Being An Android Virgin

Right. I know it's been far too long since my last blog, and I always seem to make that comment at the start of most of my posts. Tragic huh? Well today I have some exciting news. I'm the proud owner of a brand spanking new HTC SENSATION XL... It's quite simply a lovely phone. It was only released about a month ago but more importantly this is my first android based smart phone. I have until recently been an owner of an iPhone 3GS. The transfer from Apple iOS to android isn't an easy one. Filled will the constrictive safety of Apple, I finally took the plunge and got my hands on a new HTC handset which has blown my mind.

As I finally have something worth writing about, I thought I'd give you all a quick 'first impressions' blog about my first day with the Sensation XL.

When I opened the box, the reason I decided on this phone became immediately apparent. The 4.7 inch screen stares back at you just wanting to be used to browse web pages easily and there is enough space on the device to comfortably navigate around the varied functions and menus.

This particular phone comes with beats audio headphones and functionality endorsed by Dr Dre. Without sounding insincere, this is an amazing facility that I was truly amazed when I tried the headphones for the first time. The bass levels are notably rich and all those audiophiles are probably nodding in agreement right now. I've already been searching through my extensive music collection for songs that can take full benefit from my new beautifully sounding earbuds.

Ok, now the part that I was most worried about. The change over.

I'm a longstanding Apple user, so my brain is now hard wired into the navigation style on an iPhone. The biggest change I'm going to have to get used to, is the new feeling of freedom. As I said earlier, the constrictive 'safety' of Apple is at times reassuring, but now I have been faced with all this android potential.

Obviously with great freedom comes great responsibility. I now have to be a little bit more careful when I drunkenly go on the app store and purchase something that I probably shouldn't. I have even had to install a virus protection program for the first time ON MY PHONE... Madness.

So what's the phone like to use then? Well, after getting used to the gadgets and gizmos I've not had before, I realise I can make this phone exactly what I want it to be. The home page is fully customisable, as are most settings such as when your phone is 'offline' so you can sleep in peace.

The screen is colourful and vibrant, with rich depth and video playback is smooth and not jerky in the slightest. Really satisfied I must say. The camera is an 8megapixel lens of loveliness and it does do mobile phone pictures justice. Very clear, very sharp. Also the amount of freedom (there is that word again) with ISO settings and HDR capability make me think twice about buying a new pocket cam for that reason. The video also has a slo-mo feature, which to be honest I haven't tried out yet.

My one gripe with the handset is the positioning of the screen on the device when using the keyboard in landscape mode. Because the screen itself is not completely central, I find that my thumb ends up missing the space bar meaning my text can quite easily be.punctuated.inbetween.words.

Anyway, I'm going on a bit here, so if there is anything you would like to know about other than my rumblings here, drop me a line or comment below and I'll let you know my personal (and very scientific) opinion.

Til next time,
Snare.

Meh...

Hello again – it’s been a while since I uploaded some sort of blog. I guess that’s all I tend to talk about on here which is depressing in itself. Like a bird moaning about having to fly everywhere when most of us chumps have to pay a metal tube with engines just for the privilege.

I’ve experienced somewhat of an impasse lately, that has made me think of what is important to me and my video ‘career’ on YouTube. When I started taking the channel a little more seriously and giving myself targets to hit, it was all exciting and new. Then the days and weeks went by and I was watching and admiring people living the dream; making videos and getting loads back; rising up from the shadows of the big players and even making money from it.

Of course my dream will always be just that. To be able to live off making videos. That’s it in a nutshell. But as an adult, that dream comes with rational thought and forces you to weigh up how you could make that happen and what risks are you willing to take to get there. I’ve always been quite a cautious person when it comes to taking risks and it has always been difficult to drop everything and chase the dream. Especially now with a mortgage and commitments that require me to make additional plans to work around these obstacles.

I also never seem to have the time to do the things that are necessary for day to day life, let alone writing that film that I have inside me… ;)

If anything, this journey I’m on – learning about film making, improving the tools of the trade while simultaneously being creative makes me appreciate the efforts of all those people who DO make a living off producing life changing movies.

So what’s next for Snare this year? What is the great plan? What ideas are coming up?

Firstly, I’d like to simply make more videos. Not as many as I did in 2010, which was ridiculous…

I don’t actually think that I’ve spent much time this year thinking about where I want to be at the end of the year, which is strange as we’re almost halfway through… EEK! The main ambition is a clear one. I need to increase my audience and get them involved in my videos. I recently hit the magical 4 figures in subscriptions, and it felt nice that 1000 people like my videos enough to click that little yellow box. ‘How’ to increase that is the big question. I’ve recently bought a new camera and so I have the means to make some excellent quality videos. I just need to get creative, write stuff in my head and get it on paper. Practice doesn’t make perfect, but perfect practice does.

There is nothing more tragic that achieving something like I have on YouTube and then doing nothing with it. I have people who want to watch me, but if I don’t produce anything for them to watch, then they will leave me. Simples.

As always, this has turned into a big fat rant of brain vomit on a lunch break, so apologies for that. I guess I’m just in a ‘desert of no direction’ and need to find the pretentiously named ‘oasis of ambition’ LOL

Seriously though – thanks for reading and drop by YouTube or twitter to say hello. It would be lovely to hear from you.

‘Til next time,

Snare.

Riding the "video-bike"

Hello. Hope it is nice where you are today?

