Stafford Rail Station - needs a bit of editing, 2011

Empty Presence

My Gran walking through the gradens, 2011

My Gran again ahead of me, 2011

The bench they used to sit on, 2011

These are the Dorothy Clyde Gardens on the way to Market Drayton. My gran and grandfather used to visit these gardens every year to see the rhododendrons in flower. Unfourtunately this year my grandfather passed away in January. So this year my gran asked me to accompany her. It was a strange but lovely afternoon. My gran walked in front of me most of the way round which made me feel like she was almost looking for grandfather. What else was strange was that to flowers had not bloomed on the rhododendrons, they were infact late. It was an almost surreal experience as we stopped at the bench they used to sit on for their lunch looking over the pond. Almost as if he was there just not physically???

Climbing!

Colin, 2011

Images I shot for my Most recent exhibition at University. These shots were inspired by me seeking my own personal reflection. I looked for this reflection in a place where i was completely solitary and know one could judge me for who I am and what I stand for. I looked for this place as I have suffered with Tourettes, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Depression. Having a neutral space where i can be unjudged, and myself is a huge part to my life. It allows me to contemplate and make all my emotions and feelings make sense, I gain a huge sense of comfort from this position.

Meeting Simon Norfolk!

Simon Norfolk, London 2011!

The Tate Modern Gallery, London!

So in London i went to meet Simon Norfolk, a photographer famous for not only his images but his opinions and the way in which his photography conveys his thoughts. We chatted about his recent work he produced in kabul. This was inspired by a photographer named John Burke who went to Afghanistan in the 1870's to photograph the Anglo Afghan War. If you want to know more check it out on the Guardians website. After we chatted i was lucky enough to get a portrait of the man himself.

London's Life!

London Underground!

Backstreets of London!

Stairs of the V & A Gallery, London!

So having not blogged for a while due to The amount of university work i have finally managed to get some images up on my blog. Ones i am quite pleased with. I went to London to meet Simon Norfolk at the Tate Modern Gallery and talk with him about his most recent work out in Kabul, Afghanistan. With my 35mm at loaded with some Kodak NC Portra 160 i bought I took the opportunity to shoot London. I have tried to focus my images around London and its daily routine of life. The idea that this is how it is in London and no one bats an eye lid. Its the same shit different day!

patriotism

Documenting the work of british soldiers in afghanistan is something that really means alot to me. the fact that our generation do not undertsand what was given up 70 years ago and what is still been given up now infuriates me. I want to create awareness for people who give up so much for so many.

These are two images that i created form the 2 below. I wanted to create an advert that put across whisky as the drink it is. Its warm, comforting and is seen mainly as an evening drink amongstbuisness men and people who arew illing to pay for a good bottle. I wanted a classy advert yet that was simple and put a clear message across. I warmed to backround and paled a vignette over the corners. i changed the name to Benlivet and i creasesd the shadows. I wanted subtle impact in these shots.

Advertising attempts...

In another module i have been asked to look at advertising a new product from a selection of five contrvertial topics. Those were alcohol, fast food, confectionary, highstreet fashion, and coffee. As you can see i chose alcohol. these are my initial shots to see what i can do compsitionally with the whisky bottle i am going to use, and yes im going to advertise whisky!

My work is all about provoking emotion and feeling. Im ulitmately fuelled by my own feelings and experience. I like my shots to make people feel that raw emotion embedded in every human. I like to make people feel their instinctive feelings in any situation. I cmae across a photographer named Todd Hido. His work i found very moving and the underlying elemnts of his work e.g colour, setting, mood, brought these emotions to the surface of myself.

inspiration beyond belief!!!

So i want to follow documetary photography. Shooting with purpose is key to producing images that portray your opinon and move the viewer. I want to document my grandfather who is terminally ill with cancer. He is a huge inspiration in my life. I want to show him for the great man he is, a husband, a father, a grandfather and a great granfather. He became a knight in 1984 after 2 years previously being awarde  CBE from the queen. it is imporatant that i produces these images in a tatsteful manner. I want some intimacy but only minor i want to the focus to be on himself and who he is. I came across this series by Philip Toledano called Days with my Father. Its an incredibly moving series of images of philip documenting his dying father. well worth a look!

recemntly i have been taking some landscape shots for a module at uni, i have focused my efforts on times of day. I have been up in the morning magic hour just before sunrise and during, the light is fantastic so soft and fresh. You get a real sesne of being the only person in the worls at this time. As well as the morning the evening offers some fantastic light too. Long beams and shadown with golden light. The top image with the bright sun was taken at my local common at about half past four.