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Alcamin

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Keep on truckin'

16 min read



:typerhappy: News


Hello, good people of deviantART!

How are things going? Sorry for the lack of updates recently. Things have been crazy busy around here lately. It seems that my life has been completely consumed by uni work, to the detriment of virtually everything else. It's been a stressful couple of months, but it seems to be paying off, as I'm keeping up a 90% average, so hopefully I'll be able to keep that up. The other major new time sink in my life is work. After a successful interview, I managed to get a job working for Carlton Marsh Nature Reserve, run by Suffolk Wildlife Trust. It's been an interesting and often tiring experience, especially as my main duties have been to supervise school field trips, usually for kids aged between 7-10 years old. No idea how they have so much energy. :dead: It's been great though, and it sounds like there is going to be some research projects coming up there too, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed I'll get into that as well. It would be a nice change of pace.

Suffice it to say, it's been an interesting 6 months but, as I'm sure you can guess, my camera has been neglected once again. It's over there on the other side of the room, staring at me. Not sure what face it's making (you know..... if it had one), but I'm guessing it would be something like this:

Chiyo camera

..............Yeah..................... Sad camera. >___>

Any hoo, moving swiftly along, now that summer is starting I think I'll be out and about with said camera a bit more. With all of the studying I've been doing it would probably be very therapeutic and get a change of scene. Even with the good results, I've been feeling a bit burnt out, so I sure it would do me some good to use my brain for something more creative. As much as I love science, it can be a bit overwhelming at times.

So yes, this is really just journal to get a few things off my chest. Like I said, despite the stresses and strains, the last few months have been a really interesting period of my life, and one that I will help me grow as a person. I just need to find a good balance. Still working on that one.

Oh, and special shout out to those kind people that wished me a Happy Birthday a few days ago! I really appreciated it, especially in light of my inactivity recently. Thanks for sticking with me. You guys rock! :#1:

Catch you later, guys!


:earth: Alcamin :earth:

P.S. If anyone is confused about the camera photo, and are now questioning my sanity.... well, all I can say is that you are probably on to something. :nod:




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Winner monthly contest 25 by NaturPics-club CameraArtsClub Stamp - White by CameraArtsClub macro-club stamp by macro-club APN stamp chatty chat by Tepara




:cuddle: Building Awareness of M.E/CFS


I'm trying to raise awareness about M.E (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis). It is an illness that goes almost unnoticed by most governments and needs to be taken more seriously. I’ve had it for seven years and as I am now on the mend I feel I need to help the less fortunate. For more information please go to www.afme.org.uk. Thank you. :glomp:

P.S Have a look here to learn about my recovery and the treatment that I received: alcamin.deviantart.com/journal….





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Earth Hour 2011

18 min read



:typerhappy: News


Earth Hour 003


Last year, Earth Hour was an understand event as far as I remember, due to the fact that I had a stinking cold and a mind filled with equations and ocean current charts, but like many millions of people around the world I took part. At 8:30 pm GMT, on 27th March 2010, I closed the textbooks, shut down the computer, switched off the lights, wrapped up warm and stepped out into the cool evening air. In my ill state that may for not have been the best idea in the world, but I wanted to watch the lights from across the river. At the bottom of the garden beside a willow tree and two tall poplars is a simple wooden bench looking out across the marshland fields and the river Yare beyond. On the opposite bank lies the small town of Reedham, with its lights stretching out before me, each twinkling and dancing slightly as I sat down. To the right lies Lowestoft, not visible directly, but recognisable with it's familiar dull orange glow on the horizon, an ugly smear on the horizan. So there I sat, watching, with only a light breeze and the rustling leaves for company, waiting for 8.30pm to strike.


I watched with satisfaction as houses began to go black, the horizon darkening. Some stubbornly remained on, but it was honestly more than I was expecting. Perhaps they forgot, perhaps they hadn't heard, or perhaps they simply didn't care, although I sincerely hoped that wasn't the case. I looked over toward Lowestoft and although I was not 100% sure, I thought that the neon glow had faded somewhat, but it may have just been my imagination. Either way, the sky was clearer than I had ever seen it, and so I turned my attention to the heavens, and gazed up at the starry blackness above. This was why I was here, to look up at the shimmering darkness and reflect. No big events, nothing particularly note worth, simply to pause, think and reflect. No more, no less.


So why do this? Why switch off the lights and take part in this movement when so many others will not? I suppose it really comes down to the reason I started my journey as a young scientist in the first place. It's very easy to be swept up the sceptical cynicism when it comes to the state of our world. Looking at the news is usually a depressing experience, with stories of war, suffering and environmental decay, and that's only the stuff we hear about. Dig a little deeper and it's a wonder any of us bother at all, so the fact that so many people choose to ignore things, or dismiss these problems is hardly surprising. In some cases, it's simply a form of escapism. Nothing we can do so let's just bury our heads in the sand.


