24th Log Books

I am about to embark on a journey through time, as I seek to photograph the Log Books of the 24th Portsmouth Air Scout Group. The collection consists of fifteen handwritten books of varying shapes and sizes that document a significant portion of the history of the Cosham based group, from the 1st August 1946 through until the mid-1980s. This is the largest project I have undertaken to date and as such I estimate that this project will take approximately fifteen months to complete (allowing a seemingly generous one month period for each book due to work / other commitments).

Wish me luck.
Chris

Victorious Festival

As expected, The Feeling were popular on the Saturday.

 

Talented local musician Chris Ricketts performing on the Real Ale Stage.

Maximo Park closed Victorious Festival on the Sunday at the Starboard Arena stage.

Alfie Horne entertained young and old at the Bandstand.

The Bandstand / Buskers Stage.


 

QR Poster

Graduate Show Android App

This is the Graduate Show 2012 app for Android, available on Google Play: http://goo.gl/LNyl0. The exhibition runs from the 14th to the 21st June 2012 at the Sidney Cooper Gallery in Canterbury, Kent.


Graduate Show

Thanks to Michal for the chosen flyer design (above) and also to Shaun Madden for getting the website up and running (below).

Flyer Designs

Self Portrait

Samaritans

The second group photo shoot for the Professional & Community Practice module. Photography by Nick Simmonds, Michal Marko, Kevin Webb and Christopher Seaton. The 'behind the scenes' video of the day:

Thanks to Keiron and Emma for modelling.

Chris

Sunbathing

Snow Time in Kent (cont.)

Snow Time in Kent

A Road Called Home

Badges

Stolen Thoughts

Thinking about possible output for MPP led to the borrowing of RB's tweets and profile image. Apologies to him, but it is for the greater good, so to speak.

Chris

Photography and The Magazine

I am not sure whether it is just me, or whether I have been particularly unlucky, but photography magazine subscriptions are not exactly reliable. I take out a fair few subscriptions over the year, and so keeping track of what should have come and when is a challenge.

• PHOTOICON magazine - After taking out a year's subscription to the magazine back in 2009, I received only one copy before they decided that it was financially impractical to print anymore. Two years on, no more copies have arrived, but their website is still raking in the money from advertisements. Only one word for the people over at PHOTOICON: charlatans.
• Turning Pro magazine - A yearly direct debit taken out in 2010 when the magazine was quarterly, it soon became more expensive with the switch to bi-monthly. Today I discovered that they have stopped printing the magazine as of two months ago, but hadn't bothered to contact me to organise a refund for the money I have already paid. Shocking and appalling behaviour to say the least.
• Amateur Photographer - The recent copy dated 03/12/2011 arrived in a less than perfect manner. The pages had not been cut properly, so they all required careful 'ripping' apart before the magazine could be read. A short email prompted a quick response the following day. "We can confirm that your subscription will be extended by 1 issue by way of compensation." On top of this, I received a letter the other month informing me that I was being switched to their cheapest subscription price. The magazine might use the word amateur in it's title, but they are one of the best companies for treating their subscribers.
• British Journal of Photography - I am not the most organised of people, but about this time last year took it upon myself to sort my magazines and journals into some kind of order. I promptly noticed that my August 2010 copy of BJP was missing, emailed them and was told that another was being dispatched immediately. I am still waiting over a year later for it to arrive. I guess someone must really like the work of Lee Friedlander, featured in the edition in question, and decided to keep the replacement meant for me along with the original copy. Considering how expensive BJP is, I'm still a little gutted about this.
• Ag Photography Journal - The death of Chris Dickie is unfortunate, which is what makes Ag's ability to offer brief (almost bi-monthly) updates via their website all the more remarkable. Ag 64 - The Memorial Issue will be something to treasure, no doubt.

Apologies for the rant. I have decided to trim back on subscriptions in the year coming, both to help out my pocket and to minimise stress. I am also in the process of producing a newspaper for the Dinner A Day series which should be ready around mid-January.

[EDIT / UPDATE]

• I take back all those nice things that I said about Amateur Photographer, shortly after I posted this, they sent me a letter confirming my new quarterly direct debit was to increase to £26.52, which is significantly more than the £18.99 that new subscribers are currently being offered. What price loyalty? £7.53 clearly. Suffice to say, I cancelled my subscription, their loss really.

Chris

Distractions

Rather than doing the work that needs to be done for the Dissertation module, I decided to spend today thinking about marketing and design for the Professional & Community Practice module. One thing led to another and, before I knew what had happened, I was hooked on QR codes.

This QR code is for Izzy's 'in my eyes.' website. I have updated the site today to include some of her digital 'drawings'. She's already better than me!

I am currently mulling over whether to include a QR code on my new business card, in place of my website address. Not sure whether I will end up going with one in my final design, but it has certainly given me food for thought and some welcome distraction from the more pressing matters in hand.

Now I really must get on with the Dissertation work...

Chris

Quarter Past

Louis Daguerre

Happy 224th Birthday Mr Daguerre.

A fitting tribute from Google today to one of the founding figures of photography, a day which might otherwise have passed unnoticed by many. No doubt the above image has also raised a few eyebrows with people, perhaps questioning who this Louis Daguerre even is. It is a sad reflection on the state of photography today that it is difficult to see any direct links back to his work from the digital world we all now inhabit. Hopefully though this will help a few believers remember just how valuable a photograph should be.

Chris

PS, sit very still and say 'cheese'!

American Colour

A series of images shot in the American Colour style. As a way of comparing this method of shooting to that of New Topographics these were shot inside the same house. This juxtaposition will hopefully highlight the contrasting approaches and differing outcomes of these two very different and unique styles.

Chris

Isabelle's Photography

A temporary showcase for Isabelle's photography: www.thisisdominic.co.uk

Chris