Trust

An incident happened today which made me think about trust. Am I too trusting or not trusting enough. And am I trustworthy?

I had just been dropping stuff off at school and was parked on Circus Street outside the photography building. I was just going through my pre-launch ritual with the Guf, music was on, diesel was heated, stuff on the seats in place...ready to burn!

I wound the window down so I could feel the air in my face as I drove (makes me feel like a racing driver you see) and a woman approached the window looking very flustered and distressed. She was out of breath and speaking very quickly told me she had lost her purse and was really worried and needed to get it back and wanted to go to the top of St James' street as she had been up there and thats where it probably was.

I agreed, it wasn't a big deal for me and she looked really concerned. So she hopped in and I started to drive off (mirror, signal manouvre and all that!). She directed me a quick back route and I asked her if she knew where it was, she thought it was in the Happy Shopper (classy!). After a few minutes we were at the top of Edward Street at some lights and she said that would do fine, she would hop out there and told me I was a life saver. She scurried over the road.

Then I thought...was that true? Was she and odd or trying to blag a lift, or a crack head or some other undersirable who was just on the scrounge?

I then thought, how nasty, she seemed genuine and really concerned and either way, who cares. I helped her out, she did me know harm etc. I couldn't figure if I was right to be suspicious or not.

Then I thought how trusting she was of me as I could have been a class A rapist or such like!

Hmmmm.

Trust.

There is a bloke in the library at the moment...

...who sounds EXACTLY like Charlie 2na

I want to be him (or his voice at least)

Those automatic snack dispensing machines...

...remind me of going swimming as a kid!

Diaries of a photographer (and a van)...Part 9

17/03/07

MORNING - Morning! So went to Stonehenge yesterday and had a good few hours there stalking other tourists! It struck me that I must look like an uber tourist with my larger than normal camera.

Had a good day though, mainly focussing on other people and how they 'used' the henge.

It takes all of 5 minutes to walk round the stones and to my eye, there are 3 choices of shot:

1) The stones in a typical picturesque, crop out everything bad view

2) The stones - contemporary! E.g close ups or funny angles

3) The tourists looking at the stones

So went for option 3 and spent much time snapping the backs of heads, other photographers and people with those audio wand things!

In such a manufactured attraction, its hard to actually appreciate the pre-historic monolith, I found I was most in awe of them when I saw them from a distance in the van, sitting comfortably in the landscape. I will return to the stones on Sunday and get some shots from further afield at the roadside.

I did go the 'wrong' side of the fence yesterday and tried to shoot people who didn't want to pay so looked from teh perimeter fence.

Stayed near Silbury Hull, Avebury area last night. A good park up spot that was relatively unused and quiet...apart from the wind! No hassle though, which is good and another top night of van sleep!

There is something great about this wild camping lark - waking up next to fields either side. Ironically(ish) I am parked up at the start of the Ridgeway - seems to be an ongoing theme of this project that I end up places I have already been or photographed or have some other connection with.

The only people about this morning are dog walkers. They are the most productice and hard working of all social gangs - FACT. First thing and last thing, guaranteed, they will be there. One thing I thought too - they always know the best and most beautiful spots!

So off to Bath in a bit to photograph the baths themselves. Not sure what to expect at all as never been there.

Need to buy socks today as I foolishly only brought one pair.

Laters.

17/03/07

15:42 - I have finished at the Baths and come in search of the greasiest spoon I can find...and found a classic in the Guildhall market. One big wrong breakfast for me. Thanks.

The Baths were ok - but can't help feeling I have turned into Martin Parr (http://www.martinparr.com/) this weekend. The Baths were absolutely rammed, it was crazy - seriously. Being inconspicuous was a nightmare as everyone was agog at my massive camera! Few technical problems too as I wasn't allowed to use the tripod (some crap about ancient Roman floors or something!) and the flash was a no go as the size of it made...

~ QUICK EATING BREAK...WRONG FOOD...YUMMY!~

...everyone run or look around alarmed and I really don't want the Parr aesthetic or my shots will look like they were taken by a pro, if that makes sense? Perhaps I am just being a wimp though.

So, dunno how it went, got some interesting stuff anyway I hope. I found it a bit horrible and hard to do though! So many people goind through the same motions and me the only loose cannon, touristing by the seat of my pants. It's the most voyeuristic I have felt as a photographer in a long time! Partly I think because its an enclosed space. Out iun the open, I can escape - contained by walls I feel a bit penned in and like I don't belong there. My shots wont work if people are watching the camera so it was a hard day.

