Sex doesn't always sell

It's a shame that when you watch music videos today that most tend to rely on the sex sells approach to production. This seems to be particularly true of music made with the sole purpose of getting people to move and dance.

Now don't get me wrong there are some very good music videos out there and I as much as the next man don't mind seeing the female form partially clothed on the screen while listening to a bit of music but is it always necessary.

I was quite surprised to find this gem from the summer of 2001. To be honest I had no idea this track was by Planet Funk and if you asked me to tell you what else they produced I would not have the foggiest idea but I do clearly remember this song playing out of car windows in and around the beaches of Devon.

Surprised I hear you say, what is surprising about it. Well for a song that was produced by an Italian dance group for the summer Mediterranean club scene it would seem to have all the ingredients for a testosterone fuelled musical celluloid orgy, but instead chooses to allow the music to do the talking and provides and altogether more artistically biased affair via the medium of contemporary dance. This departure from the norm not being enough it is set in a psychiatric ward with suitably disturbed yet amazingly adept dancers. True brilliance

You may love or hate the song and/or accompanying video but top marks to the production team for not following the crowd and constructing something that was not only brilliant then, but has withstood the test of time so far and is still provoking discussion eleven years on.

Drowsy Beauty ~ Gemer, Slovakia

Drowsy Beauty ~ Gemer, Slovakia, a photo by Martin Sojka on Flickr.

Before meeting my girlfriend I had only ever heard of Slovakia and was completely unaware of its beauty. I think this is a problem we have in the west, We fail to understand the world outside our own window and fear anything that could be slightly different.
The fact of the matter is Slovakia is not so different from the United Kingdom in the sense that it has such a vastly differing landscape. The one thing I would argue is that Slovakia is immensely more beautiful.

I look forward to spending many days with my camera exploring the treasure behind it borders and sharing the wonders that this humble nation keeps quiet.

Love the composition of this shot Martin and the colours are so soothing. So good when a break in the cloud reveals a wonderful sky, makes getting out and about worth while.

Surrounded by Stuff

No inspiration today. I have been sat looking at random images of owls, the moon, women leaning against walls, badly composed pictures of shoes, out of focus pictures of cats. I have tried to see the art inside the shot then realised that I was beginning to be the type of pretentious prat that fills judging panels of art competitions so decided that instead I would take the pictures as they are and leave them to fill the ether. The void must be filled somehow and what better way than with badly made art. A kind of insulation for the soul.

That got me thinking about my imminent move and all the random tat that I still have adorning my home. At what point does an inanimate object stop being just a functional item and take on a value of sentiment?

How can I feel an attachment to a golf score card for instance! It did its job most successfully on the links while myself, my brother and dad were playing and even had the foresight to know that i would need a map to guide me. But my memories of that day are not attached to the spider like scribbles on the inside pages. The logo on the front does not conjure any warm glow of the day, that is all neatly tucked away in my head. A nice brown paper file marked Golf-Tickenham-2005. Inside a hand written transcript of the days conversation, large parts missing but enough sentences to contextualise, a few random photographs of figures playing golf in the morning mist. This all held in a large filling cabinet.

I remember this because I can at any point not because I am holding a piece of card, I could equally have stirred that memory by holding my clubs or talking to my brother. Maybe its time to remove some of this excess baggage because at the end of the day, or in my case at the end of the month that is exactly what it is going to be, excess baggage.

The Labyrinth

The Labyrinth, a photo by TurnipFarmer on Flickr.

Not intentionally sticking with the train theme for this one it just jumped out at me this morning.

This image is mesmerising because if you stare at it long enough you cant tell if the escalator is going up or going down, It actually changed directions on me a few times. Then after all that i decided that in fact it was doing neither and was just a long tunnel going to nowhere and the guy on the left was in fact falling backwards.

Really nice monochromatic photo, there is always more texture and interest in black and white than the hustle and bustle of colour. Kind of apt to have taken that out of a picture of a London Underground station to make it more interesting.

Like this a lot, nice one TurnipFarmer

1986 11-8 33017 Waterloo

1986 11-8 33017 Waterloo, a photo by The Gang of 3 on Flickr.

Found this image this morning while browsing around on Flickr. Waterloo station may not at first be the most inspiring of places to find images that have soul but this just proves that great shots are everywhere.

The reflections really help make this picture along with the typically blue/grey tone to the rest of the shot. I can almost feel how cold it is standing on the platform waiting for the train to stop.

