black eyed angel

this morning…….

2012-02-02T12:43:00.000+01:00

…….I woke up to this view

and someone had their first taste of snow. It's too cold to work in my studio or even spend much time on the computer right now. Lentil soup is bubbling away on the cooker, my ultimate cold weather food.
P.S. What do you think of my new look blog?

2012-01-30T09:51:00.000+01:00

In my other life as a treasure-hunter, I came across a roll of exposed negatives in a charity shop. When I scanned them later I was delighted to find these candid wedding photographs, probably from the late 60s here in Aude. The person taking these, not the official photographer told the true story; the one that actually celebrated that day. The body language and the expressions give so much. I wish I could find the bride and give these back to her.

If you get time to spare today, go and look at the photography of Joanna Pallaris.

thirteen

2012-01-26T10:39:00.000+01:00

Today is exactly thirteen weeks since Luna came, and because thirteen is a good number and I want to celebrate, I have made a list of thirteen things that make up her strange personality (dogality?) quirks:

* Her muzzle is too short for her stupidly large tongue and so it always spills out when she's sleeping, making her look idiotic

* Also when sleeping she lies on her back with her back legs up on the furniture, the wall, Arthur, our legs etc

* Guards the bin and would defend it with her life if needed

* In a staring-down contest, she will attack starting with your nose, then ears and hair. All us girls now have nicely split ends

* The only dog I've ever known that actually does chase (and catch) it's tail. She runs round and round in a circle holding onto it and whining

* Relentlessly winds up the obnoxious and aggressive terrier dog next door while wagging her tail

* licks the guinea pig, the more he squeaks the rougher she gets

* Although she's always frantic at her impending meal she then lies down to eat it, takes her time

* We did an IQ test. She couldn't work out the treat was under the cup, even though Arthur showed her how to do it again and again. She couldn't work out how to get out from under a blanket either. Officially thick

* When I take her for a walk she has to sniff Arthur while he cocks his leg and always gets pee on her head, so I have to wash her face when we get home

* Also while out walking she barks at nothing, straining at lead and yelping at the air

* Steals loo roll off the holder, eats it all including the inside cardboard roll

* Is the 5th dog I've had and is by a long, long way the cuddliest, most affectionate one ever

Yep, she's a good one.

everyday is like sunday

2012-01-23T12:09:00.001+01:00

Southend-On-Sea. Grey skies and a filter over the sun. Faded former glories, quaint and eccentric Englishness…..

Inside my head I am thinking of the line: the coastal town they forgot to close down. In January everything is shut until the season gets in full swing. Bolted doors, padlocked fun parks….

the beauty and the ugliness

…...and some delightful splashes of colour. Not to mention excellent chips with a cup of tea. Hair dangled in it is optional.

***

Some of these pictures were taken with the end of a roll of Fujifilm Superia and some with a roll of Kodak Gold. I have a very strong preference for one over the other. I've whined about Kodak Gold before but decided to give it another try. My friends, never again!
I love you Kodak, I'm so sad about your demise and a life without Portra, Ektar, T-Max and my beloved D-76 developer will be unthinkable, let's hope this guy is right. But you really screwed up when you made Gold. I'm just saying.

for my father

2012-01-19T11:18:00.002+01:00

Do you remember this book I was working on for my Dad, that I said I would share on my return?

I was reluctant to show it before in the unlikely chance he dropped by here…….I have a feeling none of my family stop by actually. (If any of you do, let me know!)

He loved it, by the way…….

It is always of interest to me how other artists work, and for me I find these days I rarely keep an actual sketchbook as such. Oh yes, I collect images that I pin on my studio wall or my computer and sometimes thumbnail out an idea but I prefer to allow pieces to evolve and take on a life of their own. I realise this is probably an appalling inefficient way of working and if it's true that time is money then no wonder I'm that typical struggling artist. But I find that things keep changing constantly because I have no final vision and I have to allow that to flow and unfold as I work. For me the process is the most enjoyable part of creating.
Although I don't keep a traditional sketchbook, I do scrawl notes either in my sketchbook, often as mind maps or larger maps and spider diagrams I can stick on the wall that I can add too. It's not unknown for me to leap out of bed in the night and scribble on one.
Whether you are an artist, photographer, crafter or designer do you have a particular way of working? Do you prefer to keep a sketchbook or go with the flow? Just being nosy but I'd love to know……
Also, I am delighted to be interviewed here about my film photography, so if you want to know how I work in that way too go take a look.

mane of the black shining horse

2012-01-17T10:02:00.000+01:00

the glorious land

2012-01-15T17:54:00.000+01:00

I am back from my short visit to England. It was quite odd after more than 4 years absence from the country I grew up in. Thankfully I am no patriot and have no allegiance to anywhere in particular so that's made it easy to move around. I guess I must have gypsy blood flowing through my veins along with God-knows-what-else. Anywhere I lay my head and all that. But weirdly, there were times when England felt so foreign; the day to day things I take for granted, the daily signposts and triggers, the mundane and the idiosyncrasies of my adopted country are a bigger source of comfort than I realised. I took Milla with me, she was only 7 when we left so for her it was very unfamiliar and rather exciting.
However, spending time with my family as we celebrated Dad's birthday was very special to both of us. It's funny how with your own flesh and blood you can just slot straight back in as if you just saw each other yesterday, sharing silly jokes, arguing about music and generally taking the mickey.
While in London we met up with the beautiful femme chocolat……….

…..swung by St Pauls and Occupy London…...

….went to Tate Modern…….

…..and got somewhat blown away by the sheer scale of Tacita Dean.

all Pentax Spotmatic/Fujifilm 400

2012-01-05T15:15:00.000+01:00

I took the dogs into the garden in crisp, windy sunshine and the defiant roses inspire me to adopt the word "bloom" for my 2012 philosophy. How wonderful it will be to grow and flourish in the coming months, not to mention one of my favourite songs to help me on my way. I will not let the fact that 2012 is not an odd or prime number put me off, besides it's much easier to sign than 2011, so that's a good thing for a start.

So here's a little look at my worktable. In a few days I am taking a short trip to England for my Father's birthday. I have a storybook of his from his childhood, the rather unfortunately named "Gay Company". He probably doesn't even remember I have it, but I am using images and text to make him an accordion book, without destroying the original which is now very tattered and torn.

As you can see, the book is covered in his own little drawings and handwriting, and he had coloured in some of the pictures too. Yes, those are my glasses…….I have had to bow gracefully to short-sightedness when working in detail. Joe tells me they are the same as Le Corbu's, so that's OK then.

This is where I am with it at the moment, I will show you the finished book when I return next week.

sparkles and twinkles, big wheels and carousels

2012-01-03T14:31:00.000+01:00

Carcassonne: Praktica/Fujifilm 400

my year on film part three

2012-01-02T17:02:00.000+01:00

I hope you have enjoyed this review of mine. It was a good exercise for me to do…..I've been prone to rather negative feelings about 2011 and it helped me to focus on the good stuff too. It wasn't all gloom and doom after all, chin up Suzie!

I wish everyone a peaceful, joyful and creative 2012. Sorry for getting slushy, but I thank you so much for coming by my blog in the past year. This blogosphere of ours has been a source of great comfort, help, friendship and laughs for me.

my year on film part two

2011-12-31T10:54:00.000+01:00

my year on film part one

2011-12-30T19:30:00.002+01:00

It has been fun over the past couple of days going back over a year's worth of film photography. I can find it difficult to get personal on here but I wanted to collage some of my favourite photographs from 2011 and a little review of how it's been. And although this was meant to be just for me, I'm putting it out there, eek!
Well, maybe 2012 is the year I'll lighten up.
Part two next…..

