Bernard in the kitchen at the first year student accomodation in Bayham street. I took the religious iconography as ironic but now I wonder.
Trent Polytechnic
Disparate objects
Trent Polytechnic photo course project: Disparate Objects. Take in approx 1981 age when done: 20
We were encouraged on the courses to complete set tasks, one of the tasks was to photograph two seemingly unrelated objects together.
I cannot remember where I came up with the idea of the safety pin and record for my “disparate objects”, like most ideas they just seem to pop into existence.
I cannot remember how I warped the record, perhaps I used the oven in the student accommodation?
In 1976/7 I was in my mid teens and ripe for being in the punk generation, some of my classmates were punks. I was more likely to be listening to the New Seekers at the time.
I like the idea of a “safety” pin destroying the “music” though of course we all know it was home taping that actually killed music.
Until now I thought my conceptual photography started at my time at Tony Stone Images but clearly, thanks to the tutors at Trent Polytechnic it started here.
This was shot on a 5×4 studio camera using tungsten lights and FP4 black and white negative film.
The kiss
From the nightlife project, Trent Polytechnic, Nottingham. Approx 1982.
Electric Typewritting
Newark Technical College approx 1982. Learning for the future (Im sure they found transitioning from electric to electronic easy enough?)
Ian Holm
So sorry to hear of Ian Holms death today. A pretty good innings at 88 though.
I was fortunate enough to meet Ian Holm when he played Lech Wałęsa at Granada studios Manchester in 1981. I was there with Adam, a fellow photo student at Trent Polytechnic who was the son of the writer Boleslaw Sulik. He had written “Strike! the story of Solidarity”, the movement that eventually saw the collapse of Soviet control of Poland.
What I remember most was his good grace; he was kind to me, a young stranger who took photographs of him as he tried to relax and focus in the breaks between filming scenes. We had a short chat about photography as it was also an interest of his wife.
I was struck that this humble man was completely grounded as he took center stage in depicting the story of the Polish freedom movement. A real pleasure to meet an extraordinary man.
In this photo Ian is talking to the writer Boleslaw.
Pentax K1000 camera, 50mm f2 lens, Ilford HP5 film rated at 400ASA.
Unknown department
Three people assist each other in the search for knowledge.
Part of my Second Year Documentary project covering the courses at Newark College. 1981-2.
Ilford FP4 120 film. Yashicamat 124G.
On Photography
Photography is a wonderful hobby. it spins you in new directions and makes the blood flow. Kneeling down on the path to get a better angle – I hope he also got the shot he wanted.
Student Accommodation Nottingham 1981/2
Second year house share in Lees Hill Road, Sneinton, Nottingham.
Here across 3 frames of 6×6 colour negatives is one of my co-housemates as she takes her turn to clean the kitchen.
Pretty basic facilities and very cold in the winter but the landlord was a nice guy and the rent was reasonable (from memory £8 per week).
The third housemate was a little more particular about cleanliness than I was and I once found a coin resting in the grill cover housing – a test to see I had dissembled the cooker to clean it when it was my turn…