Monday, 31 May 2010
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Andreas Konrath exhibition, So alone I keep the wolves at bay
My friend Andreas has an Exhibition of photographs at the Exit Gallery at Claire de Rouen books on Charing Cross Road from May 6th to 18th June which you should see.
Sunday, 14 March 2010
Millwall v Charlton yesterday
A few photos from Millwall v Charlton yesterday. Millwall 4 Charlton 0.
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Monday, 15 February 2010
Silver Lake, Los Angeles
A couple of years ago I spent some time in LA doing some art shows and It remains one of the most photogenic places I have ever seen. These pictures were taken when Caleb and I were looking for a record label on Sunset.... Great times.
Villa Park
I can honestly say that Aston Villa away is one of the most unrewarding experiences of my life and one that I never wish to repeat ever again. Ever.
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Holden Caulfield is unactable
28th January, 2010: Rest in peace JD Salinger. You will be missed.
Ever since its release in 1951, a steady stream of eager producers, directors, screenwriters and actors have unsuccessfully attempted to bring J. D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye to the big screen, all falling at the first hurdle when confronted with Salinger's resolute refusal to sell the rights to his novel. The letter below, written in 1957 in response to an enquiry from a Mr. Herbert (and currently for sale here), is a perfect example of the opposition faced and provides an entertaining glimpse at the author's reasoning.
Transcript
R. D. 2
Windsor, Vt.
July 19, 1957
Dear Mr. Herbert,
I'll try to tell you what my attitude is to the stage and screen rights of The Catcher in the Rye. I've sung this tune quite a few times, so if my heart doesn't seem to be in it, try to be tolerant....Firstly, it is possible that one day the rights will be sold. Since there's an ever-looming possibility that I won't die rich, I toy very seriously with the idea of leaving the unsold rights to my wife and daughter as a kind of insurance policy. It pleasures me no end, though, I might quickly add, to know that I won't have to see the results of the transaction. I keep saying this and nobody seems to agree, but The Catcher in the Rye is a very novelistic novel. There are readymade "scenes" - only a fool would deny that - but, for me, the weight of the book is in the narrator's voice, the non-stop peculiarities of it, his personal, extremely discriminating attitude to his reader-listener, his asides about gasoline rainbows in street puddles, his philosophy or way of looking at cowhide suitcases and empty toothpaste cartons - in a word, his thoughts. He can't legitimately be separated from his own first-person technique. True, if the separation is forcibly made, there is enough material left over for something called an Exciting (or maybe just Interesting) Evening in the Theater. But I find that idea if not odious, at least odious enough to keep me from selling the rights. There are many of his thoughts, of course, that could be labored into dialogue - or into some sort of stream-of-consciousness loud-speaker device - but labored is exactly the right word. What he thinks and does so naturally in his solitude in the novel, on the stage could at best only be pseudo-simulated, if there is such a word (and I hope not). Not to mention, God help us all, the immeasurably risky business of using actors. Have you ever seen a child actress sitting crosslegged on a bed and looking right? I'm sure not. And Holden Caulfield himself, in my undoubtedly super-biassed opinion, is essentially unactable. A Sensitive, Intelligent, Talented Young Actor in a Reversible Coat wouldn't nearly be enough. It would take someone with X to bring it off, and no very young man even if he has X quite knows what to do with it. And, I might add, I don't think any director can tell him.
I'll stop there. I'm afraid I can only tell you, to end with, that I feel very firm about all this, if you haven't already guessed.
Thank you, though, for your friendly and highly readable letter. My mail from producers has mostly been hell.
Sincerely,
(Signed, 'J. D. Salinger')
J. D. Salinger
From Letters of Note
Ever since its release in 1951, a steady stream of eager producers, directors, screenwriters and actors have unsuccessfully attempted to bring J. D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye to the big screen, all falling at the first hurdle when confronted with Salinger's resolute refusal to sell the rights to his novel. The letter below, written in 1957 in response to an enquiry from a Mr. Herbert (and currently for sale here), is a perfect example of the opposition faced and provides an entertaining glimpse at the author's reasoning.