2011-12-23T11:02:00.000+01:00

Wishing you all the warmest of wishes for the holidays.
Joyeuses Fêtes!

red in tooth and claw

2011-12-22T10:06:00.000+01:00

It's so easy to forget the creatures we share our homes and lives with, that we love unconditionally are not really so far removed from their wild brothers and sisters. We all adore Luna, she is one of our family and she fits in well. Although there are still many niggling problems we've made enormous progress with her training and I got complacent. A few days ago she escaped from me while we were out walking. This sweet, affectionate, eager-to-please dog managed to kill four chickens, eating one of them in the time it took me to get her back. I was completely devastated. I have no idea how long she had been alone before I found her; maybe several days she scavenged or hunted to survive and that instinct is now hardwired in her brain. The wolf in dog's clothing.

2011-12-20T09:28:00.000+01:00

I love shooting black and white in winter. The shapes are more defined, the outlines more solid and the contrast a little softer. In so many ways I am finding colour doesn't suit my mood right now. My art seems to be guiding me towards neutral and natural tones and I always want to be wearing black or grey.
I have got a huge crush on the film photography on flickr taken in Eastern Europe, there is something about the muted colour, airy atmosphere and the light of the sky. Does anyone have (I'm on a budget here) colour film recommendations before I slip into a monochrome stupor?

Carcassonne/Pentax Spotmatic/Agfa APX100

Friday

2011-12-16T08:53:00.000+01:00

These photos were taken at night in the freezing cold. Me in a big coat with a tripod by the roadside must have looked very odd to the passing drivers. I think it was worth the trouble.
Today I will be picking my man-child up from the train station as he comes home for christmas, and while we wait for him we will drink a vin chaud and then ride the big wheel. I love this time of year.

2011-12-12T16:14:00.001+01:00

Kitsch? Probably. Shamefully nostalgic? Perhaps. Delightful and joyous. Definitely.
But ever since I stopped living with my parents I've wanted a white tree and and mercury glass baubles. I've finally found them all.
I declare Christmas officially open.

books, books, books

2011-12-09T09:37:00.002+01:00

Various things happened recently that ended up with me being invited to exhibit some of my artist's books at the library in the town of Lavelanet. I was given just one week to organise myself; easy enough I thought, the books already exist. But do you sometimes feel that older works sometimes need a bit of a fiddle with? From the time they were originally made to the point I'm at now there have been many new skills learnt, experiences (hmmm) experienced, I've gained a new mac, better scanner, better printer and a studio. So although I was happy with the illustrations, design and content I wanted to tweak them here and there. Big mistake! Got a cold, ran out of printer ink and the right sort of paper and bookbinding thread. Thank you, fate…...
Ah well, got there in the end by the skin of my teeth.

2011-12-04T09:15:00.000+01:00

2011-11-28T11:31:00.002+01:00

…..pink noses, pink walls……

The nose belonging to one mouth that still won't stop eating everything in our house. She even bit through an ethernet cable and my one and only pair of heels the other day. Tips, anyone?

And this gorgeous pink wall in Barcelona came to me from Paula. I love it!

This photograph is one of the latest collaboration images between Monica and I. You can see the rest on our shared blog, 45N61W.

Submissions I did? Accepted. I'm going to be one very busy bee for the next little while, in my little studio. Bliss-o-rama!

Back To The Old House

2011-11-21T09:35:00.001+01:00

August 2011. Praktica PM3/Fujifilm 400

2011-11-15T14:46:00.000+01:00

This morning I received a roll of film from Monica through the post. As part of our ongoing 45N61W project, I have to shoot over the top of her photos…..I won't tell you what the theme is just yet. So I think I may use this Mamiya camera to do it. I found it recently in a junk shop, filthy dirty and piled up with a load of rubbish on top. When I asked the price they only wanted 8 euros for it, so I did my "Oh Mon Dieu, that's far too much" face while thinking "holy crap, holy crap" excitedly. (Same week in another shop in the same town I was told 40 euros for a knackered Fujica. Where's the logic?)

Anyway, I got it home, took it apart, cleaned it and oiled it and replaced the seals and shot a test roll. The original intention had been to sell it on, but I think it's looking like a keeper. Bargain!

On that subject, the last few days have been all about my vintage shop and catching the christmas shoppers. Whilst I love doing it I get a bit pee'd off when it keeps me away too much from making art. But I mustn't complain; there are worst ways to make a living n'est-il pas?

in the works

2011-11-11T12:09:00.001+01:00

Meanwhile, I've been beavering away in my studio this week and still exploring the 'b' ideas; bones, books and bursting.

In between I've been fiddling around with the design of my trilogie vintage shop. Trying to find a typeface that set my heart on fire was not going well, and then I remembered this book belonging to my Dad. He trained as a draughtsman years ago and I have some of his old books. This one is called 'Modern Lettering From A to Z" and was first published in 1932. I am loving these fonts, people!

***

Before I scoot off for the weekend let me just tell you about Claudia. We met in blogland over a film camera and have become good friends since. She has this interview with me over on her blog, A Place For Twiggs. Many thanks Claudia!

expired film

2011-11-09T08:39:00.000+01:00

Recently we spent a day in Toulouse during Printemps de Septembre. One day I may even get round to blogging some of the art; it was a bit disappointing this year though. In the meantime, apart from the top photo these were all taken then. I had a roll of expired Japanese film, Baby was my camera of choice. Now, I'll be honest with you. Sit down. I'm a bit immune to the charms of lomography. There I've said it. And it's not for want of trying. I've had a Smena, a Diana, a Trip and other assorted lo-fi cameras all of which I've ended up selling on after trying them out and left feeling meh. In particular, the photographs in the metro I think how much greater they could have been with decent film in an slr.

Agree/disagree/couldn't give a toss?

hatched

2011-11-03T09:21:00.000+01:00

*** Let me start by saying a big thank you for the kind comments on my last post ***

Moving onwards. My cameras are not getting used quite so much lately as I have been busy, busy, busy working out so many other ideas in my head. Feelings that need to be interpreted, objects that just need to be made, books to be created, small seeds of ideas that I just work through and see where they end up.
I am still enjoying experimenting with paper, gauze and plaster built up in layers and burnt. These little pieces were all literally hatched; moulded on broken eggshells and are seemingly fragile and delicate but let me tell you one rolled off my table and hit the floor. I swore,squeezed my eyes shut, picked it up, blimey no damage! You can see more of them here if you like.

***

Luna update: She has settled in really well and has planted her paws quite firmly under the table. Our house was full and noisy all weekend plus Joe was home (hence the noisy) and she took it all quite happily. First the good news; she's house trained, not a cat chaser on guinea pig eater, has no interest in running away, answers to her name and is learning English super-quick. She can be left and doesn't bark, unlike Arthur who kicks off the minute you're out the front door.

Now the bad news; she's a chewer. Casualties so far include a great pair of vintage shoes, the laundry basket, The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy (how poetic/ironic!) a Graham Greene, the leg of my easel and an ikea lamp. I didn't like the lamp so much and it already had a hole where Joe throw the telly remote at it once so she didn't get told off for that one.

changes

2011-10-29T11:59:00.001+02:00

There have been so many changes in my life recently. Some are too private and/or difficult for me to put out in the wider world. Besides, I've not really been around blog world very much lately and not shooting so many photos either.
But some changes have been pretty good. Workwise I have moved into my new studio space and I have steamed ahead with creating new pieces and have several submissions on the go. Please cross all fingers and toes for me.
I have also finally re-opened my etsy art shop too after months and months haitus while I figured some stuff out. It wasn't right for me to keep my art in trilogie, it needed it's own space. I'm still stocking up in there and will add several more things over the next week or so; sculpture, wall art, books, photography…..
Also this facebook hater is getting on board with the idea of a fb page. If you go and look, you can grab a discount code should you want it.

