healthy new year ....
HAPPY 2009!!

HBO's John Adams Visual Effects

John Adams is an Emmy Award-winning 2008 American television miniseries directed by Tom Hooper. The screenplay by Kirk Ellis is based on the book John Adams by David McCullough.
The biopic of John Adams and the story of the first fifty years of the United States was broadcast in seven parts by HBO. The first episode aired on March 16 and the final episode aired on April 20.
Check out the amazing visual effects feature!! (6:39)

Uncertain future.

2008 will be bookmarked as the year of the financial crisis, the US subprime mortgage crisis, or whatever ... but what will 2009 bring us?
Hopefully everyone will find the spirit and the courage to go to a higher and more secure path, fingers crossed and may you all be safe, cheers!

Taken with a Canon EOS 40d, EF 50mm, exposure 1/25, Aperture f/3.2, Focal length 50mm, ISO 400

Funky design for a camper (by Verdier)

Based on the old "hippy" classic VW Westfalia camper, Alexandre Verdier has completely redesigned the Volkswagen Westfalia into a modern, green camper with major appeal. This camper is powered by a 200 hp hybrid (fuel or diesel) + electric engine. Some other features include solar panels on the camper roof (40 watt - 12 volt), GPS navigation, wireless internet, and a sink with 4 spots for cooking. Off to the Canyons and coastal highway one ...

Antwerp in ‘Lonely Planet' top ten.

The international travel guide publisher Lonely Planet has added Antwerp to its prestigious list of the world’s ten most interesting cities. Each year Lonely Planet publishes a top ten of cities that are worth a visit during the coming twelve months. Lonely Planet writes that Antwerp has a rich history and the port is city is the most underrated tourist destination in Belgium.

Taken with a Canon40d, EF-S 17-85mm USM IS, exposure 1/400, Aperture f/5.6, Focal length 59mm, ISO 200

Few places offer such an appealing mix of classic and modern features. Eclectic art nouveau houses right next to neo-classic villas and medieval castles provide a fantastic backdrop to the many bars and pavement cafés.

Antwerp is in good company with cities such as Beirut, Chicago, Glasgow, Lissabon, Mexico City and Sao Paolo also featuring in the top ten.

Cherry Clafouti

Clafoutis or clafouti (pronounced kla-foo-TEE) is a French country dessert from the Limousin region. Traditionally it was made with the first sweet cherries of the season and the cherries were left unpitted so the kernels could release their delicate almond flavor as they baked.
Today, most people prefer this dish with pitted cherries, which makes the clafoutis much easier to eat. Of course you can use different sort of fruits but when other kinds of fruit, such as plums, prunes, apples, cranberries or blackberries are used instead of cherries, the dish is called a "flognarde" (sometimes spelled "flaugnarde").
I want to share this recipe because this cake is so easy and quick to make. Try it, you will love it.

Ingredients
400 gr cherries
4 eggs
125 gr sugar
50 gr butter
75 gr flour
250 ml milk
a few drops vanille extract (and I use coconut extract too)
nutmeg (optional)

Instructions
1. Preheat oven at 190 C (350 F).
2. Beat the eggs and sugar in a big bowl using a mixer.
3. Add the flour slowly and continue to beat the mixture.
4. Add the butter in the mixture and continue to beat.
5. Add the vanilla/coconut extract and a little of nutmeg if wanted
6. Add the milk slowly and continue to beat the mixture for a few more seconds.
6. Take an oven dish ..some people choose for butter, I choose for baking paper.
7. Spread the cherries in the oven dish (make sure the fresh ones are cleaned or they’re drained from the syrup), beat the mixture for 5 more seconds, and then spread that mixture atop the cherries.
9. Bake in the oven for about 30-40 minutes until golden
10. Best way it to eat it warm (not hot and not too cold either)… you can also use icing sugar to finish the cake (I never do)

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clafoutis

the End of Summer

Short session in b&w at "Park Spoor Noord" (Antwerp) to say goodbye to the summer of 2008.

Kraak & Smaak

Let me introduce you some funky shit : "Kraak & Smaak"

Here's their official website, a smashingly wicked collection of mixes on their podcast and of course they're on MySpace too. Keep the funky vibe goin'!!

