“I grew up on the “set” of In Flagrante , the bloke at The Library bus stop was a dead ringer for Killip” !
David Barrett
The bloke at the bus stop , AKA Killip …
Headline quote from , He Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven , W B Yeats
the perfect camera
Strange how random memories surface from nowhere every now and then …
This week I was visited by memories of a conversation I had with fellow students back in the day , circa 1977’ish …
I have vague memories of a conversation taking place with fellow photo-students that might of started by discussing “what camera was best ” but evolved and ended up creating a “wish list” that included “features that a dream camera would / should possess” ?
My Geordie Leica or Holga to you …
Seventies Student Dreams
Back in 1977 photo-life was almost manual everything as only basic levels of automation were beginning to appear , the list below is memorable because of its insight of what the future would deliver …
The Perfect Camera
Would be totally reliable . ( quite a telling reflection of the dangers of using cheaper , used mechanical kit , as many hard pressed students did )
Would focus and calculate exposure automatically. ( this idea was mocked , especially the focus bit , that’s what hyper focal distance was for )
Would never run out of film . ( Cost conscious students dreaming or a memory card prediction ? )
Would be hand hold-able for longer exposures. ( beyond contemplation at this time , the death of tripods , more mockery )
Would develop pictures within itself , no darkroom required . ( Polaroid was at its peak in 78 , strangely this idea was not that outrageous )
Would automatically set camera movements . ( vew camera technique was a important part of photo education back in 1978 )
These are the ideas I remember clearly but I have vague memories of folk suggesting “A Flying Camera Setting” , “Cameras That Did Not need A Photographer” and one of my mates having a “auto spotting” fantasy , spotting dust marks from prints was the curse of every photographer back in the day , oh how we laughed ?
Within 20 years usable digital photography arrived despite Kodaks best efforts to suppress its own invention , in order to protect film and chemistry sales !
Modern R & D , digital photography and editing software enabled all of our Seventies Student Dreams to become reality …
Some say that you should be careful what you wish for but that is not me , digital photography is a truly democratic medium , enjoy the freedom !
“Flying cameras” sounded funny back then , I’m not laughing now …
MORE…
If your blessed with a bit more time feel free to visit highlights from LIMBOLAND , my State Of Play project or The State Of Britain series , they represent the most turbulent years in modern British history and ten years of my life …
Is my Granny Banksy ?
Almost everyone has created a subverted version of the Mona Lisa at one time or another , if you haven’t you should …
This is my version from a few years ago , its just a old printed plastic tea tray and a unfinished jigsaw that were meant to be together , I never thought of my nan as a surrealist !
This picture is part of my new “No Tomatoes To Throw” project …
Is my Granny Banksy ?
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If your blessed with a bit more time feel free to visit highlights from LIMBOLAND , my State Of Play project or The State Of Britain series , they represent the most turbulent years in modern British history and ten years of my life , I have started to curate my “No Tomatoes To Throw” project in the last few days , take a peep by clicking above …
'We are all just prisoners here Of our own device"
I also considered the “Suspicious Minds” lyrics for the title for this blog , “Caught In A Trap” …
Don’t worry this is not another Brexit / tomatoes based blog , this post is just a recognition and comment on all things Twitter algorithm , it would appear that those of us using links to our websites are ranked much lower than “unlinked” Tweets , we are certainly ranked lower than we were “pre-Elon” , I can understand why the “Little Blue Bird” would want to keep all of us on his feed and sell us things while extracting commercially advantageous data but a online life of memes and cat videos has its limitations …
Social media is a interesting “Beast” as it relies on us all to be both consumers and content suppliers simultaneously , the mutuality of this arrangement has worked successfully for years for contributors and the platform until now , I can understand why links with other social media sites would be frowned upon but fail to see how independent portfolio websites like this one are seen as a threat rather than added value ?
I see that even charity print sales are being effected by the mean spirited Algorithm , I‘m no fan of ten quid charity print sales , especially as they are now as frequent as sofa sales at SCS but they deserve better than this …
Word is that security is going to become the “Big Stick” to beat us with next , no blue tick , no privacy ???