***

Most exciting is the little lady above. Very late on wednesday night she walked into our house, starving hungry and limping. After a fruitless search for her owner I took her to our vet to check her over and look for a microchip. Nothing doing.
We have called her Luna and she has completely stolen our hearts. Bloody dogs.

Basilique Notre Dame De La Garde

2011-10-22T08:20:00.001+02:00

A few weeks ago, we were helping our Man-child move to Marseille, as he starts his new art student life. Notre Dame De La Garde is an imposing and very beautiful basilica towering over the maddest city in France. Sadly I had already shot my way most of the colour film I had with me by the time we got there, and the morning light was appropriately divine. I kicked myself very hard in the shins. Much as I love black and white film, this time I was a bit peeved to be honest.

God, Shopping and Mr Waits

2011-10-19T13:32:00.003+02:00

All taken in the brocantes and market of Mirepoix during the summer.

The busker in the second to last photo, il chante en yaourt Downtown Train, which would be a good time to mention how brilliant Tom's new record is going to be.

***

Yashica TL Electro/Kodak Portra VC160 & Yashica ME/Ilford Pan 100

Cité Radieuse

2011-10-09T09:08:00.001+02:00

A temple to Modernist living designed by Le Corbusier.

Marseille Sept 11, Pentax Spotmatic.

all that you touch, all that you see

2011-09-19T15:03:00.000+02:00

Sept 1. Praktica/Rollei Retro

repeat & return

2011-09-15T18:30:00.001+02:00

When I got my photographs back from our trip, I was intrigued by the way I had unconsciously been seeking out multiples or repeated forms. Don't you just love it when that happens ~ you shoot a series without even realising it!

Mother Oceania

2011-09-10T11:38:00.000+02:00

Praktica PM3/Rollei Retro 80S

2011-09-03T21:41:00.004+02:00

We have come back home. Yes, we do live close enough to the sea, but there is something about our stretch of coast that is often too developed, often a bit too chichi, too close to home and too damn windy.

We've had one hell of a rollercoaster year so far and we all needed to deep breathe, so off we headed west to the much wilder Atlantic coast for some much needed unplugging. Set in Landaise Forest on the shores of Lac d'Aureilhan, a beautiful place…..

…..and then you walked through a gateway over a bridge…….

……into the most beautiful gardens, bursting with plants, secret pathways and vistas and to our utter delight, coypu that swam to the bridge to be given snacks.

It was just what we all needed; time to reflect, reconnect, renew and revive.

***

Pentax Spotmatic/Solaris 100

2011-08-25T13:56:00.000+02:00

We are off to the Atlantic coast for a few days. I am looking forward so very much to the break.
These were taken during the visit we had from The Fij Five. Friends from my student days, they are the most photogenic and beautiful inside-and-out family, who suffered constantly with my new/old Yash being shoved in their noses with good grace. Quel dommage! Only these 3 came out; it would seem the shutter only fires on speeds below 1/500. But how delightful to see Milla's cute orange vintage dress she can no longer squeeze into now looking gorgeous on Zofia.
Back soon, have fun without me.

animal/vegetal

2011-08-23T21:16:00.000+02:00

Monica has just put up a new post on 45N61W, our collaboration project. Not entirely successful this time round, but hey, that's the point of choosing film n'est pas? Serendipity; the element of chance; diving into the unknown; wonderful surprises and learning curves. All part of our lovely filmy universe. We forge ahead with Project 4; the fearless, undaunted and wiser pheonix(es) we are now.

Here

2011-08-14T19:31:00.003+02:00

After the problems I've been having lately with my lab (still very peeved, actually) I decided to not risk it with my first ever efforts with slide film (yeah! I know! right! crazy!) so these were processed by a lab in England. Ma besta Melanie was just leaving after her annual stay at Château Chaney, so I gave the film to her to drop off for me. Overall I'm much happier with these results, and I will use them again.
pentax spotmatic/kodak elitechrome100

2011-08-11T09:19:00.001+02:00

I have been hitting the henna.

I have been practising with the vintage Pentacon lens on my digital camera.

I have realised better focussing was simply a case of moving the diopter for my left-eyedness. Duh.

I wanted to steal this kitty.

2011-08-09T11:14:00.000+02:00

August Break 2011

summer break

2011-08-02T17:50:00.002+02:00

The summer is running away too fast, kicking dust in my face as it goes. So this blog is going to be part of the August Break, while I get on with catching up with summer and tackling it to the ground. If you don't know about the August Break idea, you can find out about it here.

three things…...

2011-07-28T20:08:00.001+02:00

Olympus OM10/Kodak Portra 160 NC

rainy days

2011-07-27T13:12:00.003+02:00

my beautiful femme chocolat has just left after a week long holiday with us, bringing her lovely daughter Libbie, printing inks, teabags and marmite (bien sûr!), camera film and many other thoughtful gifts, treats and goodies with her.

In return I promised them a week of sun, sun, sun; camping trips, beaches, lake swimming, slow strolling around Toulouse, much film photography, endless picnics and cold rosé sipped in the garden.

What we had was 8 days of rain and/or grey skies; lots of fleamarkets and secondhand shopping in the rain, speedily dodging rain in Toulouse on the way to a museum or café, rainy walks round cities and towns where taking film photographs was tricky, endless boardgames when it was too rainy to leave the house and cold rosé sipped indoors. A kind of bargain basement Center Parcs ~ but in a tumbledown french house ~ experience.

But we are game old birds and a bit of rain didn't spoil our fun. With the men either out working or sensibly keeping out of the way us gaggle of girls came, saw and conquered. Plus the chocolate one was toting her little point and shoot camera, which made me dig and dust off my old one. What a great thing I've been missing; no titty-arsing around needed folks, just whip it out of your pocket, fire, capture the moment.

***

~~Must not forget to add, the draw for the free Shooting The Breeze spot finishes tomorrow. If you want a chance to win,~~ ~~sign up here~~.

nearly there!

2011-07-21T08:52:00.001+02:00

I have some news about the second Shooting The Breeze film photography e-course. This next run is the Bionic v2; bigger, better, faster, stronger. It will start on 8th September 2011 and continue for 8 weeks. Each individual workshop will be posted on a Thursday and lasts 2 weeks to allow plenty of time to shoot, develop, upload and discussion.

Packed to the roof with inspiration, technical help and encouragement in the form of useful, downloadable and printable pdfs delivered straight to your inbox; helpful worksheets, exercises, interviews with photographers, assignments and prompts; feedback, critiques and suggested links. The workshops are shared via a private blog and flickr group; connection with other participants for feedback and shared learning are valuable experiences, as well as emailing me one-to-one if you need to.

Workshops include:

Weeks 1/2 - Introduction and Workshop #1. Film, apertures, shutter speeds and exposure.
Weeks 3/4 - Workshop #2. Understanding Natural Light.
Weeks 5/6 - Workshop #3. Through The Lens. A guide to composition.
Weeks 7/8 - Workshop #4 and Summary. The photowalk day and finding your signature style.

Here's the best bit. Registration for the course will open on 28th July and costs 94 euros. BUT, register before 5th August to receive a special discounted price of just 70 euros.

Anything questions, please do email me.

Let me remind you while I'm here that there is also still the chance to download my free black and white home developing guide. Just enter your email address in the box ← over there on the left.

au jardin

2011-07-19T09:37:00.000+02:00

Lunch at the home of Jordi.

***

When these negatives came back I was super-peeved; filthy dirty and covered in dust, creased and with a horrible colour cast. Not what you would expect from Portra and I don't shoot film in order to spend ages editing, thank you very much. This is happening a little too often with my lab lately and I've had enough. I've tried pretty much most of the local ones out, can anyone recommend me a great lab (in Europe) that do mail order?
Kodak Portra 160 NC/Olympus OM10

old and new

2011-07-17T11:29:00.001+02:00

All taken at the Ouverture Photo Festival I am taking part in. I have being trying my analog Pentacon 50mm lens on my digital camera; you'll never convince me to shoot digitally regularly but I'll grudgingly agree that there are times when it's easier to do so, and if I must, then I prefer the images taken this way.
Major problem is the focussing. With no focussing screen it's really difficult to see what I'm doing and so three quarters of the photos I took were really blurred. I guess it's all down to a) getting a focussing screen - does anyone know how, where, cost? or b) clocking up 800 hours of practise; an option I'm not keen on.

