I hate to admit it, but one of the projects that I least talk about is also one of the most satisfying and frustrating to work with. This past month, I managed to finish the redesign of the Women of Kireka web site. I had done a quick and dirty job of it the first time around when I designed the site last year.

After a few months, I started noticing ways in which we could improved the site and less cluttered. A database glitch forced the site to shut down and usable for a couple of months so we decided to completely start over with something that was a lot more user-friendly, and inviting.


I got the idea to hold another “Super Shoot” at Neill Whitlock Studios. We bought a sample wardrobe, invited some models and had another day at the studio. However, like clock work, after just editing 10 of the 350-plus images I shot, my hard drive gave up the ghost and died a horrifying death. Needless to say I was crushed beyond belief. Thankfully, I had already uploaded the new site design to my favorite coders, who were busy bringing the new design to life.


What you see is the culmination of a lot of work, huge servings of good luck and bad luck. The site has been well-recieved so far and it is serving the purpose of telling the women’s’ stories quite well. Hopefully this can raise their marketability and exposure. Let me know what you think of the new design. Of course, as usual, ping me to see if i am available to do a custom once-over of your site.

{ 0 comments }

After the light exists

by tms ruge on July 21, 2011 · 1 comment

A short collection of long-exposure images shot after dark in Kampala, Uganda and Johannesburg, South Africa between 2008 and 2010.

{ 1 comment }


Brand New Maurice Kirya web site designed by TMS Ruge

Brand New Maurice Kirya web site designed by TMS Ruge

I just launched Maurice Kirya’s brand-spanking new site. Go check it out » I’d like to thank the crew at Intrepid Data Systems for their behind-the-scenes coding efforts. The team was led by Jeremiah Mbaria and Victor Gachagi. The more sites I work on with this team, the better we get. If you’ve got a site you want revamped, please hit me up. We’ve built almost 10 sites over the last 2.5 years. Both small and large.

{ 4 comments }

Message to Davos: Don’t forget Africa

January 26, 2011

I penned an opinion text for CNN that’s been published. I was asked to comment on the state of the new reality in Africa in light of this year’s WTO Doha round of talks in Davos. (CNN) – While the developed nations drag their feet on inclusive trade agreements with emerging markets, Africa is busy redefining [...]

Read the full article →

Web gem: How to be alone

January 24, 2011

This beautiful piece of work speaks for itself.

Read the full article →

Charlie Chaplin’s ‘The Great Dictator’ vs F.T. Marinetti’s ‘Futurist Manifesto’

January 1, 2011

My friend Michael shared the above clip from Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator. It is a great scene that makes you yearn for the days of great writing in movie scripts. It got me thinking too about the subject matter of his soliloquy. It reminded me of F. T. Marinetti’s ‘Futurist Manifesto’ below. Marinetti’s earlier [...]

Read the full article →

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone

December 25, 2010

Here’s a quick Happy Holidays to everyone. I’ll be capping the holidays in Salt Spring, British Columbia. A fitting end to a really busy and eventful year. All the activity has been setting up for an even bigger 2011. Thank you to all who made it possible this year and to those who will be [...]

Read the full article →

My video to the World Bank on ending poverty

October 4, 2010

The Wold Bank recently put out a call for thoughts on eradicating poverty. Here’s the clip I sent in. While you watch that, I am going to go shave. It looks like an animal is growing on my chin.

Read the full article →

Global development advisory panel

September 15, 2010

So I am happy to announce that I have joined the The Guardian’s Global Development Advisory Panel. What is awesome about this is that, apart from the usual international development suspects like Jeffry Sachs, and Paul Collier (who’s ‘The Bottom Billion’ is sitting to the right of me at the moment), I am on the [...]

Read the full article →

The Return of iOTW: Portrait of Mr. Pond

September 9, 2010

It has been over a year since I posted a iOTW shot. For the new that stands for Image of the Week. Today I shot my first corporate portrait in a number of months. Traveling hasn’t really lent me the opportunity to do many of these. During this shoot, I realized that I really do [...]

Read the full article →

Web gem: the story of Human Rights

August 30, 2010

It worries me how ignorant we are of our rights as humans. For starters, the video above has only been viewed 4,451 times since it was uploaded over a year ago. Almost 7 billion people on the planet. Let’s be conservative and say that 1 billion have access to broadband. That’s serious right there. It [...]

