ExVivo

I have had a week off to chill, and my God I have needed it. After a few days of boring daytime TV, lie-ins and half a swimming pool of tea I decided to get my lazy bones into Newcastle. I have been shooting street portraits for over 12 months now for my 100 Strangers Project however lately I have been very slow in adding new people. After a few hours and two great strangers that I will post later I saw this lady.

View the image here on flickr

I knew I had to get her in my project as she simply looked amazing, very alternative but very beautiful and photogenic. I saw her about to cross the road on a busy roundabout in Newcastle city centre and raced after her. I told her about my project and she happily agreed to be part of it - result. This was my first shot, at the time I thought the glaring green and red traffic lights where too harsh and moved her to another nearby location. When I got home and reviewed the images I realised the original lighting was just too good not to use. It turns out that this amazing looking lady is an alternative model called ExVivo. I am now thinking of various photoshoot ideas for ExVivo as I really think I could get some great images with her.

And randomly this music is also banging around my head with regards to this image. But they say music and photography go hand in hand.

Radiohead 'Everything In It's Right Place'

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Withnail & I

I have recently lost all my mirth.... Well not actualy but I have been photographing without fun or adventure. I have been shooting some commercial imagery with mixed results, both good and bad. I have been forcing my work and had forgotten why I picked up a camera - to show the world as I see it.

The reason for calling this post 'Withnal and I' (one of my alltime favourite films) is because I feel empathy and simlarities to both main characters. I hope that I am more 'I' than 'Withnail'! The scene below (spoiler alert - final scene) sees Withnail quoting from Hamlet, summing up his feelngs of dispair. Still one of the greatest final scenes in cinema.

On a happier note, I have recently recieved the creative kick in the arse that I have long needed and also have some interesting shoots lined up to kickstart the next phase in my practice. Watch this space.

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Faces - Truth and Lies

I am often asked if I take photos of anything other than people and the answer is yes - but not that often. The reason I take portraits is because I truly believe that the human face is endlessly interesting. different emotions can be conveyed by the tilt of a head, glint in an eye or the shape of a smile. I read somewhere that humans are the only mammals who show the whites of our eyes, which is an aid to communication and apparently coincided with our language development. Even when we hide our face with makeup or deliberately distort our features we still show signs of our character - especially with our eyes. The Portrait below is of John from The Low Lights Tavern - my all time favourite pub. Even though John was dressed for Halloween you can still see that behind the ghoulish make up he is a fun, warm and friendly guy.

 "Bad Santa? - see the image here on flickr

Apparently there is an exception to prove every rule - So the image below of my spooky Halloween fiancee - whom is one of the kindest people I know - looks incredibly scary!

"The Haunting" - see the image here on flickr

For a truly amazing collection of portraits check out Steve McCurry's Portraits - one of my all time favourite photographers and a massive inspiration to many photographers of all kinds,

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