***

While there last night we met up with one of the Breezies Graham, and some of his family who are on holiday from the UK and staying near Carcassonne. One of the greatest things about the interweb is how you can connect with people you would never get the chance to meet in your everyday life. We mooched around whilst giving our undeniably expert opinions, had a beer, listened to the live music and nattered; Graham being a rebel stuck one of his own photos on one of the displays, and very kindly gave me some prints of his and a roll of strange looking Japanese film. He was also toting a rather wonderful looking pinhole camera with him, love to see those results.

14 Juillet

2011-07-15T10:54:00.000+02:00


Scarlet buttons, and pale green disks,
Silver spirals and asterisks,
Peppered with mauve and ametheyst
Shoot and tremble in a mist

Along with around 700,000 others we sat last night on the banks of the Aude in Carcassonne. 14 July is Bastille Day and for that one day our relatively small and uncomplicated city is utterly mad as folk swarm here for one thing only. The firework display. Late at night the city gets plunged into darkness for the most magical spectacle in the most perfect setting; it felt momentous to be there.

treefingers

2011-07-13T16:15:00.000+02:00

monday morning

2011-07-11T11:08:00.000+02:00

Bring it on……I'm ready.

Painted With Words

2011-07-10T18:43:00.000+02:00

The most beautiful thing I have watched in a very, very long while. The entire thing starts here. Get yourself a glass of wine and settle down for the evening.

2011-07-05T12:12:00.001+02:00

Pentax MZ50 with dodgy winding on, set on autofocus
10 years out-of-date colour film
under-exposed by two stops
film developed in b&w chemicals

Now that's what I meant about not having a goal, but just freewheeling with nothing specific in mind.

And it was damn good.
More on flickr

s'weekend

2011-07-02T09:26:00.000+02:00

This guy should bottle his cheery and optimistic nature and sell it. That look is his smugdog one that he uses when you are being a tit and he's been using it a lot lately.

Enjoy your weekend!

reaching for the sun

2011-06-30T09:35:00.002+02:00

This week has been terrible, one blow swiftly followed by another kind of time. But my children are over all their exams and school is finished till September, and I really, really need to be with them more than ever during the summer while we restore ourselves. I am scaling down my work to e-course preparation, guest blogging and commission obligations for the next little while.

I am shutting down my etsy print shop. Head on over there if there is anything you would like, as now's the last chance. My Dawanda and Big Cartel shops will remain open for the time being.

Praktica/Agfa APX 100

Natalie

2011-06-28T09:45:00.003+02:00

I love poking around in artist's studios. My dear friend Natalie Magnin is an incredibly talented textile artist, who lives with her sculptor husband, two very cute girls and rather a lot of cats and chickens. The other weekend we sat in her garden sipping vervaine and she showed me the pieces she is working on with old found fabrics and paper, rust and natural dyes, shells and stitches for an upcoming exhibition starting this weekend. Her atelier is one of those that makes me drool like a labrador; flooded with light and space with a huge worktable and groaning shelves of goodies. I shot everything overexposed by one stop with an aperture of f2 or 2.8, sometimes defocussing to reflect the softness and ethereal nature of her art.
Pentax Spotmatic/Solaris 200

cherry picking

2011-06-24T21:45:00.000+02:00

Between you and me I think I'm missing my art school days too much. You know, when you could just create and see where it takes you, instead of always thinking about having to have a goal.
Have a great weekend!

Pentax Spotmatic/Solaris 200

happiness

2011-06-22T16:32:00.000+02:00

the chosen ones

2011-06-20T16:33:00.001+02:00

Thank you to everyone who left me thoughts on my last post…..too much time spent on the computer and not enough actually creating anything that nurtures my poor, neglected soul has made me a bit of a grouch, please bear with ~ I'll figure it all out.
I do know however that I need to disconnect a little and just go with my own happy-place flow. Whether it's being mainstream/a hipster kitty/a crashing bore really doesn't matter. What does matter is enjoying what I do. And that goes for you too *Jab*
And she says this after having spent a very groovy Sunday experimenting with anthotypes. When I've got them nailed, I'll tell you how to do them, they're dead easy peasy.
{The series of photographs here are the ones picked by the Ouverture Festival jury}

searching

2011-06-18T09:47:00.002+02:00

Lately I've been thinking a lot about taking photographs. How many times can I photograph a coffee, a rose, a washing line? Lots of my photographs annoy me right now, and I've lost enthusiasm to upload on flickr, where once it use to be a daily ritual. Maybe it's because while preparing the projects for the next Shooting The Breeze I have been made to dig deep into the inner corners of my brain and I'm finding all sorts of thoughts I didn't know I had that have had me questioning my processes, not to mention how much the last STB run taught me. I think my muse may be on holiday and forgot to send a postcard.

All of these pictures were literally taken on the fly with darling Baby and some *and I quote* 'shitty, expired drugstore film' that Monica sent me ages ago. That's what I love about Baby, you have no choice but to be spontaneous with her. Maybe they are not the best composed and exposed eye candy pictures, but at least they have a truth to them, a meaning.

And the day I use faux vintage Photoshop Actions or a Hipstamatic, please shoot me and put me out of my misery.

Disclaimer: If you do any of the above, great….it just wouldn't make me happy.

***

But hey! It's not all bad, photo-wise ~ the jury for Ouverture have selected my series of photographs again this year for the festival! S'cuse me while I rooster strut and hi-five myself!

all photos Yashica-ME

transport, motorways and tramlines………...

2011-06-15T18:45:00.002+02:00

I swear I wasn't deliberately shooting with a theme in mind, maybe it just got stuck in my head and refused to budge. Happens quite a lot.

***

Canon AE-1/Fujifilm 200. I've decided what the problem is with this camera. It feels lovely to use, bright focussing screen, and delicious shutter sound. But the results are such a Let Down (sorry) ~ mine has a really crappy lens; I can't focus in any closer than 60 cms!! Zoikes, where's my bokeh? Plus it fails to render the colour accurately, these look so murky and dismal despite the bright day. Don't you dare blame my film.

The emptiest of feelings.

chilled

2011-06-13T15:48:00.001+02:00

I mentioned a few days ago that I had taken some time off, and I took these back then. As ever, my blogging seem to always be out of alignment with my life. When I do finally get the time to scan and upload pictures, whatever it was I'd been talking about is lost in the mists. How do you lot manage it, eh? All the blogs I follow all seem to be far better organised than mine. I know many people schedule blog posts, even keep a little blogging diary and have a couple of weeks worth of posts tucked up their sleeves. Well, if you are one of those I also bet you where the kind of girl at school who probably did her homework and got picked for the netball team, while I was busy chatting or doodling.

***

All taken with Canon AE1 (still not too keen, maybe it will grow on me) and Fujifilm

in black and white

2011-06-11T15:32:00.000+02:00

The black and white developing tutorial I posted a couple of months ago has been revamped and tweaked about with. Ladies and Gentlemen for your viewing pleasure I give you In Black and White ~ a 5 page pdf file for you download and save, print off (if you want to) and keep. For nothing. Just because.

