Category — photography

Before the default Bank Holiday weather kicked in, we took a trip to Staffordshire to visit Monkey Forest with my niece Meg who’s 3 1/2.

It was a really good afternoon spent wandering around the expansive fenced forest that is home to over 100 Barbary Macaques. They were quite chilled and obviously used to visitors (like me, with camera’s), and all looked content and VERY wise. It was funny seeing them snacking with ducks and squirrels hanging out nearby!

In March we were eventually made it to Thailand to visit one of my best friends from school Aine, and her family. They live in the crazy city of Bangkok, where we stayed with them before heading south to visit a couple of Thailands stunning beaches.

We took a lot of pics! Here are a few to start with (roll over the bottom section to show thumbnails).

April in the UK feels cold… but at least it’s light past 8pm

Today, (like so many other day’s) I went to Google and saw that their name was built of Lego? Hover over the image, and up pops the alt tag… Happy Birthday Lego! 

You’ve nurtured many hours of… innovative,

creative,

and hmm… ‘devoted’ (?)

hours of play!

Building stuff up, and then knocking stuff down… 

LONG LIVE THE BRICK!

Also, while I’m talking about building stuff up… today I see that the Created in Birmingham blog is a joint winner in the Media Guardians Innovation Awards, which is great news. 

OK, I know all over the globe there are those of us that love a bit of Zep, but I spotted this in Birmingham a few weeks ago and it got me wondering…

Would Zep fans take the time to cut intricate stencils, to then spray around the city? hmm… or is this the work of a ‘record company sponsored’ street teams ambient marketing campaign? - taking it’s lead from the designer of the newly issued Mothership collection - Shepard Fairey - Obey - Manufacturing quality dissent since 1989! Some truly great work here.

Recent browsing unearthed this photo of the face that started it all for Obey - Andre the Giant. It’s quite strange seeing his iconic face on his person, rather than a sticker or poster! 

Andre tossing Mr Fuji. Ted Pushinsky © 

Horse at New Street station by Tom Merillion ©

 …things aren’t as they first appear! Since I first saw the images of Birmingham born photographer Tom Merillion I was a fan. His images of the city, shot from the air, make this place I call home look like very detailed model. I’ve since seen similar images by photographer Olivo Barbieri of other european cities and even some photoshop generated ones of Tokyo by YongFook as found in the brilliant Ping Mag.

Colliseum, Rome by Olivo Barbieri ©

Tokyo Highway by YongFook ©

Well anyway, here’s the flipside. Model photographs that at first glance look real. I found this and thought iit was brilliant and definately worth sharing. Little People is ‘a tiny street art project’. Little hand painted people, left in London - to fend for themselves. Not much info about it’s creator ‘Slinkachu’, but new pics are posted quite regularly, and it’s certainly worth a browse.

After a restful break for Christmas and New Year, the dreaded headcold takes hold of me first day back to work! Great! - I hope everyone is well and best wishes for happy and creative 2008!

 Also, I realised that while my blog worked fine in Safari and Firefox on Mac and PC, Internet Explorer just wasn’t happy with it! (Cheers Bill!). So, I’ve changed themes and hopefully now everyone can join in!

Chris Keenan aka Prime Objective has been named as one of 4 Talents Creative Class, 2007. Chris VJs, takes pictures and makes films (oh and plays a mean mandolin!). Working with lomo, super 8 DV and more traditional photography, he’s been gradually gathering fans over the last few years. It’s great to see him being recognised in this national prize. His stunning website, (lovingly cooked up by the mighty TAK!) has oodles of great pics and unlike so many sites is updated regularly so is always worth a visit… good work Chris… bring on the future!

Possibly THE greatest distraction on the internet at the moment! After my previous sad sad post I was unsure what could come next. I’m still unsure, but this is a link to my new favourite website. Quite simply it’s an image bookmarking site and folk from all over the place post their favourite images from the sublime to the ridiculous. Following the sources can lead to some real visual treasure. I don’t know how I stumled upon it but seems I’m not the only one stumbling as it featured in ‘the guide‘ in saturdays Guardian. Some amazing stuff here, but beware it can devour time like you won’t believe. Inspiration a plenty. Go see for yourself.

A really amazing set of pics by phtgrphr Jan von Holleben that take a fairly simple idea and run with it superbly.
Take a look.