Transcript
R. D. 2
Windsor, Vt.
July 19, 1957
Dear Mr. Herbert,
I'll try to tell you what my attitude is to the stage and screen rights of The Catcher in the Rye. I've sung this tune quite a few times, so if my heart doesn't seem to be in it, try to be tolerant....Firstly, it is possible that one day the rights will be sold. Since there's an ever-looming possibility that I won't die rich, I toy very seriously with the idea of leaving the unsold rights to my wife and daughter as a kind of insurance policy. It pleasures me no end, though, I might quickly add, to know that I won't have to see the results of the transaction. I keep saying this and nobody seems to agree, but The Catcher in the Rye is a very novelistic novel. There are readymade "scenes" - only a fool would deny that - but, for me, the weight of the book is in the narrator's voice, the non-stop peculiarities of it, his personal, extremely discriminating attitude to his reader-listener, his asides about gasoline rainbows in street puddles, his philosophy or way of looking at cowhide suitcases and empty toothpaste cartons - in a word, his thoughts. He can't legitimately be separated from his own first-person technique. True, if the separation is forcibly made, there is enough material left over for something called an Exciting (or maybe just Interesting) Evening in the Theater. But I find that idea if not odious, at least odious enough to keep me from selling the rights. There are many of his thoughts, of course, that could be labored into dialogue - or into some sort of stream-of-consciousness loud-speaker device - but labored is exactly the right word. What he thinks and does so naturally in his solitude in the novel, on the stage could at best only be pseudo-simulated, if there is such a word (and I hope not). Not to mention, God help us all, the immeasurably risky business of using actors. Have you ever seen a child actress sitting crosslegged on a bed and looking right? I'm sure not. And Holden Caulfield himself, in my undoubtedly super-biassed opinion, is essentially unactable. A Sensitive, Intelligent, Talented Young Actor in a Reversible Coat wouldn't nearly be enough. It would take someone with X to bring it off, and no very young man even if he has X quite knows what to do with it. And, I might add, I don't think any director can tell him.
I'll stop there. I'm afraid I can only tell you, to end with, that I feel very firm about all this, if you haven't already guessed.
Thank you, though, for your friendly and highly readable letter. My mail from producers has mostly been hell.
Sincerely,
(Signed, 'J. D. Salinger')
J. D. Salinger
From Letters of Note
Friday, 22 January 2010
Crackerbag
Cracker Bag from Glendyn Ivin on Vimeo.
Eddie spends her pocket money obsessively hoarding fireworks and carefully planning for cracker night. When it finally it arrives, Eddie and her family head to the local football oval. In the frosty air Eddie lights the fuse of her first cracker and experiences a pivotal moment, one of the seemingly small experiences of childhood, that affects us for the rest of our lives.
Set in the 1980s, Cracker Bag is a gentle suburban observation which subtly reflects a disenchanting prelude to the coming of age.
Winner of the Palme D'Or - Short Film Cannes Film Festival 2003
Directed by Glendyn Ivin, Produced by Jane Liscombe, Director of Photography Greig Fraser, Edited by Jack Hutchings, Music by Nicola Lester and Joel Ritchie.
glendynivin.com
Exitfilms.com
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Friday, 15 January 2010
Are you fed up with airline staff rinsing your stuff or having your bag turn up in a different country? Pack a gun.
If you don't like your bags being out of your sight and it makes you uncomfortable to think that airline workers are rifling through your stuff, you can take advantage of the TSA's own security rules by packing a gun.