Bath is a tourist mecca. Its more rammed than the Laines on a Saturday before Christmas or on a super summers day.

Going to have a stroll round Bath before it closes and see what I can see.

Quite want to do a project on cafes like this one. They are a unique haven for people you never see anywhere else in the country. You can always find them by looking for the 'cheaper' ends of town or markets or bus stations and places like that. But they have a greater sense of community than anywhere else in town and are full of the most unique and fascinating people. Anyone is accepted too without question or judgement, be they suited or overalled!

18/03/07

14:48 - Just taken ths shit out of Stonehenge. But the perimiter of it this time. I walked around the surrounding fields and massice scarry roads to get some shots of the location etc...trying not to bee too much like Simon Norfolk (http://www.simonnorfolk.com/ - go to the English Equivilants page, a project I found that is basically like what I am doing, shucks!). Its well annoying when someone does something before you and gets the shot you clearly would have taken if they hadn't. Bastards.

Harsh conditions today too - large winds I fought agaisnt and even hail at one point!

Stayed in Bath Marina campsite last night. It was funny. It was for caravans and motorhomes only and everyone had posh homes on wheels and then me...and the scruffy Guf sitting awkwardly amongst them! One was more like Challenge Anika's lorry! Massive it was. But with extendable side pods, a satalite dish and even an Eagle on the dashboard - 2 guesses where they were from.

When I arrived the office was shut so I parked anyway and went to pay this morning. Got chatting to the attendant about what I was up to and it turned out he used to work for an auction house and was an expert on print making. He showed me and original Julia Margaret Cameron he had...for his pension fund...lucky bastard!

~ I have just found the photo he had online look:

He had an original print and everything! The photo is called 'Kiss of Peace' from 1879 I believe. His copy was a bit battered but still amazing to see an original really old photo. Just had a look online, and I am amazed at how little her photos go for! Often £5,000 or less! I am not so impressed any more ;) He is going to have a rubbish retirement by the looks of things!!!

3 things:

1) I got some socks! Stripey numbers from M&S. When I was paying a middle aged man thrust, proudly, a very skimpy pair of speedo's on the counter! Why do middle aged men have no shame? He was delighted to be buying them and I wager stands proud, hands on hips, on the beach, pubes sticking out!

2) Why do garages display cars on those ramp things so the car is effectively on a mini hill? What does it proove - the vehicle has a good hand brake!?

3) Bought dinner from a road side birger van. First - what a crap job to sit in that, by a roiad, servinge drunks and the ungratefull!

Second - I have a habit of being puzzled by how people like that make a living. I find myself totting up their earnings.

Parr Exampler - 20 x £5 burger meal = £100. Say £50 costs thats £50 profit. Times 7 days = £350 a week or £1400 a month. Not bad! But optomistic at best. Bet he lives in the van amongst his baps!

Moving pains

Moved Dave and Georgie into their new place a week and a bit ago.

It was fun.

D & G may not believe me when I say that as there was a lot to move, we were doing it Friday evening and it absolutely pissed it down with rain. Obviously that was challenging and it was hard graft, BUT...

I like moving people! Its quite satisfying. You get to help people start a new chapter in their lives and moving house is always a big new chapter, so I think its quite exciting. It symbolic of a change and helping make that initial flurry of activity easier is never a chore I don't think - we have all been there and done it and the easier its made by people helping the better as for the movee's its always a stress.

What is more, me being a rather massive snoop it means you get to have first dibs on checking out the new residence of whoever your moving. Cash back!

Its also nice to put the Guf to good use. I bought a van to stay in the back of and have for general usefulness and therefore the more I can use it to help move stuff etc then the more justified I am in having a gas guzzling, environment hating, pollution machine!

40% down....60% to go!

Well, I have now completed 40% of my degree! Technically anyway!

I handed in my exam project last Tuesday and what a relief it was. Not that I didn't enjoy doing it, I did, hence it didn't have any nickname like 'The Shit' did. I was happy with what I did too, especially given the short amount of time and no input we were allowed for it.

Its just nice to think that all I have to concentrate on now is the major piece - its mentally quite tiring working on two projects at once as even if I am not doing photography and degree related stuff, I am always thinking about my work.

So the shit is 20% of my final mark and the exam project another 20%, hence 40% is now handed in.

Hurrah.

Next job is to bomb around the country in the van for the next two months frantically shooting sites for my major piece...as I am a bit behind where I would like to be at the moment!