Just fill your email address in the box over there ⇐ on the left, and it will be delivered into your inbox tout de suite!

seeing double #2

2011-06-09T16:17:00.002+02:00

SUZIE

(rushing in, breathlessly) See, I am still alive? I took a few days off last week as the kids had a 4 day holiday, so I left webworld for a bit, did some thinking and planning; soaked up a little inspiration and faffed about here, pottered around there including:

Going out for a day with just me and Harry (something we've not done for years) to see some of this year's Artistes à Suivre
Finally finishing reading Notes from An Exhibition by Patrick Gale, as recommended by my sister. Good one Jules!
Handpainted ravens on Lady Madeline Usher's..….I mean Milla's bedroom wall.
Gorging myself on cherries from our groaning tree, only to discover later some were a bit maggoty and I swear I could feel the buggers wriggling around my innards
Getting out on my bike (given up trying to power through the hip issue with running) and starting to really feel the benefit. Feel my muscles!
Romy going camping only to turn up next day with 5 soaking wet and bedraggled mates needing to dry out and fill their boots with coffee. I still have their tents and clothes hanging in my basement.
Finishing up four rolls of film

The best part of that last one is Monica and I have finally completed a new double exposure project, 'Nostalgia'. Above are a few pictures but the full set is up on fortyfivenorth-sixtyonewest, the blog that we share. Please do take a look, and tell us what you think!

And when your done with that, I have a new Shoot Film! post over on Indie Fixx if you're not sick of me by then.

Ciao!

(Exit stage left)

lost in translation

2011-05-31T17:19:00.001+02:00

One of the things that always amuses me with French language, is the sheer amount of it. Not quite the same as the 97 Inuit words for snow but in this bit of France at least they do love to talk, to use several words where just one would do, and discuss everything in teeny weeny detail. I had to see Milla's head teacher yesterday to discuss what school she will go in September. Turned out all the head really needed was to be given one piece of paper, but she still trilled on and on about Romy's character (relevant, how?) grilled me about this, that and the other, waffled on about our arty family and then told Milla she was too quiet (it's called British reserve, lady).
Mesdames et Messieurs I give you the perfect example. You know that book called 'The Horse Whisperer'?
Well, in French the title translates as 'The Man Who Murmurs Into The Ears Of Horses.'
It's rather endearing quand même.

all good things must come to an end

2011-05-30T11:12:00.000+02:00

Yesterday was the 'official' finish date of this run of Shooting The Breeze, although throughout we have had to be fairly flexible with deadlines, as many Breezies' real lives had a nasty habit of getting in the way, as life tends to do and 8 weeks stretched into 10 in the end. But they were a brilliant bunch and we have had a blast. When I first conceived the idea, I wasn't sure if what I knew was enough to help and inspire others and it felt like such a ginormous step out of my comfort zone ~ whatever the hell that is ~ and I was scared shitless, to be honest. But like all the best of ideas, it's the scary ones that make us grow, push us and ultimately give us the greatest thrill and sense of achievement. I never dreamt that I too would learn myself so much** from all these wonderful and open people. Thank you all for taking the plunge, doing these workshops so wholeheartedly and giving me confidence. So much so, I am registering myself as a photographe auteur/artiste, giving me the opportunity to really expand and grow both professionally and personally. I will be tweaking this present format of STB slightly in order to run it again over the summer, so if you think it would be perfect to just kick back, shoot some film with me and keep your creative hand in, so to speak during the summer, then do sign up for the details here. I will be sending out a newsletter very, very soon and you could win a free place.

***

**One of the things I noticed is my preference for wide apertures. Oh yes, I'm a sucker for shallow depth of field, silky bokeh and sideways viewpoints. So all these above pictures have been my attempt to have a smaller aperture, even change to a *gulp* 30mm lens (looking at you Graham) instead of 50mm, look at the bigger picture and shoot the breeze.

***

All Praktica PM3/Pentacon 3.5:30/Pentacon 1.8:50/Fujifilm Superia 200

(Thank you for the comments/emails on my last post)

new me

2011-05-26T16:47:00.001+02:00

I'm going to probably regret going public with this, but I've decided to get my health-house in order. Although I never used to have a sweet tooth, the past six years have seen a considerable upping of my pastries and cakes consumption; cheese is my downfall (my only dairy intake) and don't get me started on the wine. I blame the French, why can't they eat hideous food?

In addition to becoming a lot wider round the girth, finding it a bit easier to get puffed out and a bit slower to get out of bed every morning I have good reason to give myself a kick in the bum. A good diet and regular exercise are two of my big guns when it comes to managing my depression.

So a couple of weeks ago I started running again. I used to love to run, but since I broke my arm and leg 8 years ago I started practicing yoga instead and it has been fantastic for me. It really did help to keep my mind calm, my body strong and my serotonin balanced. But for over a year now I'm just not feeling it. I can't clear my mind, focus and enjoy it and just ended up getting frustrated. Unfortunately the running is not going as good as I hoped, and it's got nothing to do with my mahoosive bosom. One of the problems I had with the arm/leg incident was spending 6 weeks in a wheelchair and a shortening of ligaments in one of my hips. I'm doing my best to power through, and I'm also bike riding to ease the strain on the bad days.

So far, I'm doing pretty good at avoiding the sweet stuff, bread-y things and cheese. I'm using this post on Zen Habits as a kind of rough guide to eating. I promise not to bang on about it too much on here, but part of the reason behind outing myself as a greedy slob was to make the shame of failure hang too heavy over me for it to be an option. You won't recognize me in 6 months from now.

Oh yeah, the wine stays.

testing, testing. again.

2011-05-23T18:15:00.002+02:00

It all seems so long ago, has it really been a little over a week? I mentioned I had been to spend a Night At The Museum in Toulouse and I also mentioned I got new a camera, a Canon AE-1. Note to Self ~ I really need to blog things as they happen; my Mumnesia is getting worse with age. These are the pictures from the first roll of film, taken either in Toulouse (bottom 3) or Carcassonne (the rest). I'm not sure really how I feel about the Canon, the jury in my head have not yet delivered their verdict. I guess like anything sometimes you need to warm to it a little. Somethings are good, some not so much. You know how you sometimes hear a new record and think it's OK, but 5 listens later you are utterly in love with it? Or else you love things right away and then go off them quickly. Well I get like that with loads of things, especially cameras. Anyone else the same as me?

***

My survey will be gone in the next couple of days so if you could spare me a moment, I'll pib one day……..

***

The painting reflected in the mirrors is 'Les Femmes d'Alger' by Djamel Tatah. It was beautiful.

time and me only

2011-05-19T16:58:00.001+02:00

I'd forgotten about these from a few weeks ago, I've been so busy lately. This is what my spring was like. Well the good bits anyway. We'll just gloss over the not-so-good bits, shall we? My blog, my rules.
Pentax Spotmatic/Fujifilm 200

***

If you haven't done so yet, and you don't mind wasting 5 minutes of your time………

there are doors that open

2011-05-17T17:36:00.005+02:00

Here's the thing. I am launching a three-pronged attack on the world. I will be writing more film-y guest posts for Indie Fixx in the future; I will be adding more free tutorials to Black-eyed Angel and I shall be improving and expanding Shooting The Breeze in order to make it the best it can possibly be. I know that as a reader of my blog, chances are you like film photography and I could really use your help. Don't worry, I'm not going to hold you to anything but if you have never shot with film and would like to or are already a devotee, your opinion counts and I would be thrilled if you would take just a few minutes to answer 5 questions (completely anonymously, you don't have to give your name) I have for you and I'll be your bestah, as the youngsters say.

Please click here to take survey

Thank you, lovely person! And let me remind you, the latest Indie Fixx post is up now. Read it here.

(expired Ektar/Praktica)

on her way

2011-05-16T07:31:00.001+02:00

Thank you everyone for your comments on my last post, they were a joy to read and we really do appreciate all your kind words.