Its looking like the beginning of the end of Twitter for me , the principal benefits and mutuality of this once “Happy” place are being removed in a heavy handed , disrespectful way , this might be all right for cat & meme fans but the clock is ticking for me …
Thankfully this website is established and lives high in the “British Street Photography” search engine , it is not totally reliant on the little blue bird , I’ve started using by blog like I once used Twitter , new pics , comments and fewer idiots , its a win , win …
My latest “unlinked” tweet to promote this blog was viewed by 55 views within 1 hour , my last “Linked” tweet promoting my previous blog from 4 days ago has not reached a audience of 55 at the time of writing ! Remember , this is number of views not likes or shares …
Take a look at my Twitter Profile and check the diminishing view numbers against the numbers for the recent “Unlinked” promo tweet for this blog
Don’t be a twit , get your website together , its time to take yourself seriously …
Let that “SINK” in …
When The Penny Drop's ...
New year , new gear , new photo books , the street photography world is your lobster !
It could be and should be but for many it won’t be …
The journey between nowhere to okay-ish might be fast , okay to competent a bit slower , so on and so forth depending on the individual and the amount of time spent “Driving” a camera out on the streets , reading photo books , seeing , failing , learning and developing a curious creative eye demands a strong work ethic , bordering on the obsessive …
Most camera owners fail to build a creative palette of ideas and develop a visual vocabulary of self expression , in short , serious Street Photography requires a level of hard work and understanding that many are unable to sustain beyond the “Randem Stranger” phase, at some point the real YOU has to stand up and speak photographically !
Looking into the urban abyss for inspiration is one thing but the only way forward for serious photographers is the deep critical search within ourselves …
Not sure if it was the “Work Ethic” bit or the “Search Within” bit that encouraged the departure of some readers but the truth is that when we’re treading water photographically the answers can only be found within , this “Stand-Still” hits different togs at different times for different reasons but it finds us all eventually , it’s how we respond that matters , Golf Club membership is a extreme but correct solution for some , talking the talk seems to satisfy others , photographs always “SOUND” good …
Fishing for “Big Fish” is demanding , raising your bar of expectations and identifying what success looks like for you can be difficult !
Demanding more from yourself is a challenging but necessary , if your serious , reassessing your life , your pictures and your ideas can be a rough ride , fully formed creatives grasp the nettle , do the work and take the hits , persistence in photography will beat natural talent every day of the week …
Seeing todays “good” shots as not good enough and knowing why they fail is the first step to personal growth , knowing how to make them better is the next , letting go of the nearly pictures frees up space and time for you to hook “Bigger Fish” , the “Good” pictures of tomorrow will be fewer but should be “better” and of greater value to you !
Knowing what your new aspirational pictures look like following your personal 2023 audit will help you to move forward , don’t expect miracles , learning is a slow business , knowing what your looking for makes pictures easier to find , let the small fish escape …
Keep both feet planted on the ground , ensure your new plans are realistic , local and attainable , in short keep it real …
Demand more of yourself and your photography this year , embrace change & raise the bar in 2023 …
Shoot frequently with a smile on your face , a bad days Street Photography is always better than a good day at work …
What stands between you and your ambitions …
MORE…
If your blessed with a bit more time feel free to visit highlights from LIMBOLAND , my State Of Play project or The State Of Britain series , they represent the most turbulent years in modern British history and ten years of my life …
Every Dog ...
Just a familiar view that I’ve driven past many times , today I stopped and made this picture !
This location was not even on my very long mental list of picture locations to watch …
It’s just a ordinary view , a decent sky and some special low light , I’m not bothered by the diagonal wires crossing the frame , in fact I like them , they add depth …
In some ways this pic is nothing , in other ways its something , for me its the generic , underwhelming commonality that adds up to what it is , maybe its something & nothing ?
Every dog has its day …
… maybe its something & nothing ?