Photo: Vince Alongi
Most of the time, travelers are on the short-end of TSA regulations. In this instance, however, you can use travel rules to your advantage. If you're traveling with equipment you would prefer locked up and watched more closely than your run of the mill luggage, you can pack a firearm with the equipment or luggage. Whether or not you own an actual firearm isn't important, the TSA considers a starter pistol a firearm, and it must be checked in and secured properly. Bruce Shneier, on his security and privacy centered blog, highlights how some creative professional photographers have been using this rule to their advantage. One of the photographers writes:
A "weapon" is defined as a rifle, shotgun, pistol, airgun, and STARTER PISTOL. Yes, starter pistols - those little guns that fire blanks at track and swim meets - are considered weapons...and do NOT have to be registered in any state in the United States.
I have a starter pistol for all my cases. All I have to do upon check-in is tell the airline ticket agent that I have a weapon to declare...I'm given a little card to sign, the card is put in the case, the case is given to a TSA official who takes my key and locks the case, and gives my key back to me.
That's the procedure. The case is extra-tracked...TSA does not want to lose a weapons case. This reduces the chance of the case being lost to virtually zero.
It's a great way to travel with camera gear...I've been doing this since Dec 2001 and have had no problems whatsoever.
You can pick up a super basic starter pistol for around $16-20—really nice starter pistols can easily cost $100-200, but you're not concerned about the quality—a rather small sum to ensure that your case of photography equipment or personal effects will be watched more carefully and only opened in your presence.
Photo: Vince Alongi
Most of the time, travelers are on the short-end of TSA regulations. In this instance, however, you can use travel rules to your advantage. If you're traveling with equipment you would prefer locked up and watched more closely than your run of the mill luggage, you can pack a firearm with the equipment or luggage. Whether or not you own an actual firearm isn't important, the TSA considers a starter pistol a firearm, and it must be checked in and secured properly. Bruce Shneier, on his security and privacy centered blog, highlights how some creative professional photographers have been using this rule to their advantage. One of the photographers writes:
A "weapon" is defined as a rifle, shotgun, pistol, airgun, and STARTER PISTOL. Yes, starter pistols - those little guns that fire blanks at track and swim meets - are considered weapons...and do NOT have to be registered in any state in the United States.
I have a starter pistol for all my cases. All I have to do upon check-in is tell the airline ticket agent that I have a weapon to declare...I'm given a little card to sign, the card is put in the case, the case is given to a TSA official who takes my key and locks the case, and gives my key back to me.
That's the procedure. The case is extra-tracked...TSA does not want to lose a weapons case. This reduces the chance of the case being lost to virtually zero.
It's a great way to travel with camera gear...I've been doing this since Dec 2001 and have had no problems whatsoever.
You can pick up a super basic starter pistol for around $16-20—really nice starter pistols can easily cost $100-200, but you're not concerned about the quality—a rather small sum to ensure that your case of photography equipment or personal effects will be watched more carefully and only opened in your presence.
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Miejski Klub Sportowy Znicz Pruszków away end
I have seen some shit away stands, Ninian Park took some beating but this is just about as bad as it gets. This is the away stand at Miejski Klub Sportowy Znicz Pruszków in Poland.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
Hello 2010
I was five minutes from my house with a pack of Dunhill and a carton of Quelmes when someone phoned me up and said come back into London. Ordinarily I wouldn't do it but sometimes you just gotta say what the fuck. It happened that one of my favourite boozers, The Chandos, was open so we holed up in there for while then I got the fuck out of Dodge. It was way too manic for me. I was back in the comfort of my own home in time to watch the fireworks on the box.
Here are a few photos of new year and more can be found here.
