Make Do & Mend

A couple of months ago I was asked by Fashion Stylist, Tommy Lloyd-Baker, if I would shoot some promotional images for his charity catwalk show, 'Make Do & Mend'. The show is helping to raise money for The Bob Champion Cancer Trust, and Whipps Cross Hospital. Both are great causes, so I was only too happy to help.

The event will showcase the collections of 8 British designers, and will be held at T47 London Bridge, on June 10th 2010. You can order tickets here.

The Impossible Project

Yesterday I blogged about my new/old Polaroid camera. Well today I got my brand new film from The Impossible Project.

Polaroid closed the doors to it's factories in 2008, and with it came the end of the instant photograph... or so it seemed at the time! A couple of the factory workers got together at the closing party and came up with a plan to keep it alive!

They signed a 10 year lease on the original Polaroid factory along with much of the old machinery used to make the film we know and love. They then set about forming their company and mixing their own brand of instant film.

Well it took them about 17 months, but in March 2010 they released their 'first flush' of PX Silver Shade instant film. This is a black and white film available for both 600 series and SX-70 series cameras. I can't wait to use mine as the examples I've seen on their website are really exciting!

Colour film is due to be released in July which will firmly announce the rebirth of the instant camera!

If you want to learn more about The Impossible Project and get the full story and a cool factory tour in instant photos, click here.

Work can come from anywhere

I recently shot the Spring/Summer range of clothing for Jeans Direct, a UK based online clothing retailer. I landed the job because my new studio is two doors down from one of their storage facilities. It just goes to show that new clients and business can come from any situation.

Now obviously it was important that my work was of a sufficient quality and that I inspired confidence in Jeans Direct to give me the catalogue, but these chance meetings can take place at any time, so it's important to be ready for them and to show any prospective client that you are willing and able to do the job, should they wish to hire you.

Old Skool Cool

I picked up a new toy this week from Ebay. I've always loved Polaroid cameras, despite never having owned one. During their heyday, when I was growing up, my parents always told me they were too expensive, so I had always used 35mm film.

I love the look and feel of a polaroid photograph. I love the snap shot nature of it, and the elongated white border, giving just enough space to write a short note about the image within it's edges.

In many ways, the Polaroid is more in tune with today than a lot of newer digital cameras. People hardly ever print their photos nowadays. Many don't even download them from their camera's memory card! Instead they sit their hidden away, often never to be seen again! Is it because people don't want prints these days? Not in my opinion. I think it's far more to do with a combination of technophobia and laziness. Modern point and shoot digital cameras, which are aimed at the ordinary person on the street have so many buttons, functions and menus that even professional photographers like myself can get confused! Most people just want a single button to take a photo, a button to look at the photo, and then a button to print it... job done! The Polaroid makes all of that even simpler! 1 button to take the photo and then print it... all in 1 go!

Unfortunately, the Polaroid factory closed in 2008, ceasing production of both film and cameras. There are still lots to be found on places like Ebay, and recently, Fuji have launched a range of instant cameras to fill the gap left by the closure of Polaroid.

So what are my plans with my c.1996 Polaroid 636 Close-Up? Well for a start, I need film! I have ordered some, which I'm itching to be delivered! Once it's here I plan to do a series of fashion editorials. I'm still planning the looks I want at this stage. I could either go for a grungy retro vibe, based on the face that I'm shooting Polaroid, or I may go for a more couture look. Watch this space...

Project : I AM PHOTOGRAPHER

One of my main goals for this year is to do more personal projects. I've been toying with several ideas recently, some of which I'll do, and some will be shelved for a later date. Personal projects are important as they give a photographer the opportunity to shoot who or what we want, and in the way we want, without the constraints of a client or art director.

Last night I finally decided on my first project... "I AM PHOTOGRAPHER". My goal for this project is to turn the camera on all the interesting people behind it. For most of us, photography isn't something we do, it's who we are.

The main part of this project will be an ongoing series of portraits of as many photographers as want to take part. These will be combined with a quote, story or first memory in relation to their life as a photographer. The aim is to showcase everyone on the project website.

A secondary element of the project is to document some of the trials and tribulations the modern photographer faces in todays paranoid society, and how we may be affected by the Digital Economy Bill and copyright law.

So if there are any photographers out there who are interested in being a part of this project, please email [email protected] with "I AM PHOTOGRAPHER" in the subject expressing your interest.