It's for that reason that I believe that events like Earth Hour can be so powerful. Seeing all of those lights go off, especially in a large city, has an immediate, visual impact, one that is impossible to ignore. It shows that you are not alone in this fight, that there are others around you that care about the state of our planet, whether it be from the perspective of climate change or simply that they don't want to see the green spaces, that are becoming so rare is some areas, disappear because of our steady and relentless expansion. I have met people with a range of different perspectives, views and ideologies, that were deeply moved by previous Earth Hour's, which is why I want to support it. There aren't many movements that affect such a wide scope of people, and as its influence spreads that effect is growing with it.


The reason I decided to become a scientist is because of the desire to protect our nature surroundings and to gain a better understanding of them, not because I think that I personally will revolutionise the field and come up with the next big idea, but because I want to conserve what we have, what we are losing. It isn't a grand aim, just one that I feel very strongly about.  A friend once told me of an old Native American proverb which I believe sums this view up nicely.


"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children."



It is a simple things, perhaps to idealistic for some, but I hope that it will, in one way or another make a difference, even if it simply makes people pause and think for a moment about the world that they inhabit but so rarely give an thought too.


As for me, like last year, at 8:30pm tonight, I will open the doors of a darkened house, step into the garden and watch the lights from across the river and hope that this year all of them will go out.

Earth Hour 002



:earth: Alcamin :earth:



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:cuddle: Building Awareness of M.E/CFS


I'm trying to raise awareness about M.E (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis). It is an illness that goes almost unnoticed by most governments and needs to be taken more seriously. I've had it for seven years and as I am now on the mend I feel I need to help the less fortunate. For more information please go to www.afme.org.uk. Thank you. :glomp:

P.S Have a look here to learn about my recovery and the treatment that I received: alcamin.deviantart.com/journal….





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:typerhappy: News


Good day, dA! How's everything going?

What a crazy few months it has been! Since New Year's I've hardly had time to breath, what with studying, health stuff and a new job.

First things first, the job. After several months of looking around, and a lot of um'ing and err'ing, I finally found something that will give me the experience in the conservation field I have been looking for. So, I went for an interview at Carlton Marsh, run by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust here in the UK, and was offered a training position on the spot. I can't tell you how good that felt! At the moment it is just part-time, which considering everything else that's going one is just as well, but there is a huge amount going on at that place. At the moment, I am working with the education side of the team, but it sounds like there will be some other things going on later in the year, so I should get a nice combination of duties. The current one is particularly relevant to dA as I'm helping out with a photography project. It's nothing major, but it's been great to get out with the camera again. It's been quite a while, which I will explain in a sec. Overall, it should give me just the boost I need to get back into uni work next September after my break.

Speaking of uni work, I am keeping the old grey-matter ticking over at the moment with another OU course, which I started about 4 weeks ago. I felt that even with the break, I needed to do something, and the OU is a great way to do it. There is still some much of the physics and chemistry side of things that I feel I need to brush up on, so hopefully this course will help things along. It's still early day, but so far so good. I know it's not a common feeling, but I really love science! :D

The only other thing to report is the back injury I mentioned in the last journal entry. It's taken a long time, far longer than I was expecting, but I think I'm finally on the mend. It's still sore at times, but at least I can actually go out to walk around, which hasn't really been possible for the last few months (hence the lack of photography). It's a huge relief, so I'm hoping to get back into a good fitness regime again soon. Gently at first. Don't want to injure myself again. That would drive me over the edge. :crazy:

So yeah, there's been quite a lot going on, to say the least. Exciting times! :) Hopefully now that I'm getting back into photography again you should see some new work again. It's been a while, but I feel my creative spark coming back. Feels good. :meow:

BTW, anyone noticed the new pixel avatar? I've always wanted one of those, but always thought it would be to complicated to make. Turns out it was easy as pie! Not bad for a first try, if I do say so myself. ;) It makes me smile. :iconalcamin:

See you around dA!

:earth: Alcamin :earth:



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Winner monthly contest 25 by NaturPics-club CameraArtsClub Stamp - White by CameraArtsClub macro-club stamp by macro-club APN stamp chatty chat by Tepara




:cuddle: Building Awareness of M.E/CFS


I'm trying to raise awareness about M.E (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis). It is an illness that goes almost unnoticed by most governments and needs to be taken more seriously. I've had it for seven years and as I am now on the mend I feel I need to help the less fortunate. For more information please go to www.afme.org.uk. Thank you. :glomp:

P.S Have a look here to learn about my recovery and the treatment that I received: alcamin.deviantart.com/journal….