A long-exposure photo created using sparklers shows children writing out "2010", celebrating on New Year's eve in Manila on December 31, 2009. (ROMEO GACAD/AFP/Getty Images)
A sanitation worker cleans up garbage from the New Year's Eve celebration in New York Times Square in the early hours of New Year's Day Jan. 1, 2010. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
A couple kiss during New Year's celebrations in New York's Times Square January 1, 2010 (REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi)
Fireworks light the sky in front of Mayon Volcano during New Year's celebrations in Legazpi city, Albay province, south of Manila January 1, 2010. Mayon Volcano, known for its near-perfect cone shape in the coconut-growing central Bicol region, has been spewing ash and burning mud and rocks for more than two weeks. (REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco)
People admire the moment the sun rises above Mount Fuji, which is known locally as the "Diamond Fuji", from atop Ryugatake mountain in Fujikawaguchiko town, southwest of Tokyo on New Year's Day January 1, 2010. Mount Fuji, at 3,776 metres (12,388 ft), is believed to be sacred and is seen as a symbol of good luck, more so during the New Year period. (REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao)
Fireworks explode beside the London Eye and The Houses of Parliament on the River Thames during New Year celebrations in London January 1, 2010. (REUTERS/Toby Melville)
Here are a few photos of new year and more can be found here.
A long-exposure photo created using sparklers shows children writing out "2010", celebrating on New Year's eve in Manila on December 31, 2009. (ROMEO GACAD/AFP/Getty Images)
A sanitation worker cleans up garbage from the New Year's Eve celebration in New York Times Square in the early hours of New Year's Day Jan. 1, 2010. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
A couple kiss during New Year's celebrations in New York's Times Square January 1, 2010 (REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi)
Fireworks light the sky in front of Mayon Volcano during New Year's celebrations in Legazpi city, Albay province, south of Manila January 1, 2010. Mayon Volcano, known for its near-perfect cone shape in the coconut-growing central Bicol region, has been spewing ash and burning mud and rocks for more than two weeks. (REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco)
People admire the moment the sun rises above Mount Fuji, which is known locally as the "Diamond Fuji", from atop Ryugatake mountain in Fujikawaguchiko town, southwest of Tokyo on New Year's Day January 1, 2010. Mount Fuji, at 3,776 metres (12,388 ft), is believed to be sacred and is seen as a symbol of good luck, more so during the New Year period. (REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao)
Fireworks explode beside the London Eye and The Houses of Parliament on the River Thames during New Year celebrations in London January 1, 2010. (REUTERS/Toby Melville)
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Sammy Nelson, FA Cup
Today The Arsenal just about scraped through in the FA Cup third round against West Ham. This was a game a game we never looked like winning and a replay would've done me. Stoke away is up next.
This is an old press photo of Sammy Nelson from the FA Cup against Coventry city in April 1979. Sammy Nelson got a load of grief from the North Bank after scoring an own goal before scoring a spectacular 77th minute equaliser. He then showed them what he thought of them. Arsenal beat Man Utd 3-2 in the final a month later.... Utd went out to Leeds today in one of the best games I have seen for years.
This is an old press photo of Sammy Nelson from the FA Cup against Coventry city in April 1979. Sammy Nelson got a load of grief from the North Bank after scoring an own goal before scoring a spectacular 77th minute equaliser. He then showed them what he thought of them. Arsenal beat Man Utd 3-2 in the final a month later.... Utd went out to Leeds today in one of the best games I have seen for years.
Saturday, 26 December 2009
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Marc Johnson, Modus Operandi
For no other reason than it is one of the best video parts ever. Oh yeah and one of the best songs. The Plan by Built To Spill.
photo: styley
photo: andy
photo: styley
photo: andy
2 World Industries Men
Cool World video with Chris Pastras and Randy Colvin from Spike Jonze.
It's hard to read but on the tape it says, "sell only if you need the bucks". Words to live by....
It's hard to read but on the tape it says, "sell only if you need the bucks". Words to live by....
Fucked Up Blind Kids
I am always losing stuff. I'll find it eventually but usually not for a few months when I will be looking for something else and come across it. One thing that has eluded me for a long time is my old passport. I have been looking for it for so long now I can't even remember why I wanted it but I know it's around somewhere laughing at me. My recent search has turned up a few jems....
From when Blind was a good company. These are unopened and I should put it in a frame.
From when Blind was a good company. These are unopened and I should put it in a frame.
