On now

Went to see Clouds Descending an exhibition by landscape photographer Jem Southam at The Lowry Centre. I met Jem on the Isle of Wight (see ‘On holiday with Martin Parr’ post) and found his work really interesting, and surprisingly full of stories (most landscape photos leave me cold).
Also on at The Lowry is A Long Exposure: 100 Years of Guardian Photography  which is well worth a looksie.

Yo ho bloody ho!

OK I’ve managed to hold off until (almost) December – You’re obviously keen to do your bit to bail out our nation’s beleaguered high streets and gloat at the box shifters who ripped you off in the past.  So if you need a couple (or so) suggestions for what to get me for Xmas here we go with my top three photobooks…
Homeland is by Nina Berman, and takes a look at a paranoid USA. Lost in the Post, by  Kevin Bonniface and Shaw+Shaw who I met t’other week at RedEye. And finally, An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar by Tamryn Simon – been out a while but now in a second edition. The picture shows the delightful illuminations which greet the happy shopper at Wythenshawe’s Civic Centre.

Ta

Thanks to the two women who picked up the viewfinder from my little Ricoh camera today. Didn’t know I’d dropped it, they weren’t sure what it was, but I heard them saying they’d better hand it in to the police. I’d got all excited taking a photo of an abandoned shopping trolley just off St Anne’s Square (pretty rare to find one of Asda’s finest in such a neck of the woods). Anyway Ta!

Manchester, Manchester

Finally got to see Manchester & New York by Jan Chlebik, the first exhibition at Manchester’s Artland Gallery. Glad I went today as by chance Jan was there. In the introduction to the catalogue he writes:

“I like being in the city, where the ordinary can become extraordinary, where places are both flawed and magnificent.” 

Which I wouldn’t disagree with. Anyway, nice to see a new (albeit small) venue in Manchester, which is still my favourite subject. Talking of which, here’s one I took earlier. Also saw the exhibition of colour documentary work by John Bulmer at the Royal Exchange. It was interesting to see Manchester as it was when I was growing up in the early 1970s. Thanks once again to Mark Page’s blog, otherwise this one would have passed me by.

The post with no name

Not taken any photos this week. In fact, like most other photographers I know, most of the time is spent sorting things out, setting things up, taking things down, chasing bits around. I’m having a clean up of my computers and realised that Mrs Dave (who would never describe herself as more than a happy snapper) probably takes more photos than me.
After my Apple Aperture training last week I’ve been trying, sort, name and keyword the last couple of years images, so it’s no bloody wonder I never get time to take any pictures.

That was the week that was

Monday: Took a few photos of cctv in shops (see the flickrstream), added a couple more shopping trolleys to the collection (now stands at 50). Talking of shopping trolleys, got an unexpected publication in Amateur Photographer of the upside down trolley (see ‘Exhibition moves on’ entry). Met a nice security guard who let me take his photo. Tuesday: Went to RedEye’s portfolio review. Whilst there met Julian McKenny – his site www.processional.co.uk is well worth a visit. Thursday saw the launch of Mishka and Liz’s Borderland which I didn’t get to (doh!). Friday: Had a days training in Apple’s Aperture software at GBM who printed and mounted my Memento Mori exhibition last year.