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Monday 26 July 2010

"Windows", Photography by Veronica Frydel

Windows - Bristol University Photographed



July 2010, Photostreem - slideshow of "Windows" also found on Flickr - click here

Saturday 10 July 2010

Climax Days of the World Cup

10th June 2010

This evening's game will be a battle between Uruguay and Germany .
After being defeated by Spain, Germany will fight with another strong team to reach the best possible resoult.

Lets have a look on the last few weeks of the way to the World Cup Final
FIFA.COM/WORLDCUP/MATCHES

In First stage - Group H
16 June ESP 0:1 (0:0) SUI
21 June ESP 2:0 (1:0) HON
25 June CHI 1:2 (0:2) ESP

Round of 16 , 29 June
ESP 1:0 (0:0) POR
Quarter-finals
03 July PAR 0:1 (0:0) ESP
Semi-finals
07 July GER 0:1 (0:0) ESP
And The Final
11 July NED vs ESP the game that we are all waiting for!

In today's breakfast show our special guest, Angus Scott talked about his experiences with covering The World Cup as a presenter for Al Jazeera Sports Channel and how excited was he as a big fan of football to become a part of such a great event.

"We became one big family", he said living with each other for a month and being united in one passion football has created an amazing bond with not only studio guests and presenters but also with the whole team working on the coverage.

The result of this evening's game was Uruguay 2- 3 Germany, once more Germany showed what a strong opponent it is till the last days of The World Cup.


THE FINALS: 11th June 2010

Netherlands 0-1 Spain!


The dramatic final at Soccer City in South Africa, The 2010 World Cup Final, the game we all witnessed after one of the most the spectacular opening ceremony (45 minutes), and touching appearance by former president Nelson Mandela, was the worlds greatest example of how should the champions play and the losers defeat.

What a well deserved win was it for Spain!

Unbeatable a and unbreakable Spanish team not only proved that they deserve the World Cup Champions title but also set a fantastic example for future generations. Dedication, fantastic tactic, strong defence and fast and effective attack along with clean game and steal nerves, temperaments on hold to pursue the idea of fair play.


They sustained possession in the possession in the opening minutes and recognised uncertain Dutch back-line. Ramos almost scored the first goal but unsuccessfully.

Referee Webb, constantly gave out yellow cards, some say there were not enough yellow cards and to few reds. Graeme Souness, one of our World Cup Final studio discussions on the night did not hide his frustration with the English referee, Mr Souness summed up referees performance as disappointing and and frustrating, it was hard for Graeme to focus on commentating on anything else apart from the referee's poor performance. (1)

As BBC Sports reports, "The Dutch, who lost in the 1974 and 1978 finals, were bidding to become the first side since Brazil in 1970 to go through World Cup qualifying and the finals unbeaten." (2)

This time, despite Netherlands's dirty game, Spain, Euro Champions 2008 (2 goals during the tournament) managed to crush all the violent challenges from Dutch. In overall, Netherlands had 14 yellow cards with Johnny Heitinga sent off on 109 minutes after picking up a second yellow card. (2)

"Heitinger became the fifth man to be sent off in a World Cup final when he pulled back Iniesta on the edge of the area, giving Webb little choice but to hand him a second caution, and that seemed to spur Spain on for a final effort.

Joris Mathijsen headed over for the Netherlands in what was their only good chance of the extra-time period before Iniesta struck his late and decisive blow." (2)

And What a great finish that was "Andres Iniesta struck a dramatic winner late in extra time to give Spain World Cup glory for the first time but condemned the Netherlands to their third defeat in a final. " (2)

1. (Al Jazeera Sports)
2. (BBC World Cup 2010)

Friday 9 July 2010

Differences between Middle East and what we are used to in the West

It is 9th July and the highest time for latest updates from my World Cup experiences in Qatar its been 5 weeks of the Doha paradise and the paradise for the fans of football continues. There are only two games left and the tension and excitement is seen everywhere. The biggest question at the moment is whether Spain is going to be our winner. It has been my personal favourite just after England lost defeated by Germany and I think I will keep my fingers crossed for Spanish "football warriors".

A day off football and a day free for personal reflection on my Doha experience so far.

