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“You should never doubt what no one is sure about”
Willy Wonka

MY BEST SHOT (naff title)

The Guardian is running a very interesting article called MY BEST SHOT where lots of photographers choose what they consider to be their finest image. What's always fascinating is that the photographers favorite image is usually no one else's.
Regarding my own work I often find people like work which I never consider my finest, in fact sometimes I really hate it, hence the importance of a third eye usually in the form of a Gallery, Agent or Neighbor/Relative...
Above are two images to prove my point. The now famous Hollywood Diner, my best seller and a big favorite amongst the populous. Personally though all I can see are ways it could of been better. I dislike the highlights on the tables and the colour in the print is never quite right.
The print below it (Melted Wire) is one of my most favorite images. Its the fact that it looks like a lily and I just find it quite extraordinary. I would even go so far as to say that it is reminiscent of my earlier work when I photographed lots of real lily's but sadly everyone else hates it, hates it I tell you..
Anyway, enough of this nonsense I'm off to smell my lily's...

Porky Pies..

I have been reading with interest a bit of a carry on regarding Edgar Martins and a project he done with the New York Times. Most of the details and pics are here.
Basically old Eggy has been claiming that his images are not digitally manipulated but others seem to think otherwise. I will let you judge for yourself although its pretty obvious they have been altered for balance etc, at least thats what I would say. Big deal you might think, but this comes after the NYT stated last year that if any of their images are digitally altered they would say so..
This could land Martins in a bit of bother simply because he has fibbed a bit, but we are all guilty of that are we not...
Personally I don't give a rooty toot hoot. I like Martins work and having never met guy would never say too much as he hasn't been able to speak for himself as of yet.
It always amazes me how people get so up in arms over such things. Sometimes I think its just plain jealousy.
If we are going get all high and mighty why not bring up someone Cartier Bresson, decisive moment my arse. Take the image of that fella jumping over the puddle shot, turns out they found a contact sheet with several attempts at the jump... He's a big fat lier, but who would dare say it after all these years..
We all lie about our work, myself included. I don't manipulate my images digitally and would say so if I did, but I didn't stand in quicksand for an hour to do that certain shot as I may of said, it was really thirty minutes.. (although it felt like longer)..

HICKSVILLE...

I have seen the odd Samuel Hicks image around from his 'On the way' series (above) and although nothing groundbreaking they are rather nice. I am reminded of what a joy America is to photograph, the freedom, the landscape and the light all add up to a photographers paradise which is why so many images like these (including my own) are in circulation today.

I will always feel the pull of the American landscape and look forward to the day when I return regardless of how many have photographed the West. Theres a feeling you get when shooting in the late afternoon of say somewhere like California that you just don't get anywhere else. But enough about me, Mr Hicks is showing here in Brighton which may be an excuse to walk along the sea front with the salty wind in your hair and stuff your face with ice cream.

Thanks for the link Bro.

Some photographers go out and want to make beautiful photographs. I think that puts the cart before the horse. Good photographs are the by-product of some other exploration, or some other intention. If I’m following through on those explorations and intentions, I can’t help but ultimately create what you’re referring to as the arc of an oeuvre — there’s nothing else, in fact, that I can do.

Stephen Shore.

BJP Wednesday and an idiot..

Sitting in the shade avoiding the burn and while enjoying a froffy coffee at my local cafe, I surveyed my surroundings and noted a young chap on the table across from me reading a copy of baby monthly (or something like it). Not such a bizaar thing to behold you may say, but then after finishing off his cappuccino he walked over to his car, removed a baby from the back seat, put the baby on the front seat, opened the windows and drove off.
After trying to mop up the coffee stains from my shirt and almost chocking on my danish pastry I sat bewildered at probably the most stupid thing I have ever seen. I wouldn't do that with my dog, or even a cat or a bloody rat...
Why did I post this on the B, well I was reading this weeks BJP at the time.