MoonWalk 2010

I've been photographing this event for a few years now, initially just the sheer spectacle of it all. After all (and adapting a rather old joke), what could be better than a woman wearing just her bra? Two of course. So when 15,000 or so appear it makes for quite a sight, especially when they are walking a marathon around London in the dead of night.

Another aspect of it all is that quite a few men take part, adding a certain something.

But what it all about is raising money for the fight against breast cancer. Having had one member of my extended family die from this recently, and seeing another friend valiantly fighting it it must be a workwhile cause. See here.

I'm sure we all wish them ultimate triumph over this disease.

And I'm in print again...

I have the happy news that my picture of the LIP Private View was chosen to accompany a review of the event in the current (i.e. December 2009) LIP Magazine. It's a start. For those of you with copies look inside the back cover.

Anyway, it's my contribution to improving the magazine.

Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize

Let's cut to the chase: if you get he chance go and visit this exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. It's good. It's on until 14th February.

I liked the large size of most of the images, they were well printed and sympathetically mounted in the gallery. I particularly liked "Together and Alone", "William" and "Jamie Fobert, Architect", but there's a lot to enjoy.

A visit is a good use of an hour or so, if you ask me.

The Man Who Turned Down The Beatles - Update

I said I'd reserve judgement until I'd seen the LIP show, so what happened?

First up, there were rather more people studying the photos than I have recently experienced. Not enough though, but an increase nonetheless. This has to be a good thing.

The "hot gossip" was, as I predicted, about the selections made and the photographers left out. It wasn't just QB, but seemingly a goodly selection of others too, who were left out.

The selectors did not attend, so I cannot report what they might have said. Instead I shall stick to my earlier comments: much of the content really isn't for me.

You can have a look some photos I took at the event here.

On a more cheery note the trusty Beeb has published something far more to my taste here.

Credit Crunch - a New Victim?

Being an overweight middle aged man brings with it certain medical issues. I have mine. Compared to many people mine are very mild and are pharmacologically resolved by me popping a couple of pills a day.

My GP is actually rather good at looking after me, encouraging me to lose weight (tick), do more exercise (tick), eat a healthier diet (tick) and stay on the medication (oh dear).

The problem: it is increasingly difficult to get the BP tablets that I am prescribed.

I am told by two pharmacists that they are in short supply and the reason is the side-effects of the Credit Crunch. As far as I can make out, the makers are having cash flow problems, which leads to shortages. I suspect that the actual reasons are far more complex than this, but nonetheless having to scour London for the right pills is a pain.

I thought this sort of thing only happened in Third World Countries, not Britain in the 21st Century...

... dawning realisation ...

The Man Who Turned Down The Beatles

This coming Sunday the LIP 21st Annual Exhibition opens with its Private View. It then runs from the 19th until the 31st. See here. All well and good...

Except, of course in my normal status of being "the only one in step", I've never been much of a fan. I don't like many of the images. In the early days when my wife and I went to the Private View we would observe a hundred or so aficiandos chatting away to each other largely ignoring the prints themselves.

Nonetheless some people find merit in this exhibition. Occasionally I too find images I like.

I had low expectations of this year's event, before I was told some astounding news.

It is that Quentin Ball, who is one of the finest photographers I know, who has had solo exhibitions in London in the past year which I have actually attended, has not had any photos selected for the exhibition.

Now let's be fair. I'm going to reserve final judgement until I see the show for myself. However in order for me to predict an outcome, I have to put a peg in the ground.

This is it. How do you turn down a highlight like QB?

Dick Rowe is (in)famous for being the man who turned down The Beatles, with the statement: "Guitar groups are on their way out, Mr. Epstein".

Oh dear - I get the feeling that history is about to repeat itself.

Welcome

Well this is the first entry, so welcome to one and all!