I took a call from BBC WM yesterday asking me for a comment, as a photographer, on former heritage minister John Penrose's idea that the finest urban views in our cities and towns should be protected. Here's the article in The Telegraph.
I think John Penrose's idea is certainly different but I'm not sure how it could be executed successfully in cities where the landscape is always changing.
I don't think views are always ruined by redevelopment. In fact, new buildings and architecture can enhance city's aspects.
Could preserving certain urban views have a detrimental effect on industry? If a business can't build, where will the jobs go and in turn the growth of towns and cities.
What would constitute a heritage view? How would it be decided?
The urban view from the roof top of the library is wonderful, but that particular view won't be there much longer. Though as one building goes, another will appear on the horizon and perhaps offer an even better view of an urban landscape (which of course is all down to personal taste and opinion anyway).
On my 'Being a tourist in my own city' day I took to the 25th Floor of the fairly new The Cube. I was amazed by the views! Those views may not exist if redevelopment had been halted.
I'm trying to find some wise words to kick off my new year post.
I'm feeling my usual gung-ho-ness about a brand new year, and already it feels like 2013 is off to a flying start! I'm feeling really happy, optimistic and taking time to celebrate achievements, big and small.
In a conversation with a good friend I was reminded how we rarely pauses to enjoy the now. I know I don't. I'm always looking ahead; to the next goal, to the next adventure, to the next journey, to the next whatever. I think to myself, "I want this, that and that to happen" and "In my ideal life this and that will happen, and I'll be doing this". I keep looking ahead, always with the future in mind, and it's just dawned on me that "this, that and that" have happened, they do happen and I'm looking ahead so much I don't actually realise what I want is happening at the time!
So, this year I am going to try and be more mindful; to enjoy the journey, not just the destination. Sometimes peeps say "Oh, you are so lucky!", but I disagree. I'm not lucky at all; I don't believe in luck. I work really hard for the successes I have. I strive for more. Of course I love doing what I do and I'm grateful I have the wherewithal to make plans, set things in motion and get to my goals. I've just realised I sound a bit serious, I'm not, I'm just grateful and very appreciative, and being mindful!
So, onto this brand new year!
What are you going to do to keep being happy? What are you going to change to be even happier?! If we are not happy with something it's down to us to change our situation, or adjust our outlook and perception.
About 15 years ago I read a book about the power of positive thinking. Unfortunately I can't remember the exact title or who it was by (it wasn't this popular book by Normal Vincent Peale though) but it had a huge effect on me and my attitude. Looking back I used to be fairly negative in my thinking; my glass was half empty. The biggest lesson I took from that book was that I could learn to be more positive. It was a very easy thing to do, much easier to do that I first anticipated; whenever a negative thought popped into my mind I would change it to a positive one, even if I didn't really believe it at the time.
For example:
Negative - Oh, I'm never going to be able to run a mile so what's the point in even trying.
Positive - I can't wait to be able to run a mile! It will take some time and effort and I'm going to feel great when I am able to do it!
Over a period of time I re-trained my brain by catching the negative self-talk as it happened and replacing it with something a lot more positive. And it worked! My outlook changed, I felt happier, I felt like I could do more and achieve more and my confidence grew. I went on to take a year long life coaching course and gained a qualification there, and also qualified as an NLP (neuro linguistic programming) practitioner. I never looked back. I got out of a job that I had done for far too long which was getting me down, went travelling around the USA, moved house and started the process of doing work that I love.
It's important to surround yourself with positive people too! The company you keep has a huge influence on you. Spend time with people who make you feel great. Connect with people you admire. A goal for 2012 was to bannish negative people from my life, and doing that has made such a wonderful difference! I highly recommend it.
This time last year I wanted to get my online profile in order, and I've done that. If you want to keep up to date with everything I am up to with work and play, then karenstrunks.com is the best place to be! It's my portfolio site and I update with all my blog posts from other areas.
I also wanted to be braver and bolder, and push myself out of my comfort zone. I think I've done that to some degree but it's a work in progress and something I'm going to continue to do; saying yes, and seeking out adventures along the way.
London! Having spent more time in the city last year I've got it in my sights and I'm very excited about new work opportunities in the Big Smoke!
I hope you had a magical Christmas time and Santa got you lots of great toys! He was very good to me with lovely perfumes and blingy things. My favourites! How does he know eh?!
I'm just emerging from a few days of completely re-charging my glitter, which means I really, actually, truly did nothing! It was bliddy marvelous. It's so rare I take a few days to do nothing and I really got into the swing of it. And I've just realised that in planning my 2013 diary I forgot to schedule time off - I'm going to correct that right this second....
Right, that's time off booked into next years diary. Now, to look back on 2012!
The Good
I've got all sorts of good from this year!
Celebrating my best friend's 40th Birthday at a haunted cottage in the middle of nowhere in Wales. I still shudder at the ghostly goings on! It was a real country break with just the sound of birds and the neighbours mooing (they were cows, not humans!). I loved the open fire, but not the cobwebs. Part of me would just love to go back there again, and the other part says 'noooooo, it's just toooo scary!'.
Having an Italian adventure in Milan! I had the chance to explore this beautiful city with it's stunning architecture, designer shops, art and of course the stylish people and not forgetting it has the most fabulous graveyard ever! Honestly.
