eyematter - wordage

Looking at...

2005-12-26T19:24:00.000Z

Over at Orbit 1 this week, John Perkison is giving everyone a chance to post links to some of the best photoblog output of the year. So if you've spotted something particularly special and it fulls into one of the week's categories, why not share it with us?

New Year's Resolutions

2005-12-26T18:56:00.000Z

I guess one of my New Year's resolutions should be to try and keep this blog going as an accompaniment to the photoblog.

I'd like to share more of my thoughts about the photos I'm taking and the photos I'd like to take.

Another New Year's resolution is to enhance my knowledge of photography in general - in particular through broadening my photographic horizons by learning about the work of other photographers. With this in mind, if anyone has any photographic art book recommendations I'd be delighted to hear from you.

Election 2005

2005-05-05T03:18:00.000Z

It's been a while since I posted on wordage - my ongoing computer hassles have meant I've been concentrating my uptime on eyematter itself.

However, as we've got the small matter of a General Election tomorrow I thought it would be an opportunity to break the silence.

Before the campaign got underway, the general feeling was that it was going to be a pretty dull and unedifying affair - and so it's proved to be. The main three parties are barely discernable from each other on basic economic matters - and indeed in other areas as well - and as a consequence the 'debate' quickly descended into personal attacks and negative scaremongering.

Although the campaign itself has lived down to expectations, I feel this could actually be an intriguing election. Labour may have a relatively healthy lead in the polls, and will take comfort from the fact that, historically, polls tend to underestimate the support for the governing party. However, the 'trust' issue and the general level of dissatisfaction with the Blair government could play out in an intriguing fashion in the marginals. Whilst I suspect that the Labour government will be returned with a 50 to 75 seat majority, there will be some very interesting stories within the overall result.

If Labour is returned then how long will Blair last as PM? This campaign has clearly shown his worth as a political asset has plummeted, whereas Gordon Brown's stock has climbed still further. Brown's public loyalty to his beleagured colleague during the campaign has served to enhance his own standing, whilst undermining Blair's by comparison. It's all working out rather nicely for Gordon, who could turn out to be the biggest winner of this election.

Some more interesting photography

2005-02-27T10:59:00.000Z

An interesting discussion and some interesting links emerged from this posting:

http://mute.rigent.com/index.php?ladat=2005-02-20

Particularly interesting was this link to the portfolios of a large number of contemporary Finnish photographers:

http://taik.homeip.net/artists/index.lasso

I'm struck by the technical quality that's evident but, more importantly, by the simple intensity of the compositions.

Thank goodness for the web. Without it, gaining access to inspirational sources of material would be next to impossible. Photoblogging - and the web in general - must be creating a whole generation of enthusiasts that would otherwise not have discovered photography.

Oh, and this interview and gallery of Greg Miller's work is well worth a look:

http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0408/miller_intro.html

Looking at...

2005-02-24T22:01:00.000Z

I feel a bit embarrassed that I haven't posted more often.

Here are some more highlights from other photoblogs:

http://chromogenic.net/archives/000794.html

http://dubliner.it/viewfinder/index.php?picreq=274

http://www.eggplantwmayo.com/pages/swimmeet.htm

http://www.chromasia.com/iblog/archives/0502232055_clean.php

Looking at...

2005-02-05T10:08:00.000Z

One of the things I wanted to do with 'wordage' was to highlight other interesting photolog posts. I've been a little remiss with that, so here are some recent entries I've enjoyed:

http://vagrantly.com/05/01/fabric_retailer_in_rasht_bazaar.php

http://www.orbit1.com/dailyphotos.aspx?photoid=935&plink=true

http://www.deceptivemedia.co.uk/default.asp?dtstamp=24/01/2005%2000:01:00&entry=previous

http://www.intransient.com/photojournal/002114.html

http://zoomcollective.com/index.php?showimage=113

http://www.worksongs.com/move/archives/2005/02/miserable_toget_3.php

http://photos.houserdesign.com/img/1107379559

There's a great deal of good stuff out there!

First film results

2005-01-31T23:40:00.000Z

I got my first film negatives developed from the trip to Brighton a couple of days ago.

Overall I'm very pleased. The camera and lens combo performed really well - the 28-135 IS USM is the perfect lens for a full frame camera. And yes, when I took my first shot I instinctively checked the back of the camera for a review - and it felt kind of worrying that I was just going to have to trust the exposure.

I got through two rolls of colour and one set of black and white film. The colour results are pleasing, but it's the black and white photos that I find rather compelling. Black and white seems to emphasise the detail so much more.

There are two downsides. First, I don't have my own film scanner. My Dad has an old Epson film scanner that I can use, but it's less than convenient and I suspect the quality of the results won't be top notch. Second is the cost - at 20p per shot, film purchase and processing works out pretty expensive.

I'm going to enjoy playing around with film, but I think digital is likely to remain my main format.

The World of Film

2005-01-21T23:59:00.000Z

A couple of weeks back I was lucky enough to receive a Canon EOS 55 from my parents as an early birthday present. I'd been meaning to get myself a film SLR to explore the possibilities of film, and so when my Dad spotted this particular camera at a local secondhand dealers he asked me if I was interested. It was in mint condition... how could I refuse!?

I'm particularly interested in black and white film - specifically for the purposes of urban street and architectural photography.

I haven't had the chance to shoot with the camera yet, but tomorrow I plan to remedy that with a trip to Brighton. I'm really looking forward to it. If I manage some half decent results I'll be posting them to eyematter - watch that space...

Patriots!

2005-01-17T02:06:00.000Z

As a longtime Patriots fan I was really looking forward to the game against the Colts but, like most, I was somewhat nervous about the threat of Manning and the high powered passing game.

I shouldn't have worried.

This bunch of players continue to surprise and impress.

The game next week against the Steelers should be a classic. If New England can make it three Superbowls out of four, then (and I don't know much about the history of the game) they should surely go down as one of the best - perhaps even THE BEST - team to play the game?

I've been looking at...

2005-01-13T01:48:00.000Z

http://www.tintil.co.uk/photography/2005/01/238.html

http://www.orbit1.com/dailyphotos.aspx?a=prev&pid=906

Night Photography - Orbit 1

2005-01-13T01:34:00.000Z

John Perkinson of Orbit 1 has started an excellent series of articles on night photography. Starting here:

Night Work #1

Much kudos to him for taking the time and effort to produce such a useful set of tutorials.

The good stuff

2005-01-11T23:37:00.000Z

One of the things I'll be doing on wordage is posting links to some of the particularly good or interesting photos I've come across.

Here are three to be going on with:

www.absenter.org/2005/01/05/reflect/

www.dockwalker.com/article/47/pipers-lagoon

www.bldg13.com/photos/index.php?showimage=75

eyematter - wordage

2005-01-11T22:43:00.000Z

The original version of eyematter, created some twenty months ago now, was a mixture of words and photos.

Eventually I decided that mixing words and photos wasn't the way I wanted to go - the photos were of primary importance and the format of the original eyematter compromised the presentation of the photos. Hence the improved, photocentric, eyematter v2.

However, I've still got stuff I want to get off my chest and thoughts I want to share. So, eyematter - wordage is born. wordage will primarily be about eyematter and photography in general, but will also drift into sport and politics - and indeed whatever else takes my fancy. Hopefully it will emerge as a worthwhile edition to eyematter. Comments and dialogue are always welcome.