So, I’ve reached the hundred mark. There’s a handful I shot digitally rather than on film, which I’ll go back at the end and replace, and there’s one pub which I subsequently found fell just outside of the B&H border (The Swan in Falmer). Here’s the full list of what’s been posted so far, which…
People I’ve Met: No.16: Karen Anne (by James Kendall)
I talk to Mr Kendall about a lot of things, but rarely about his own photography. Its normally about business (he runs the Brighton Source magazine) or other photographers we are interested in, or I despise …. you know the usual. But he’s really beginning to come into his own. He has always had a calm, contemplative side to his work, but his People I’ve Met series is really stepping the game up…
Ah, thank Mr Mason. I ended last year kinda lost on the photography front. I knew I wanted to do something different, something better, but I didn’t know what or how to get there. I know now it was taking pictures of people, but it took a while to work that out. I owe any jump I’ve made this year to Garage Studios.
Firstly the excellent Lou O’Bedlam course they ran which hammered home a few points that I really knew and should have thought about while taking portraits. Then I went on to Kevin and Matt’s excellent Creative Photography course. Approaching the final week I knew I’d learned a lot but couldn’t quite point it in the right direction but Kev helped me work out what I was doing. Now I know the (vague) direction I’m heading and (roughly) how to get there. I’m also much more controlled in my photos. So, thanks Kev, Lou, Matt and Garage Studio.
No truer words said than of these towards The James Kendall
Glad you enjoyed the time here in B’Town
And thanks again for your time eh?
(written at 1330, London time)
Figured I’d be writing this after I arrived home, settled in. Figured I’d take a look around my little apartment, plug all the computers back in, grin satisfactorily at the Polaroids on the wall, bit of a dramatic sigh.
Instead, I’m stuck at Heathrow airport, mainly due to a taxi driver who was blissfully unaware of how to get from one place to the other using a funny thing called Roads.
He gave up after 40 minutes of Dukes of Hazzard-style shenanigans, dropped me at a tube station. At the time I figured I could still make my plane.
I now refer you to paragraph two.
Due to the great deal I got on my ticket, changing my flight was rather expensive. Seems that deep within the fine print of that great deal was a SHOULD YOU WANT, FOR ANY REASON, TO CHANGE YOUR FLIGHT, WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO SUCK YOU DRY OF EVERY OUNCE OF GOODWILL YOU’VE EVER HAD FOR ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.
Maybe terrorist organizations don’t actually try to get the suicide bombers to hate another country. Maybe they just get them in a line for customer service. Seems to do the trick just fine.
It is under this cloud of wanting to strangle everyone who even looks at me funny (my Choke Cloud) that I have begun to review my trip to England.
It was probably the best trip I have ever been on.
I got to travel to another country, all expenses paid, to talk about the two things I love most: Me, and photography.
I was able to meet people I’d known only from the internet, was shown an unbelievable amount of generosity and hospitality, was given the opportunity to teach.
It was incredible. Made new friends that I hope to keep in my life a mighty long time. People I was aware of because of the internet, but you can’t make friends on the internet, of this I am now sure. You can initiate a friendship, but it’s that IRL time, that’s what cements it. That’s when you get a chance to really experience a person, warts and all. And I’ve got to say, of all the people I met, they were, to a man, so much better in person than I’d ever imagined from interacting with them on the internet.
Kevin Mason: the man who made it all possible. The godfather of this entire trip.
Sally Reynolds: my shepherd, this entire trip. Truly one of the finest people I have met, in all my years.
Matt Halls: I knew this guy not at all before coming out here, and now I can’t imagine not having him around. About as decent a bloke as you’ll find.
Dan Pope: our man from Bristol, made that workshop run smoother than a greased up baby sliding down a flagpole.
There’s lots more, everyone was amazing. The entire Brighton crew: Katherine, Mary, Emma, Tash, Stevi, Sam, Louie, Tess, Georgie, Eleni, Milo, Harry, Akin, Rosy, Tess, James, Ben, the fine Irish lass at Nina, everyone who attended the talk on friday, all you lovely folks (whose names I warned you I would not remember) in my three workshops.
The Bristol crew: Natalie, Tamara, Jonny and all you lovely folks (whose names I warned you I would not remember) in my Sunday workshop.
The London crew: Josh, Mike, Bela, the fine Irish lass at The Book Club, Sally’s roommates, Flo, Emily & »», Laura, Maud, Sam, Charlotte, Sarah, the weird WEIRD folks at that poetry reading.
Also, for what it’s worth: the only bad meal I’ve had in the last 13 days has been here at the airport. I almost attempted a citizen’s arrest, that cook should be strung up, a burger that bad. Beef overcooked, bacon Undercooked. Criminal.