Photography fascism

The UK Government is about to propose restrictions on photography in public places which could make street photography and documentary photography against the law. These proposed changes to the law could result in photographers having to apply for ID cards in order to take pictures in a public places.

The consequences of these proposed restrictions to the fields of documentary and street photography could be hugely damaging, potentially wiping out an entire area of photographic practice and certainly provoking suspicion around people simply carrying out their profession or hobby. The number of iconic photographers whose work would have been severely challenged by these moves is endless. With such limitations and procedures placed on them photographers such as Diane Arbus, Walker Evans, Garry Winogrand, Ed Ruscha, Brassai, Robert Frank, Cartier-Bresson, Bill Brandt, Stephen Shore and William Eggleston would perhaps not have been able to make the work for which they are now internationally recognised.

A petition has been lodged on the UK government's website which you can sign if you would like to voice your concerns about these proposals.

PLEASE go an sign the online petition as if this new law comes in its going to be nightmare!

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Photography/

I already get questioned a lot by the police and such like about what I am doing, especially if you are around perceived 'sensitive areas' and this restriction is just going to damage photography for everyone.

Thanks

Iso chats pants

One of my fave internet moments of recent times, Iso chatting bra's and pants on www.catwalkqueen.tv

To quote her:

"Big Pants"

Lovely stuff!

Never thought I would see the day! Good work Iso, must be exciting to be doing something a bit different rather than chatting French at people who owe debts to massive American corporations!

My work on show

I have some images on display for the whole of March.

There is a group exhibition at the North Laine Photography Gallery (above snoopers paradise in the North Laines, Kensington Gardens). They are showing work by all of the finalists from last years Essence of Brighton competition.

I was one such finalist and so have some stuff in there.

Its nine images from my current exam project, which I hand in on Tuesday - so you can get a sneak preview of it before my tutors or anyone else! The project kind of follows on from a night project called 'Chasing Light' I did last year. These images are much more about the atmosphere of the night and what it means to me. The duality of emotions etc of the night like fear and excitement, light and dark, familiarity and unfamiliarity etc.

I haven't seen them up yet, but I understand the show opened on Saturday, so if you are passing through the North Laines, go and check me out and let me know what you think.

The nine photos are also hand printed by my own fair hand! Quote exciting really that they agreed to show my own dark room prints rather than doing them digitally like most of the other exhibitors ;)

Total eclipse of my heart

Wow.

Anyone see the moon last night?

It was shadowy and red. I liked it.

Spent the evening popping out into the yard to check the progress of the eclipse, never seen one so good! It was such a clear night the moon looked like it was some fake set piece, hanging in the sky. Quite beautiful.

I love the fact humans get so excited about thins like an eclipse. For me, I guess its a reminder of certain things, how completely insignificant the individual is, how massive the forces of nature are and how we are all just part of one big fat system that carries on regardless. Sometimes, events like the eclipse come along again and we take a moment out from being completely self obsessed and view a natural wonder. It would happen whether we watched or not ("But would it" said Schrödinger!), but at that moment we choose to witness the event, it brings things into line and gives perspective that we normally overlook in everyday life. Well, I am sure not eveyone overlooks it in everyday life, but the vast majority no doubt do.

It also made me think that perhaps we are not such a rich a society with superstition. In days of yor, an eclipse or a comet or some other celestial movement would be seen as a sign. A sign from the creator - either a punishment, warning or perhaps even reward. Such an even may leave people searching for answers - what has man done to deserve such punishment or warning. What does man need to do to improve and avoid God's wrath.

I am not saying we should believe everything is godly influence, far from it, just that with science, haven't we lost some of that mystery? The BBC website had pages dedocated to the eclipse, why it happens, when it happens, what happens and all that. The mystery is gone as science fills in the blanks.

Take the environment. Perhaps years ago, before the progress of science, the environmental problems we are experiencing may have been seen as some sort of punishment and perhaps soul searching would have taken place in order to establuish why and correct it...maybe not. But now, science explains it and science is left to resolve it. We don't see the environmental issues as a sign that we should all search our conciounce and do something about it, we understand the cause and the effect and we wait for science to present a solution, unless of course, its made the latest trendy issue to 'be green', in which case, we make some small temporary changes until the next crisis hits us.

So what I am saying is, the moon's eclipse is a sign that we are all dead. DEAD I TELL YOU. After all, red moon at night - gives humans a fright. Red moon at morning - death is dawning.

See?