People watching...

One of the great things I love about central London is the freedom you get to take street photographs. These are fascinating subjects and I could spend hours just wondering around capturing the small moments of people. This was even more so as I had spent quite a while just looking at the massive canvases in the National. They were also populated with all sorts of people just milling around. I found a certain connection whilst in the throngs outside - the ordinariness of the people just going about their business is what really attracts me. It is not the individual but rather the collective that makes the photograph. Well that is what I think. Whether others have the same feeling is another matter entirely.

Not quite as planned...

Well I am tired. I walked around 7 1/2 miles around central London and my feet are telling me that they need a rest. Over the next day or so I can reflect on the day and then come up with a more honest assessment. As I predicted yesterday things didn't quite go to plan - isn't always the case??

London baby yeah...

So I am off to London tomorrow for a mooch around the galleries, make a few images and generally have a good time. Originally it was planned to be a training day with the RPS at Kew Gardens. However, this was cancelled and as the train tickets were non refundable I could either take a hit on the train fare or have a day in London. Needless to say I choose the latter.

So what is the plan of action? Well two exhibitions I am definitely going to see are:

The MA Photojournalist show at the University of Westminster;

The second is going to be a real pleasure. Nick Brandt's new exhibition of east African wildlife at the Atlas Gallery. I have been a huge fan of Brandt's work for a while now. He produces sublime wildlife photographs that are master pieces. If ever get the chance to see his work you will know what I mean (click on the link to the Atlas gallery and you will get a wonderful taste of Brandt's work).

After this I intend to go over the National Gallery and spend some time working on my research project about wildlife photography. Now it might seem strange to go to a gallery full of paintings when I am interested in researching a photographic topic. I am interested in seeing how fauna was depicted before the advent of photography. I spent some time doing this at Wolverhampton art gallery last week and the results were fascinating.

After this? Well I hope to get down to Tate Modern. I have never been there and it is somewhere I have really wanted to visit.

Well that seems like a plan. I can guarantee I won't stick to it.

Going through the back catalogue

Palace of Westminster

Having sorted out the computer problems I had over the past few weeks I had to clear out a load of old files on the now defunct hard drive.  I came across a whole series of images dating back to 2005/6.  Now I think already have these in my system but looking at them again inspired me to work on the images again to produce a series of new photographs.  The interesting thing for me is how my view/style has changed over the past four years.  I have clearly been influenced greatly by other photographers over that period and I think it shows a significant amount of development.

London Eye

Canary Wharf

Walking Walking Walking and Titian

Diana and Actaeon - Titian 

- by the way I wasn't allowed to take any pictures - only the media were - there's encouraging the ordinary punter!

What an exhausting day!   I have just got back from London having spent most of the day walking around central London.   Oh I managed to see three exhibitions that I planned and two that I didn't.   More on the exhibitions I planned to see another day but as for now the exhibitions I didn't plan.

First Titian.   You maybe away that a very wealthy man who inherited some old masters has decided that he wants cash in on the paintings.   Now I have read an account of why he has to do this and I remember thinking the reasons appeared to be genuine.  However I can't remember what they are.    Anyway, we are in the current situation that he wants some money - £100 million to be precise or else he'll sell the paintings and we'll never see them again.   I am sure that this is being uncharitable but having been in the presence of two of the paints this morning I was underwhelmed.   

Perhaps it was because the National Gallery stuffed them into some dreary room.   Or perhaps when I went there it was full of artistic mafia and media types - apparently the big wigs of the National Gallery had decided that today was the day for a big media push.  Well, unfortunately I got into the room at the same time as these other people and looked and looked at the painting...I just couldn't find it in my heart to like painting.

I know that is some sort of mother load for western painting but I am sorry I didn't find it rewarding.    It should be noted that the lighting in the room was appalling.    You couldn't see the colours properly and the spots they were using kept highlighting the canvass pattern whilst at the same time obliterating  the paint that covered it.   Nonetheless, I can't say I think it is worth spending/giving £100 million pounds to a rich man for the privilege of viewing the paintings.   As my son has pointed out £100 million is the underspend on sciences and I feel that is were the money should go.   

On the train home I read that the Lottery heritage fund has decided to spend one year's budget on this painting.   I just wonder what is going to be lost to save the painting.   However, the Evening Standard did make a very interesting  point.   Over the past 12 months many of the leading lights of the art world have made a fortune from selling their back catalogue.   Perhaps they would like to donate this money to help keep this painting?

There that is better.  What I say won't in anyway change anything but it makes me feel better.

As for the other unintended exhibition I went to well I am sorry to say by the time I got to see it I was exhausted - all that walking you see.   Still it was interesting all the same.  The exhibition was the British sculptors’ drawings: Moore to Gormley at the British Museum.   I didn't stay too long but some of the drawings were breath taking.   They were just that drawings but they show why their creators are considered some of the best artists around.  I particularly liked the Anthony Gormley sketch of the angel of the north.   

Exhibitions

World Press Photo Exhibition

South Bank Centre

Well tomorrow I'm off to London for my six monthly fix of exhibitions.   This time I am hoping to visit the following:

Annie Leibovitz at the National Portrait Gallery

Taylor Wessing Portrait Photographer of the Year - also at the NPG

Landscape Photographer of the Year - National Theatre

World Press Photos - South bank Centre

Babylon - British Museum

If I manage to get around 3 of these I will be happy.

I would love to get out to the Wildlife photographer of the year but this is out at the Natural History museum - I don't think I'll have time or energy to get out there!   

I hope the weather is fine tomorrow as I prefer to walk around central London rather than take the tube.  I always take the train on these days as this also allows me to relax going to and from London.   

Newtwork Count:

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Newtworks: 471k