Sodley-on-Sea Gets Grant For The Arts award.

 Sodley-on-Sea gets a grant from the Arts Council. It's to fund the production of  light boxes, exhibitions and run workshops based around Sodley. Further details to follow. Big thanks to Andy Brydon from CURATED PLACE for all his help and advice.

Fuck Dragon's Den.

 

Good ideas don't need a telly programme. If I had one musical bone in my body I would upload it HERE and get me a single and you can too Pop Pickers. Pop pickers, that wasn't one of uncle Jimmy's sayings was it? Can you still say Pop Pickers?

I reckon this idea could be as big for muso's as blurb is for photographers. And of course it's come from here in Manchester. If self publishing has been the big news over the last few years then go HERE to the new kid on the block and self record deal.

Sometimes I Bloody Despair Of Photographers.....

 

You may have seen this story and image floating around social media. It's a tale of a painter who's used a photo he's seen as the starting point for a painting he's made. Photographer finds out gets pissed off and thinks "nice one I can make a quid I'll sue the fucker"  it goes to court. It's a bit like the Richard Prince type thing only this time the photographer wins. Art world is a bit miffed, freedom of artistic expression they cry, conservative photo world declares victory for copyright and the status quo. Anyway you can read the tale and common sense comment HERE

Now you may be thinking that I'm having a go at the photographer Katrijn Van Giel well I'm not. It's a strong portrait that's been appropriated by a well known successful artist so I understand their reaction, although in this case I think both the photographer and the law are acting daft. If it was one of my pictures and a top artist like Luc Tuymans decided to use one of my photos I would not only be chuffed to death but I would also milk it like fuck. Still Van Giel is quids in.

It's not a good decision for art though and the reaction from a lot of folk in the photography world just shows their plain ignorance and lack of understanding when it comes to issues being raised by contemporary art. This worries me (as far as photography goes but not like global warming or the new bus lane on the East Lancs Road) because it's some of the movers and shakers of the photography world who think this is a victory. 

I copied the below post from someone on facebook. I've not said who it is so I hope they won't sue me over copyright.

"You can see from my photos that I brave the elements to make them-I am up in the middle of the night, or early morning- or outside in the very cold. They are my point of view- the way I see things - my work and the photographs are the end result, unless I want to do something else with them. I am always talking about how much I resent painters saying they want to paint my photograph. I think painters should find their own subject matter- and go out and take photos if they use photos as inspiration. I think, I can paint my own photograph, but other's should not. I get testy. Of course I have no control when I post them. The choice seems to be that my photographs get seen every few years in a gallery setting, and they are seen no where else, or I post them online, and obviously, I chose to post them. It is, to me, a question of morals, integrity and originality
http://hyperallergic.com/176138/luc-tuymans-convicted-of-plagiarism-for-painting-photo-of-politician/"

PS I just saw this! https://www.lensculture.com/articles/katerina-belkina-paint-a-series-of-photographic-self-portraits

I could could get upto so much shit with one of these....

 

Goodbye photography hello photography. 3D printing. Some lucky artist with shit loads of money will soon be making a name for themselves playing with these new 3D printers. My money is on Dame David Hockney, at least if the company that makes them has any PR sense. From SNAP! Orlando........  

 

3D Printer Photo Booth Makes Figurines:

Instead of photos, Tokyo’s stylish Harajuku district will soon be home to an unusual pop-up photo booth—customers will walk away not with photos, but with 3D printed figurines of themselves. The customer is first 3D scanned in a process that requires them to stand still for 15 minutes. A 3D model of the customer is then refined on a computer before output to a 3D printer. The figurines are available in sizes ranging from 4 to 8 inches. The 3D printer photo booth will be open November 24 to January 14, 2013.

(Although that model fella has a girls front bum which is a bit of a worry)

Stephen Wiltshire.

See more of Stephen's work HERE see more of my drawings in the bin in my office.

Whatever next?

English football fans asked to stay at home incase they get hurt! Along with the British motor industry and HP sauce it looks like we have also lost our dominance as THE preeminent Football thug nation. Perhaps it's time for a new organisation, 'HOOLIGANS AGAINST RACISM'.

Have these people seen me?

It does beg the question, have these people seen me or read this blog? When I get emails like this.....

"Afternoon,
Hope you’re well. I just wanted to get in touch to invite you to a preview event on Thursday 3rd May.