I know trains aren't everyones cup of tea but if your looking for inspiration go somewhere you wouldn't normally, You may be surprise at what you return with at the end of the day.

It has been a long time since I wrote anything here. Partly because the latter stages of my Foundation Degree are underway and partly because when I am in England I feel totally uninspired to write anything of real substance.

I was talking to my girlfriend yesterday about the prospect of getting a BMW GS motorbike at some point in the not so distance future and to my surprise it didn't fall on deaf ears. Not only that but she was actually very excited about the idea too.

Now I'm not expecting to turn into the next Ewan McGregor and disappear on a quick round the world ride but it would be nice to pack up the bike and visit some places at the drop of a hat, and to have someone to share it with is awesome.

Foo Fighters as The Beatles - Rope

This is very much turning into a write whenever I have free time blog which at the moment is not a lot.

Found this today on YouTube and couldn't help but post it. Huge Beatles fan and also a big fan of the Foo Fighters too. Imagine my surprise that this one managed to slip past me.

The Foo Fighters were invited to play the Letterman show, so they did a whole gig afterward. Letterman's studio was the old Ed Sullivan studio that the Beatles played hence the B&W suited theme. Loving the drum kit.

Not only do they sound great live but they know how to put on a show and have fun with it too. Big respect to the Foo's and for doing such a long set/gig for Letterman after his heart op.

Qantas Shadow

Qantas Shadow, a photo by Mark Merton on Flickr.

A truly, inspiring image. I never get bored of this one. It is so unusual to see from this angle and the timing and composition are great also.

The light and sea were perfect in creating texture too.

So much going on it is a feast for the eyes and my love of images.

Thanks Mark.

A short adjustment

Ok I’m back. I took a few days to get my head around this time zone changing idea that countries have going on. Then I had an imminent deadline to meet for today so was struggling with even the process of thought.

At the risk of starting on the icy mist outside which is most boring I was brought to smile today at the news from Las Vegas that there is a $10 million prize for the first person/company to create a working Startrek inspired tricorder. If you are unfamiliar with the name it is the device that “Bones” the doctor uses to scan for illness or injuries. Hats off to the people funding this, I’m sure that anything even resembling the function of the fictional tricorder is many years away but the fact that people will be working on and stumbling on new ideas for healthcare is fantastic. Let’s face it, anything that reduces waiting times and removes the need for the head scratching of the handful of useless GP’s that are dotted around would be greatly welcomed. I’m sorry for those of you that are practicing GP’s but I seem to attract the bottom percentile of the class when choosing a new doctor.

I am currently sat in my local coffee shop drinking a particularly nice vanilla latte. I like sitting in here because it makes me feel like there is a place in the world for everyone. As I listen to snippets of the random conversations around me the world really is an interesting place that passes many people by, me included on most occasions. The eastern European gentleman that seems to be sponsored by Ferrari is particularly loud and jovial this morning and may need one of the newly produced “tricorders” soon as he has a nasty chesty cough going on.

revolutionist

revolutionist, a photo by The real Derryn on Flickr.

There are so many things I like about Derryn's shot.

For a start I can usually be found somewhere around Barnstaple dressed not unlike this, that caught my eye immediately.

The pose is so natural, you could put a street background behind and it would not look out of place and there is so much texture in the shot thanks to the photographers experimentation with off camera flash.

The icing on the cake is that this is also a self portrait. Not an easy venture to position the camera and lighting when the model is behind the viewfinder looking at nothing and then produce this albeit after a little trial and error I'm sure but none the less, a quality job well done.

Ironwork in Barnstaple

Ironwork in Barnstaple , a photo by Bob Small photography. on Flickr.

Not feeling great today. Still not adjusting to the time difference so I'm still on US Eastern time.

Thought I would find something to help get back in the UK swing of things and found this great shot of the town clock and lamp post sculpture in Barnstaple.

Really like the depth of field as the amount of detail on the fish sculpture is fantastic and the morning sun is casting great shadows.

The clock is not lost in the background though and enough detail remains to make it a secondary subject.

Nice one Bob.

I don't mind the weather - i've got scarves and caps and sweaters. I've got longjohns under slacks for blustery days.

i don't mind the weather - i've got scarves and caps and sweaters. I've got longjohns under slacks for blustery days., a photo by Meredith_Farmer on Flickr.

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days. Have been in Planes, Trains and Automobiles back to England.

This shot sums up my return really.

Another of my favourites from Flickr, I love the way the person is peering out of the darkness it actually makes me feel cold. Lighting is great too.