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If your blessed with a bit more time feel free to visit highlights from LIMBOLAND , my State Of Play project or The State Of Britain series , they represent the most turbulent years in modern British history and ten years of my life …
Bill Jay And The Three Photojournalists ...
Let me warn readers that this blog might offend , that is not my intention , on the other hand I should also warn readers that this post might make you laugh uncontrollably if your not offended , you have been warned !
I have written before about how Creative Camera magazine contributed to my own personal evolution as a aspiring photographer back in the 1970’s although I recognise its importance now I was not and could not of been aware of this publications significance at the time , although many of the photographers within its pages were known to me I never gave a thought to the people behind the publication back then , CC was little more than foto-food for this young developing photographer …
Having completed my formal photographic education and a spell as a photographers assistant in a large commercial photographic studio I headed off to London from Newcastle Upon Tyne in search of my next chapter with big ideas , a good portfolio and naïve aspirations . The photographic industry was so labour intensive at this time that dedicated employment agencies serving the photo industry exclusively existed in London to meet the insatiable demand of studios , photo-labs and publications , the other source of employment opportunities at this time were found within the British Journal of Photography job pages , this was the essential guide to who was looking for what in the booming photo industry at this time and more importantly how much they were paying . A job of some kind within the industry was almost always attainable if you possessed a decent skill set back in the day .
Having picked up my copy of the BJP from my local newsagent in Wood Green I remember heading into town on a new job seeking mission , it must have been a Thursday as it was “new-job” seeking day, the BJP day of publication , I knew all about early birds catching worms !
On the journey into town I flicked through the pages of my new magazine and buried my head into its contents , the job hunting could wait , I needed to catch up with “Hector Chrome” , Jack Coote and Bill Jay , reading Bill Jay’s column on a busy tube train was a mistake I never ever repeated after this day , the reason for this will reveal itself later !
This was the day I became aware of what is one the most politically incorrect photographic jokes ever , this is the day I really discovered Bill Jay as more than a columnist in the BJP , remember this is 1980 ish , the BJP was seen by me as quite a straight , dry , sober historic publication , so I did not expect side splitting gags from its pages , it certainly caught me off guard on this memorable day …
I will do my best to remember the nuts and bolts of this “TRUE” story as featured in Bill’s BJP column more than forty years ago …
The story involved three of Fleet Streets finest photojournalists who had agreed to meet up in a bar near the airport following a seven day stint photographing the harsh realities of war, before flying back home to London .
The photographer from the No 1 Tory Broadsheet arrived at the ran shack bar first and was greeted by the sight of a desperate hungry child begging by the front door , the Tory Broadsheet photographer was shocked by what he saw and immediately handed over his water bottle , emergency food supply and fifty US dollars before entering the bar and awaiting his colleagues …
The photographer from the No 1 left wing tabloid arrived next and again was confronted by the desperate child at the door of the humble ran shack bar , without hesitation he removed his Rolex watch and gave it to the child along with fruit , various sweets and chocolate bars before heading inside to meet his friend from the Tory Broadsheet…
The third photographer to arrive was from the No 1 Tory Tabloid , he too was confronted by the begging child before heading inside to meet up with the others , as the drinks flowed amongst the horrifying stories of war and what terrible scenes the photographers had seen and photographed during their assignments the delicate subject of the hungry child outside came up , “Tory Broadsheet” asked “Left Wing tabloid” if he had seen the child by the door , “Left Wing tabloid” said that he had and told him that he had given the child his watch , fruit , sweets and chocolate before asking “Tory Broadsheet” what he had given the child , he replied I gave up my emergency food supply , water bottle and fifty dollars …
Following a break in conversation “Left Wing tabloid” got round to asking “Tory Tabloid” what he had given the despairing , starving child before entering the bar , “Tory Tabloid” remained silent for a time , that felt like forever …….. , before declaring , sheepishly , … “1 /125th at F8” …
Sometimes the old ones really are the best …
The story above made me laugh out loud on a packed tube train long before LOL was a thing , I tried to keep it in but the more I tried the worse I got and in turn the more attention and disapproving looks I got from my fellow passengers , I was besides myself , I had to get off the train before my stop in order to gather myself and hang onto the small amount of dignity that I retained , which wasn’t much …
Following this day I started to investigate Jay in this pre-internet era only to discover that Bill Jay had connections to many of the things that were already shaping & influencing me , TRJ , CC and the BJP to name just three , not only had he made me laugh uncontrollably in a public space , he had “anonymously” managed to point me in the right direction photographically ,
I never got to meet Bill personally and to be honest never really admired his photographs , I have not forgiven him for failing to make better pictures of Tony Ray Jones , leaving us with little more than that finger up the nose portrait still grinds, Jay was not a great photographer but he was important , he knew that someone had to plant the seeds that British Photography needed to grow from , this crazy bloke initiated this long uphill journey that we all enjoy / endure today …
It should be said that Bill Jay was obviously blessed with a very dark sense of humour and deep sense of fun too …
Photo Bill Jay
Snooze & lose ...
