More gas mask fun from the weekend. I’m really pleased with how this one came out – I think it has a lovely creepy dreamlike feel that was 100% worth my friend Mike risking life and limb in order to perch up there. Thanks, Mike!
Author: Alasdair
Desperately Seeking
Abandoned industrial/warehouse space in London. I would really like to do some photoshoots in derelict industrial/warehouse space, or on largely empty industrial estates. Anyone know of anywhere that would fit this bill that I can make arrangements to use that won’t see us having to scale fences to break in and/or getting chased off by security guards?
Hell, I’m even willing to sign indemnity paperwork and/or pay modest/reasonable fees for the use of the space.
Anyone know of anywhere? Anyone got *access* to anywhere that they’d be willing to let us into for a few hours on a Saturday/Sunday in exchange for beers or modest remuneration?
Links For Sunday 26th April 2009
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Might look at hiring this place at some point – it's not ultra-pricey, and if the cost is split between a group, it could make for a fun day out.
Science And Nature
The Secret History Of World War 3
Lost Planet
I’ve just put a fresh set up on flickr – my friend Mark’s band, Lost Planet were playing at The Ship in Croydon, and he asked me to go along and take photos, particularly of him (pictured here, mid-stick-twirl) because he doesn’t really have any photos of himself at work. It was a bit of an unusual gig shoot – Mark’s drum kit took up more or less the entire stage, so for once, it was the drummer who was best lit (which was handy for my ability to get photos of Mark), and getting photos of the lead singer and guitarist was much trickier than usual.
Links For Friday 24th April 2009
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Obviously, I will have to order some of these at the first available opportunity. And then people will be able to contact me. Contact me with meat! And lasers!
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Font nerds ahoy – there are some total gems in here, and all are at least worth a look.
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To be honest, I'm only surprised it's taken this long. Sure, they were very important in 1999/2000, and yes, it's a slice of internet history vanishing here, but I really don't recall the last time I looked at a geocities site, or met anyone who had one.
On A Lighter Note:
Links For Thursday 23rd April 2009
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Sign up now for your chance stand around on a plinth in Trafalgar Square for an hour at some point over the summer. I have. Fingers crossed…
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Well, *duh*.
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Jason Kottke's round up of well, exactly what is says – media packing redone in various distinctive styles that are more usually associated with some other form of media. Some gems in here.
St George’s Day
Several people have wished me, either specifically, or as part of general bit of well wishing to all their digital friends, a Happy St George’s Day today. Because there’s been a trend in recent years to try and celebrate it, a bit like St Patrick’s Day, presumably because the big breweries will jump at any excuse to sell more beer.
I have had to restrain myself from snarling at them. I am not proud to be English. I find the suggestion that I ought to be deeply offensive. I find the notion that Englishness is anything to celebrate to be tedious, at best.
This is not out of a hatred of the English. I like the English, what with being one of them myself. I like cream teas, and gin, and pints of bitter, and awkward politeness and talking about the weather. I like my friends, and I like the culture I come from.
I like a lot of cultures I don’t come from, too. I like French cheese, red wine, and snobbery about the quality of life. I like American breakfasts and and their willingness to chip in to help others. And so on.
But I could list things I hate about all of those cultures, too. A lot of things.
Celebrating any one culture over any of the others is repugnant to me. Suggesting I should be proud of the one I come from is far too small and parochial. Patriotism, national pride, these things bespeak a tribal view of the world that exists to separate “us” from “other”. I will have none of that. I am a human being of Earth, and even saying this, I find that scale a little small.
Maybe I’m being unfair to my patriotic friends who love the good things their country and culture and just want to celebrate it. Tell you what: when we’ve got rid of the bad things, we can celebrate the good. When we’ve eliminated prejudice and want and suffering and disease and death, then we can talk about having something to celebrate. Until then, let’s not all wrench our arms patting ourselves on the back, eh?
Although, on reflection, maybe St George’s Day is a good day to celebrate being English. After all, St George was a Turk, and he is the patron saint of Aragon, Catalonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, and Russia as well. The fact that we in England have tried to redefine him and his day as an English myth, and an excuse to celebrate Englishness rather than multiculturalism seems kind of appropriate.