A Tree made of shoes and a dusty old shed..

I would never confess to being in anyway envious of my wifes achievements over the years, after all we began our photographic journey together. She made images of people, I made images of everything else. Of course there were times when conflict would ensue after spotting something quirky on a road trip like a Tree made of shoes or a dusty old shed in the desert, but those moments were rare and long ago.

I noticed about a year ago that the tables were turning when I heard the words;
 "I think I would like to do an exhibition, or maybe a book project, or both!"
And so in a time when I seemed to be on some kind of unintended sabbatical opportunists for my better half, in what I considered to be my domain,  started to take shape.

The exhibition process is the same for any photographer; The idea, The negotiation, The images, The edit, The prints, The panic and feelings that your show is going to be crap, The Opening, The relief, The debt. OK, I could of left The Debt bit out, but you get my drift.

Its been interesting seeing things from a different perspective, but its not been without its 'Tree made of shoes' moments.

Lost and Found

16 August 2014

Industry news

In an era when digital technologies are ubiquitous, the London Analogue Festival (LAF) returns to celebrate the beauty, power and aesthetics that come from analogue technologies. From the 12-14 September 2014, the LAF will draw together international artists for a weekend of live performances, talks and exhibitions in the heart of London at Bargehouse, the distinctive, atmospheric warehouse space at the Oxo Tower Wharf on the South Bank. It will be a rare opportunity to enjoy side by side film screenings, photography and sound art exhibitions - all in analogue media, and a unique event offering the public a welcome cultural alternative to the mainstream digital experience.
The London Analogue Festival is part of a movement celebrating and promoting analogue technology as used in the arts and, intent on educating the next generation in the fundamentals of the techniques involved, brings innovative new creations to the limelight. A recent addition to London's cultural calendar, the LAF will offer under the umbrella of one event, a platform to well established artists, such as Terry King, as well as new upcoming talents from across the world on which to showcase their art, network and perform. With no entry fee, it will give all Londoners and visitors a chance to discover- or rediscover- analogue, to meet artists, explore the intersection of technology and our senses and develop new skills.
Building on the success of last year as the first multidisciplinary festival, the London Analogue Festival has forged a network of associations across Europe with like-minded organisations. Through these links, this year the Festival will host a selection of films from the Italian Analogica Festival, Analogue Mania from Romania will showcase Emil Kindlein bespoke solid silver microphones and artists from Revela-T in Spain including Josep Maria Ribas Prous, the first Spanish author awarded the title of “Maître of the Fédération Internationale de l'Art Photographique”. With sound art there will be participation from a range of different musical genres, including vinyl DJs, Jono Pomodore from Metanono, and upcoming artist Tamara Scar, from Element 79.

Conceived by David Guerrini-Nazoa, the Festival is run entirely with the help of passionate volunteers as a non-profit organization, on a budget mostly dependent on sponsorship and donations; a Crowd Funding Campaign will be launched today in support of the Festival. Partners in collaboration with the Festival include, amongst others, in the UK Fujifilm and Silverprint, from Europe Lomography and Impossible Project, and Pro8mm from the USA.

For more information about the London Analogue Festival visit www.analoguefestival.com. 

London Analogue Festival 2014: spearheading the Analogue Resurgence in the heart of London
A three-day festival celebrating analogue film, photography and sound art
Friday, 12th – Sunday 14th September 2014

- See more at: http://www.rps.org/news/2014/august/london-analogue-festival-2014#sthash.dWPT1VZl.dpuf

DUST

 Nadav Kander, Dust

Nadav Kander, Dust

I stumbled into the all new Foyles bookshop in the West End yesterday which has a very fine relocated photography section at the front of the store. After that I stumbled upon Nadav Kander's new book, Dust, a series; 'Discovering the vestiges of the Cold War: secret cities and radioactive ruins' 

When my wife's Grandpa was in his last days he would often say he was in more trouble than Russia. This was some eight years ago, but I kind of knew what he meant and couldn't help thinking about it while looking through the book.

I am really not sure what I think of the series in with their Deadpan, Kanderish glow. They certainly have a beautiful quality to them, but perhaps this is what bothers when you consider the content and the fact I am a little tired of disaster porn, past and present. 

The fact is, these images could be anywhere as there is nothing to really say where or what they are (apart from a few military compounds further on in the book). And if you don't read the forward first, you wouldn't have a clue.

Theres no argument that NC is one of the finest working photographers today. But I always feel his personal projects are a little late in the day. Uncovered, rather than discovered.

More info here.

Robert Dawson.

I was directed to the work of Robert Dawson knowing next to nothing about him.
Turns out his work is quite brilliant.

His water in the West Project is superb.

Fred Fredden Goldberg (1889 – 1973)

File under pants..