Mark Evans

At last, after about 2 years, I have reinstated my website and included a new image gallery with selected works from my iStock portfolio.  www.hooroo.com 

I am very happy with the results.  Hopefully, it might draw a bit more traffic.  Any thoughts?

I finally reached 100,000 downloads on iStock.  Woohoo! :)

http://www.istockphoto.com/user_view.php?id=71254

Only about 6000 downloads to go until I reach the magic 100,000 download mark on iStock.  Should reach it in just over a month (hopefully).  I think I also have a chance of beating Kelly.  I think we have a race. :)

I currently have 975 uploads, and hope to have 1000 in the next few weeks.

After reaching the quarter finals of the King of the Cage contest over at istock, part of my prize was an istock hat.  Well it arrived today and guess who took an immediate liking to it...?

Fortunately I already have another two istock hats. :)

I've reached the quarter finals in the King of the Cage contest on istock.  Here is my latest blow in my battle against mnieves. 

KOTC-R3-2-800

3 comments

Link to battle

Funny, I found myself responding to a post in a thread on istock questioning why anyone cares about Steve Irwin.  It got me thinking...

[quote]
Posted By blaneyphoto:
I really don't understand why anyone cares about this guy.
[/quote]

My reply...

This has hit Australia hard - much more so that I expected. If you'd asked me a week ago, I would have never imagined being as sad as I have been over the past few days.  I don't know why but I suspect it has something to do with our own national guilt.  At times, we as Australians, have been a bit embarrassed about our little Steve.

"That larrikan jumping about and making a fool of himself in front of the world.  That's not us...  Australians don't wear khaki, we don't tackle wild animals and we don't jump down the lens of a camera. We're sophisticated, we live in the suburbs, we're responsible, we go to work and live like the rest of you..."

What a load of Bullshit!

It's not about the khaki.  It's not about the animals.  It's not about where we live.  It's about who Steve Irwin was as a person.  There was something about him that captured what it really means to be an Aussie, our spirit if you like.  A bit bold, brash and rough around the edges.  He never bowed to authority. He spoke his mind and stood up for what he believed. He had a great sense of humour and had the ability to laugh at himself. And I think, most of all, he refused to be embarrassed about who he was and what he did.

Deep down, most Aussies love this shit, from outback shearer to the high-end banker in Sydney.  Most won't admit it, but I think we all have to acknowledge that a little bit of what it meant to be Australian died this week.  And even though we live our day to day lives like most of the rest of you, I think everyone (everywhere) has this little Steve Irwin inside wanting to set out on an adventure in khaki.

If you'd told me last week that I would be writing about what Steve Irwin meant to me and to Australia, I would have laughed at you.  But I seriously find myself thanking him for reminding me about some of what it means to be an Aussie.

God help us when that idiot Paul Hogan goes... :)

Well, it's Father's Day in the Land Down Under.  I just woke up and I am looking forward to picking Haylee up at lunchtime and spending the afternoon with her.  I don't have anything in particular planned but I thought we would have lunch at the park and then come home and do some drawing and watch some Wiggles.  I can't believe it's been exactly one year today since I was first able to take Haylee out on her own. I can't believe how much she has changed over that time!

I lost my own father and grandfather last year so today also has a tinge of sadness.  Thinking of you Dad and Papa...

I just finished my blow in round 2 of the King of the Cage battle on iStock.  Here is my image. 

Hopefully I will get enough votes to go through to the next round. (hint, hint...)  ;)

Kotc-round2-800

5 comments

What albums are in heavy rotation for you right now?

Horses

I just thought i'd mention...

50,000 downloads on iStock!!!

:)