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I went into town yesterday and visited the AIB/PPAI Awards Exhibition 2007 in the Gallery of Photography in Temple Bar.

Press Photographers who are members of the PPAI were invited to submit portfolios of their best images of 2006, and the best of those made up the exhibition. This year was the exhibition’s 29th and it was excellent, with brilliant work by all the photographers exhibited. Bryan O’Brien of The Irish Times won the overall Award, and it was easy to see why with a strong performance in all the categories.

The exhibition brilliantly showcased the power of great press photography, which was obvious from hearing and seeing the reactions of people as they viewed the photos.

Unfortunately, yesterday was the last day of the exhibition’s run in the Gallery, but it will be travelling to other galleries around the country during the year. Details should be posted here.

In a completely different type of photography (aerial/satellite), Tom Raftery compared the mapping services of Yahoo, Google and Microsoft. He concluded that Google’s services was best, and invited comments. I duly obliged.

Looking at my area (Greystones, Co. Wicklow), Yahoo had the best service, trailed by Google, and leaving Microsoft at a standstill at the start line.

Check it out for yourself and leave a comment on Tom’s post with your findings.

After Christmas, my household (like many all over the world, I’m sure) was littered with DVD Box Sets of TV shows. Forget Lost, Prison Break, or any of that other shit, here’s some that are actually worth your time watching:

• M*A*S*H

I’ve seen the movie, and vaguely remember watching some of the shows years ago but it wasn’t until I got this for one of my brothers this Christmas that I realised how much funnier this show is than a lot of the crap on TV these days.
M*A*S*H fan site, the movie on IMDb,

• The O.C.

Shut up, it’s amazing. Not usually one for teen dramas (Yes, I am a heterosexual male), this series is saved by extremely attractive (though not particularly good) actors playing characters far younger than themselves, brilliant soundtrack (featuring plenty of Irish bands), brilliant photography, and the best storylines in the genre. Each episode works like an hour-long film in itself, and as part of a whole series.

Amazing as it was, it was never going to survive the death of Marissa.

Watch here

• Scrubs

Quite simply very funny. And in true cheesy voiceover “It was at this point I realised I was no longer a boy, I was a man” style, there’s always a valuable lesson learned just in time for the end of the show.

IMDb,

Watch here

• Teachers

Just none of the most recent series. Anything which still had Kurt & Brian (who bears a shocking resemblance to PE & Geography teacher at my school) in it, basically.

• Band of Brothers

  Far superior to Saving Private Ryan, and happily there’s 10 hours of it. Well worth the €50 or €60 it costs (though it’s easy for me to say that: I didn’t pay for it, my brother did)

  Watch here.

  The Panel

  The funniest show on Irish TV, and still no Box Set available.

  You’ll have to make do with this

  Your Turn

  What have I forgotten? Hit the comments with your suggestions.