Apart from all my days filled with football filming, football watching and football analysis, I have also had some time to compare and think about the cultural differences between West and Middle East. As I have never been to Middle East it has been quite a cultural shock for me.

Local camera operators were always incredibly friendly and helpful as well as very professional what made work enjoyable. Despite cultural and daily habits we managed to work well as proved successful in every situation. What was quite an incredible experience to mix our who cultures and learn about each other, as we have experienced praying is quite a priority in a place like Qatar it has its deeply religious practices and some of the Muslim practitioners put prayers in front of work schedule. They follow their beliefs and practice their religious traditions fully, which was quite an amazing thing to learn about them. We respected their practices and they were happy to tell us more about it and fill our curious minds. We respected each other's differences and after all every country has its own history and unique traditions that makes it so special.

What I have also learnt was that, because of the temperatures the pace of carrying out certain tasks around here differs, rush is rather not preferable, I suppose it is a little bit similar to Spain or Greece in that way. Yes, chasing up and repetitive requests are definitely the key to get things done in every production team, where ever it is in the world, I realised that it is crucial to do to make sure of the things getting done properly. As sometimes we were carrying out duties of floor manager we learnt that making sure of having everything on time is definitely not an easy thing. Communication is important and chasing up the tasks is part of the daily routine for every floor manager.  Yes, language barer was sometimes an issue but we managed to overcome that challenge too.

We have learnt few words too and got a small dictionary to communicate better for quicker effects in aspect of team work. As teamwork it is crucial, sustaining good relations and clear communication between work colleagues is very important, and that was exactly what we have been working on during these last five weeks in here.

The dress code was also dictated by the traditional behaviours and customs, females were not allowed to show their knees and shoulders, they are to be covered at all times and we have been following these instructions with the respect to their culture and religion.

Other habits we learnt was that men are not to show their knees and not to initiate a conversation with a woman that would wear traditional clothing covering their face or the entire body. It would usually be black and showing only their eyes. It would indicate that the woman is married and allowed to show certain parts of her body only to her husband and family at home. Some of them would even have their whole face covered, so there would be only her hands uncovered. It was all another incredible thing to learn about this culture, I felt quite privileged to be able to see for myself and learn about Qatari traditions.

The only thing that I couldn't quite understand was the reason for the colour of women's dress code on some women, it would be black and that was the most extreme thing for me to gather with my mind for a woman to need to cover herself fully in black in 45degrees heat whereas men would were white clothing. I'm sure there must be some reasons for this colours to be worn by men and women, I just must admit it was quite shocking for me.  As we found out covering of women's body is a matter of tradition rather than religion and it depends on habits and customs within certain families and in some cases it could be a matter of woman's choice to wear it or not to wear it as well.

In the structure of the society and systems ooutside of work... I found out that there are no taxes in here and government makes up for it with the product prices. I was told that being a baby boy born in Qatar would mean having the most generous start of life that you could ever imagine, some of Qatar men do not even have to work, and if they do so, it is not of need but to find aims and keeping busy. And therefore some of local men have a rather different attitude towards work as you can imagine. Seeing such a jump between the classes of poor and rich and nothing in between was quite a strange thing to understand. All that along with the latest technologies in TV, modernised and incredibly expensive lifestyle, beautiful cars and sea as worm as bath...
Quite a contrasting ideas, which would make it a little controversial in a way, some would say. Extreme wealth next to poverty, big jump in standards of living. Some of the people do not have to work at all and some will work for little money in extreme weather conditions for very long hours... an immense number of sky scrapers and modern "Yale glassy boxes" next to building side with new skyscrapers being built, one next to another. All that I have learnt from only short period of time living among these skyscrapers. It's a completely different world to ours, but how fascinating and certainly unique.

The studios we are working at now were built two months before the The World Cup coverage in English started. Quite not easy to imagine to have happened back in England, isn't it. It shows fantastic skills of local builders and workers. The question I asked myself, are thy well rewarded for their hard work? From what I heard from local people, they are paid not much and expected to not demand more.

Well, that was certainly not a positive thing to have heard, but all I had to do was to accept the way things are structured and respect their tradition and practices. And so I did. I'm glad that I could experience other culture myself. I have met incredible people and made great friends who I will never forget. They will stay here in the world of camels, sky scrapers and worm sea while I will return to my rainy and how beautiful England enriched in experiences that I will never forget and friends that I will try my best to keep.