With the coldness of the background there is a warmth in the way the subject is posed. That hat looks cosy too. For the sake of the shot it fits perfectly, pity its not a deeper red as I would have liked it myself.

Thanks for a great image Meredith

Mt. Hehuan

Mt. Hehuan, a photo by Vincent_Ting on Flickr.

I found this image today while browsing around on Flickr.

What and amazing view. I love the fact that however amazing and rare it is when this was being taken there was another guy with a camera there too, Isn't that just typical.
He is a great addition to the shot though and really gives a sense of scale to the landscape.

The clouds look like cotton wool.

Clouds are mean like that, they keep the best stuff for the places you can't usually see. When I last flew to Amsterdam from Bristol the view was amazing above the cloud layer.

Iberia - Airbus A340-642 (EC-JNQ)

Iberia - Airbus A340-642 (EC-JNQ), a photo by Fabster44 on Flickr.

Sometimes the natural conditions are just perfect for taking pictures. This shot could not be set up, the photographer had to be in the right place at the right time.

This really is the beauty of science at its best.

The science of light working in the part of the camera and fluid dynamics, the air and the aeroplane traveing through it. Who says physics is dull, quite possibly the most amazing thing in the world given the right situations.

Enough said.

Feels like Devon

The humidity is gone and there is a cool pinch to the air. It has been raining since I woke up and sitting on the porch as I write there is something vaguely familiar about the greyness and gentle dripping from the roof.

I am heading back to England in a few days and it’s like America is being kind enough to prepare me for the ensuing depression.

I have a new found motivation this time, for a long while I have toyed with the idea of writing. This blog is the spring of what I one day hope will be a sea of literary creativity.

I remember a few years back telling my housemates about ideas for writing a book and the feeling of excitement as I continually wrote and moulded ideas for plots. At the time with no direction, framework or even the faintest idea about how to write the excitement waned and the idea was shelved.

I'm not sure if it is the American ideal of anything being possible with a little hard graft or having my senses shocked to life by the Ringling museum but there is a book inside me now. I haven't a bloody clue what it is about, who the characters are or anything but it’s there and I’m ready to start the process of scratching it out.

At this point I would like to say my deepest, heartfelt sorry to my friends and family who will more than likely suffer a little as I struggle with this task and I hope you will forgive me for being such a complete world-class twunt in the coming months.

I will endeavour to keep you all informed as to how it is going here and maybe even need your help from time to time.

Times Square at Dusk (New York City)

Times Square at Dusk (New York City), a photo by Stuck in Customs on Flickr.

I couldn't help but add another post today, I was sitting on the couch after trying my hand at Jamie Oliver's Marathon Semifreddo recipe and it takes a while to set so I thought I would crack the knuckles and get tapping again. (For youngsters not old enough to remember, Marthon was the name of a Snicker before it was changed to confuse people.)

For those that don't edit their images this shot is an HDR or High Dynamic Range image. It is made of a number of pictures that vary in exposure. The best parts of each make up the final image.
This is best seen here where the detail in the sky and the advertising are clear and vibrant.

There is so much to look at here that I think I find something new every time. The more you look the more it looks like a piece of artwork rather than a photograph.

For those of you that have Photoshop or PS Elements you can give this a go, click on the image and the photographer has a video on his Flickr page, check it out if you like what you see.

Match

Match, a photo by Photomish Dan on Flickr.

This image has been a favourite of mine for some time. Dan is an amazing photographer that has a sickening talent for creative inspiration.

I think this was one of the first images that I ever saw of his when he came to the camera shop where I was working at the time for a job interview, after seeing his portfolio I immediately started playing with close-up lenses and experimenting that evening.

The level of detail in his images is amazing and whenever I try to take macro to the same standard I fail on a grand scale.

When you spend time to look at it you see that nothing has been left to chance. The background, lighting, placement of the match, everything fits and has its place to make an image that grabs your attention.

Well done Dan, you continue to inspire me with your images to this day, keep it up buddy.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year world.

I think as part of a mental clearing out process for this year I am going to give this blog a little purpose as well as a place to house my random thoughts.

I have always been in love with the art of photography and the seemingly endless number of images that can be produced from the simplest of cameras and would like to incorporate this into my daily ramblings.

My intention is for it to be a creative outlet to inspire myself and anyone else who bothers to read this and not to bore people with arty farty crap. Simply a place to share the images I take or find that touch me with the outside world.

I hope this lasts, maybe this time next year we can look back at a collection of images and have something special.

Heres to 2012

Adam.