I’ve had a flash of motivation that is hard to come by lately - I feel a bit drained ‘creatively’ you might say. As I sit in my office wondering about how to take all my different video projects to the next level, I realise that taking it to the first level might be a good idea! It’s kind of similar to a problem that many creative types have. Anyone can have a good idea; a great thought. It’s far more difficult to realise that vision into something that you can communicate to another human being. That’s probably why we applaud and admire people like directors, actors and sports personalities. They have spent time and effort refining their skills and talent into something that ‘normal’ folk find fascinating and amazing.

But what most people fail to realise is that everyone, (and I mean EVERYONE) has the potential to do something exceptionally well. For some this is a skill or talent that they have had utter dedication to over a period of time. Others are naturally bestowed an amazing ability from birth. Some people may even just be really annoying and be good at most things…

Not often ‘great’ but nevertheless, it can be very irritating…LOL

So what does this have to do with me eh? Well, I often have ‘awesome’ ideas for videos and through youtube I have found an outlet that allows me to do some amazing things. My problem is simply that transition from metaphysical ideals to an actual ‘thing’ that others can understand. The longer I spend making videos the more I realise there is to learn, and even UNlearn.

Think about it. Go back in your mind to something you didn’t use to know how to do.

Like riding a bike.

You may remember how scary it was long ago and how you just couldn’t stay upright, constantly falling off and grazing those little knees. Now, you can speed along and all is well in the cycling world. But you had to UNlearn that fear. You saw people who were cycling around and it was amazing. You wanted to do that. But you had to spend time learning the skill, getting it better and better, until you just KNEW what to do.

In my head, I know exactly how I want a certain video or scene to look. I know what reaction I want from the viewer. But tying all those ends up together is the magic. The part of filmmaking that inspires directors and indie filmmakers all around the world.

Just remember that the next time you come up against something you don’t think you can do, take a step back and be true to yourself when you answer “what will it take to achieve this?”

Enjoy my lovelies.
Until next time,
Snare.

SVD IS BACK!!!!!

Well hello all. I thought I’d spend a little while explaining my recent video – for those of you that have seen it…


It had been about 3 weeks after I finished my last video of daily vlogs throughout 2010 that I thought it would be an amazing idea to do a comeback vid. One to really set the standard for 2011. I think I succeeded in making not only a vaguely funny and goofy montage, but also put time into a song celebrating my return.

At this point I would forgive you for thinking that this is slightly egotistical, but in fact it was all in good taste. I don’t take myself too seriously; no-one should in my opinion. (Apart from doctors – I’d like them to remain focused and very serious)

My aim for 2011 is to have the time and freedom to do more interesting videos, mainly because if The Big Vlog taught me anything, it is that time is precious. Now that my days are freed up from daily vlogs, I feel the pressure is justified in creating better videos.

This is just a quick update while I get back to real life and start planning my next video for YouTube :)

Thanks for sticking with me guys and gals. It means so much.
Stay classy People…
Snare.

One Day.

So here we are. Another blog out of nothing. One day I’ll find a purpose for this expression other than just rambles. I think a big part is the chicken and egg. If people read it, I’d be more inclined to write. For me to sit down on a lunchbreak and rattle off some nonsense is very easy. The problem occurs when I have no direction, or reason.

I’d love to have a career doing something for myself like writing / making videos / but I’ll always feel trapped by the need to bring home some money to pay the mortgage and the bills.

For me, I’ve been lucky enough to work hard and keep a job with the same company for the last 10 years. Letting go of that would be stupid unless I had something to replace it. What I do at the moment is not my dream job but I always try my hardest to make what ever situation I’m in work for me. Deep down I know that if I were to make a hit at it with enough focus I could get somewhere. It’s the beginning that journey that scares me.

I wonder if you feel like that too?

Anyway I’m once again sat on my lunchbreak wondering what the future could hold and worrying that I’ll let life pass me by… Oh how depressing…LOL

I’m still in the progress of putting together the comeback vid for YouTube, which I hope will be great as it is in my head. Sadly the break from vlogging everyday has made me realise how much I enjoyed having time to do…er… nothing. I missed it and it is now starting to kill my motivation. This. Has. To. Change.

Here is a list of 2011 ‘things to do’ that I came up with last year:

Achieve 2000 subs on YouTube – I reckon I can do this!

 

• Learn how to use Final Cut Express
• Get familiar with Garageband (for audio scores etc)
• Buy a new HD camera (camcorder / DSLR to be decided)
• Write an article and get something published. Somewhere.

Well that’s all I can remember right now – but I hope that this brief 15 min blog will inspire you someway today. Please post a comment and let me know how you are feeling today!

Til next time,

snarevandamm

 

Afternoon all. It’s been a while.

It’s been nineteen days since the big vlog finished and if anything it has taught me that free time is something not to be wasted. For a whole year I have spent everyday squeezing time in to make a video and all the while, I was perpetually concerned that I might not make it that day.

I know it’s been a few months since I posted, but it’s mostly because I’ve been in the zone with film making. I’m now looking at the big ‘comeback’ video that I hope will please my loyal subscribers on YouTube who have stood by me on such a ridiculous project. 2011 sees me being able to spend more time on each video, so the quality level has to improve, which is a totally different kind of pressure. Thankfully I have a lot of supportive friends that want to help me achieve this!

One of the most exciting aspects of the comeback is that it’s my first impression of 2011. I did post a half video on 8th January that was just to prove to my subscribers that I hadn’t disappeared, but the proper return will hopefully be as good on the screen as it is still in my head.

I must go now though as I don’t have long until I return to work and the humdrum of existence where I must forget about my creative desires and focus on paying the bills.

:(

Maybe one day things will be different…

Until very soon,

Snare.