I’m Jonathan (aka DarkBlue), geek, hacker (in the traditional sense), eccentric billionaire and consort of supermodels. I’m also a super-hero in my spare time but I tend to keep quiet about that so as not to draw attention to myself.

I am a freelance photographer, web designer & computer programmer based in Leeds, England. I program in Perl mostly although I also, out of necessity, use JavaScript, C and PHP on occasion.

Hobbies and Interests

Computing: Like a lot of people, I have an aversion to the beige box that most of us are forced to to spend an inordinate amount of time working with. I want my computers to have a little bit of style, so that they can fit in with my decor and tastes. So I became an Apple fanboy and am the proud owner of an Apple Power Mac G5.

Reading: I really enjoy a good book. I am particularly keen on thrillers and spy stories (Alistair MacClean, Ian Fleming, Wilbur Smith, Tom Clancy, Dan Brown, Robert Ludlum, etc). I also enjoy science fiction and comedic authors like Douglas Adams. Naturally I devour computer-related books and the biographies of personalities in the industry.

Silver Screen: As television is so unspeakably terrible these days I tend not to watch it. However, I do enjoy a good movie and have an extensive collection of DVDs along with a subscription to Sky Movies.

Football: I love the beautiful game more than any other sport. Naturally I have an unwavering support of my national team (England), I also support my local team Leeds United.

Photography: Somebody once said, “a picture speaks a thousand words”. I totally agree with this sentiment. I love taking photographs, capturing a moment in time, a moment that can never be repeated. I usually have my camera, a Nikon D80, close to hand.

Design: I am becoming increasingly interested in the fields of design, interior design, typography and computer-generated graphics / imaging. I suspect that my appreciation of aesthetic beauty is developing alongside my eye for photography.

Urban Exploration: Most people fail to see the beauty in their urban surroundings, the efforts of countless architects goes unnoticed, the nostalgia of a derelict site is never felt. As an avid urban explorer, the above statements don’t apply to me. Urban exploration is about seeing the unseen, feeling the unfelt and, sometimes, going beyond the “No Trespassing” signs.

Travel: It’s a big world out there and I want to see as much of it as I can. I love travelling, I love immersing myself in different cultures and experiencing different environments. I have travelled extensively in Europe and have also visited North Africa, the United States and Mexico. I would like to visit Russia, Nepal, and the Far East when the opportunity arises.

Music: I can’t imagine a world without music. I almost always have music playing - in the car, at work and at home. I have a strangely eclectic taste in music and my iTunes library reflects this. I love rock (U2, Simple Minds, Guns ‘n’ Roses, etc) and “ambient” (Enigma, Orb, etc). I can tolerate almost any genre.

Technology: Obviously, I’m passionate about technology. I love gadgets, computers and the Internet. These dominate my waking hours one way or another.

Personal Motto

Fac Totum Digita.