I found this sleeping soundly on my hard drive today , don’t know how I missed this back in the day , I must of nodded off …
I did the first edit with my full colour TESTING TIMES head on back in 2020 , I had my Limboland mono head on today , gotcha …
Always worth revisiting old shoots with new eyes …
I have a theory that if you round up all your stray shots a thread begins to appear , a subconsciously created series , perhaps …
Take a second look at your “Old Tosh” when you have a bit of spare time , you might discover some “New Tosh” …
Old Tosh , 2020
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If your blessed with a bit more time feel free to visit highlights from LIMBOLAND , my State Of Play project or The State Of Britain series , they represent the most turbulent years in modern British history and ten years of my life …
New Tosh , 2020
Anti-Social Street Photography !
Is anti-social Street Photography a good thing ?
Whoa , Whoa , before you get onto your horse that is high , let me explain what I mean …
Anyone who knows me , knows that I’m a straight forward Geordie bloke with a healthy disregard for the dubious hierarchy of dilettante sycophants that hover around Street & Doc Photography but that does not make me a bad person !
The “Anti-Social” element I am referencing here is my strongly held belief that serious Street & Doc is almost exclusively a solo activity , Street Photography is not a team game although I acknowledge how the support of others might benefit some , lot’s of folk enjoy the social element of photo gatherings during the early days of their SP journey …
Serious “STREET” engagement requires high levels of concentration , curiosity , seeing and anticipation that are difficult to achieve when engaging socially for me , I have enjoyed both , divide your shoots into social or solo sessions , identify your aims and objectives in advance , catching up with your mates is great fun but be aware that shooting as part of a group is a totally different dynamic to “serious” solo shoots , good conversation can be a costly distraction and compromise serious intent …
Cycle Security , Dublin , 2016
Street Photography is not a democratic committee based activity although it can be if your not careful , I shot as part of a group in Dublin a few years ago and enjoyed the craic enormously but I failed to find the mental space I associate with my solo shoots , if your new to STREET you will benefit greatly from the support & security of a group dynamic but you will learn more about yourself from solo adventures , “Street” is not about fitting in , its about breaking out !
It’s difficult to maintain the infamous “Photo-cloak of invisibility” or “Personal Vision” alongside a dozen other photographers !
However you choose to do it , enjoy but don’t judge those of us who prefer a isolated , focused , single minded solo approach , we are not anti-social , honest …
I’m just trying to find pictures that reflect my life , now where did I park my bike…
MORE…
If your blessed with a bit more time feel free to visit highlights from LIMBOLAND , my State Of Play project or The State Of Britain series , they represent the most turbulent years in modern British history and ten years of my life …
Bus Stop
I came across this today , “Support The Strikes” another reflection from Limboland …
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If your blessed with a bit more time feel free to visit highlights from Limboland , a state of mind , England , the state of play. 2012 - 2016 or The State Of Britain , 2016 - 2022 pictures , they represent the most turbulent years in modern British history and ten years of my life…