The sights? Not really my thing. After living so close to Universal Studios, going on the backlot tour so much, everything older than 200 years looks fake to me. Big Ben? Thought it’d be taller. When it comes down to it, I’m a people person. I travel to see people. Places, buildings, architecture? Just things.
Fortunately, the people didn’t let me down.
So, I’m soon to leave, really bloody thankful I came, hoping to do it again, soon.
Not too soon, because down deep, I’m a townie. More than 6 days from LA, I get a weird feeling in my gut.
Regrets: didn’t get to go to Paris. Didn’t get a ridiculous tattoo. Never had a kebab. Missed running into Warren Ellis by about 4 minutes. Didn’t visit Scotland.
Things I’m glad I did: oooohhhhh, can’t really talk about all that. CODE BLACK.
Plane’s boarding. I have no regrets. Oh, except for that small list. I mean BIG regrets. No Big regrets. I’d have done it all the same. Except for several things. Hm….Let’s try:
Plane’s boarding. I regret nothing deeply! i’d do it all again, with only minor modifications!
#POTD
Hurricane Ramirez Gets Ready For Work.
Lessons learned? Luchador masks are hot, sweaty and not the most comfortable things in the world. (but they still make fun props!)
Kick ass workshop the other day with Lou O’Bedlam.
Shooting in direct sunlight? No Flash? What the hell was I doing?
I was shooting the hell outta the lovely Ms. Reynolds here.
It was a good experience, I like to control my light, bend it to my will. But this was all about using one lens (50mm), and interacting with the model, working WITH them, not just shooting them.
Good times.
Me: ”Your employees are saying they can’t get on the internet.”
Client: ”Did they restart?”
Me: ”Yes, but the problem is the wireless is not connected to the internet. Did you change something?”
Client: ”Oh, yeah you have to plug them in to ethernets. I turned the wireless off because…
More Photo Love! The interview with “Cassette Lord” seems to have made it’s way to the Argus website. Thanks for the link back to the pictures.
Well, somebody managed to finally track this guy down and interview him. They even went to the trouble of asking to use my pictures for it!
A good read, and thanks Greg for using my pictures. (with permission!)
“Sally fucking Reynolds” = the crazy. Nuff said. (but she’s ace)
can’t wait until the talks today!!
1056pm (Greenwich Mean Time) (That’s England, see)
Dear Ma,
Things are great. I am on another continent for the first time in my life. People are very friendly. They all talk funny, and english words mean different things, here. Do not use the word “fanny” here, it is very bad.
My new friends (Sally up there riding the bus being one/the best/the first) are great. They all talk funny, too. They like pubs, and the tube, and they call undergarments “pants”.
London is very good. The buildings are very old, and the streets are narrow, and make little sense. Cabs are very big here, too.
They have fed me food, and plied me with alcohol. I flirted with a waitress, because I am my father’s son.
We are in Shoreditch, it is very trendy. I suggested we play a drinking game where every time we saw a hipster we’d take a drink, but immediately vetoed the idea, because no human can consume that much alcohol and survive.
Also, i watched Edge of Darkness w/mel gibson on the plane. it was not very good.
Tomorrow, Brighton!
A true portrait should, today and a hundred years from today, be the testimony of how this person looked and what kind of human being he was.
“
| — | Philippe Halsman (via louobedlam) |
Vote Now or forever hold your
piecePeaceElection Day in the UK will see many more Glum Councilors and Parliamentary election candidates than successful ones. That is the nature of our democracy. Energetic, committed citizens who believe they have something to offer in the service of their community put themselves forward to be chosen by the electorate.
Many will be successful more will not. Individually we may not agree with all those who are elected and we may not be happy with the job they are doing - but we will have another opportunity at the next election to vote for someone else.
This blog has had great fun pricking the bubble of pomposity and gently chiding our elected representatives. However all this irreverent nonsense is only possible - or entertaining - because we have a secure democratic base. This is the UK - not Zimbabwe, Iran, Afghanistan or any of the other precariously poised political systems where voters fight and die for the right to participate.
So … no funny councilors today - no pictures of pompous pointing at potholes or grumbling about graffiti - just a plea. If you are eligible to vote get out and use it. Vote for any party you believe is standing on a genuine democratic platform with an intention to represent all of their local constituents…
…and, if you don’t vote - don’t come back to this blog. You won’t be welcome. We only earn the right to criticise, complain and poke fun at our leaders if we participate in the process of electing them.
indeed.
Your Life is My Vanity Project (by garage-studios)
Come to my launch night, this Thurs 6th May. I will have books on sale too, my first ever book, after 6 years of being asked to make one….
oh but make sure you go and vote first…
I’m gonna be there with bells on……..VERY EXCITED………!!!!
