Magpie

Finally, it’s safe to walk the streets again. No longer do I have to grow eyes in the back of my head and be wary of ambush. The nestlings are finally old enough to quell their parents protectiveness.

In Brisbane, the pattern is familiar. As soon as Spring hints that it may be shrugging off winter’s dry, adult magpies begin to warble. Within a couple of weeks their song quietens and walkers begin to get nervous. They perch silently, waiting for strangers to pass close enough to be suspected of being a threat. And then they swoop. Low, fast and menacing, they strike from behind and tear at hair, ears or anything else they can injure with their beaks until you have passed out of their territory.

Walking backward past them is one sure way not to be struck: they prefer surprise. But the two at the end of my street are particularly cunning. They execute their guardianship with a craftiness I have rarely seen in birds. One sits in the open to distract while the other attacks from a blind spot. The first time it happened to me, I was as impressed as I was injured that they had outwitted me. Their tactic worked. I did what I could to avoid walking past them for the remainder of their nesting season.

Tah-dah!

Last week I declared that I would soon launch a website that will help correct, restore and enhance photos you’ve taken or inherited.  Today, that site goes live.

At www.perfectmypictures.com.au, I offer image processing services for those of us who prefer just to “point-and-shoot” with our cameras.  The process is ridiculously easy:

1. Upload your images and instructions via the link on our Contact page. 
2. We’ll process them and send you an email with details to your private gallery.
3. If you’re happy with them, pay our invoice and we’ll remove the watermarks so you can download the final version to your computer.

For basic image correction, prices start from as little as $1.50 per photo.  There is a detailed price list available on the FAQs page and samples of my work for you to review.

With Christmas just around the corner, here are a few cheap alternatives for personalised gifts in these tough economic times:

• Restored versions of tatty and/or damaged photographs
• Colour and exposure corrected photos to include in a calendar
• Framed pictures of the kids tearing open their presents on Christmas morning
• An album of your best photos from different holidays/events over the year

There is very little I can't do.  I hope you feel as excited about these new services as I do and recommend them to your friends and colleagues.

Busy busy busy

It’s been nearly seven years (within a couple of weeks in fact) that I last set foot here, in Antarctica.  Time certainly does fly.  I’ve been writing this blog for about 18 months now and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the following it has grown.  For my lack of reliability over the last couple of months, I extend a heartfelt apology to my readers.

The truth is:  I’ve been a little distracted.  Since August alone, my first eBook on Small Business has been published, I‘ve released an updated website and have been thoroughly monopolised by some of my customer’s projects.  From a photography perspective, I did my first wedding (I never thought I’d do one of them) and made my first movie (with animation and all).  And very soon, I’ll be launching a new website that will help correct, restore and enhance the photos you’ve taken (or inherited) so that you can look like a professional photographer too.

The most important of my distractions has been my wedding.  Less than 5 weeks away now, there has been a flurry of activity coordinating both the event itself and the travel arrangements of our international contingent.

Thank you for your loyalty and patience.  We’ll be back to regular weekly updates soon.