Scrapbook

2012-02-28T15:01:00.003-08:00

At The Water's Edge

I'm putting on an exhibition of photographic portraits this week on the Essex coast. The images document the people that have moved to Jaywick in search of a better life. The town was once a slice of paradise for east Londoners looking to escape the city in the summer, now it is officially England’s most deprived community. There's a lot more to Jaywick than these statistics suggest.

Here's a message from Kevin to tell you more...

2011-12-26T12:33:00.016-08:00

Christmas in London, 2011

2011-10-24T15:48:00.000-07:00

Valladolid, Spain 2010

At the end of last year my flight back to England from Spain was cancelled so I was put up overnight in the medieval town of Valladolid. I went out to take photographs of the Spanish drinking at night until a policeman ripped the camera from my hands. I was at fault because I was taking pictures of the commotion following a Spanish youth who had smashed his head on a paving stone. He went through and deleted all the pictures featuring policeman before pretending to drop the camera. It made me have a rare pang of warmth and appreciate for the English constabulary. It seems the ghost of Franco still looms in the air.

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2011-10-23T15:01:00.000-07:00

Tan Studio

This image was taken in a hairdressers in the town of Tisbury in Wiltshire. I was taking pictures of my sister getting ready for her wedding that afternoon but noticed in the corner of my eye this grand dame engrossed in her magazine.

2011-10-22T15:58:00.000-07:00

Occupy London at St Pauls

On my way to Liverpool street I stopped at St Pauls in the early morning and on my way back west in the evening. I came across Richard who had come down to join Occupy London from Brighton. The next day he was going off to Portugal where he was going to work and then travel by boat to Latin America. In the evening I was met by the sound of a chorus of middle aged bohemians signing 'Teenage kicks' by the Undertones on the steps of St Pauls. They were soon drowned out by a public meeting which was just beginning. There was debate over big issues (what direction the movement was heading in) as well the incredibly mundane (which tea should be used). It was a bit like the Monty Python sketch about the People's Front of Judea.

2011-10-07T11:54:00.000-07:00

Smoker

Whilst cataloguing old photographs today I came across this one taken last year at Somerset House during London fashion week. It reminded me that I need to get back onto an ongoing project looking at smokers whilst they take their cigarette breaks. This golden two minute period allow inhalers of tobacco to gossip, contemplate, joke, flirt and give the middle finger to someone taking a picture of them for no apparent reason.

2011-09-04T17:44:00.000-07:00

Slosh Ball

Clapham Common, August 2011

Slosh ball is a sport that bridges the gap between rounders and binge drinking. The event was instigated by my friend George, but I suspect the original founders could be traced back to an Ivy league fraternity in the 1970s. The game is essentially drinking and then playing rounders. Seems simple, but it is in fact a game that is challenging even before alcohol is involved. It requires considerable hand to eye co-ordination. The slightest ineptitude in this area is publicly exposed. Four teams pitched up. Our team lost, categorically. Here are a few photographs from that emotional day that began with rain and drinking in a pub, but ended with a rounders bat in the late afternoon's August sun.

2011-07-24T15:22:00.000-07:00

Accra, Ghana May 2011

In May I went to Ghana to do a documentary project on funerals. I stayed with a Ghanaian family on the outskirts of Accra. There was so welcoming that I was (happily) force fed local Ghanaian dishes every night. Here are photographs of the four children of the house.

2011-05-08T10:33:00.000-07:00

Royal Wedding Faces

The Monarchy is still alive and kicking

2011-04-02T07:49:00.000-07:00

Pigeon Nation

2011-03-08T17:01:00.000-08:00

I bought a 35mm prime lens from my 5d which finally arrived today. I tested it out just before the sun went down on Will's rooftop. It is really quite nice up there as it's westward facing and therefore good for afternoon light. It is less magical if you look down from the rooftop where you eyes will be met by a set of air con units from the Boots pharmacy below, as well as a few rusted frying pans.

2011-03-05T10:53:00.000-08:00

Self Portrait, Victoria station

2011-02-26T12:37:00.000-08:00

Vittorio Calazava

Golders Green, February 2011.

2011-02-24T01:19:00.000-08:00

Christopher - Rufus Miller

Last week the final touches of Rufus's music video were complete when it was graded by Jon Bignold. The song is written about the singers grandfather, Christopher. It was shot on a desolate beach in Dorset at sunrise in early December and around London in January.

2011-02-10T14:55:00.000-08:00

Clacton-On-Sea

I went down to Clacton a few months ago to photograph a grid of houses by the sea. They were designed to be used as summerhouses, but people have since permantely moved in. The endless rows of bungalows gave a slight American feel, but the bleak grey November's day was defiantly English. It is believed that this area was known for being a hideout for east end gangsters who were too hot to stay in London. I will be going back to take pictures of the residents in the near future.

2011-01-27T03:03:00.000-08:00

Columbia Flower Market

I have boycotted this market for many years mainly due to chronic laziness. I lifted the embargo last weekend and now I'm starting to think it may be be the best place to be in London at noon on Sunday. I particularly liked the gravelled sounds coming from the traders mouths and the look of this flower seller who could have been a retired boxer. He was selling 20 small flowers for £5. Not a bad deal, that's if you like small colourful flowers.

2011-01-19T18:17:00.000-08:00

I've started a new project looking at smokers. I am interested in the two minutes when people stop their work and leave their offices to have a cigarette. Smokers have a habit in common and therefore a feeling of comradery and starting point for conversation. In those two minutes anything can happen. Business deals are made, people meet future husbands or wives and gossip is spread. Above all people are allowed to stop, think and watch the world go by. I may have to start smoking just to get the pictures I want, or at the very least buy a fake cigarette. Here are a couple from a sunny but bracing January afternoon in the city.