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:typerhappy: News


Good day dA, and Happy New Year to you all!

Yes, I'm back once again after a long absence. A combination of poor internet (now fixed, hopefully), busy work schedule, and injury have all contributed to this, but as the New Year has rolled around things are looking up once again. The main issue has been a back injury I picked up a little while ago which has basically house-bound me for over a month, something that had effectively dampened any and all enthusiasm I had for, well, anything really. It isn't serious or life altering, so no worries there, but it's just meant that I haven't been able to move around much. That makes photography hard of course, so I've been forced to take a break from that as well. Booo! :|

Thankfully, like I said, things are looking up now. I've been getting treatment on the back, which seems to be finally getting better, and my outlook on life is a bit more positive. There is a bit more news but I will save that for another journal, as some of it isn't finalised yet. Exciting though, that's all I'll say. :eager:

So I return to help spark my imagination and inspire myself to get back on there with camera in hand. After a long break it sometimes helps to have a bit of a kick up the arse. ;) It's good to be back at any rate and I look forward to getting back into the swing of things around here. I've got a few images set and ready to submit so I need to start things of some new material. Been reading about some new techniques and skills that I'm eager to put into practise. Experiment time! :la:

:earth: Alcamin :earth:



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Winner monthly contest 25 by NaturPics-club CameraArtsClub Stamp - White by CameraArtsClub macro-club stamp by macro-club APN stamp chatty chat by Tepara




:cuddle: Building Awareness of M.E/CFS


I'm trying to raise awareness about M.E (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis). It is an illness that goes almost unnoticed by most governments and needs to be taken more seriously. I've had it for seven years and as I am now on the mend I feel I need to help the less fortunate. For more information please go to www.afme.org.uk. Thank you. :glomp:

P.S Have a look here to learn about my recovery and the treatment that I received: alcamin.deviantart.com/journal….





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Weekly Feature #6

Time for another Weekly Feature (it's been a while so this is a big one to make up for it ;))! This is number 6 and it's packed full of amazing images! Check them out and take a look at the rest of the artists work. I'm sure you will find more great stuff! :iconpiratelaplz:


Fighting tigers by AzumaShinohara :thumb158722086: :thumb150718214:
Winter Wonderland by black-amber Haunted memories by dyingrose24 orangeday by BOsKiKroKodyL
:thumb160380153: Bei momenti - will do by coveredinice Predators by coveredinice
Stripes by MiniWookie 090410 Rippon Tor View Pano by InsaneGelfling dream with me II by dOrRaP
:thumb157502147: Hareshaw by newcastlemale Silence by Grim-Jester
:thumb155960758: :thumb153094193: summer ville by O-Gosh
Catch the wind by BlackJack0919 :thumb154816556: Breaking Free by ChemicalSunflower
North Bay Bathing Huts by ambaqua Summer in spain ::360 Pano:: by ivettordog little bird by Dm3t-7zen
:thumb111469556: Falcon's Cliff Panorama by Metal-Goddess Change II by iustyn
0508 by fossadeileoni New Age by BlackJack0919 Strawberrys by spanjebob89
Busy Bee by enterfunnyusername keep calm by PatrickRuegheimer Cold Flutter by JohnKyo
:thumb161986438: Pond by xsound-trackx Remember me by Karisca
Forest in Tatry moutains by mrxn :thumb35205237: Under A Spell by DennisChunga
Red Castle Stream by tourofnature a suddenly dream by kyokosphotos The Magic of Yellow by faintsmile28
:thumb174751680: Automne by nairafee :thumb178459280:
Butterfly by SantiBilly Checkmate by 33M Little One by StrayDog1972
Irish Country Garden 3 by PicTd Kullen pan by Dreammastr Bridge I by a-line-in-your-book

:clap: Great work everyone! :clap:



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Winner monthly contest 25 by NaturPics-club CameraArtsClub Stamp - White by CameraArtsClub macro-club stamp by macro-club APN stamp chatty chat by Tepara




:cuddle: Building Awareness of M.E/CFS


I'm trying to raise awareness about M.E (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis). It is an illness that goes almost unnoticed by most governments and needs to be taken more seriously. I've had it for seven years and as I am now on the mend I feel I need to help the less fortunate. For more information please go to www.afme.org.uk. Thank you. :glomp:

P.S Have a look here to learn about my recovery and the treatment that I received: alcamin.deviantart.com/journal….





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Featured

Keep on truckin' by Alcamin, journal

Earth Hour 2011 by Alcamin, journal

Busy, busy, busy! by Alcamin, journal

Happy Year New, and yes, NOT DEAD! by Alcamin, journal

Weekly Feature #6 by Alcamin, journal