Brighton Science Festival

The Science Festival, which took place over three weeks in February, has become an annual event with a growing reputation. This is science presented in an entertaining, exciting and interesting way, which, for anyone who thinks the subject dull, difficult or just plain boring, may be surprised by how enjoyable the presentations are. I wish Richard Robinson, the festival’s director, had been my science teacher at school…then maybe, I’d have got somewhere with the subject.

Fresh from their ‘Bigger Bang! Show’, Dr Hal Sosaboski and co presented ‘The Darker Reaches of the Periodic Table’ at the Sallis Benney Theatre (University of Brighton). This was a fun-packed and exhilarating look at noisy science. Dr Hal, who is one of the foremost Exhibition Chemists in the UK, provided an explosive and instructive show.

There were talks by, among others, Ben Miller, Polly Toynbee and Michael Mosley and a demonstration of the ‘Haptic Cow”, a model of a cow’s rear end which allows trainee vets to experience what the insides of a cow feels like without having to upset a real one.

One Hundred Artists For World Aids Day

100 artists including myself, took part in this event to raise much needed funds for The Sussex Beacon. A diverse group of artists and performers contributed to this project held at Concorde 2 in Brighton.

Commencing at 4pm on a cold, wet December Sunday evening, undeterred by the appalling weather, the event was very well attended by people eager to give their support. 20% of all art sales were donated to the Sussex Beacon, a care centre for people living with HIV and Aids related illnesses. Live stage performers and DJ’s provided the entertainment.

Dolly Rocket – Event Hostess       Sam Chara – Singer

Talk by Natalie Dybisz aka Miss Aniela

     

Last Tuesday, I went to a talk by Miss Aniela at the Brighton and Hove camera club. I had recently discovered her Flickr site and was impressed and intrigued by her work. She states on her blog that she wanted to keep things ‘snappy’ and avoid people falling asleep during a long presentation. Well, I don’t think there was ever any danger of that!

She is as impressive a speaker as she is photographer, articulate, fascinating and sparky. Her talk was divided into two main parts, the first showing her work from the beginning – not that long ago, she is only 23! – to the present: in the second half she revealed the techniques she used to achieve surreal images such as the ones below.

  

I’m always impressed when someone is willing and generous enough to share technical knowledge and explain in detail how certain effects are achieved. It’s one thing to see inspiring images but it’s much more interesting to know how you could go about making a similar image or be able to apply that knowledge to some project of your own.

  

The consensus was that she was the best speaker the club had had for a long time.

You can visit her Flickr site by clicking here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndybisz/

The Brighton Beach Boys

 

The Brighton Beach Boys and the Psychedelic Love Orchestra performed the Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds” and the Beatles’ “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” at St. George’s Church in Kemp Town during the Brighton Festival in May. The award winning 15-piece band consists of musicians with a vast amount of talent. They recreate two of the most revered, iconic albums ever recorded with amazing six-part vocal harmonies and original instruments. They sound amazingly authentic and are breathtakingly brilliant.