2010-11-27T10:05:00.000-08:00

Soho Spring 2009

This is an old picture I took outside the French House on a brisk springs day last year. Dean street was uncharacteristically quiet that afternoon when I saw Dorian and Henry loitering outside the pub. Whenever I bump into Henry I want to take a picture of him. I can't pin point exactly what it is. Perhaps it's his eyes or that his face has a strange combination of complete innocence and maturity.

2010-11-15T11:29:00.000-08:00

Iceland 2010

In August I was invited to travel around Iceland. Other than Byork I knew next to nothing about the country so it was quite a surprise to discover a place that resembled another planet. I have never been somewhere so bleak. There were times where all you could hear was the ringing in your ears from pure silence. It is hard to get your head around the fact that only 200,000 people inhabit this place and that it is entirely made up from solidified volcanic ash. I'm sure everyone person I met could be traced back to the original vikings settlers in the 9th century.

We were driven in a monster truck by a 6 foot 5 thorough bred viking called Gudjon. The vehicle we were in could take you anywhere. Up mountains, across rivers, anywhere. It was even capable of pulling out a sinking Jeep with bewildered middle aged couple from a river. The landscape was so monotone that you could take a photo and convert it to black and white and it would look exactly the same as the colour version. Apparently they considered filming the Lord of the Rings here but there was only enough sun in the summer months. It certainly resembeld Mordor.

2010-10-22T02:47:00.000-07:00

Old Brompton Cemetery

It was a crisp Autumns afternoon and I forced my friend Will to go for a walk in the Old Brompton cemetery. It was the first chance I had to take some pictures on my new camera that wasn't work related. The light was amazing, piercing through the trees and creating diagonal shadows from the gravestones. I like this picture of Will. He absolutely hated it which may have encouraged me to upload it.

2010-09-29T15:13:00.000-07:00

Notting Hill Carnival 2010

As soon as I walked over that hill looking down on to Ladbroke grove I saw human behaviour that fascinated me: A small boy who was dressed up like a peacock in the middle of dance troupe looking lost and overwhelmed. A sweet looking girl in a large bright dress who had an underlying look of sadness. The way that ever time the trailers stopped the guys would find a girl and dance with her from behind, but once everything started moving again they would run back to the floats. A bit like an extremely dirty version of musical chairs. There was something innocent about it all though. It then started to heavily rain but no body cared. I relished the rain until I got a bit too wet and hid under a small tree.

I ended up going back on Monday with a load of people and took a few more pictures. I have to say that a) Sunday is better b) I have never actually found music I really like at the carnival. Although I did enjoy the D Double E tune street fighter being performed live at Rampage's stand by everyone's favorite mc with a lisp. Thanks to Jon for letting me use his toilet and hang out on his roof terrace and apologies to Matt for keeping you waiting.

2010-09-26T05:28:00.000-07:00

Forgotten Summer part II

The world cup

After England were knocked out I decided that Ghana were the next best option. You can't support another European team when there are other options, that's boarder line treason. I went down to watch the Ghana Paraguay match in Brixton with my brother. There was so much going on I never really got into the match. Every bus that passed the main road was forced to endure a mini celebration. It felt like an occasion, people lost their inhibitions and were really enjoying themselves. The gold cost bar and every other west African establishment were packed to the brim so we followed a crowd into a little Brazilian (probably) cafe. Within seconds it was a sweat box. These photos explain things better... But in case you didn't know Ghana lost that night. Everyone was distraught but there was sense of pride in the air.

2010-09-23T18:01:00.000-07:00

Forgotten Summer

I have a back load of photos from the Summer. It was a typically tantalising English Summer, starting strong and finishing with a whimper. When I came across these pictures I had nearly forgotten that there were long days with beautiful light. But here's hard evidence that they existed! I will start with a couple of friends taken in parks. Not something that will set your pulse raging but watcha ya gonna do...

2010-07-31T02:17:00.000-07:00

On my way to the BFI I was surprised to see a mob circulating like sharks, or perhaps sheep, around the side of the royal festival hall. On closer inspection I instantly recognised the small but determined swagger of Tom Cruise. I am fascinated by obsession and there was an abundance of obsessed people waiting for their chance to meet, and maybe even touch, the man himself. This picture hopefully captures some of the ridiculous of it all.

2010-07-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

Mexico Part ii

Pictures from my Yashica Twins lens reflex camera.

2010-07-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

In April I was invited to go to Mexico. In the first few days I starred in wonderment at every brown leathery face that crossed my path and photographed everything that moved, like a young gun ho GI lost in the middle of a Vietnamese jungle. Eventually I became more discriminate, trying to capture something less superficial. One day I will go back to see Mexico city which alluded me this time.

2010-05-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

Last month I went an old friends wedding held in a garage near Norwood Junction. As I arrived the crowd were ambling out of the garage where the service had just taken place. Soon after the sound of a guitar start to draw people towards the living room. With Rufus being from a family of musicians it was perhaps inevitable that we were going to hear something, whether we'd like to or not. He played on his own until he beckoned his grandfather, and then with much persuasion his sister, Misty, who sang whilst her father played. I can't remember listening to such tender music at wedding, or anywhere.

Luckily I had my nikon fm2 with me and although it was pretty dark I managed to get the film pushed a couple of stops to produce something that is grainy but still aesthetically pleasing.

2010-05-17T14:40:00.000-07:00

These pictures were taken at the 2009 Notting Hill Carnival. They were both from All Saints Road on a journey to Gaz's Rocking Blues on Talbot Road. We knew we had finally arrived when we heard Gaz's shouts of Arrrrrriba vibrating from his stand, complete with a giant skeleton. I'm certain the music was amazing but my memory was a bit hazy from here on.