I took a stroll down to The Photographers Gallery this week as I was eager to check out the Saul Leiter show. This is a photographer I have always been a fan of, in particular his colour work, although I was intriged to see some of the black and white work on show also.

Ever since the PG reinvented itself as a place where not only could you see some photography, but also get fit climbing its many stairs, I have always been left cold by its lack of atmoshere, crappy lighting, and in my opinion, poor curation.

Sadly, once again the north winds blew and I had to readjust my scarf and put on my gloves. The various sizes of prints were either too big (they work best in book format having been shot on 35mm Kodacrome), or, like all the black and white, too small.
I never understand why galleries cannot just put framed images in a row and not up down and round the corner. Simple without distraction..

I did however like the quotes on the wall (see above). 

And so another body of work that through a mixture of elements makes me wonder why I keep going back to the tower of doom..

Cumbria University.

Time for a pop up..

I took a trip down to the Wapping Project today to see Annie Leibovitz's 'pop up' exhibit. It really was not what I was expecting; a pop up exhibit with big TV's and lazer copies of prints. The show looks cheap and cheerful which is probably why the entry is free (good job too).
Of course there is no doubt that she is a one of the greatest working portrait photographers today. but this show simply doesn't do her work any justice.
As I was only allowed to take pictures using a phone, and not a camera, I made this image below which I found more interesting than the show. Its the back of a giant television..

Night Photography.

I am about to begin the mammoth task of digitizing my entire archive. This will be no easy feat, but thankfully having shot mostly on large format, (as apposed to medium format) there are not as many negatives as there could be. But theres still a lot...
As I begin to 'sort it out' its very apparent that Night Photography, or images made at night, has formed a huge part of my archive. With this in mind I do believe that I can speak with some authority on the subject matter started more than thirty (gulp) years ago. 

Rather than a boring load of old waffle, I have made a list which sums up my views on Night Photography. Well it would be rude not too..

1. Night Photography is when you make a photograph at night.

2. Night Photography is not the same as Photographs taken at night.

3. Night Photography is all about composistion.

4. Night Photography is boring with a lot of standing around (see 7)

5. Night photography is when people ask you what you are doing even though you are standing behind a camera.

6. Night Photography made with a digital camera is not better than with film, its just quicker.

7. Night Photography is easy, you just focus and count.

8. Night Photography needs three things; a good camera, a solid tripod, and most of all patience.

9. Night Photography is not an exact science, its mostly guess work.

10. Night Photography is done with a camera that was never designed to do Night Photography.

New Year.

I am sure that all those social media networks are crammed full of 'first pic of the New Year'. Well thats fine, you can take your phone filters and all your HDR.
I went for something a little more subtle in an attempt to sum up the general mood of the country around this time.