There are many forms of “craft”. Witchcraft used to be called “the Craft” by its adherents.

Nowadays, New Age crafts are all the rage among the young and those left over from the 1960s. Here’s a taste of New Age crafting by Rhian Gibbings:

Orbs are mysterious, spherical forms of energy and light that we simply can’t explain. The most common form of orb is the small white sphere often captured on digital cameras, although they have been spotted in many colours and a variety of sizes.

Orbs are the most common form of paranormal phenomena captured on video or camera by psychics and paranormal investigators. Be aware that not all photographs of orbs are genuine, however, as particles of dust and moisture can appear as orbs in your pictures. Perhaps the only genuine orbs are the ones that we can see with the naked eye if we are perceptive enough and release our limitations.

There are a number of theories that attempt to explain the strange phenomenon of orbs. Some say that they are a basic form of ghost or spirit – the portion of us that leaves the body after death.

Another suggestion is that orbs are the manifestation of elementals or nature spirits. Shamanism and other ancient, nature-based belief systems have always revered the consciousness of flowers, plants and the land itself.

Finally, the idea that orbs represent consciousness from other realms or dimensions is perhaps the most plausible. This suggests that the spherical, light form is how other-worldly or multidimensional consciousness can project itself into our third dimensional existence. Some say that orbs collect information, while others claim that they deliver wisdom and healing to our realm. They suggest that the origin of this consciousness is angelic, faery or even extra terrestrial and that if we open to the possibility, we can even communicate with them.

Whatever the explanation for orbs, experiencing them real-time is much more powerful than viewing them in photos. If you’d like to try to see orbs, find a safe, quiet place, meditate or raise your vibration.

Project the strong intention of lifting your limitations and seeing some energy spheres. When you are ready, use all your senses to perceive what is around you.

Keep your digital camera handy but remember the most important record keeping facility we possess is within our own minds, so concentrate on the experience rather than capturing the proof.

Photography is one of the great crafts and it has never been easier than now in the digital age.

Which, then, is the best type of camera for the ardent crafter who uses photography as an art or as part of another craft?

As an experiment, I embarked on a Photowalk with three digital cameras to discover which would be the most useful, and in which circumstances.

The cameras are, from left to right in the picture:

1. Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ8 — a DSLR
2. Advent MP8 — a compact.
3. Panasonic SDR S7 — an SD camcorder.

Two still cameras and a movie cam.

Conclusion
As expected, I used the movie camera the most. There was just too much movement and activity for static shots.

However, when confronted with a fine view, the DSLR came out and a staged shot was taken. Even so, these were all hand-held. Pulling out my tripod would have involved too much effort and made me too conspicuous.

Where a fairly static scene was involved, but with something interesting going on, I reached automatically for the compact.

So, predictably the ratio was 3:2:1 for video, DSLR, compact.

Does that tell me anything about my usage and preferences? Probably not, except that I’ll make sure I carry the videocam everywhere from now on.

In these busy times, it’s difficult to find time for essential exercise. If you’re a crafter, it may even be worse. But how about combining the two? If you’re a keen photographer, it’s a piece of cake.

The Quay, Exeter, England

I’ve noticed that a number of people are scheduling lengthy walks for taking photos of their town or city. It’s called “Photowalking”, on the principle maybe that everything should have a name.

A new generation of small, but powerful, digital cameras makes the whole process a pleasure rather than a chore.

I’ve been Photowalking — combining taking pictures with my morning five-mile walk — ever since I bought a digital camera last year. It’s a great way to add value to mere exercise. My project is to photograph the region I live in through this summer, trying to capture the faces and atmosphere of it when it’s at its best. You can see the results so far by clicking the Flickr logo at the top of the sidebar.

It’s really a great extension to walking for exercise because it keeps the interest up on what might be dreary rambles across familiar ground. As I walk, I find myself noticing things, large and small, that might otherwise have passed unseen. I also take many detours I’ve never explored before — maybe an 18th-century street straight out of a Dickens novel. The fact is, Photowalking insists you walk farther, if not faster, than you otherwise would.

As someone who used to run marathons, I know that interest is crucual to exercise. Photowalking beats even personal ambition as a spur to distance travelled. It also drags in different parts of the brain. If exercise utilizes the left-brain — all those time calculations and forecasts along the way — then Photowalking adds curiosity, perspective, artistic appreciation of views and architecture, and delving into historical information. Classic right-brain stuff.

As with any good idea, lots of folk are climbing aboard. Take a look at photowalking.org, where you’ll find lots of ideas for Photowalking around the world, but especially in the U.S.

There’s also an informative post on setting up a Photowalking group. The article covers :

* Accept right away that it is going to take some time.
* Evaluate your available options.
* Find a method to communicate with all participants, current and new.
* How to keep them coming back.

Photowalking is such a simple idea that many people seem to have thought it up simultaneously. The original idea, though, was probably from pro shooter, Thomas Hawk, who has a few videos on the ScobleShow.

Check it out for some real professional advice.

Continuing my photographic tour of the city of Exeter, I’ve been looking at craftshops — there are quite a few here. Incidentally, we’ve received a lot emails from people making photo albums of where they live this summer (or winter in the southern hemisphere). Keep up the good work and let us see some of your shots — Flickr is a great place to share them, and a basic account is free.

You can view all of our pictures in this set by clicking on the Flickr logo at the top of the sidebar.

Back to craftshops, and I have noticed that many of them are better presented than other varieties of retail outlet. Perhaps that’s not surprising as crafters are probably more aware of the appearance of things.

However, here’s a pic of the scruffiest craft workshop I’ve seen for quite a while :

Craftshop at The Quay, Exeter, England

Oddly, this is situated on one of the most expensive and upmarket strips in Exeter, the Quay, where, in Elizabethan times, woollen goods and garments were loaded onto boats headed to all points of the compass.

I’m now looking for the best turned out craftshop of all. Any ideas?