Restaurant "Huis De Colvenier"

I would like to share an excellent address for dining in Antwerp : "Huis De Colvenier" dutch / english.

“Huis De Colvenier” in the very centre of Antwerp is a real tastemaker having class and quality as a motto. The restaurant has been located here for 17 years in a tromphant Patrician house.
The most exquisite room is certainly the winecellar (+20.000 bottles). This one is impressive and has a very special atmosphere. Especially aimed at the aperitif with owner – chef Patrick Van Herk. In his open kitchen, you smell, you see and you taste the flavours of goose liver, shellfish, fresh vegetables, cheese and all that depending on your taste, time , budget … Discover and live “Huis De Colvenier”. This will be a personal and surprising experience.
Patrick Van Herck is a top chef de cuisine. He gained inspiration at Bruneau, at Scholteshof, Belle Epoque in Leuven and even at Robuchon in Paris. His kitchen is French tinted but Patrick knows how to put a personal touch on it. Trust him only season-tied ingredients and you will be surprised about the smashing result.
A weekend ago I had the privileged to have an excellent super during a wedding party.

Television chefs part two -Rick Stein-

Rick Stein is another respected TVchef ; I love his lamb and peas dish, but couldn't find it, but the Sardinian Spaghetti alla Carbonara is a another great dish, so easy to make but what a great dish for a food party ..cheers!

Explora Calafell Festival

One of my photos is selected to be on the first edition of the Explora Calafell Festival in Spain. ("1er festival internacional de fotografia para miembros de Flickr")

"Lac de la Gileppe"

Canon EOS 40d - Focal Length 22mm (EF-S 17-85mm IS USM) -Exposure 0,10 sec - Aperture f/4 - ISO 100

This photo is taken on a cold winternight in the Southeast of Belgium near Liège and the German border.The river Gileppe runs through an artificial lake (Lac de la Gileppe), built in 1867-1878 and enlarged to 1.3 square kilometres in 1968-1971. The original dam (1878) was the oldest of Europe.

The photo will be displayed in the Public exposition room of the Calafell council from September 20th to October 19th 2008. Calafell is a typical Catalan village at the Mediterranean Sea situated between Tarragona and Barcelona. I am gonna try to fly over, a perfect event to visit Barcelona again too of course. Graciñias por organizar este festival y convención!!

Television chefs part one -Nigella Lawson-

Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson, Bill Granger, .. they all give me great inspirations for some good food partys. I really would like to share Nigella's Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Sundae .. try it, it's great, enjoy !! By the way, instead of the salted peanuts, I often use salted cashews and o'yes, I 've never tried condensed milk myself before too but it works great!

La Provence

Being back from the Provence region in Southern France for a few weeks now, I think it’s time to give an update and some feedback on this one-week-trip.
I've visited the region between Marseille and Avignon ; parts of the Vaucluse, Lubéron, Languedoc-Roussillon and Bouches-du-Rhône.

Here some point of interest and my favourite sites :

The Pont du Gard is an aqueduct in the South of France constructed by the Roman Empire. Built on three levels, the Pont is 49 m (53 yards) high, and the longest level is 275 m (300 yards) long.

It was long thought that the Pont du Gard was built by Augustus' son-in-law and aide, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, around the year 19 BC. Newer excavations, however, suggest the construction took place in the middle of the first century A.D. Designed to carry the water across the small Gardon river valley, it was part of a nearly 50 km (31 mi) aqueduct that brought water from the Fontaines d'Eure springs near Uzès to the Castellum in the Roman city of Nemausus (Nîmes).
The Pont du Gard was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1985 and today, it is one of France's top five tourist attractions, with 1.5 million visitors. More information about Pont du Gard on Wikipedia

Avignon is well known for its Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes), where several popes and antipopes lived from the early 14th to early 15th centuries. (Avignon)

Bonnieux is one of the many historic "hill villages" in the region. Dating back to Roman times, it rests on top of the Luberon hills casting a watchful gaze across the rest of the valley. Next to the village is a Cedar forest that began with trees imported from North Africa during the Napoleonic era. It sits opposite Mont Ventoux, other notable villages in the area include Ménerbes, Lacoste, Rousillon and Gordes.

"Bonnieux"

"Gordes"

Roussillon is a village in the Luberon area of the Vaucluse department in southern France. It is noted for its ochre deposits.

