31.1.14

 You would be forgiven for thinking I may have lost my blogging ways when all I do is dig out old images and write about myself. But at least I'm a Blogger and not a Bragger. I despise that kind of self indulgent look at me shooting some fancy car surrounded by semi naked women covered in glitter with a budget the size of Cornwall. However, my diary is always open for a big fun shoot..
So looking back, the above image was taken in the spring of 98 in the Queens back garden (Regents Park) at a time when all I had was my trusty Mamiya 7. I always liked the movement of the blossom blowing in the wind. The image was later shown in exhibition I had in the West End (happy days) called Ghost. It was one of my first, and may I say, most successful shows I have had (again, happy days).
As for the image below, Dungeness about ten years ago and thats all you need to know.
It might be time to shoot something new...

29.1.14

Memory Loss..


I came across this old image of mine today, I say old because I cannot remember when I made it. I know where it is, but as I have been there a few times I cannot be sure exactly when..
Its a simple image, no waiting for the light to change, or a light to come on. Maybe it would of been better if I had, I don't know, but what I do know is that I like it. It may be simple, but there's a lot going on. Obviously I chose this particular angle so the cross could be clearly seen, as well as the shape of the chair. Then again, maybe I didn't..

11.1.14

Take a tablet.

I was talking with a very interesting chap over the festive period about how little we put pen to paper these days. Of course we all know that in a few years all the kiddies at school will have digital tablets and won't even know how to write their own name. As for myself, I like note pads, I like notes, and I still like to work this way using a nice Italian leather bound journal type thing. After some light debate we both came to the conclusion that maybe we should stop being so nostalgic and should move with the times, which is probably what they said after paper was invented when stone tablets were all the rage. And then it struck me. I had been having this same argument for years only instead of a pen and paper, it was film.

8.1.14

Something to watch..

As much as I love the BJP and what is stands for, I have no time for 'Ones to watch' specials like this months edition. Of course I understand the concept, in fact some time ago I was one to watch myself. But that was when I thought I would never shoot colour and didn't know any better..
I am really not sure how the BJ picks who they think are the 'Ones'. Yes there is some talent, but I gave my four year old nephew a go with my smart phone camera over Christmas and the pics weren't half bad. He's the one I will be watching, but that's more to do with a toddler holding an iPhone.


3.1.14

The future of photography...

Drinking my Raspberry, white chocolate and cat sick frappe with the sun gently warming my smooth white dome, you may be fooled into thinking I have taken too many Lemsip tablets. But the truth be told, I am indeed Stateside in the land of my contemporaries. It is always an inspiration coming here and I am often reminded of my big four favourites; Meyerowitz, Shore, Misrach, and Joel Sternfeld.
I still stand by my statement made long ago that these guys couldn't shoot for toffee in places other than the USA. But the work they did shoot here is by far my most inspiring. Often made without restraint, big budgets, or a particular strict brief.
But let's put inspirational photographers aside for a moment and talk about the changing landscape (no pun intended) of photography, in particular that thing they call Instagram. This is something no one saw coming. These images, mostly shot on phones are made in the thousands every day. A lot of the time it's just ordinary folk documenting their lives. At first I hated the idea, but this my friends is photography whether I or anyone else likes it or not. People are taking interest in their surroundings and shooting anything that interests them, and, just like my Fab Four, they do it free from restraint with their own unique view of the world.

Here's something to think about  for the new year; I bring a big fat camera to America, my wife brings an iPhone. She uses Instagram, I use film. Guess who gets the most satisfying set of images?

Of course it's me. But I bet I fooled you....