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About Me Premium Member Varied Artist 2BORN02B49/Male/Canada Recent Activity Deviant for 3 Years
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Fractal Explorer Update & Feature #2 of Others

Sun Oct 18, 2009, 9:04 AM
For many many months I had been searching for the latest version of FE (203b3), and wondering if FE had been abandoned by its creators (you may have seen my previous journal on this topic). Recently I have received not one, but three copies of the software, as well as an 'undocumented' link to the download that works! Additionally, I have also been in contact, via email, with Arthur Sirotinsky, the creator of FE.

When I first received the software from a friend, I began looking through the files that came along with it. It was in the compiler file that I found email addresses for several of the contact people for FE. And so I took a chance and emailed them, asking for any update info they could provide, and to tell them that many people here on dA were still using the software and interested in news about its development. I actually found two email addresses for Mr. Sirotinsky in my searches.

One of Mr. Sirotinsky's emails bounced back immediately as it was a government email address with heavy spam protection, but the others all seemed to go on their merry way. And so I waited...

A short time later, I received an email from Tony Dean, who had a funny story to tell. Tony had no part in the software's actual development. Tony took an interest in the software in 2005, but noticed that the web page on the compiler usage, was written by someone whose English was - "quaint" (I love how Tony phrased this!). And so Tony rewrote the page and sent it to Mr. Sirotinsky. For a while Tony heard nothing, but then received a copy of 203b1 by email reference in late 2005. Much to his surprise, his name was now listed on the compiler page, without a word from Mr. Sirotinsky! Very odd indeed!! It was Tony who pointed me to the undocumented link for the 2.03 download.

Then, about a week ago, I actually received a reply from Mr. Sirotinsky and another copy of the software! In his email, he hinted that work on FE is only 'suspended' for a time, as he has a daughter who takes up all of his free time now. I guess life has stepped in and changed his focus, as it has the habit of doing... However, he did say he was happy to hear his software is still being actively used and thriving. Perhaps this will motivate him to get back to work! Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like it will be any time soon...I have asked him to keep my email address, and to let me know if he takes up torch again!

Mr. Sirotinsky also mentioned that the beta versions of 203 are unstable, and warned that I should not get rid of previous versions, which are more stable. Since running 203, I have found this to be true. I've had to reinstall it a couple of times (what happens for me is that after a few days the "Select Fractal" window does not launch, and the program becomes unresponsive).

In closing, if you would like the link to the beta version, please note me and I will provide it, but you have been warned!

********************************

And now my 2nd feature of other fractal artists work (mostly older pieces). Please visit these artists awesome galleries for more!





Member of:

The Human Race
  • Mood: Optimism
  • Listening to: Mike Stern - Big Neighborhood
  • Reading: Practical Demonkeeping - Christopher Moore
  • Watching: Hockey - Golf Leafs Golf!!
  • Playing: My guitar
  • Eating: Toast and marmalade
  • Drinking: Coffee

deviantID

So, there I am. Gray hair and gray beard, for the entire world to see now...

Tabula rasa. Where does one start? How about - "Once upon a time..." or "Long ago, in a faraway land..." or maybe "Floyd was a small town boy looking for something better..." (Floyd is my father, by the way).

No. Sorry. I'll stick to my 'artsy' endeavors.

Because I mainly upload fractals here, I won't bore you all with what you might already know (that is, if you're not already bored, or bored and already gone, which, if that's the case, you wouldn't even be reading this....)

First off, a word or three about my artistic outlook: Matter-Of-Fact. On some level I know that the things I create, and the process of creating them, are cathartic for me. I care about them. I care about what others think of them. Good or bad. But I don't get all emotional about it - or perhaps it's better to say - over-emotional. I believe, that in the final analysis, from a purely gut level, art, all forms of it, is either something you like, or something you don't. It’s not impossible to change someone’s opinion, but it is very difficult. So - if you have read this far, and you are someone that I have faved one of your works, from my personal perspective – suffice to say, even though I may fave-and-run, that your work grabbed my attention, my curiosity, and held it, and made me feel something strong – like a sense of wonder perhaps. I do not fave lightly, or with any other agenda than this.

Before I came to dA - I also considered myself a songwriter, and a fiction writer. I have played the guitar since I was in my teens and have written songs constantly since I could string three chords together. To date, I have written over 2000 songs, some with lyrics, but many are instrumentals, and all of them are in many diverse genres of music (rock, blues, r & b, classical, acoustic, country, humorous, jazz, etc.). Most of it, I'm the first to admit, is probably crap. But some of it, the odd one, has caught someone’s attention...

I've played in two professional bands since I started playing (one of them, for almost 6 yrs), playing guitar and singing. I cannot say that I never got a break as a musician. Unfortunately my big break came and went. Kismet (damn it!) dictated that I was in the right place, but at the wrong time (it's too long a story for here...).

