a former magpie

progress

2012-01-17T11:33:00.004Z

I have awarded my self a gold star (or rather a giant pink bow) for filing my tax return with two weeks to spare - woo hoo!

my first video

2012-01-14T00:37:00.008Z

I started a digital video editing course today - this is a still from my first effort - emphasis on the first!

There is only one shot and a somewhat static one at that - you can take the woman away from photography but... see the video here.

If you like the song then check out x-lion tamer, available on itunes.

winter

2012-01-09T21:08:00.009Z

I love woodlands in the wintertime. There is so much texture when there are no leaves.

and a happy new year!

2011-12-31T14:22:00.000Z

a reprieve

2011-11-22T16:25:00.001Z

For a while it seemed that having waited all day for the floor panels to be lifted into the structure, the photos would be largely unusable as one of the workmen was wearing trainers. Thankfully they turned out to be specialist work shoes ideal for the task in hand - phew!

the best laid plans

2011-11-14T17:37:00.005Z

Having missed bonfire night I was determined to catch the Lord Mayor Show's fireworks.
After cleverly evading crowds we made it to the National Theatre only to be reminded that this part of the Thames is lined by trees and the NT staircases wouldn't be out of place on the Krypton Factor.
I did find a spot of hand rail for my gorilla pod and shot a few images (with trees) but sadly most are out of focus. I had never before had cause to look up the manual focus function on my compact camera.
I guess the moral is - 'know (all of) your tools'..

camouflage

2011-11-14T17:35:00.003Z

unrest

2011-08-17T22:41:00.001+01:00

It seems I'm not destined for a life in photojournalism after choosing not to risk taking my work camera out during the recent unrest. That's not to say I wasn't tempted.
Though I shot many more dramatic images that evening, I find myself drawn to this one. The distinctive silhouette of the police helicopter incongruously framed by a domestic skyline of chimney pots and aerials.

blackberries

2011-08-17T19:41:00.003+01:00

There is currently a folder on my desktop labelled, quite unselfconciously, 'blackberries + unrest'. An accurate description of a strange day in Hackney.
Incidentally, the blackberries became an incredibly delicious approximation of Eton Mess - I recommend it!

my first ...

2011-08-17T18:36:00.000+01:00

So, I finally shot my first wedding and I have to say it is much more demanding than it looks!
What seemed like excessive preparation on my part turned out to be just the right amount.
In a one time only situation technical issues can't be an excuse.
BTW.. most of the pictures did include heads!

summertime

2011-06-08T21:27:00.001+01:00

The first poppy of the year came out today. I love having a garden!

aftermath

2011-06-05T01:01:00.003+01:00

A felled tree, part of the debris left in the wake of the recent forest fire in Berkshire.

You can see more pictures here.

a return to bags

2011-06-05T00:24:00.006+01:00

Some years ago (on the first ever godfather photo walk) I spent the whole trip mesmerised and frustrated by bags in canals. I couldn't manually focus my camera at the time and could never achieve the shot I was after.

On our most recent walk (see below) I finally returned to the subject with vastly improved skills and equipment.
See more bags here!

photo walk

2011-06-05T00:01:00.002+01:00

My godfather is one of the few people I can happily spend a day with taking photographs.
While we do share similar tastes in subject matter, I think the real reason we have such successful photo walks is that we are both quite content to ignore each other and to be ignored without any offence being taken.
See his blog here.

happy easter !

2011-04-24T11:19:00.001+01:00

oops

2011-04-24T11:18:00.001+01:00

I made the last minute decision to take my small camera to the cuts march, a good choice in many ways.
However, having not planned to take it, I hadn't checked the battery. I like this picture with the light relief given by the balloons but wish I had more to choose from.
Never mind - sometimes it's better just to be there.

a dog walk

2011-03-07T21:25:00.000Z

My neighbour's lovely dog was both a help and a hindrance.
This was the only shot I could catch of the perfect ellipse of sun reflected in still water before the scene was disturbed by said dog. However, without him I would not have been here at all.
I guess the moral is 'always aim to get the shot first time'.

potato portrait

2011-03-07T20:27:00.001Z

see 'red rock' entry..

transition

2011-02-28T00:02:00.001Z

I will always be drawn to an open door.
The temporary (or dare I say ephemeral) is also something I keep returning to.

snap shot

2011-02-16T17:22:00.002Z

For a long time the only camera I had was my rather bulky work SLR. With a new compact camera I have been enjoying taking no fuss random snaps.
The main bonus though is that I can take a photograph in public without being looked upon as some kind of identity stealing terrorist or worse. No one threw me a glance as I took this picture of my niece on a bus. (and the camera lets me take square photos - it feels wrong but I love it!)

summer

2011-01-14T22:22:00.000Z

It's amazing how an image can transport you to a different time/place/mood. I was looking through all the pictures I passed over last year and found a new enthusiasm for this one - Hogweed at the height of the summer.
It seemed all wrong at the time but now I like the imperfections.

picturesque hackney

2010-12-21T20:15:00.001Z

I feel compelled to run outside with my camera the moment snow hits (the novelty hasn't worn off yet in London).
BUT... it makes everything unbearably pretty. Lovely to walk through but too cloyingly perfect for a photograph - is it just me?

control room

2010-12-21T19:54:00.002Z

There is definitely a high key/low key thing going on with my pictures. I am very drawn to one or the other.

