Still Life: Top Tips #3

To save yourself the embarrassment of buying NUTS magazine in the shop you can make your own using Google images. This one is tiny. Small NUTS if you like...

Still Life: Top Tips #2

When photographing dried catnip as a substitute for 'skunk' in a still life picture always, make sure that the cat is in another room...

Still Life: Top Tips #1

 

When photographing bottles of Blue WKD you will notice that the stuff is not actually as blue as you would think. So pour contents of bottle down the sink (it will clean your pipes) and then refill bottle with blue mouth wash. Bobs yer uncle proper blue Blue WKD..... More top still life tips to follow.

11 tips for 2011 brought to you by

HERE.

REGENERATION. VOGUE for Photographers ?

"Too much artspeak, too few images in this article. Nothing edgy, no passion, staged/sterile/constructed photographs. Better work on Flickr by those not boxed in by the need for 'critical grounding' and artist statements prevalent in art academia. Hope these few images and those on the websites belonging to these photographers are not truly representative of the 'future'. Musée de l’Elysée imply they were seeking the most ambitious rather than the most inspiring so perhaps this is a fair reflection of those that can talk the talk."

A comment a commenter left on the comments section of BJP's article about the second installment of REGENERATION a book about who's 'proper' cool in photography. I would just like to say that the above image is from Richard Kolker and I bloody flagged him up back last year.

READ FULL ARTICLE AND SEE TEN OF THE CLASS OF 2010 AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELVES THIS BOOKS WORTH HERE.

Top Tips

manchesterphotography has always been about as far away from a technical photography blog as it's possible to get, but if you do want to find out what that small black button on the side of your camera that's marked +/- means then maybe go HERE coz it's no good asking me, I've not got a clue either.

A change of focus at London Art Fair

"The London Art Fair has been deliberately shifted more towards photography this year. There is the perception of a void since the demise of Photo-London a few years ago, and the attraction is obvious. Photography tends to be affordable and popular. Both of these appeal in a year when all gallerists have reason to fear that some clients will keep their pockets firmly buttoned."

So says John Hodgson over at the FT. CONTD

TOP PRACTICAL TIPS FROM MANCHESTER PHOTOGRAPHY

Buy your frames from Wilkinson's on Salford precinct! £4.50 for an A4 which is a good size for a photograph. Not keen on big photo's. I always think if you've got a 2 metre photograph you better have a 4 metre idea.

You got to pick a (photographers) pocket or two.

So in yesterday's post I mentioned how I had this feeling that after this coming weekends Art Fair I would get signed up by a huge gallery and live happily ever after. And as if by magic the "old campaigner" Marcus Doyle posts some invaluable advice on how to survive in the commercial gallery world. Marcus knows his onions, so listen up.

(The above image is supposed to represent Gallery owners by the way and not Marcus.............)

Watching Too Much Telly Is Bad "fer ya ass"

This shite is lottery funded & Trafford Council funded........ Middle class whites, you gotta love em.

Fighting The Fascists!

Some of Manchesterphotography's top tips for avoiding CSO's

Ok so calling Community Support Officer's fascist's may be a little strong but so is calling them Community Support anything.
http://www.policecouldyou.co.uk/pcso/overview.html I was giving GMP the benefit of the doubt over this whole "photographers getting hassled on the streets shit" and on the whole I still think that Proper Bobbie's aren't to bad I've only been told off once in 10 years that I can think of and to be fair the copper in question was wrestling with a particularly gobby lesbian at the time. However I do keep hearing stories about these CSO muppets including this from Ed O'Keefe. (http://www.edwud.com/)

"Mark

I feel that I know you well enough to send this email. After reading your blog / been subscribed to for the last six months or more you struck a cord with me on Tuesday. I'm subscribed to Photojojo.com and had previous read the list of the photographers ten commandments but it was the link to the uk photographers rights that I really enjoyed /sat through reading. Then out on Wednesday night giving a lesson onnight photography to a mate we got approached by the community"support officers" in Salford Quays. We got the usual questions, left us feeling angry - we had done nothing wrong."

So having been taking pictures on the streets of Greater Manchester for over a decade and only ever being approached once (see above) I thought I would share my TOP TIPS for avoiding confrontation with ANYONE.

1. Get a PRESS CARD these are great and make you feel dead important into the bargain. If you are a student on a photography course you can get one. If you are a grown up and supply pictures for print, web etc as a living you can get one. Now this is the thing, you have to prove that you earn the bulk of your living by doing that, however rules can always be "massaged" If you know what I mean. As you may notice mine is way out of date but still seems to fool people, although probably not now! http://www.nusonline.co.uk/studentmedia/journalism/271074.aspx
2. Act like a tourist/exchange student. Note this technique should only be used in Town/Salford Quays used in certain area's of our fair city may, no will result in a mugging. You will need a rucksack, a camera pouch "sensible" shoes or naff trainers, anorak and either a really silver compact or ridiculously expensive SLR.
3. Use an old camera. I used a Minolta Autocord 6x6 for years, people would just smile and make comments like "ah a real camera. It changes you from a weird photographer into a vintage car enthusiast type, and no one thinks of a terrorist in an Austin Heeley.
4. Ask yourself do I really need that whistle & bells half ton of SLR. It draws attention and on the whole the general public hate photographers. They think we are either paedophiles or paparazzi, or both. Chances are that unless you are trying to record Ronaldo firing one past the scouser's or Jordon's arse, a quality compact would make more sense.
5. Dress like a Scally/thug. This will ensure that CSO's will avoid you like a shit in a swimming pool. The last thing they want is some scally who knows they have no power's to start shouting "wot you goin to do knobhead" This approach is also useful when photographing around them dodgy area's I mentioned, but please only use a compact, loose the rucksack and for fucks sake don't let them think your from the social!

N.B manchesterphotography takes NO responsibility if any of the above advice leads to arrest or beatings.

How To.

Now, I have never had any intention for this site to become one of those nerdy "how to" kinda places but I found this and I think it could be useful and whats more it's free. Word of warning though, please use sparingly.............. http://www.layersmagazine.com/