We stayed at a lovely 6 houses property called Roque-Blanc in La Roque-d'Anthéron. I sure will get back to Southern France, there 's so plenty stuff to see and to visit .. up to the next trip!

>

Muto

Muto by BLU
An ambitious Animation Painted on Public Walls
Made in Buenos Aires and Baden
a friend from West Palm FL emailed me this link, it's an awesome piece of video-art, thanks Jeff!

Yashica-D, a 6x6 TLR

Since a week, I am the proud owner of a (simple) medium format camera, Yashica-D, a 6x6 TLR (twin lens reflex).

"Yashica-D"

Produced 1957-73 Yashica Co., Ltd. Japan
Film type 120
Picture size 6cm x 6cm
Weight 2lbs, 3.8oz (1kg 14.9g)
Lens coated 3-element Yashikor 80mm f3.5
Filter size Bay I (Bayonet type I)
Focal range 3.5' to infinity
Shutter Copal MXV
Shutter speeds B, 1-500
Viewfinder TLR
Exposure meter none
MX Sync plus accessory shoe
Automatic frame counter

Here you find the original manual in PDF format Give me some time to upload the first results.

Portishead

To celebrate the release of Portishead's new album "Third", I wish to share an older video of Portishead's famous & fabulous gig in the Roseland Ballroom, New York City, on the 24th July 1997. I can't wait to see them in May in Brussels ..love you Beth!

the Beach

Spring is here ..time to go to the beach.

"shadows.of.ourselves"

"balance"

"cabins, Ostend Beach"

Bottom

Remember the good old days with the BBC series Bottom?!
Here's an hilarious fragment of a live show in Southampton. Enjoy the crazyness of the Hammersmith flatmates Richie Richard and Eddie Hitler.

My favourite European wines (at a reasonable price).

The wineshop "De Heerlyckheid" (dutch website) is my top address in Antwerp for good wines at a fair price. In the weekend of 18-20 april, the new wines will be introduced.
I got many favourites, but I want to introduce the three ones I like the most :

Soave Classico di Monteforte DOC Veneto (a white wine from Italy)
Gran Feudo Viñas Viejas Reserva 2001 (a red wine from Spain, Bodegas Julian Chivite)
Rapitala rosato (a rosé wine from Sicily)

Produced in the Navarra region from carefully selected hand-picked Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes, from our own vineyards ‘Hoya de los Lobos’, planted in 1954, ‘Clavijas’, planted in 1940, and ‘El Paso’, planted in 1960, located in Cintruénigo and Corella. These are the best and oldest local grapes for quality wines and they have been complemented with a little Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from our vineyards in Aberin.
This wine has been matured in the traditional way in French (Allier) oak barrels, with a further evolution in bottle that refines and harmonises the qualities of this wine, developing its complex bouquet.

Brand Name : GRAN FEUDO VIÑAS VIEJAS
Grape variety : Tempranillo, Garnacha, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
Style of wine : Reserva red
Alcohol volume : 12.50%
Barrel ageing : 18 months in French (Allier) oak barrels
Colour : A deep ruby, with a lighter rim, showing its age. Clear and bright.
Nose : Full ripe soft fruit nose, with hints of tobacco. Reminiscences of soft red fruits, ripe stone fruits and black fruits. Spicy with vanilla and nut notes.
Palate : The first impression is of a velvety softness, but this opens out into a full-bodied wine, filling the mouth. Complex, well-structured tannins and excellent hints of oak. Powerful finish. Alive, modern, allowing a good lay-down ageing.
Food matches : The wine's fragrance and balance make it a good partner for tender lamb roasted with rosemary.


Rapitala Rosato Sicilia IGT
http://www.rapitala.it/

Made from indigenous red grapes, nerello mascalese and perricone. Picked when they still have a good acidity and from selected parcels of vines at between 300 and 400 metres above sea level, they are vinified by the rosé method, leaving the must in contact with the skins for several hours immediately after a gentle pressing. A wine with a fresh, fruity flavour, a delicate bouquet and bright colour.

