Questions
The Site
What are the three sections?
Splitting the site into sections allows easy access to what you are after as well as providing scope for exploration by new visitors (and even old ones). The Fragments section is primarily a blog, covering all manner of topics from life updates and events to music, technology and politics. The Artist section is the most aesthetically (dis)pleasing portion of the site, focusing on photography (no pun intended) and writing. The Critic section contains film reviews and is now the most frequently updated part of the site with regular QuickViews.
What software do you use to make the site?
Priyan codes in PHP, XHTML and CSS. The site is built on the WordPress platform. The photography and graphic design is produced by Priyan. He recommends Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop. He tests the site primarily in Mozilla Firefox (his recommended browser), but the code is intended to be compatible with all modern browsers.
Why the inconsistent use of first person singular and plural?
It’s part artistic license, part split personality. Generally “I” denotes a personal opinion or idea and “we” is used when referring to the site as an entity. Meanwhile Priyan has chosen to answer the questions in this FAQ in the third person solely to confuse you.
How can I contact the site?
Send enquiries, suggestions, fanmail, death threats, etc. via the Contact page. Please note that unlike many sites our policy is not to ignore spam. Instead we hire a significant number of former child stars to read and investigate every piece received. These details are then passed on to a man named Sergei. Sergei enjoys breaking people’s fingers and who are we to stop him? After all, it’s not like you can send emails with broken fingers.
Can I use material from the site?
This site and its content are works by Priyan Meewella and are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 UK: England & Wales License. Broadly this means you are free to copy and make derivative works provided it is for a non-commercial purpose and you attribute this work to him (with a link to this website).
However, please note that the Artist section does not fall with the Creative Commons licence and all rights are reserved. The primary reason for this is that the gallery includes many images of family and friends who have not agreed to reuse. For a range of royalty-free images, please see Priyan’s morgueFile portfolio.
The Creator
So who is this Priyan?
Priyan is a writer, photographer and lawyer in London.
Where did he grow up?
Priyan grew up on the mean streets of Croydon, though he bears the unusual mark of never having been successfully mugged. Priyan considered his hometown’s graduation from knife crime to gun crime a positive sign of rising affluence. Because he’s an optimist like that. Although he stresses how well-connected Croydon is, being a 15-minute train ride from London, he accepts that it is something of a damning indictment when one recommends a place by reference to how quickly one can leave.
I like his photography. What camera does he use? Can I use his photos?
Priyan shoots with a Canon EOS 6D Mk II. He currently uses four lenses: a Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD, a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM, a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 USM and a Sigma 10mm f/2.8 EX DC Fisheye. As you may be able to guess from those wide apertures, he is a big fan of shooting using ambient light and dislikes flash guns. All Priyan’s photos at morgueFile can be freely used for commercial, public or personal projects. All he asks is that you let him know if you do use his work.
I like his humorous writing style. Is he like that in real life?
He tries. Unfortunately his sharp tongue occasionally cuts the roof of his mouth causing him to bleed profusely rather than delivering an appropriately witty comeback.
Who are the main influences on his writing?
Neil Gaiman, Haruki Murakami, Iain [M] Banks, Tim Burton, Byron, Terry Brooks and Anne Rice. In terms of this blog it’s probably Jerry Holkins.
What’s his poison?
This depends entirely upon the occasion — at home Priyan has been known to pair beverages with his film selection. Priyan is happy to drink beer by the pint, though he’d prefer to drink something Belgian in a nice glass. In a cocktail bar he can typically be found drinking a Martini (a little wet and a little dirty), a Manhattan (perfect, no cherry) or an Old Fashioned (so long as the bartender has time to make one properly). For something a little more bespoke, ask him about the Phoenix Down. His real love, however, is whisky. His preference is Talisker Distiller’s Edition from the Isle of Skye, but he’s also partial to Dalmore, Balvenie and most decent single malts.
What’s his Xbox Live GamerTag/PSN ID/Steam ID?
Priyan goes by PhoenixMDK on most gaming services. Feel free to add him to your friends list.
Quickfire Round.
Okay.
Favourite ninja/hero turtle: Donatello
First celebrity crush: Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Favourite musical: The Nightman Cometh
Favourite guitar solo: Iron Maiden – Sign of the Cross
Favourite children’s TV theme tune: Round the Twist
Favourite vegetable: Chicken