Guus Bosman

Last year around this time I started thinking about purchasing a DSLR. I spent many hours researching the various types of cameras, lens systems and products and every time I'd discover something better and cooler or read something in an on-line review. So ultimately I had figured out what kind of camera I 'wanted' and the total price of the camera and lenses was absolutely ridiculous. After a couple of days I came back down to earth and set my eyes on a nice starter's camera, a Canon 400D. But, I knew myself, so I decided to wait a little. I had been running for many months by then, and started considering running a race. I combined the two goals, and told myself that I could purchase the camera in April after running the Raleigh Rocks, my first half marathon.

April came I and ran the half marathon and thoroughly enjoyed it... and sure enough: I didn't really long for the camera anymore. The Wall Street Journal has column about this.

After our wedding, and going through the pictures etc, we started thinking about a DSLR again. Wouldn't it be nice to have a good camera and take beautiful pictures? I now have my eyes on the replacement model of the camera we were thinking about a year ago, the Canon 450D.

But, truth be told: taking pictures is nice, and it's cool to have a great camera, but I don't think it's the perfect hobby for me. A week ago I went for a run on Duke campus in the evening and I saw a guy there with a nice camera, a big bag of equipment and a tripod, taking a -surely beautiful- night picture of a building. And I thought: that could be me. And would I have more fun taking that picture than running here? No way!

I realize that running gives me a lot more satisfaction than taking pictures can ever do.

I'm sure that one day we'll get a nice Canon DSLR. But there's no rush, especially in this economic climate. So, Tuesday I signed up for Raleigh Rocks 2009 and that will be my goal for the coming months.

We assembled the bookshelves that we bought during our trip to New Jersey for Thanksgiving.

It's from the "Expedit" series; the same type as our other two bookshelves we have in the study room.

The weather is dreadful today. Cloudy, overcast, a little rain... a friend called it "Dutch weather".

Encounters at the end of the world was a bit boring.

The documentary maker travels to Antarctica to interviews various people living there. The problem is that the subjects aren't very interesting, and the film never really takes off.

In the last couple of years there have been a lot of movies and documentaries about Katrina and its aftermath. Trouble The Water is the best I have seen so far.

I saw this movie on the last day of the Full Frame Festival, when it was screened again on Sunday morning since it had won the Grand Jury Award.

Two 'street hustlers' in the 9th ward in New Orleans have no car, no money and decide to stay in the city during the hurricane ("we have no wheels"). With a hand held camera they record everything that happens during the hurricane, when the levees break, and in the weeks afterwards. The main characters are full of live, and they try to stay upbeat during everything that happens.

The government is completely overwhelmed by what happened, and the film shows how this impacts their lives and that of others around them. It was a great movie, and while I prefer Nerakhoon to win, this documentary is worthy of the Oscar nomination it received.