But much like what I said above, I am very matter-of-fact about songwriting as well. I can write a song about anything. I've written songs about: coffee, fallen angels, flying, growing old, dying, gravity wells, saving the planet, dust, diamonds, ghost nets, the fashion industry, small towns, martyrs, and mosquito bites. I've even written a song about writing songs! – It’s titled, “I Must Have Said Something” And so I hate it when I hear that some songwriter said that they have to go through some traumatic life event to write something meaningful. Ugh!! Does that mean they go around and intentionally set themselves up, just to write a song??? Chalk one up for self-fulfilling prophecies I guess!

Lastly, as I mentioned above, I write fiction too. I've written around 30 short stories, and have 3 novels on the go. If I were to say what genre I would put them in, I'd have to say Sci-fi and Modern Fantasy. However, they are not like what the popular Sci-Fi and Fantasy books are like these days. For example, some of my fave authors are: Franz Kafka, R. A. Lafferty, John Crowley, Tom Robbins, Richard Grant, and Doris Piserchia. If you know any of these writers, you will know that they are a little off the map. My novels, at their deepest level, are about, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, and the real reason we all can't seem to get along. They have titles of “The Medium is the Messenger” “Dead End Talk” and “Coats of Many Colours” respectively.

So, that's me. Well, not all of me. Like I said, just the artsy stuff....

Take care, and thanks for taking the time to learn more about me.

Devious Info

  • Current Residence: Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
  • Interests: Creating auditory, written, and visual art.
  • Favourite movie: Monty Python and the Holy Grail; Citizen Kane
  • Favourite band or musician: Mike Stern, Steely Dan, Lee Morgan, Steps Ahead, King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Smith
  • Favourite genre of music: Jazz, 70's Rock
  • Favourite artist: Salvador Dali, Frank Frazetta
  • Favourite poet or writer: Tom Robbins, Philip K Dick, Franz Kafka, T S Eliot, Kurt Vonnegut, Richard Grant, John Crowley
  • Favourite photographer: My daughter Lauren.
  • Favourite style of art: There's only two kinds art. What you like, and what you don't. I like them all.
  • Operating System: XP / Mac OS X 10.4 (I use both)
  • MP3 player of choice: iPod Touch
  • Favourite game: Balderdash (it's a board game).
  • Favourite gaming platform: A football pitch (i.e. a soccer field if you're North American).
  • Favourite cartoon character: Elmer J Fudd
  • Personal Quote: Time was invented to stop everything from happening at once.
  • Tools of the Trade: Whatever I can get my hands on! Oh yes, and a little luck...

When is a fractal no longer a fractal? (Please leave a comment to back up your vote, and tell other fractalists about this poll please.) 

31%
16 deviants said Manipulation in other software is ok, as long as it maintains its 'fractalness'.
27%
14 deviants said If you manipulate by combining with photos, digital art, etc., it is NOT a fractal.
17%
9 deviants said If you manipulate it in any way in another program (like Photoshop - other than add a title/frame) then it is NOT a fractal.
10%
5 deviants said Mark. Really. You think entirely too much about this stuff. Does 'anal retentive' have a hypen?
10%
5 deviants said Perhaps you have your own answer. One I haven't thougth of - please leave a comment.
6%
3 deviants said It depends on which program is used the most to produce the piece (ex. if you spend more time in Photoshop to produce the piece, then it should NOT be submitted as a fractal).

Comments


:iconwhitlam1:
Thanks for the watch. You've got some nice fractals, I'll have to have a good look through your gallery at some point!

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davidwhitlam.com
:icon2born02b:
Dave, you are most welcome. I've been meaning to watch you for a while. I love the little splashes of surrealism you add to your work, and you definitely have a recognizable style (I hope you take this as a compliment!). Take care!!

--
Mark :flagcanada:

Carpe Surrealus! (Seize the fish!)

My original music: [link]
:icontomwilcox:
Thanks for choosing "Circlistic 22" as a Favorite.

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Coming soon -

80 page, 12in X 12in hard bound book of my best fractals. Will be announced in my journal with link to buy.
:icon2born02b:
You are very welcome, Tom. Take care!!

--
Mark :flagcanada:

Carpe Surrealus! (Seize the fish!)

My original music: [link]
:iconhbkerr:
:iconkimberely::iconthanks1::iconthanks2::iconthanks3::iconthanks4: for faving! :icongrin--plz:
:icon2born02b:
You are very welcome, Helena. Great piece. Take care!!

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Mark :flagcanada:

Carpe Surrealus! (Seize the fish!)

My original music: [link]
:iconphoenixleo:
Thanks a lot for the :+fav: es :huggle:

--
akash jotoi hok na kalo tui j shokol ashar alo
---------------------------------------------------
~shopne harano shukh
shopneo te roye jai
khoniker anondey
jibon ta joriye jai~
:icon2born02b:
You are very welcome. Take care!!

--
Mark :flagcanada:

Carpe Surrealus! (Seize the fish!)

My original music: [link]
:iconphoenixleo:
:tighthug: you too!

--
akash jotoi hok na kalo tui j shokol ashar alo
---------------------------------------------------
~shopne harano shukh
shopneo te roye jai
khoniker anondey
jibon ta joriye jai~
:iconfractalhead:
thanks mark

--
fractalhead

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