DOCUMENTING PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY DO

One thing that occurs to me is to take notes. Write things down: details, names, thoughts, quotes etc.

When the films are processed, go back to the notes and write the relevant film number down alongside them. This will begin to make the final photographs much more valuable as documents as I will have relevant written observations to go with the visual.

Remember that the frame that tells the story or that ‘hits the nail on the head’ could be anywhere on any roll of film. The benefit of note-taking is that once you marry-up the notes with the storytelling image – you have a document.

This is a more fruitful way of working than finding the ‘great photographs’ and then trying to think of something to say about them.

All of this is a new approach for me and I’m very excited by it.

Whatever it takes I suppose.

 

REMEMBRANCE DAY additional photograph

Forgot this one. This man (whose rank I don’t have written down – one reason why I have shelved any ambitions to be a hard-news photojournalist) was leading the day in a loud voice.

 

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY, Bridport 2009

I went out to take some photographs of our local remembrance parade and ceremony today. I don’t really have any connection with anyone in the armed forces but I’m always humbled by the sight of a crowd of people in silence. I find myself thinking of anyone who’s no longer here.

MARK PONSFORD

west bay, originally uploaded by manuptheroad.

 

I’m a BIG fan of the photography of Mark Ponsford.
They’re the sort of photographs that I never really see through my camera. Mark often details the cameras and film used and it’s a facinating read (for those nerdy enough to enjoy that sort of thing): often out-of-date film; polaroid cameras; damaged cameras. But over and above all this is the fact that he just sees things in a certain way.
Have a look.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

NEW EXHIBITION at the Phoenix Bakery

There’s a new set of prints just up in the café at the Phoenix Bakery in Weymouth.

If you’re anywhere even near Weymouth, you owe it to yourself to try some of the good food that Aidan Chapman makes there. And, no, I’m not on commission.

If you’re too far away (or just too lazy), you can have a look at some of the photographs as ‘electronic versions’ here.

My favourite songwriters? Well, let’s see: Paul McCartney; Paddy McAloon; Roddy Frame; Neil Finn… you know. I was brought up on Radio 2.

Elijah and Ava portraits

Still not really finished an edit but I like these.

E & H

At the suggestion of Tara Wickham, head of photography at Beaminster senior school, I am developing my negatives for much longer. It has taken me the best part of 20 years to work this out. This is the great thing about photography: there’s always something you can improve and there are always things to learn.

Elijah and Ava Wolf revisited

Did the shoot of Elijah and Ava today. They’re just putting the finishing touches to their new single and I’m here to get the ball rolling on some artwork.

The edit is ‘in-progress’ but this one popped out of the pile immediately.

I shall post a selection in due course.

I also shot some black & white in a ‘greasy spoon’ café in Bridport. I shot them after we’d finished our fry-up though. Priorities.

Marshwood Vale

As of this month (October 2009) (and if you’re anywhere near west Dorset) you can get hold of a free ‘print’ of my portrait of George Wright (you never know) in the shape of a copy of this month’s ‘Marshwood Vale magazine‘.

How nice.