first off I wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you who read these random ramblings of mine, I’ve now reached the landmark of 100 wordpress.com followers and having that support and following has been great. As some of you longer term readers will know I started rambling around on the web in frustration at shoddy customer service and to give poor Mrs Bunny Chow a break from listening to me whining. At the time I’d never even read any blogs and had no idea that this community even existed or dreamed that I could become part of it.
Blogging has become a hobby for me and keeps me out of trouble, I became really down a week or so ago when a close friend began questioning why I would be “doing shit drawings and putting them all over the internet” well my friend I do them because it’s my hobby and I gain pleasure from it and thanks to you good people out here in the blogosphere seem to gain something from my photography and art, I could have retaliated in person and attacked his passions and questioned what led him to do what he does in his free time but I was grown up enough to drop it and remember that art is subjective, just because he might not like what I am doing that’s entirely his right to make that decision and whilst my feelings at the time were deeply deeply hurt and poor Mrs Bunny Chow had to listen to me griping and whining, having allowed myself time to simmer I realise that in reality I would defend to the end his right to his opinions, I may not agree with them but the internet is a wonderful democracy and if he chooses not to enjoy my artistic that’s his prerogative, I’m not going to give up my hobby because it doesn’t float the boat of someone else, be they a real life friend or the occasional internet troll.
Next I’d like to talk about artistic inspiration, it’s a topic I’ve covered a couple of times before in these pages but would like to touch on again inspired by the lovely Patricia over at Pixygiggles who asked about artistic Mojo and how creativity can be commanded, well the simple answer is that it can’t be commanded, well at least not by me, there are plenty of weeks that go by where I battle to keep taking pictures but I keep going. I draw my inspiration and ideas from a variety of sources, Google+ and especially the Project 52 list have thus far inspired at least 34 posts with plenty more to come, Nick and Shannon from www.nickexposed.com and http://seeingspotsphoto.wordpress.com/ have been equally inspiring with their monthly community collaboration projects.
Then there are just people like the aforementioned Patricia who goes out of her way day after day to share her interpretation of the world and what it means to her at any given time, I’ve discovered so many people who inspire me to go out and create on a daily basis, I don’t share every failure with you but I do share plenty of them and do you know what sometimes I cringe but more often I’ll just look back with pride and think I created that, sure I’ve learned a lot about photography in the last year or so and might approach things differently if faced with the same opportunities today but isn’t that what learning is all about, do golfers ever shoot that perfect round and think sod it that’s enough I’ll quit now?
Phew this is turning into something of a rant, deep breath, I started writing today because I wanted to thank all of you who have welcomed me and inspired me to keep going and enjoy myself, at the end of the day this is my little fiefdom but all of you make it a happy little fiefdom so thank-you for being you.
My last little ramble is to ask opinions of phonography and the proliferation of filter apps like instagram and hipstamatic, I keep changing my mind about them, they’re fun, they’re quirky, they’re always in your pocket but the pictures that come out of them are crap, yet it’s that same crapness that I somehow like about them and keep finding myself drawn back to even when editing my photographs from my camera I find myself drawn back to retro feeling editing styles, is this because of the cliché or just because it’s what I’ve always found aesthetically appealing, I’m not sure I can answer that at the moment so I’ll leave the floor open for your thoughts.
The pictures interspersed throughout this post are not new, they’re just a few I’ve chosen because I liked them and felt like sharing them, I’m pretty sure they’ve all been seen in these pages before but if they’re new to you I hope you like them and if you don’t then that’s fine too.
Comment your lives away.
TTFN
Mr Bunny Chow
The life and photography of Mr Bunny Chow 
Dear Mr. Bunny Chow – A “friend” just commented that “people who blog have nothing better to do with their time!” This did not get me down. It got me angry. And my reaction was the same as yours – “It’s my hobby!” So, let’s keep enjoying this outlet for our creativity. Your blog is definitely growing on me now and I am anxious to see some of these “shit drawings.” 🙂
Many thanks, it may be true that we have nothing better to do with our time, but they haven’t stopped to consider that we enjoy what we do and that to us, better might have a whole different meaning than to them. you can have a nosey through some of my doodlings via https://mrbunnychow.com/category/doodlings/
I think your sketches (and photos) are awesome! When people criticize you for something you enjoy doing (the personal attack kind, not the constructive helpful type), just remember that more than likely they are feeling critical of themselves for not taking the time to do what they enjoy. That’s what I think, anyway; and it usually takes the bite out of the criticism.
Thank you so much for the mention!
He’s an obnoxious character anyway and annoyingly an extremely talented guitarist, he’s never been known to think before speaking.
Nice little rant (always good to do that every now and then) man.
As to the question, I’m a big anti-fan of instagram/hipstamatic iphoneography. Reason being is that most who use it, over-use it. Any good photo, whether it be an interesting subject or have good composition, is ruined by the crass filters and faux-retro looks applied.
However, there are a few out there that do just fine with it and use the filters as subtle enhancers (how I personally feel they should be used) to their already great photographs. That last photo (if it pertains to your point) is a great example of filters applied right. By the depth of field I can see it wasn’t taken with an iPhone, but the relatively subtle retro filter adds to the retro feel of the car.
I could go on, but don’t feel like getting steamed. And these are just my personal opinions here, I don’t mean to offend anyone.
You’re right Matt it was taken with my 10d and plastic nifty fifty. And yep this is one of the pictures I was talking about
You did good. 🙂
Your outspoken friend is of course entitled to his opinion, but being a ‘friend’, I’m sure there are kinder ways in which to express his opinion. Although what you post on your blog has absolutely nothing to do with him in the first place. Your followers wouldn’t be following you if they didn’t enjoy what you put on your blog.
I absolutely love the photo with the sun, the tree and the quote. Stunning! And I probably haven’t mentioned this before, but I find your drawing of the Brahman calf adorable… 😉
I would love to use the apps for cell phones, but I have no idea how to go about getting them… I won’t ever take these pics as serious as ‘real’ photographs, but I think they will be fun to play around with.
How’s that for a ramble?! 🙂
that is a fantastic ramble Zelmare, thank you, xx
Just keep on doing what makes you happy as long as your not hurting anyone. Just like you have I been ask why I’m doing what I’m doing but who care’s this what what I want and I enjoy what I’m doing.. 🙂
thanks Angela
Congratulations on your first 100. I know there will be many more! Don’t ever worry about inane comments about blogging. They usually come from people who have nothing interesting to do or share and never do anything interesting.
many thanks Bassas, I knew I could count on your support
Congrats on your 100th subscriber!
What I’ve found about blogging is that if you write with enthusiasm about things that interest you, people will read it. I also started blogging because my husband was a little tired of hearing all my “stories”. What is odd is that he now reads everything I write and even comes up with post and post title suggestions! 🙂
About the filter apps: I think they’re interesting for certain photo projects, but I wouldn’t use them all the time. Since there are now apps being made available to turn the instagram/hipstamatic images into ordinary images (although I’ve heard the results aren’t perfect), I’d say that some people want to see a “real” photograph. I’d prefer to work the other way around – take an ordinary image and then filter it later.
Having said that though I do like your last retro image! 🙂
I think that any creative hobby is never a waste of time. It is food for the soul.
many thanks