Youth

Model - Henry T

Aren't we all obsessed with youth?

Inspired by Ms Bush circa 1986.

Who wishes they were Kate?

What is it about an out of focus photograph that makes us more inquisitive? Is it because we are denied certain elements of the classic portrait and this leaves us wanting more. There is always something sinister in things we don't understand. This photograph that I intentionally took out of focus is meant to make us question the character. The completely black background contrasts against the pale skin. The lips look extra red, the whites of the eyes stand out. Vampire-like perhaps?

Time to share with you my favourite photograph.  Taken of my father before I was born, by my mother.  Sometimes a photograph can be a single image designed for the viewer.  Sometimes the photograph can be a shared experience where the photographer is as much part of the image as the person in it.  These are my favourite kind of photographs and this image is the latter.  My father holds her shoes and carries the towel around his neck as she takes the photograph.  Although not really designed for anyone other than themselves to see this photograph means more to me than most.  At the age of 27 I found it in a pile of old papers and was shocked to see how much I resembled my father having always seen the similarities between myself and my mother.  I think we were more similar than I once believed. 

 
 

Rene August

Check out the fabulous work of fashion photographer Rene August.  I assisted her on this shoot.

Toto, I don't think we're in Kensington anymore.

Tuesday 10th February I've taken a stroll to Brick Lane.  There is a new development of apartments being build on Cheshire Street.  I wonder how these new buildings will sit alongside the perfectly degenerated area of Brick Lane.  How long will it take the street artists to leave their tags.

It's a cold, windy day.  I've been deceived by the sunshine.  The light lends itself to the detail of the street art which I begin to photograph.  I detest seeing Banksy's art works captured and sold in markets or cheap souvenir shops, or even worse at auction houses.  There is something pitiful about the way in which it has been photographed and mounted onto a cheap canvas for wholesale consumption.  I'd rather is be left in its natural setting.  At this point I'd like to see myself as a documenter.  To me it seems reasonable to record what has been made.  I'm am not the artist, merely the reporter of these street markings.

It's hardly fair to take credit for somebody else's imagination simply because their format does not allow authorship.  Are we to believe that Patrick is responsible for the image above?  I notice there is a lot of repetition throughout the area.  The image below appears more than once on Brick Lane and the surrounding areas.  It has been created in a few different colours.  I'm drawn to the red one.

Most of the doorways have been claimed by graffiti artists.  My favourite has to be 91 Brick Lane.  Truman Hanbury Buxton & Co, Licensed Common Brewers, Registered Office.  I've no idea if this building still houses Truman & Co (my guess is not).  

I am rather jealous of Jessie.  Is Jessie a boy or a girl?  I'm going to say boy.  I'm jealous that his lover has gone to the trouble of creating a stencil to declare their love. 

Cheshire Street offers me the best quote of my day: "Toto, I don't think we're in Kensington anymore".  There is a certain malice in the air today.  I have already been shouted at whilst taking my shots by somebody clearly not wanting a camera around.  Alarmingly one passer by spoke the words "excuse me" with deep malevolence.  Like the character Gollum from Lord of the Rings, he was pitiful yet evil sounding.  I headed home after my bagel from the infamous 24 hour Brick Lane Bagel shop where the assistants never want you to feel welcome.

Introducing Wesley van Rensburg.  A member of Ice Men in his native South Africa he is currently about to sign to an agency here in the UK.  Watch out for him in 2009.  I have shot with Wesley on numerous occasions and each time he hasn't failed to captivate.  

David in the morning.  If you look closely you can see teardrops as he wakes.

Lola.  

 

Lola is a fictional character created in a hotel room.  Create your own story about her.  All we know is that she's alone in her room.  The steam in the bathroom hides her nudity to give her a certain degree of dignity.  I'm suggesting she has seen recent heartache.

"All I want is a photo in my wallet,  

A small remembrance of something more solid

All I want is a picture of you."

Part of 'Picture This'.  One of my favourite songs by Blondie from 1978.