We’re exclusively showcasing some of ----- -----'s portraits in an exhibition titled ‘----- -- --------’. We will be holding private viewings and then opening the exhibition to the public from Friday 4th – Monday 7th May at the Emporio Armani store in Manchester.
We would love if you could join us for the preview, and wondered if this could work on
Manchester Photography as an event listing / news for the public view dates?
It would be great to know your thoughts and please do let me know if you need any imagery.

Best wishes,"

------- ------ Emporio Armani Press Officer


Giorgio Armani Press Office

189 Brompton Road

SW3 1NE

You're not kidding are you?

I got an email today from a bloke asking me if I could link back to his and I quote, "My Manchester Airport parking page" Now I thought interesting photo project, a bit of a Martin Parr 'Parking Spaces' rip-off but heyho I've never seen it narrowed down to something as specific as 'Airport parking' before. So OK that could be interesting what with the fact that you leave your car there longer. Perhaps he is photographing the residues that gather on the car windscreens or perhaps he's collecting notices or flyers (No pun intended) that are being left on the cars OK nice one I'll check out the link. No. It's just a website about Airport parking spaces. So anyway Matt HERE you go you cheeky bastard.

Zen.

Cheers STAN.

How bloody good

does Sally Mann's latest book look? See preview in the latest edition of

1000 WORDS.

Slide Away........

I was blown away when our kid sent me a link to these 'slides' dating back to the early 40's and from the FARM SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. Always been used to seeing the Walker Evans & Dorothea Lange stuff, not familier with the work of the photographers featured here though. Look at the quality, even on screen, stunning. There's loads, so take your time. (IMAGES PROPERTY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS).


"These images, by photographers of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information, are some of the only color photographs taken of the effects of the Depression on America’s rural and small town populations. The photographs are the property of the Library of Congress"..... HERE for more

And more content nicked off the 'brilliant, where the fuck did they find that' duckrabbit.
.

Image copyright Mark Page

Yeah well you can fuck up the polling at the General Election but they better not mess up the voting on the above in a few weeks time or The British public may get really annoyed.........

Happy Easter From The Vatican !

As a child I never really liked Easter. I couldn't understand why the baby Jesus three months after Christmas was getting crucified. Of course as I've got older I now understand to never put anything past religion.. Happy furry Easter Bunny!

A Life in Politics.........

Let that be a warning.........

The Really Wild Post.

Image David Spears.

I've said it before but I keep doing this blogging in no small part because of the people and organisations I come across. I get people sending me all kinds of links to all kinds of weird and wonderful webby places. And this is no exception;

"Hi Mark,

My name is Melissa, and I work on Rentokil's blog http://www.rentokil.com/blog>.I just wanted to let you and your readers know that we've just posted an interview with David Spears, a science photographer who specialises in macro photography.

http://www.rentokil.com/blog/shooting-insects-for-science/>. I would greatly appreciate it if you let your readers know about it.
Thank you for your time.

Kind regards,Melissa Campbell"

This is one of the more surprising ones! Who would have thought that Rentokil would have a blog. Go take a look. Cheers Melissa I did enjoy it.

While looking up David online I came across THIS. 'WILD FILM HISTORY' website which has got some great films on it. Brilliant this Internet.

BLURB Gets Royal Approval

If it's good enough for our Martin...................

We English, speak for yourself.

Copyright Simon Roberts?
Copyright Peter Bialorzeski

I've never got what all the fuss is about when it comes to we English by Simon Roberts. Starting with the title, it makes no sense. The work is clearly only about one very slender section of English life. Leisure, and a very slender section of leisure at that. It should be called 'These are the leisure pastimes of the readers of The Daily Mail with one picture of pissed scousers some, Blackpool shots and a picture of some Maccum footie fans thrown in to represent the North and non Mail reading English folk'. Although granted that's not such a catchy title but it is more accurate. No signs of Multiculturalism or Diversity in Roberts England. Us English are apparently forever condemned to live in the home counties in 1955 with just the odd trip to 'The Lakes'. It received Arts Council money, I hope The National Trust have put their hands in their pockets, it sure looks like one of their ads.

I can hear people saying jeez why the spleen over poor Roberts. I don't normally get stuck into other photographers that's true (OK the cliches bit I mean besides that) but if public money is going into a series/book/career then I reckon they should be accountable. And besides fellow Manc bloggers BLACKLAB posted THIS . Too much coincidence for my liking. There's an interesting interview with Peter Bialobrzeski HERE. Be sure to read the first question.

HUGO GETS IT, MAGNUM EXCUSED?

One of 714 images of Nigeria on the MAGNUM site.