The A.May.Zing month of May! 10 days of working and living in London. I had such an adventure and so many things fell into place. It was just the place I should have been that month. Now it's given me a taste for London and I've been back a few times since and plans to return very soon!
Being recruited by Brave New Ventures I had no idea what I was getting into or letting myself in for when I was approached by BNV. What a mysterious organisation. I'm still not quite sure what happened!
Enjoying a Great British Seaside Holiday with my fab Mum We toured seaside towns down south and had one sunny day during the week. Hey, you can't go to the beach and not get rained on the the UK. Sandy sandwiches are a must. It's tradition! Thanks for a fab holiday Mum!
Working with the talk about local team! Not just good, but great! However, now it's time to say a fond farewell to the team and take part in new adventures in 2013, which I'll announce shortly. If you ever get a chance to work with any of the tal team, do! If you have an interest in how to use social media from a grass root up perspective, keep an eye on the great work they do in empowering people and communities. It's been a pleasure working with everyone and I'll look forward to the TAL13 conference next year!
The Bad
This could also go in The Unplanned category, but it was it was more 'bad' than 'unplanned' (not that I planned it!) so it's going here.
It took a month out of the year all in all and I resent it for that. And it knocked my confidence in how my body works and also what I could and couldn't eat until I ended up eating the blandest diet ever. Thankfully, I am better and I know I can eat whatever I like again. So, another, Hurrah!
The 'good' for you is that I'm pretty bored of talking about it now, so this'll be the last you hear about it. Unless 1. I get ill again or 2. I feel like I want some sympathy haha.
The Unplanned
I didn't plan 2012 quite well enough. Which in some parts worked out well (Amazing Month Of May and for the Being Ill parts), but that was only by accident. Let me explain.
Earlier in the year I applied for a Clore Fellowship. Naturally I was pretty excited about this, but I also had a feeling that my chances of securing a place would be fairly slim. However, if you don't try for things, you stand no chance at all. What with the time commitment involved in the Fellowship if I had of been successful, and even though I felt my chances were a little slim, I kept the second half of the year free of commitments. In April I got the news that I didn't get a place. I was looking at the rest of the year without as much of a plan as I would ordinarily have liked.
It all worked out in the end and I was able to get back on track with planning but I really think I should have had more of a back up plan. The power of a back up plan should not be underestimated!
FINAL SCORE
I will give 2012 a score of 7/10.
2013, I have very high expectations of you! We are aiming for 10/10!
Thank you to everyone who has brought their positivity to the year!
I wish you all the happiness in the world and every success for 2013!
Let's grab it and go out and make our own luck! :)
With a global 4am Project date coming up soon David got some hardy photography souls together and headed out into the rain drenched streets of Birmingham! Check out his blog post about the morning and his DSLR photographs. Thanks for organising the walk and for inviting me along to speak to your photo societies David!
Have a look at everything that is happening at Fotofilia. Not only is there a fabulous photo studio for hire (at a great price), there are classes and lessons and courses. David arranges exhibitions as well as running the photographic societies.
What David said about my talks: “Karen has now delivered two presentations to the photographic societies we run here at Fotofilia. I had wanted to bring Karen along to speak for some time, having heard many great things about the 4am Project and admiring the innovative concept. On both occasions, the presentations were fun, informative and inspirational - (anything that can encourage our members to consider getting up at 4am to take pictures must be recommended). The presentations were well paced and friendly, with any questions being handled honestly and concisely"
On the 12th of the 12th of the 12th I went along to the launch of the London Instagramers photography exhibition Iconic London 2012 which is a retrospective of London this year.
I wanted to make sure I had a memorable day as well as night on 12th December 2012 so I took myself on a photo walk around the city. It was a very chilly day, but I wrapped up and got out there and had a lot of photo fun along the way! Of course I couldn't let a day like 121212 go by without documenting it, so I've recorded it on Storify
It was a fantastic day and night in the Big Smoke. Thanks to everyone who was part of it! :)
They say the best way to see the city that you live in is to pretend that you are a tourist and that you are seeing things for the first time. Do you have to travel far to have new experiences?
My friend Elizabeth lives in Cardiff and she told me she was visiting the city where I live, Birmingham. As soon as she mentioned this to me I got so excited and offered to show her around. Rather trustingly Elizabeth put herself completely in my hands for the day and went along with the whole thing!
I love organising and making plans and setting schedules and times and very soon a precision timed tour of Birmingham was on a spread sheet waiting to be executed.
But what do they say about the best laid plans.....? I only went and lost my printed timetable on the morning itself. Minutes before Elizabeth stepped off the train I realised that somewhere between having the day's schedule in my hand hot off the printer and travelling to New Street Station that this vital ingredient of the day had gone missing. But all was not lost - hurrah! I have a good memory so I was able to piece together my plans for the day. Yay.
I had to give some thought into what parts of the city to show Elizabeth and the tour would be a bit biased towards where I know, and what I like, but I did try to bear my friends likes and dislikes in mind too!
Thank you to Elizabeth for a wicked day and to my friends Marty and Sas who I haven't seen for far too long, but we got a chance to catch up on Saturday night over a traditional Birmingham dish, the Balti! Whoop!!! :)