***

Saturday night was the European Night of the Museum. We chose Les Abbatoirs Museum of Contemporary Art and The Natural History Museum, both in Toulouse. What a experience! Crowded, noisy but exhilarating. We collapsed into bed exhausted in the small hours of the morning, filled up with inspiration and wonder. I shall tell you all about it later, when I get the photographs back. Photographs, I might add, taken with a new camera Harry came home with for me the other day. He knows how to keep me sweet, that clever man.

***

But the reason for this post isn't about me. I want to share with you these words from Isabelle Bertolini aka Elisabelle, bloguese and film photographer extraordinaire. She has an amazing talent for seeing the beauty in everything, especially the quieter and ordinary moments of the day. This session of Shooting The Breeze is coming to an end soon, and I felt Isa's work would really be enjoyed by and also inspire my breezies. I was delighted when she was kind enough to be interviewed for the STB blog. I reckon her words and works are too good not to share over here as well.

"I am from Marseille, moved at 22 to Paris, was an actress till 31.

I am now head of the creative department of a French-American dubbing company. I got my first camera when I was pregnant, started to shoot my son like crazy, heard from friends that my photos were not bad.

Alma convinced me to start a blog almost 3 years ago. My photos have evolved enormously thanks to it, because it got me to practice, to take photos every day, plus I get a lot of inspiration from other blogs too.

Pour la petite histoire, my grand father (the Minolta owner) was a passionate amateur photographer. I hardly knew him, he was living in Brittany and died when I was still pretty young. (You can see some of his shots here)"

"Light inspires me, people and all the little pleasures.

I have started 2 series: la mère et l’enfant, because I am fascinated by this indescribable bound between a mother and her child; and simple things, simply to capture all the little things that could go unnoticed but make me happy daily.

I never plan my shots, sometimes I just move something that is disturbing the composition. But I like to shoot life as it is.

I can’t take anymore photoshopped photos. Film photos are real, genuine. In a society where everything is abundant and fast, film is precious, unique and takes time.

And of course there is the grain. When I look at film photos of my son, I can see how soft his skin is. It feels so much more real than digital."

"I actually started using film pretty recently.

I bought a Diana Mini a year ago and a Pentax K1000 in September. Since then, I've collected a lot of cameras that were sitting in the closets of family and friends.
I always have a camera with me and I am taking photos every day. It was pretty much instinctive from the start and so much more sensual than digital cameras. I got instantly addicted to the sound of the shutter."

"My favourite camera is the Minolta SRT303 that was my grandfather’s, my father’s and became mine in January.

I love this camera because I am the third generation to use it. I never post edit any of my photos.
My favourite film is Kodak Ektar 100, it is magic film:). I love to shoot the people I love."

Thank you so much Isa, bisous! xx

Please visit her blog and flickr

about a girl

2011-05-14T09:09:00.001+02:00

Like most 14 year olds, she does not see her beauty, believes that no-one notices her and everyone else looks much better, prettier. She is tiny for her age, quiet and thoughtful by nature and does not see what I see.

"Come on, let's take the dog for a walk. I am trying out a film I've never used before and I need something to photograph."

But now she sees what I see.

Pentax Spotmatic/ Agfa APX100

black and white film developing

2011-05-10T11:11:00.003+02:00

A while ago I asked the question “how about a home developing b&w film tutorial?” And it seemed quite a few answered yes, please. It's taken a while to get myself together, but here it is.

I love black and white photography. It makes for the most delicious light and shadow, the subject matter becomes free of distractions, plus I'm an old, traditional nostalgist at heart. Developing my film is probably my most favourite part of photography over all else; being in (relative) control the whole way through the process from viewfinder to the final picture really scratches as that creative, hands-on itch. It gives you a feeling that you are involved in an active, art-making process. Probably not for the wham bam thank you ma'am type of photographer, but for all of you who want to feel more connected, physically and mentally to the discipline. Everybody say om.

You will have to invest in the following:

A developing tank and spiral reel.
Chemicals ~ for developer and fixer I recommend Kodak D-76 and Kodak or Foma fixer. I never use stop bath, I use white vinegar, but Ilford make a good stop bath if you want it. I would recommend getting a bottle of Kodak Photo-flo for the final rinse.
Dark containers for storing the mixed up chemicals.
Measuring jugs.
Film squeegee tweezers.
a timer or stop watch.
Thermometer

Optional extras:

Film changing bag if you don't have a pitch dark cupboard or room (my shower is light-tight)
A tool to open film canisters (I use a bottle opener)
Film clips (you can use regular pegs)

In France or Europe, you can buy all you need here, in the UK here and across the pond (and pretty much everywhere else) here.

So here's how to do it.

Start off by making sure you have everything you need to hand. Mix up your chemicals very carefully following the instructions on the packet. Pour into your dark bottles and label. If I am using previously mixed and stored chemicals I stand the bottles in hot water for several minutes to bring them up to approx 20°C/68°F, the ideal temperature for developing. If they are freshly mixed and need cooling slightly, stand them in cold water.
Either in the pitch dark (if necessary seal any light gaps in your room/cupboard with black insulating tape, light leaks will fog your film and ruin it completely, so no scrimping on this part) or in a film changing bag, crack open the film canister using your film or bottle opener, and tip the film still wound on it's spool into your hand.

This is the hardest bit. In the complete dark or inside the bag you have to load the film from it's spool onto the spiral reel. Cut off the film leader and slowly feed the film end onto the reel. Then by twisting the reel back and forth it should load onto the spiral reel, as in the above picture (apologies for the bitten nails and skin, disgusting habit). When you reach the end of the film, cut it away from the spool and give it one extra turn. It's probably a good idea to practise this with an old film in the light a few times first to get the hang of it.
Put the loaded reel onto the spindle that is inside the developing tank, seal the tank up carefully and now you can turn the lights on.
You need to make sure you use your developer for the right amount of time. Either follow the guide on your developer packet or use this chart. Take the rubber lid only off the top of your tank, pour in sufficient developer, re-seal and start your timer for the appropriate time. For the first 30 secs invert the tank i.e. whip your tank back and forth (slowly), and tap it down a couple of times to release any air bubbles. After that, you need to agitate the tank 4 or 5 times every minute till your timer goes off, by inverting it.

Pour out the developer and put the tank under running water. Experience has taught me to never use developer for more than a maximum of 3 films. I usually dump it after 2 to be on the safe side. Leave the tap running for about 5 mins. If you use a stop bath maybe you could shorten this. Anyway, after the 5 mins is up I fill a jug with a 1+4 solution of white vinegar and water, pour that in and agitate for 30 secs. Pour away and rinse under running water for a minute.
Empty the water from the tank and pour in your fixer. You need to fix for between 5-10 minutes, depending on a) your fixer and b) how old it is. Invert/agitate exactly as you did the developer and when it is done, carefully pour it back into the bottle. Fixer should never go down the sink.
Rinse the tank again under running water for another 5 minutes or so. Then mix a few drops of Photo-flo with water in a jug. Pour into the tank, agitate for no more than 30 seconds. Empty the tank, open up and remove and shake the spiral. Remove your film from the spiral, and hang up in a dry, preferably dust free place using your clips or pegs. Bathrooms are good. Run the squeegee down the strip a couple of times to give you good smear and stain free negatives. I like to leave mine to hang overnight before I do anything with them.

So that's all there is to it. My method and it works for me!
I have this tutorial available as a pdf you can download and print. If you would like a copy, please email me and I will send you the link.

pride and nostalgia

2011-05-09T14:12:00.000+02:00

Had both in buckets this weekend. Yes, he did it! My baby boy passed his concours and has been accepted into the Marseille Art School. Without his silly mother clucking around him, he managed to get himself fined 50 euros for not having a buss pass on the first day and pick-pocketed on his second, losing amongst other things, his passport. Somehow he managed to get through and get back home and I'm so, so proud I could burst and I make no apology for it!
Yesterday he dug out our ancient video player and the tapes of them all when they were littlies, and we all had a wonderful trip down memory lane. Well, except Romy who had to keep rushing out of the room when she saw her young self.
Is it possible for a mother's heart to break and yet feel deep joy at the same time? Where did the time go?

