Rose and the apprentice

Melody Hossaini, star of the 2011 series of the Apprentice was in Long Sutton at the weekend; acting in the latest film by the Holbeach Film Company; Forever Your Rose.

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https://www.facebook.com/ForeverYrRose/

It was 'date night' In a local cafe.

The main character and the apprentice star were on a date and falling madly for each other until rudely interrupted.

Disgruntled girlfriend

Photography for the day; was documentary, looking for 'different' angles and framings.

One of my favourite photos of the day. i Just wait for opportunities like these.

For those who think staring in a film is glamorous, i can assure its not. Sat in a hot cafe on a Sunday afternoon with no air con or fan and a closed door to keep the noise out is not pleasant. Chill out breaks were welcomed.

Despite the temperature, spirits were high and good fun was to be had, with people sharing anecdotes, especially Steph and Melody; the 2 resident celebrities.

Food was supplied was dinner and me for one loves sandwiches, so thanks for that.

The X-Pro 1, continues to be the camera of choice for silent, conspicuous activities; a classic.

For those of you that wonder, Melody is a very good natured polite, approachable person who is interested in these projects that give people a stepping stone to better things. Thanks for being my muse for the day.

Finding the light in Wisbech

I'd like to start with; i know where the Light cinema is in Wisbech. 

Thats not the light i was looking for.

Light and shadows. 

The golden light in the evening and the shadows that stretch along the pavement creating abstract shapes; dividing expanses of space with lines.

Photography is described by Wikipedia as;

Photography is the science, art and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film.

So whenever you have a camera in your hand your chasing the light, i do it intentionally.

Said many times, Wisbech is a great place for street photography. 

A quick drive after work on a friday evening, racing the sun, ideas in my mind, please don't turn cloudy.

 I'm stood in my usual places waiting for people to walk out of the shadow.

Sometimes they run from the shadow.

Sometimes they stare into the darkness.

Detritus.

The divine light?

Walking away.

The working man.

The window.

The window pt 2

Do I or don't I?

Challenge, challenge, challenge.

I'd be lying if i said i didn't think about the word challenge at leat once every day.

I keep using the words on these blog posts, on my Facebook and Instagram pages, twitter, you name it.

Challenge is my buzz word and it has been for some time.

I have a freezer drawer full of films, ranging from 35mm Agfa Vista ISO 200 from Poundland to 120/medium format from the 1970's. All nice and cold to prolong the life a little more, waiting for me to use it.

Problem No. 1; Not really a problem, more of a question. Why shoot film when i have some amazing digital cameras? i know it doesn't make sense, its just a desire.

Problem No. 2; Will it come out alright?  Not the exposure, more, will the shop/lab develop it correctly, how do they know what i was feeling when i took the shot?

Problem No. 3; How to view my images? the traditional method was to print, i like prints but i want to share too. After all we are now the internet generation, travellers on the information super highway, everyone loves a 'like'.
The scans of previous films have left me wanting more, more quality, more information, bigger files. They lack sharpness, they're usually quite soft and muddy.

Problem No.4; The cost. Oh the cost. Pay to develop, pay for prints, pay for scans of the images so you can share them. The better the quality, the pricier the service.


So, the answer to many of my problems is home development. Yeah i can do that, i have lists of the equipment i need and have various kits saved in my eBay watch list. I figure it will cost me £100 to get set up.

The practical experiment will be enjoyable I'm sure once the paranoia and stress of getting it wrong subsides.

It does leave me with the biggest problem from above though; viewing the images and allowing others to see them too.
Do i shop scan?

Do I buy a flatbed scanner? the more you spend the better it is.

Do I buy a 'budget' film scanner, again it seems the more money spent the better the scan.

Do I scan with what I already have to hand; another camera.

Yes it's a little odd. Yes it almost defeats the object; Why shoot film if having to then digitise via a digital camera? 

It works though;

Tripod.

DSLR.

Macro Lens.

A light to illuminate the negative; iPad.

Film holders; pens.

With a piece of white plastic bag and the glass from a picture frame to block the pixels from the iPad showing through.

Crude!

Challenge.

Wisbech Urbex, Despair

Urban exploring is something i don't do often anymore.

I've been focusing on weddings, photoshoots and street photography.

A little frustrated with myself too, I've not enjoyed exploring like i have have in the past. Perhaps i expect too much, or I'm lacking the creativity too make something out of nothing.

I'll continue to explore when the opportunity arises, perhaps enjoying more what i see with my eyes rather than what i see through a camera. 

As a total opposite from what i written in the above sentences, what i did enjoy about this explore was that it wasn't alone....ive made a new friend.

The internet, it's made the world grow inwards towards the self, for once though its been used to meet new people. 

Through an instagram follow I met up with Jack Smyth, a photographer from March, Cambridgeshire. Sunday morning, 8am, Wisbech, the site; an empty factory/warehouse that has been stripped and left abandoned.

Access was easy enough.

The site comprises of a large warehouse building which is segregated into 4/5 separate rooms that resemble coldstores or chillers, an office section and a number of smaller chiller units.

Inside, wiring has been dismantled and sold for scrap, all thats left is a pile of copper-less wire and a few desks, with a couple of extras thrown in for good measure. 

Guard cat

Work free office

From what?

Desperate place for a desperate measure

The waters been left on and so theres pools of water throughout.
Trusty waterproof boots.

Danger.

Bazaar things happen

Darkness

This was the most interesting thing found for me until moments later.

Dizzying heights

The main building is vast; a black hole.

I had to shoot something to make use of having a companion.
What can you do when theres harsh light and deep shadows, use both and create a silhouette.

A sobering thought to end with:

Imagine being homeless.

Alone.

Cold.

Where would you go?

This is a stark reality, that may never cross your mind, for some though they live this despair everyday.

I felt awkward and ashamed for invading this persons space.

Everyone's got their own demons.
Some physical, some mental.

Its easy to judge but whats their story?

Taking Doug home

It was one of the hardest things I've ever done.

How do you tell someone something so life changing?

I sat him down, made sure he was comfortable and came out with it;

"Doug, im not your real dad. And Laura, she's not your real mum"

"your parents were too young and had 6 other children to look after"
"they sold you to us"

"no" "no" "its not like that'

"Doug"

"your a dog"

"it happens all the time"

He barked a bit, chased his tail, wee'd in the garden and then he was happy agin.

Not so bad after all, i thought it was going to scar him for life.

We took Doug to meet his real parents; Willow and Bubba. Both of Jug breed.

I wonder if a dog knows after 6 months of being part that the dog thats just walked through the door is their son or the 2 dog's in front are their parents?

It was a great half hour spent, watching the 3 dog's run around the garden, chasing each other. it made for some great comical images.

and the chase was on

He'd only been there a few minutes and already they were giving him a grilling

Willow loves to cool off in the water

Lol, what does this look like?

Extreme close up

Face off

Another grilling from his dad

I grew up with dogs around me; German Shepherds, i'd previously never been a small dog person but having a small dog is great, you can take them anywhere and everywhere because they take up no room.

However don't go thinking that a small dog has no personality, Doug is a legend! He's randy, stubborn, intelligent, loyal, smelly; he's always passing wind, energetic, he's a real ladies man.
This actually sounds like someone i know!?

To the greatest dog ever..........Big Doug!

Now I've got to go hoover the car because he's malting and there's hair everywhere.