Monday, 23 November 2009
Roma away.
Here are a few photos from an away trip to Roma from last season that were on my phone. As usual we didn't fly into the city of the game, we flew to Naples to see Napoli v Lazio.
Because of all the aggro in Italian football over the past couple of seasons there were no away fans for this fixture but inside it's a free for all. Alot of the fans were smoking hash and some were walking around the terraces bootlegging beer. They had carrier bags full of it. This seems to be quite common in football satdiums in France and Italy. It's pretty laid back and as different from English football as is possible, and better for it.
We got in with moody tickets. We didn't know this but the tickets have names printed on them. I had Vicenzo Rovito's and at the first gate they didn't want to let us in but we explained we had come from the Napoli Supporters Club and we weren't gonna smash the place up and they let us through. The second turnstyle is bar coded though and the tickets would'nt work but some fans doubled us up and we got in.
After a couple of days in Naples we head to Rome where we met the rest of the crew for the game. As usual we leave it very late to get to the ground and miss the supporters bus. We jumped in a cab which dropped us off right on the otherside of that fucking Ponte Duca d'Aosta Bridge which is the last place you wanna be. Arsenal go through on penalties and when we are finally allowed to leave one of the busses gets ambushed and a gooner gets stabbed. They cannot fucking get it right can they.
I'm not too sure about going back to Italy for the football. I'd like to see Fiorentina and Juventus are in a different ground but I for one have had enough of their bullshit. Being treated like cunts by the police and the fans are just as bad. It's like Spurs with decent beer and nice birds. It wasn't a bad trip though. Not one of the best but it was ok.
Outside The Stadio San Paolo.
Diego tattoo.
I got this outside the ground.
Mural inside the ground.
Stadio Olimpico, Roma v Arsenal.
Gelato.
This is the queue to get into the Flavian Amphitheatre. We didn't fancy this so we got onto one of the tours and we went straight in.
Inside
Snacks.
Video I shot on my phone in Naples and Rome.
Napoli v Lazio.
This is exactly what you shouldn't do when in Rome.
This is what it's all about....
Because of all the aggro in Italian football over the past couple of seasons there were no away fans for this fixture but inside it's a free for all. Alot of the fans were smoking hash and some were walking around the terraces bootlegging beer. They had carrier bags full of it. This seems to be quite common in football satdiums in France and Italy. It's pretty laid back and as different from English football as is possible, and better for it.
We got in with moody tickets. We didn't know this but the tickets have names printed on them. I had Vicenzo Rovito's and at the first gate they didn't want to let us in but we explained we had come from the Napoli Supporters Club and we weren't gonna smash the place up and they let us through. The second turnstyle is bar coded though and the tickets would'nt work but some fans doubled us up and we got in.
After a couple of days in Naples we head to Rome where we met the rest of the crew for the game. As usual we leave it very late to get to the ground and miss the supporters bus. We jumped in a cab which dropped us off right on the otherside of that fucking Ponte Duca d'Aosta Bridge which is the last place you wanna be. Arsenal go through on penalties and when we are finally allowed to leave one of the busses gets ambushed and a gooner gets stabbed. They cannot fucking get it right can they.
I'm not too sure about going back to Italy for the football. I'd like to see Fiorentina and Juventus are in a different ground but I for one have had enough of their bullshit. Being treated like cunts by the police and the fans are just as bad. It's like Spurs with decent beer and nice birds. It wasn't a bad trip though. Not one of the best but it was ok.
Outside The Stadio San Paolo.
Diego tattoo.
I got this outside the ground.
Mural inside the ground.
Stadio Olimpico, Roma v Arsenal.
Gelato.
This is the queue to get into the Flavian Amphitheatre. We didn't fancy this so we got onto one of the tours and we went straight in.
Inside
Snacks.
Video I shot on my phone in Naples and Rome.
Napoli v Lazio.
This is exactly what you shouldn't do when in Rome.
This is what it's all about....
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