Wednesday 7 July 2010

Shadowing production team in the gallery of Al jazeera's World Cup coverage

Gallery Experience during the Breakfast show 29th June 2010
The preparations for the morning show starts already from 8am, even though the show doesn't start till 10.30 there are lots of things to be caried out before the final second count down to go on air. AP gets here first, Josh Kays fulfills this role along with Rami Mohammed, our EVS operator work on preparing packages that are required by the producer. As Josh and Rami described, they build the packages and line them up in specific order for the show. Josh and rami also edit the packages themse;ves and que them up in required order.

Rami also added that "the difference between the EVS operator and PA (Josh) during the match is nthat the EVS operator, additionally does the highlights of the match like goals or incidents. Every single goal is clipped and re-played so that it could be used during the 15min break in between the match's breaks and after the match is finished and even in an hour build up discussion with our studio guests."

Other materials come from the editing suits, our main editors, they see the comming feed mostly from Sauth Africa and nd also build packages that will be part of the show too. In their part they watch the feed with the producer from the outside source and decide which material to use and re-edit if needed and then used in the show.

Gallery experience on 7th July (Breakfast Show)
Last night it was the first game of the first semi final battle, Nederlands won over Urugway 3-1 , what a fantastic first semi final game that was. As discussed in the studio Nederlands had a big chance to become the finalists.

Gallery was calm and controlled as ussual and the studio was well prepared and set for todays Breakfast show.

Graham Souness today's studio guest of the remaining teams discussed the chances of the remaining teams.

When going through the newspapar headlines our presenters Hayley and Scot talked about Argentina and todays headline "Diego given the Cris of life", it looks like Diego will carry on being Argentina's coach. Graham said that he "has never seen so many men kissed in his life" when refferencing to Diego's habbit of kissing his players before each game.

The highlights of the 3 goals were lined up by Rami and Josh and prepared to go on air during the analysis for this morning. It was rightly noticed bu Braham that even though one of nederland's goals were offside it was still allowed.

Three big screens in front of us, 42 small screens framed within them showing feed and and inside packages lined up by the EVS operator and PA earlier on this morning. One PVW and PGM that does on-aor monitoring and shows what goes on air with jazeera's OB's from South Africa.

I am here at the heart of the world's interest at this moment and watching the history being made at the studios in Qatar.

The Schedule of the The World Cup 2010, working for Al Jazeera

Our work schedule for The World Cup experience has been as follows:

Between 11th and 21th June (three games a day) and we run three programs every day Breakfast show 10:30am-11:30am, first and second match build up and coverage 13:30- 19:30 and finally the evening program covering the third game of the day starting of 20:30 until midnight.

22n-29th June (two games a day) there will be breakfast show as ussual and then program covering the first game at 16:00-19:30, after that evening game coverage starting of 20:30 per ussual.

On 30th in a day without any football matches we are still doing the Breakfast program at 10:30am and then on evening coming back to the studio for 10pm hour program.
The day after we planned to do only the Breakfast show at 10:30am.

2nd and 3rd July will be the two days when we are doing Breakfast show then two matches a day with an hour build up before each one.

4th and 5th July Breakfast shows and then only one match a day on 6th and 7th.

Next two days (8th and 9th) only Breakfast shows again and then the biggest two days of The World Cup! Final two games on evening 10th and 11th July!

World Cup Experience from Arabian Penisula (11th June - 20th June) - working for Al Jazeera

All preparations have been done and Al Jazeera will be broadcasting live in English for the next month whole Middle East have been experiencing The World Cup on Al jazeera channels.

Aljazeera TV is one of the biggest TVs in the Middle East and slowly growing bigger spreading its broadcasting reach further and further. For the first time in its history Aljazeera decided to brodacast in English, I was one of the lucky ones to become part of the English team that have been covering the entire World Cup from the studio in Qatar in Doha.

Al Jazeera TV - http://english.aljazeera.net/

"Al Jazeera English, the 24-hour English-language news and current affairs channel, is headquartered in Doha, the capital of Qatar.