Read the full article →

Web gems: The Secret Powers of time

August 13, 2010

Professor Philip Zimbardo giving a talk at the RSA Comment. The animations that go along with the talk really bring the subject matter to life. You can check out more of these vids on the RSA Animate site. A few quotes caught my attention, notably in regard to technology and education – two topics I [...]

Read the full article →

Should respect for the dead be a universal human right?

August 8, 2010

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a big fan of Communication Arts‘ annual issue of the best photograph’s of the year. For some reason, I’ve found myself missing the deadline to submission my own shots every year. I’ve come to accept it as annual ritual. I get the notice in the mail [...]

Read the full article →

Grind

August 7, 2010
Read the full article →

Thoughts on technology, development & Africa

August 7, 2010

While recovering from a particularly nasty cold/flu in Kampala, a buddy of mine in Nairobi asked me to record a few thoughts on the nexus of technology, development and Africa. If you listen closely, I sound like someone stuffed tissue in my nose and my dreads look like I need a weed whacker. This is [...]

Read the full article →

I am still around…

August 7, 2010

I think it is funny that the most I’ll post here in this space is that I’ll resume posting here regularly again at some point. Have I done that yet? Of course not. To say I’ve been busy is a little bit of an understatement. Anyway, Project Diaspora got a new facelift. Go check it [...]

Read the full article →

Pinkie in Authentic WoK Jewelry

January 25, 2010

Sample of the pictures that I took for Women of Kireka jewelry shoot. You can find the rest of the images here.

Read the full article →

On the radio with Samasource founder Leila Charayath Janar

September 18, 2009

This morning I had an opportunity to be featured on The Hugh Macken Live radio show. Actually should I say, Leila Charayath Janar—who I interviewed last year at the Facebook Developer’s Garage in Uganda for Project Diaspora—was the featured guest. Myself, along with one Maria Umar from Pakistan were there for support. I have to [...]

Read the full article →

Riots Rock London for 3rd day

September 17, 2009

London is in flames as a result of riots by supporters of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of England. Trouble started when Prime Minister Gordon Brown prevented the Queen from travelling to Scotland for an annual youth festival. The no nonsense British Prime Minister insisted that the Queen must seek permission from the leader of the [...]

Read the full article →

GO VOTE: My “Africa 3.0″ talk is up at SXSW Panel Picker

September 4, 2009

So if you haven’t noticed, I’ve been a little busy. By busy, I mean real busy, but you ask, surely it doesn’t take but a second to blog a post right? Actually. It takes just a little more than a second because I am naturally ADD! With that I have this last-minute announcement. I submitted [...]

Read the full article →

Africa’s Diaspora and the Cloud… and, er German Schadenfreude

September 4, 2009

Just arrived in Germany and I thought I’d pen a couple of thoughts on Frankfurt Airport. This airport has a warm fuzzy spot in my heart. 22 years ago, I flew through this very airport alone on my way to the States. I remember very little about it, but I can’t help but be a [...]

Read the full article →

Reel

August 7, 2009

Entertaining the crowd while filming an episode of ‘Friday Night Lights’. Pepsi Online Promotional All the famous actors have them. I figure that’s how they get started. In my case, when you are too impatient to wait to be cast in really badly shot B Movies, make your own. Now I know these are not [...]

Read the full article →

I know, I know… Awesome updates coming soon!

July 13, 2009

So I’ve been busy. If you haven’t noticed, I’ve left this here blog slightly unattended. I did publish a few articles over on Project Diaspora these past few months, but that’s not what’s been keeping me busy. I’ve had some really fantastic projects to shoot these past few months. And I’ve been meaning to add [...]

Read the full article →

This just in: TMS Ruge Harpoons first assistant on the “Moby Dick” set!

July 13, 2009

Not content with being relegated to cleaning up the aftermath of a broken toilet, TMS Ruge went on a frothy rampage, chasing everyone around the set with the business end of a dirty mop, all the while yelling, “I got your Moby Dick right here! Smell some respect, bitches!” He later wrestled the half-naked Captain [...]

Read the full article →

Happy Birthday dear ‘ol mum!

April 14, 2009

I was going through the gazillion photos I took on my trip this week and came across this little gem. I shot it at twilight, just as the sun was setting under heavy clouds. The nightly showers were prepping for a downpour upon the village where my mom stay. When the moon is not out, [...]

Read the full article →