35mm nightime shot, canal path, Nottingham.
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.
Imaging Workflow Workshops
My day job is being a professional retoucher. I have been working on other peoples images for over 35 years now, starting off in the colour darkrooms at Tony Stone Photolibrary (Later Getty Images) before setting up the first electronic imaging department there in 1991.
Most of my clients these days are big names in Photography or organisations such as the BBC and The Natural History Museum where I work on major projects such as the David Attenborough documentaries or Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
I have ran workshops around the Country but that is a little difficult at the moment so I have started offering remote workshops via screen sharing, zoom etc. These two hour 1:1 sessions are ideal for someone who would like a little bit of guidance with images / sotware / workflow etc. Each session is tailored exactly to your needs.
You can purchase this special gift for yourself or someone you know here: https://copyrightimage.com/product/portfolio-and-workflow-review
Political journey
In the Summer of 1990 I travelled to Poland with Adam. We spent some time with Adams dad Boleslaw Sulik who was making a documentary for the BBC on the political movements there (a hot subject at the time).
The film crew were good company but with me being ignorant of Polish politics did not know who is being interviewed here, questions have been asked on Facebook so come back for more info later!
Joining the crew to review the tapes later I remember being very impressed with the clarity of the video they recorded (though of course it was just standard definition).
In retrospect I realise I missed the bigger story of the political movements forming around the race to power and how it would effect the lives of millions of people. In 2021 we find Poland under the influence of right wing thinking that like communism before it sees a totalitarian way forward as the answer, how ironic.