List: '91 common objects as you’ve never seen them before'

Today’s ‘List Friday’. And today I’m indecisive. Two lists vie for inclusion. Only one will become today’s list. The other’s destined for oblivion. The first one – ‘50 things I learned at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2011’ [1] – is an interesting list. But I’m not a foodie. And the Festival ended 11 days ago. So the list’s passé. Also a bit elitist. The second one’s quirkier. Not event centred. Not celebrity driven. Not spin doctored. And definitely not ephemeral. It’s ‘91 common objects as you’ve never seen them before’ [2]. Published by gizmodo, all 91 images were sent in by its readers. Why 91? I’ve no idea. The blurb says they’re all ‘everyday objects’. But one (pictured) is of a jet engine where the turbine’s bolted to the afterburner tail pipe. Everyday? I don’t think so. Anyway all the images are fascinating. They highlight the creativity that’s out there. And how art can be created with a good eye and a digital camera. These images are best viewed by scrolling through them, in these two sub-galleries [3, 4]. A favourite. I don’t have one. Do you?

P.S. Today’s list’s a bit of sequel to the Friday list last 5 November. Also from gizmodo, that one was ‘45 photos from clever, sometimes unbelievable, perspectives’ [5]. I don’t know why these images draw me in. But they sure do.

List: '45 Photos From Clever, Sometimes Unbelievable, Perspectives'

Today’s ‘List Friday’. Five weeks ago on ‘List Friday’ I wrote that each week the Gizmodo website has a digital photography ‘Shooting Challenge’ [1] in which members of the public are invited to send in photographs on a given topic. Today’s list is ‘45 Photos From Clever, Sometimes Unbelievable, Perspectives’ [2]. Here’s this week’s challenge and rules [3]. I reckon that almost all of us are used to looking at things from conventional perspectives. It’s nice and comfortable to do that. Predictable. Reassuring. Within our comfort zone. But hardly conducive to creativity and growth. Today’s 45 photos remind us that the same thing, or scene, can look differently when viewed from an unusual perspective. My favourite? Ooh, that’s difficult. Maybe the tree one [4] – because with all the trees blown down on my property recently, it’s heartening for me to see one standing tall. But no: I think my favourite’s the guitar one – because it’s so smooth and stylish [5]. I quite understand if your choice’s different from mine. Because many of them are terrific. Whichever you prefer, all 45 remind us that a different perspective, even if it’s not clever or unbelievable, is valuable. For as I wrote last Review Tuesday [6], there are at least two sides to every situation, and it’s essential to see that situation from more than your own side. Ho hum.