Brand Name : RAPITALA ROSATO
Grape variety : Nerello Mascalese – Perricone
Style of wine : Rosé
Alcohol volume : 12.50%
Colour : bright pink colour
Nose : a floral, fruity bouquet, and dry, full, elegant
Palate : clean flavour with a light aftertaste of fruit which lingers in the mouth
Food matches : Italian hors d’oeuvres (cured pork meats), fish, white meats, fresh cheeses


Soave Classico di Monteforte DOC Veneto

Selected parcels in the hills of Monteforte D'Alpone in the heart of the Classico zone, facing southwest. The soil is of volcanic origin and basalt-based, rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium. The vines are trained by the Pergola Veronese system , with a yield of 100 quintals of grapes per hectare.
The ripe grapes are gathered at the beginning of October, and undergo a gentle pressing. 70% is vinified by the white wine method, the rest is cold macerated for 24 hours on the skins to improve the aromas and the structure. After natural clarification, nearly all the must is fermented at a controlled temperature with selected yeasts in stainless steel tanks until the beginning of February. The wine is cold sterile bottled.

Brand Name : SOAVE CLASSICO DI MONTEFORTE
Grape variety : 85% Garganega, 15% Chardonnay
Style of wine : White
Alcohol volume : 12.50%
Colour : pale straw colour with vivid green tints
Nose : dry, savoury, balanced, very agreeable flavour, with an elegant, lingering aftertaste of white peaches and almonds
Palate : Delicate but well defined bouquet, of exceptional finesse with a fresh fragrance of elderflower and vine and cherry blossom and mellow hints of exotic fruit.
Food matches : fresh starters, fish, barbeque

Roma Theatre & the Afghan girl

Roma theatre (dutch website) near Antwerp, is a superb place for movies, theatre, all kinds of music, etc. The theatre, built in 1928, is recently renovated and today a crew of volunteer workers are still doing an amazing job. In the old days it was the biggest movie theatre of Antwerp (2000 seats) and in the 70's artists like Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and Paul Mc Cartney came. A few weekends ago, I was invited for a birthday party and took some shots from this beautiful place.

There was also the world famous "afghan girl" as a painting on the wall. I once saw that documentary on tv, an interesting story How They Found National Geographic's "Afghan Girl"
She was one of the world's most famous faces, yet no one knew who she was. Her image appeared on the front of magazines and books, posters, lapel pins, and even rugs, but she didn't know it. Now, after searching for 17 years, National Geographic has once again found the Afghan girl with the haunting green eyes.

Photoshop experiments

".old.clock.tower."(own photoshop actions & two different textured layers)


"the vintage strawberry" Thanks to Jennifer Summer for the great ideas & actions.
(Vintage Strawberry action & an extra textured layer)


"BT"
"Boerentoren Antwerpen", the first skyscraper in Europe
(four different textured layers)

No country for old men

Last night, I think the Coen brothers had a little party.
Joel and Ethan Coen got three oscars for their latest movie "No county for old men". The film already won tow Golden Globe awards earlier.
I was already a Fargo fan (1996) and last weekend I saw this new one : it's great, excellent, raw, .. I like it!!
The novel of Cormac McCarthy about a drugdeal gone wrong near the Mexican border is the base of this movie.


Wikipedia information & the Official website

More Coen brothers' stuff I like :
Fargo (1996)
The Big Lebowski (1998)
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
..sick ost too, The Soggy Bottom Boys :-)

CARF, Children at risk Foundation

I admire the way some people try to make the world better. Yesterday I donated a small amount to CARF Brazil. I visited greg's photostream on flickr and was touched by the story about the murder of a 13y old kid.

The Children at risk Foundation, CARF Brazil, is determined to benefit the street children of Brazil by defending their rights and offering them a dignified and definitive solution so that they could live and grow within a family-oriented context and healthy social environment.

If you consider to be part of making the world a little bit better for these kids, click on this banner to get more information on this project.


Roney de Lima Pereira, forever hoping ...
13th of July 1993 - 15th of January 2008




Claudinei de Lima Pereira, forever dreaming ...
22nd of July 1992 - 27th of June 2008

First Post

The main reason to get this blog is sharing photography and news about my other intrests like, movies, music 'nd stuff.
I have a photostream on Flickr. Here's also an alternative look of the photostream : flickriver

Thanks for the visits & comments, take care, Wouter (aka "Wootie")