As the good Doctor says "don't turn your back, don't look away and don't blink".
↑
A Chaney family fave (whoosh, more nostalgia waves)

***

Have I got something good for you tomorrow! See you then……..

down by the water

2011-05-04T13:29:00.000+02:00

Pentax Spotmatic Fuji Superia 200

swapped

2011-05-03T16:47:00.000+02:00

Recently I have sold some Kodak instamatics and my Diana, and replaced them with a Kodak Brownie Cresta 3. The first test roll was more error than trial, this was the best shot but I think I've got the hang of it now. I did dabble with toy cameras and got quite addicted for a while, but overall I felt a bit meh. The Cresta has a glass rather than a plastic lens, and I think that suits me personally much better, but we will see. A woman has the right to change her mind.

***

Indeed she does. I had a wonderful day yesterday messing about mould-making and casting in plaster, and the old magic is still there for me. After saying this not so long ago, too.

***

My latest guest column is up over at Indie Fixx. This time it's all about getting started, go take a look if your feeling a bit schlumpy. And when you've done with that, go and look at Isabelle's flickr.

lie down on the couch

2011-05-02T09:47:00.000+02:00

This morning my man-child starts his 3 day concours - entrance exam and interview for Art School in Marseille. The last few months have been leading to this point and the last week particularly has been so intense, getting his portfolio ready and then actually getting him to Marseille, that right now I want to be just like Poose. She is one of those cats that sleeps banana-shaped, not really much of a curler-upper. All I know is I could sleep for a week right now.

Except in reality I shall be chewing my nails down to stumps for the next three days whilst pacing up and down.

Let it go, woman!

the ones that get away

2011-04-28T09:44:00.001+02:00

It happened again yesterday. You know what I mean, that missed opportunity. The one that happens when you see the perfect picture but you just can't get there in time. Like the time I drove right into the middle of a flock of sheep being shepherded down the lane by the sheepdog and my camera was in my bag on the back seat. Time before that it was the cyclist wearing the most amazing top whizzing past, too fast for me to focus on him. Today I saw my neighbour taking his wife out. Perfectly normal couple, except he was driving his ancient tractor and she was sat in the trailer with her handbag on her lap. I even had a camera with me.

Sadly I had just shot the last frame 10 seconds earlier.

What's your worst (best) missed opportunity, the one that got away from you?

pink and/or green

2011-04-25T14:32:00.000+02:00

sage and onion

2011-04-25T08:31:00.003+02:00

Here's a first: the reluctant cook is going to share a recipe! Yesterday for the first time since Christmas it was just the five of us, all together and a (vegetarian) roast dinner was voted for. Of course this vote was at 5pm on Easter Sunday so I had to improvise, and here are the sage and onion stuffing balls I hastily threw together.

To start with, 6 big handfuls of breadcrumbs. Stale or fresh, white or wholemeal or as in my case a bit of both, including crusts for a bit of texture…….

…..minced up with fresh sage from the garden, I used a big bunch, that's the best I can quantify. Our sage bush was planted where we buried our old dog Lola 7 years ago and has been dug up and moved 4 times and is still going strong.

In a tablespoon of olive oil and sunflower spread mixed, fry 2 onions and 3 garlic cloves

Mix all the ingredients together and add one beaten egg, salt and pepper

Very important: this can only be made while drinking rosé. 2 glasses are best with a few crisps as well.

Form into balls and bake in the oven. My cooker is only off or on, so timings and temperatures are bit weird, but I would say medium oven for 20 minutes or so.
We had ours with roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese and fresh tomatoes simmered with herbs and balsamic vinegar.

See, the girl can cook when she has to but she would just rather someone else did it.

this n that

2011-04-21T17:22:00.001+02:00

Another carousel, different part of the city and even scarier horses. My liking for these must relate to a childhood trauma, as does apparently, my love of Radiohead. If any of you listen to Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie on BBC 6music, you may have heard my name mentioned this afternoon. It's to do with an ongoing theory they have that all Radiohead fans were trapped in lifts/locked in toilets etc as children. Figures.

***

Striped blue and white shirt, Man-Child. Red checked shirt, Romy. Perched between the two fiddling with braids, La Petite Copine. Assorted friends of theirs I will not introduce you to, it will take too long, but I assure you they are all lovely.

all photographs Pentax Spotmatic/Fujifilm Superia 200

***

Pictured below is the marvelous and wondrous Dee. She hopped on a plane on a whim last week and came to spend a few days with me for some snappage, sippage and scoffage. There she is using my Praktica to get back her film mojo. It worked too, check these out!

people watching

2011-04-19T18:45:00.002+02:00

Yashica GSN Electro/Ilford Delta 400/Carcassonne

***

I am very happy to tell you I am now a regular guest contributor to Indie Fixx. For the next little while I shall be running a series called Shoot Film! over there. Many thanks to Jen for this great opportunity to spread the love.

Apple Blossom

2011-04-14T18:08:00.001+02:00

My little village is known for it's orchards; the blossoms are so beautiful right now and a favourite evening stroll.

***

We've just had a lovely visit from family in England and tomorrow this lady is turning up for a few days. Sorry about that internal organs, I will make it up to you next week.

***

Pentax Spotmatic/Fujifilm

5 things I never will do but wish I could

2011-04-12T10:16:00.000+02:00

Bungee Jump. I am terrified of heights. I'm one of those idiots who has to lie on the ground to look over a cliff.
"Get" Frank Zappa. He's really annoying but everyone I know thinks he's great.
Wear bright red lipstick. Oh yes, I used to back in the day but sadly I have mean little lips that just don't suit it. No-one told me then.
Eat meat. Sometimes when I see roast dinners on ads they make my belly rumble and I even drool a little but in truth that's because I can't smell it. Just the smell of cooking animal fat makes me gag.
Play guitar. This is the worst of all. As a child I played flute and piano but I just can't get my head round playing strings. I think it may be a left-handed thing. I want to play a Fender Telecaster so badly but it ain't gonna happen. Ever. I will always make it sound like a strangled cat.

What are your five?

getting some balance

2011-04-08T18:22:00.001+02:00

Life is full of decisions, and right now I have to make one. Well actually I've already made it. You see, the thing is life is so busy and to think life becomes easier as your children get older is complete nonsense. On top of the same old issues of feeding them and doing their laundry and sticking plasters on their knees (well at least they can do that much for themselves now), we now have endless emotional problems, girlfriend/boyfriend issues, taxi driving, à picoler et les clopes, exam stress and art school applications…..oh yes, it never stops.

I am so frustrated at not being able to do all I want to do that I have decided for now to concentrate on just my photography, and allow my sculpture and mixed media to get put on the back burner. Next week I have a photoshoot booked; I have to get some photographs ready for a little expo and an art fair; another 2 competition entries; a up-coming regular guest blog column about shooting film; my e-workshops and running my shops on top of actually taking the photographs and developing them that I cannot spread myself too thin that I feel I am not producing my best work. Besides, the quality of light right now is fantastic and is calling "Suzie, Suzie, come out to play."

So for the time being, I will no longer have plaster stuck down my fingernails and in my hair and boxes of found papers cluttering up my workspace, à bientôt mes amis.

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By way of a kind of relief-filled type of celebration, I am having a big Spring Sale in my etsy shop and I have reduced all photographs by 20%.

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the birdwoman

2011-04-07T19:55:00.000+02:00

Surely every city has one?

Fujica ST605/Kodak TMAX 100

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Thank you all for your answers, I will work on a b&w tutorial and post it soon.

the black and whites

2011-04-05T08:31:00.001+02:00

I took these at the same time as these ones. Poor Milla and Poose were getting a bit disturbed by me. I've also got another set still in my OM10, but you know how it is when a good idea strikes……….