Photographing a theatre painted predominantly in black was a bit of challenge but I like the results.

it's that time of year

2010-11-24T19:21:00.006Z

I have been photographing baubles. It is helping me to resist hanging them on a tree.

Something about the colours reminds me of Eric Carle's illustrations for the hungry caterpillar. This can only be a good thing though they are not very christmassy - too high key.

for Sophie

2010-11-24T18:59:00.002Z

Taking photographs for someone else in the context of art raises issues. I have realised that when I take a picture it is always going to feel like it's mine. Everything is a subjective choice, from the edit to colour/crop/contrast...
I have also gained valuable experience of working with animals!

a picture of nothing

2010-08-19T21:41:00.000+01:00

Every time I do a job I find that a picture or two are just for me.
This is one of those...

the marshes by mobile

2010-07-18T16:00:00.004+01:00

I am genuinely amazed by the quality of my mobile phone's camera! I have recently discovered how to download pictures with the miracle of bluetooth and it turns out the microscopically small lens is surprisingly effective.
And you get the bonus of the squarer shape - a bit of faux 5x4...

a bed

2010-07-15T18:01:00.006+01:00

Having witnessed the demolition of Pamela House I managed to gain access to photograph interiors of Lovelace House, the last remaining building in Haggerston Estate.

I was told by a local that it had been left until last as it houses the bookies.

You can see more images from this series here.

return to Littlehampton

2010-07-07T13:41:00.002+01:00

I finally made it back to Littlehampton to photograph Thomas Heatherwick's beach side cafe in beautiful evening light. This is what I had hoped for when I first went and found my self barely able to stand on a windswept and grey day.
While I like this picture I prefer the subtlety of the original grey day shot. It just goes to show that we don't always know what is best for us. The original shot can be seen here.

red rock

2010-06-22T00:16:00.002+01:00

The plan was potato portraits, part of a new (somewhat casual) gardening initiative in my household.

Several potato plants later and I shot this piece

of glass that has followed me around for years - it won.

Veg portraits coming soon!

goodbye Pamela House

2010-05-24T20:01:00.013+01:00

Haggerston Estate has finally been demolished 5 years after I moved out and our windows were bricked up.

I was surprised how shocking it was to see my home of four years ripped apart as I watched.

I was also slightly regretful that I had white washed the previously red and yellow living room walls that would have been so much more photogenic in this situation.

See a previous project based around the regeneration of the estate here.

spring has sprung

2010-05-18T22:27:00.005+01:00

A trip with a friend to photograph the marshes.

I didn't get the magic shot but will definitely be returning.

Hedgerows are the next big thing!

a happy accident

2010-04-27T20:33:00.015+01:00

I scanned in an old negative - the first ever 5x4 picture I took of a beautiful vintage broach. Something went very wrong but I love what I got! The broach has been transformed into some kind of interstellar object.

A simple adjustment to the levels and the image is restored but I prefer this one.

Queen's Road Peckham

2010-04-20T19:09:00.005+01:00

A friend asked me to take pictures to accompany a song about Queen's Road Peckham. We stood for hours on the platform waiting for dark to descend as he doubted my assertion that night shots should be taken at dusk and our oyster cards decided to rob us for not making a conventional journey.
Against all the odds I actually like this shot. Sometimes it is good to do things against your will. the song!

nostalgia

2010-04-20T18:24:00.010+01:00

I was reminded of this old picture recently when someone mentioned it with a view to buying! I'm glad they did as it has prompted me to revisit my enthusiasm for both brutalist architecture and collage (formed back in the days of glue and scissors).
I think I'll go and hunt out that brutalist swimming pool in Crystal Palace.

my first post

2010-04-19T23:48:00.002+01:00

So I suppose I have to write something... These are the blinds in my new house. Until yesterday I hated them and the fake stained glass effect windows - it's amazing what a bit of evening sun can do! - I like the weirdly eighties feel.
Also - what you wont know is that I used HTML to make a dignified gap between the title and the picture - new skills!