InCamera Arts

In my last post I dropped a line about the fact I've been attending a little photography group here in Manchester called 'InCamera Arts'. Run by the lovely Jenn Brookes it's a monthly meet where photographers who enjoy the analogue side of photography can sit round, have a chat and show some work if they like. The first two meetings I attended had guest speakers, Michelle Waters and Jonathan Stead. Both different artists working on film and both very inspiring in their individual ways. Tonight was a little quieter with a smaller group than I've seen previously but it gave us a chance to show some prints. I think it was a nice way to quietly celebrate the group being a year old. I hope I'll be around to see its 2nd birthday.

Near enough everyone showed some of their work in one way or another. There was one print of Jenn's that I was especially fond of which I hope she doesn't mind me sharing here. If you click on the photo you'll go through to her Flickr where she has tons of great photographs. I know there's pretty much no way of controlling how the purposely done destruction to the film turns out but the way the green is almost in line with the buildings and the bridge just looks stunning.

There was also this picture by Julian Dyer (check out his website too for more of his work) which I think looks fantastically timeless. He shot it on a Polaroid Land Camera a few months back but given the subject and the camera used if you gave this shot a few years to deteriorate a little then I doubt you'd be able to date it at all. How great is that?

And as for me, well excess is usually my thing so I took along a whopping 18 prints to show. They were little 5x7s to be fair. Considering I don't think I shoot in any particular style or have any kind of distinct signature to my photography, when I was looking for stuff to print I did notice from my recent Barcelona trip that I do have a fondness for shooting into the light. And within the Barcelona shots alone I found these 18 shots that all near enough come from shooting into the light.

I've never really reflected on my photographs in this way and it's funny to see that there is something of a trend within my shots. It's been good for me to pull them up in this way really and now I have a nice little collection with this theme. It'll be interesting to see what comes of it in future. Whether I'll find myself gathering a whole heap of these shooting into the light shots. I must say just having some physical prints makes for a nice change. I've been slowing gathering a collection of shots to get printed out so I can have some up around my room as miniature LomoWalls. Will definitely have to get that organised and begin the printing process soon. I've also been considering making a book from the shots I took in Barcelona, I really like the idea of the best being collected together in such a way and presented in a format which people can flick through. It seems a little more refined in comparison to your bog standard photo album.

Anyways, that's all I have to say for now. The next 'InCamera Arts' is in December and we'll be looking at cameraless photography which is pretty exciting. Going to have to get some research done for that one!

Laters,

P x

Haunting Inspiration

This post contains nudity therefore comes with a NSFW warning.

Werriston has previously been featured on my blog before as part of Lomo Wednesday but he's getting another mention because he's given me a bit of renewed inspiration. I was casually checking my notifications on the Lomography website and noseying at the new albums that had been published by various other users when I spotted these photos by werriston.

With an album name like more ghosts it leads one to believe that there has been a prior album of these ghostly images. So I checked out his other albums until I found the right one, ghosts of Fitzroy.

Sigh I do love these. Of the top colour photographs I find that middle bathtub one to be especially eerie, there's a disturbing clinical feeling to that type of tiled bathtub surroundings and the rosary cross necklace in the hand gives it that religious sacrifice feel. The clasping hands in black & white hints towards lost love and it's almost backed up by that shower photograph as if they're losing their sense of self now. I'd definitely have those as prints in my home if I could.

Funny thing is that they're so similar to an idea I had for a project when I was at college. My project fell apart when I couldn't get the models to shoot with but it's been there in the back of my mind as something to finish one day. And these shots have just reminded me of that. Done as double exposures I presume one shot is taken without the model then a second shot is taken with the model. It seems so incredibly simple and I really want to try it. I'm still without models but I might give it a try with some still life stuff just to see how it works out. And then when I'm in the presence of willing models I'll give it another try. Need to buy myself a tripod to ensure precision of course but I really want to give this a go. Might be one to try when I put the 120 back on my Diana F+ just for that beautiful square framing. Finishing my project idea would be a great mini accomplishment for me as well.

What do you folks think anyways? Do you like these shots and this idea in general? Have you already tried something similar? (Do share if you have!) Got any tips I should keep in mind when attempting this? Let me know!

Laters,

P x

Artsy Fartsy Friday

(I don't know if this will become a regular thing, this sharing of someone else's art but I did say this blog would be a mixed bag. And currently I'm on this little art kick and it feels right to share it.)

I'll say it again Tumblr is the greatest for finding inspiration. Personally I can't draw, I'm outrageously awful at it so I'm forever envious of anyone who can draw in any fashion. I do find myself following more and more Tumblrs that inspire me in mediums other than photography. One of my favourite art styles comes from the practitioner who practices their chosen medium pretty much every day alongside doing their bigger projects. And what I really like is artists who illustrate a daily thought or occurrence as a form of visual diary.

An example of this is Lizzy Stewart. I'd seen a couple of her drawings on Tumblr and liked/reblogged them as I felt that they represented a thought or feeling I'd had at some point. These came from Lizzy Stewart Diary and I've put some of my favourites below.

She has a great website which features her bigger projects - About Today. Some of my favourites from there include;- Bookcovers, Paintings That I Did Not Paint (I'd love a copy of this zine) and Living Things. She even has an Etsy shop selling some of her work, my chosen piece would be the Evening giclee print if you're asking.

I hope you like these as much as I do. I know I'll be following Lizzy's work from here on out and I'm excited to see what else she produces. Unsurprisingly she also had a blog which I'm now following - Things I Like About Today.

Laters,

P x