I much prefer how these look than the colour photographs. I think part of the reason I often prefer black and white is the enjoyment of developing them myself. I now have collected nearly all the equipment I need to start making my own prints too and then there will be no stopping me.

I have two questions for you. Number one, some of the whites are a little bit blown out, is it true that is caused by over developing or just one of those things? Number two, would you like me to write a home developing tutorial?

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Fujica ST605/Kodak TMAX 100

on repeat

2011-04-03T12:24:00.000+02:00

I'm starting to suspect I have some kind of electrical current running through my fingertips that has a flookie effect on shutters. Yes indeed, the latest victim of my magnetic personality is my beloved Yashica TL. Out of a 24 exposure film, I only got these 5 shots. The rest are virtually black where the curtain didn't move. Feel my pain, people!

What really pisses me off is I was taking my photographs for our first workshop on Shooting The Breeze. The skateboarder at the top was one of several shots I took at Carcassonne skatepark, and the young men there were very obliging, I think they quite enjoyed the attention (as males so often do)

STB has started off pretty good, and my 'Breezies' as I have christened them, are a really diverse group from all over the world, can't wait to see the results from our first workshop session!

2011-04-01T07:49:00.001+02:00

My husband bought me this beauty for christmas, I was so enthusiastic about pinhole cameras after I had attended this workshop. As ever, it was much harder to use than I had thought it was going to be. After a couple of failed attempts I stuck it back on the shelf to gather dust with all my other 'good ideas'.

A few days ago, whilst trawling through homemade soup group on flickr, I discovered you can make light sensitive paper from regular paper. Apparently it works best if you use photopaper intended for the printer, but in truth you will get an image from using any sort of heavyweight paper.

Here's the science bit.

3 tbsps coca-cola (caffeine for the caffenol developing) 2 eggs to act as the binder and 1 tbsp table salt. The mineral form of salt is known as halite, an evaporite deposit the same as halide. No, I'm not turning into a scientitian, but this is what the good folk on HS say. This much I do know; silver halides are what give film it's grain. So anyway, brush your paper with this emulsion IN THE DARK. Very important this is complete darkness or the paper will fog. This is where the process becomes similar to cyanotype printing. While it is still damp load the paper into your pinhole camera, again in the dark. Depending on your actual pinhole, light conditions and focal length, you need to work out how many seconds to expose the paper for. Once you have exposed the paper, leave to dry in a dark place. To turn this negative into a positive, simply the expose your paper to UV light. Easiest way, leave it in the sun for 20-30 mins.

Ta-da! It works!

I'm pretty pleased with how this first attempt turned out. My poisson d'avril.

that sunday morning feeling

2011-03-27T14:37:00.000+02:00

These are the last from the roll of Kodak Gold 400. I really hated it…..too weak, too yellow, too lacking in ooomph and way to grainy for my taste. I'm never going to try it again…..what do you think, am I having an artistic hissy fit? Seriously?

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Our home is a bit like a sanatorium here at the moment. A horrid kind of icky flu-like bug has swept through the family one by one, and I have finally given in to it. I'll try not to cough on you while you read this.

Anna Calvi has making me feel much better thank you.

seeing double

2011-03-24T09:21:00.001+01:00

Monica and I met on flickr. In fact she was probably my first contact when I joined back in 2007. (Being Monica though, she's left and re-joined several times. She does this a lot in webworld, you get used to it)

In that time we've built a strong friendship, even though we've never met in the real world. Victoria in Canada and Aude in France are a bit too far from each other, especially when you are both starving artists. Ah well regular exchanges of art, buttons, strange packaging, recipes, camera film and other bits and bobs have flown back and forth across the Atlantic and North America regularly.

So a few months ago we hatched a plan to do a double exposure project. We chose the theme of water, I went first then rewound the film and sent it off to Monica, who re-shot.
Thing no 1. We are so bloody pleased with them we have set up a new blog to show them, along with our future collaborations we have planned. Welcome to fortyfivenorth-sixtyonewest. You can see the whole project over there
Thing no 2. Go and check out Monica's own blog too
Thing no 3. Do this project too!

Here's how to:

First off, get together with one of your blog/flickr/etc friends. One you share a creative outlook but not geography with.
The person going first needs to secure the film leader in some way in their camera. Either tape it securely to the take-up spool inside the camera or wind lots of masking tape round the film leader so it cannot rewind back into the canister. They also need to underexpose their shots, so if your film ISO is 100 set your camera to 200; if it's 200 set it to 400…….
Choose your theme, shoot. Rewind the film carefully and post off to person two.
Person two can shoot theirs at the film's ISO rating.

Oh Yeah! That's another thing you can't do with a digital camera!

Go take a look.

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And just a quick reminder, workshops start this coming Monday, so if you still want to take part there is a little time left to register.

early one morning

2011-03-22T16:01:00.000+01:00

that point when the sun melts the frost, and the world glistens.

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I have decided I hate Kodak Gold 400, I had to do too much adjusting of these and for me that defeats the point of shooting film. I also think I will probably spend the rest of my life searching for the perfect camera/film combination.

la cité

2011-03-20T18:48:00.000+01:00

Yashica TL Electro/Kodak TMAX 100

preparation

2011-03-18T12:27:00.002+01:00

All this week I am preparing the files for the downloads and blog for the Shooting The Breeze e-workshop, which is only just over a week away to the start date. Eeeep! I am so excited about this project. I had no idea when I came up with it, as you do, lying awake in bed one night with a grasshopper leaping around in my brain, that I would get this amount of interest and participants. I'm delighted that film photography inspires still, in this day and age of immediate gratification and fast food. To all of you who are already taking part…….thank you so much for being one of the slowfood supporters and I can't wait till we all get started!

If you are keen to take part and haven't signed up yet, there are still a couple of places available….but get a wiggle on will you?

Even though I am a believer in taking things slow you're just being a bit too slow for my liking.

I really want to get those last places filled asap, so if you have a facebook or tweet and could pass this on, I'll be your best friend forever.

Thank you Amanda at mockingbird, Christina at soul aperture, Jamie at from me to you, Twiggs, Hannah and any of you other lovely people I've forgotten to thank (Dee, Deb I remember you!) who have helped me in my mission to get the film love out there. I'll pif you all one day.

Inspired

2011-03-16T10:36:00.000+01:00

I recently discovered the black and white photography of Jack Radcliffe. He takes incredibly intimate photographs of his subjects over a long period of time. I can get a bit squeamish about photography I find voyeuristic but Jack's is different, he tells peoples' life stories unsentimentally yet with empathy. You can see his portfolio here or on behance.

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I have to rise to the challenge of taking photographs early in the morning for an upcoming event. It's no secret I am not a morning person….bleary and grumpy at best until the caffeine kicks in. I am astonished to learn what I have been missing; the long shadows and the veiled, pale light are beautiful. What is your favourite time of day?

maybe…….

2011-03-15T18:20:00.000+01:00

……..because of the horror in Japan, maybe because someone I love escaped being hurt in a car crash today……I feel grateful for the little moments of beauty.

an unkindness of ravens

2011-03-12T11:42:00.002+01:00

take a look at those by Fukase

Yashica TL Electro/Kodak TMAX 100

Hello, this is me!

2011-03-09T17:37:00.004+01:00

Forgive my shameless posing, but it was needed for an interview I was recently sent and I must confess I rather like me out of focus.

I was only popping in to tell you that the Expos Hors Les Murs part of Ouverture Festival is exhibiting my series of photographs 'La Lettre' at Resto La Petite Gouaille in Toulouse, alongside 3 other winners. Vernissage is tomorrow night so if can come, I'd love to meet you!

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I have just discoverd the work of Sandrine Bonnin and I am in love.