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dEUS’ frontman Tom Barman ignoring the smoking ban at the Paradiso in Amsterdam. Seen on December 4, 2008.

View more of my dEUS photo’s on Flickr.

Excellent! Flickr slideshows are now very easily embedded using a ‘Share’ link in the top right corner. Read more about it on the Flickr blog. I like how the slideshow also plays the video’s you might have in your set.

It’s not April 1st, is it? Because this is funny enough to make me switch to Nikon.

Crunchgear reports Canon is releasing the Powershot E1, a camera for women. It comes in ‘vanilla white’, ‘aqua blue’ and ‘cotton pink’ (i.e. baby colours), and has fewer ‘unnecessary’ buttons… ’cause the little lady gets confused easily, yes?

The company created the E1 using ‘relaxation, positive feelings and friendliness as the main guidelines for the design of the camera’. It’s ’soft’ and ’rounded’. Like a tampon.

There’s a thought. Stick it up your own hole, Canon.

Cranes in the Antwerp docklands

I nearly got my head kicked in taking pictures this weekend in Antwerp. I escaped with a few bruises, mainly to my ego. I don’t want to go into the whole sordid tale, but the moral of the story is: ask people’s permission before you take their picture in the street.

Or, you know, stick to lovely, peaceful cranes.

Red reader, originally uploaded by Caroline.

No, I didn’t need another lens. But I thought it was an ok deal, exchanging my 3rd-hand 50mm + 175 euro for a pristine Canon 28-105mm. It’s the Japanese version, which is supposed to be better than the ones made in Taiwan.

I think it’s a very nice travel lens, as opposed to my rather heavy Sigma EX 24-70. I have to say I like the range, and it’s small enough not to attract too much attention. This one’s coming to Antwerp with me, alongside the 50/1.4 for low light situations.

I took this shot almost immediately after walking out of the shop.

Morning, beautiful, originally uploaded by Caroline.

Although my hotel on Osborne Street in London gets bad reviews on travel sites, I didn’t have a problem with it at all. Yes it’s a little run down and I’m sure some people may not find the area attractive. But I like Brick Lane with its vintage clothing shops, cool record store (Rough Trade), Bangla Deshi restaurants, ‘beigel’ bakeries and photo opportunities. Plus some excellent coffee at Coffee@.

Some photos taken in the Tower Hamlets area.

Martha Wainwright @ Rogue’s Gallery, originally uploaded by Caroline.

One of the highlights of the 4-hour journey that was Rogue’s Gallery London. Martha Wainwright, a striking blonde with killer pipes belting out Lowlands Away, which her brother Rufus and mother Kate McGarrigle had sung on the Rogue’s Gallery album.

By the way, this was the night’s set list:

1) CAPE COD GIRLS / CROSSBONE SCULLEY – Baby Gramps + Chorus

2) HOG EYE MAN – Martin Carthy + Chorus

3) MY SON JOHN – Tim Robbins + Chorus

4) HAUL AWAY JOE – Teddy Thompson + Chorus

5) BALTIMORE WHORES – Gavin Friday + Eliza Carthy

6) FAREWELL NANCY – Langley Sisters/Ed Harcourt
7) OLE OG – Langley Sisters/Ed Harcourt

8) SAM’S GONE AWAY – Robyn Hitchcock + Chorus

9) LEAVE HER JOHNNY – Sandy Dillon

10) BONNIE PORTMORE – Kami Thompson + violins

11) ROLLING SEA – Eliza Carthy

12) DAN DAN + OBOE DUEL – David Thomas
13) FIRE DOWN BELOW – David Thomas

14) GED A SHEOL MI AIR – Julie Fowlis

15) MINGULAY BOAT SONG – Chris Difford + Kami

16) GOOD SHIP VENUS – Richard Strange

17) LONG TIME AGO – White Magic
18) BLOOD RED ROSES – White Magic + Chorus

19) COAST OF HIGH BARBARY – Neil Hannon
20) TURKISH REVELRY – Neil Hannon + Gita

21) BAY OF BISCAY – Norma + Martin, Eliza

22) SALLY BROWN – Teddy Thompson

23) BULLY IN THE ALLEY – Gavin/Sandy/ Pete?
24) BONEY WAS A WARRIOR – Gavin w/ Shane/Pete?

25) SOUTH AUSTRALIA – Shane McGowan w/Tim/Pete + Chorus

26) HAUL ON THE BOWLINE – Tim Robbins + Chorus
27) THE CRUEL SHIP’S CAPTAIN – Tim Robbins + violins

28) CAROLINE AND HER YOUNG SAILOR – Suzanne Vega + violins

29) LITTLE BOY BILLIE – Ralph Steadman + Chorus

30) ONE SPRING MORNING – Teddy + Kath Williams + violins/BVs

31) ROW THE BOAT CHILD – Jenni Muldaur + Chorus + violins

32) DRUNKEN SAILOR – David Thomas + Shane + Tymon

33) LOWLANDS LOW – Chris Difford + Gita

34) LOWLANDS AWAY – Martha + violins

35) GREY FUNNEL LINE – Martha

36) NEW YORK GALS / WILD GOOSE – Robyn Hitchcock + Chorus

37) PINERY BOY – Gavin Friday + violins

38) TURAS – Julie Fowlis

39) LIVERPOOL CHANTEY – Shane + Pete Doherty & Tim + Chorus

40) THE MERMAID – Martin
41) THE NIGHTINGALE – Eliza
42) SHALLOW BROWN – Norma + Chorus

43) OLD MAN OF THE SEA – Baby Gramps

Rum, sodomy and the lash, originally uploaded by Caroline.

Pictures of the Rogue’s Gallery show at the Barbican in London last Monday. Not as good as the Dublin ones, circumstances were a little more difficult and restricted.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Efterklang , originally uploaded by Caroline.

My guest pass for the Rogue’s Gallery festival also gave me access to the second day of the Analog Festival.

Three bands I’d never heard of before were on the bill. The concert started with Liars, an American band with an Australian singer. I’ve filed them under Z for Zappa with their experimental rock sound. Not my kind of thing, but frontman Angus was theatrical enough to please the photographer in me.

Efterklang made me want to hear more. Dressed in folk garb the Danes came across as a happier version of Arcade Fire – with just a tiny hint of Up With People.

The somewhat older band Tortoise followed. Instrumental rock with two drum kits in the foreground. They were a little too jazzy for me at the start, so I wandered around taking pictures of the beautiful setting of the festival, but their rhythms became a little tighter as their set progressed which drew me back in.

View my Efterklang, Liars en Tortoise photos on Flickr.