The organisation is the world's first global English language news channel to be headquartered in the Middle East.

From this unique position, Al Jazeera English is destined to be the English-language channel of reference for Middle Eastern events, balancing the current typical information flow by reporting from the developing world back to the West and from the southern to the northern hemisphere.

The channel aims to give voice to untold stories, promote debate, and challenge established perceptions.

With broadcasting centres in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC and supporting bureaux worldwide, the channel will set the news agenda, bridging cultures and providing a unique grassroots perspective from under-reported regions around the world to a potential global audience of over one billion English speakers.

The station broadcasts news, current affairs, features, analysis, documentaries, live debates, entertainment, business and sport.

Building on Al Jazeera Arabic channel's ground breaking developments in the Arab and Muslim world that have changed the face of news within the Middle East, Al Jazeera English is part of a growing network that is now extending this fresh perspective from regional to global through accurate, impartial and objective reporting."


This is the biggest award that could ever happen in my academic echievements. At the end of year 2 of my degree in Journalism, my hard work and devotion has been greatly awarded. I am one of the two lucky students who have been picked to experience one of the biggest adventures of our lives.

Newly built studio just before we came over, in fact, still with the work in progress while we're here. Lastest technologies and what a fantastic design of the studio

Al Jazeera's Sport's English Studio schedule for programs for The World Cup, broadcasted in English for the first time started from 5th June 2010. One hour evening program between 22:00- 23:00 was broadcasted on Al Jazeera channel until 10th June.

These were 6 days of the build up before The World Cup games before I arrived at Doha.

As new camera operator I had to get used to new equipement very quickly since I had no chance of pre-practice. It was a privilage to be trusted and relied on to be doing a top job from day 1. After the first day I already got used to the style and pace of the job. And as I soon found out the pace was incredible.

I arrived in Doha in Arabian Penisula on 10th June and started working as one of two main camera operators. Apart from myself my good friend and fantastic co-worker, Maddeline Klippel was the second main camera operators. Together we also helped the studio manager to keep the work up to the required standard and made sure that we had our studio duties under control.

The Breakfast show was led by fantastic Hayley and Scott, the presenters who brought the show to live and were always prepared with the latest footbal news and introduced the audience to daily schedule and latest reactions and Headlines in the world of footbal during the World Cup.

Our main set up of the studio for the morning show that starts at 10.30 Mekka time is two presenters, Hayley and Scott and either one or two guests. During the Breakfast show the highlights and headlines from previous games are shown and discussed with the guest (or guests).

The afternoon show, is a build up before the first game during which the predictions and chances of the two teams are discussed. It starts at 1.30pm and carries on till the kick off of the first game. After the first part of the firs match we go into 15minute break during which the presenter (Angus Scott or Rodery) discuss the highlights of the first part and analyse the game and take us into the second half of the match. When the match finishes we go back to the studio to once again analyse the game and summarise the outcome and the final score. This after game chat takes us also into a build up to the second game of the day.

The same schedule of the show follows in second match taking us into a break before the evening show and third match of the day.

The evening show consist simmilarly to afternoon show, of an hour build up at 8.30pm which is with new guests commentating the game and also new presenter who takes us through the last game on evening. After the first part there is the ussual 15min break of analysis and guest chat and then the second part of the game. After the second part of the last match have finished we have last duscussion and summary of the game and also introduction for the morning show for the next day. The evening show finishes at midnight so all together our day and night are filled with exciting three shows that is broadcasted to the all Middle East!

The World Cup 2010 coverage for Al Jazeera TV in Doha

Live and exclusive for Al Jazeera Sports TV in Qatar- The 2010 World Cup coverage experience from Arabian Penisula.

The eyes of the people in the whole world are focused on few remaining teams. Spain won over Germany what a great battle it was.

It is the highest time for me to give away the greatest opportunity that I have taken up after finishing the second year of my Journalism, I am here, in the centre of attention of 85mln viewers working for Al Jazeera studios from 9th June till 12 July 2010 World Cup Coverage from. I am one of the main camera operators in Qatar studios and I am about to reveal my work experience so stay with me and follow my blog till even after the 12th July as that is when I am going to publish the pictures from the most exciting first work experience in TV that could have ever happened to me.