Susie Brady Photography

Cousin Kiera and her friend Vicky

2012-01-31T09:13:00.000-08:00

Just a few from a test shoot I did the other day with my cousin and her friend Vicky...and yes that is a Justin Bieber quote on the wall.

More 35mm

2012-01-30T16:37:00.000-08:00

35mm Christmas

2012-01-10T12:14:00.001-08:00

Here are a few of the photos I took over Christmas with my dad's old 35mm camera.

Black & White Christmas

2012-01-10T12:10:00.000-08:00

Lytham Cemetery

2012-01-09T14:11:00.000-08:00

A lot of people think I'm a really morbid person who has a fascination with death due to the nature of some of my photography, the latter is true but I don't think I'm particularly morbid. I had a roll of film I needed to use so decided to drag my tall friend Liam to a cemetery in Lytham St Annes to take some photos of the graves.

As we walked round I photographed the ones that made us stop and think. It does tend to be the graves of young people that catch your attention and shock/sadden you, because it makes you wonder...what happened?

There's something voyeuristic about looking at stranger's headstones I know, but I am interested in how people cope with death and how they react to it. The messages on gravestones and objects left next to them can often give you an indication of what the deceased were like or how the family are feeling. It was obvious that a lot of people had visited the cemetery over Christmas as most had flowers/gifts by them. Quite a few of the graves of young men had cans of beer next to them which some people may find tacky but others will believe that if social drinking was a hobby then why not?

P. S Not colour balanced - don't judge me all you photographers

The first and second images were the gravestones that stayed with me the most.

Final Edit of Images

2012-01-09T11:07:00.000-08:00

Here is my final edit of images in order from the 'Ginny' series.

A Short Film

2012-01-08T06:16:00.000-08:00

This is a short documentary film that about a dog, I'm including it in my research for my project on Ginny and suggest you watch it. It really made me cry but it's a brilliant piece of work. Thanks to Ross for showing it to me:

http://vimeo.com/awards2010/about

Fundraising Print Sale

2011-11-28T07:59:00.000-08:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ba3rdyearprintsale

As final year students we have to raise a minimum of £10,000 to exhibit in London in June and have a publication made of our work. We are constantly fundraising and this is one of our attempts! A selection of work (we could put forward any images we wanted to) from some of the third year students are on sale and two of my pieces are in there.

A4 - £8

A3 - £10

P&P - £2

You can view the images on our Flickr account and if you wish to buy one/several then email us at:

ba3rdyearprintsale@yahoo.co.uk

I will keep you updated with where/when our exhibition will be, we have one in Manchester and one in London in June 2012.

Thanks!

Ginny Dog

2011-11-24T08:44:00.000-08:00

Further images added.

As most of you know my/ our dog Ginny died on Tuesday 22nd November at 12pm, she was 15 years and 4 months old. They say dog is man's best friend and I definitely believe that. She was one of my best friends and a member of our immediate family. Gin was a great listener and always knew when someone was down.

Ginny collapsed last week and although she recovered the next day we knew she struggling with her hips and couldn't go on walks anymore. We came to the decision that it would be best if she was put to sleep. I went home and decided that I would photograph the process over the last few days. I found it really difficult at times but somehow I managed to do it.

Below are photographs of before and after Ginny died. I haven't included any of Ginny afterwards or any of the more graphic photographs as I know some people would find them too upsetting. However if you do want to view the rest of the images just drop me an email to susie.brady@hotmail.com and I'll happily send you them.

And for all photographers, I haven't colour balanced these yet so do not fear!

RIP Ginny. The sweetest, most loving dog we could have asked for.

(As always click on the images for a better look!)

Help Needed...

2011-11-17T04:04:00.001-08:00

Has anyone had a pet that has died within the last 6 months? Or know anyone who has? Or know anyone elderly who lives on their own and owns a pet?? Get in touch if so...

Pets

2011-11-08T04:36:00.000-08:00

People and their pets...

Yesterday...

2011-11-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

My Nephews

2011-10-25T06:53:00.000-07:00

(Click on the photos for the proper colours!)

My two little ginger nephews, George (aged 6) and Liam (aged 4).
George is an angel child. He is polite and quiet, and happily does his own thing. He loves hugs and for Christmas he only wants one thing, an alarm clock. Although he does call me Barbie...

Liam is not so angelic, but hilarious. He recently drew a picture in his school book of his teacher on fire, he's written and sent off EIGHT Christmas lists, and when we went for a meal recently he demanded to have mussels in white wine sauce and ate the lot.
Liam was having a tantrum before these photos were taken because I wouldn't play hide and seek. So I had to bribe him with a game so he'd let me photograph him.

Love those two chimps.

Mother Hubbard

2011-10-25T06:37:00.000-07:00

I went home this weekend and decided to take a few photographs of my lovely mum, Catherine. She's a rapid knitter and was making me a jumper in the above photo, she's off to a knitters convention soon.
She also likes to cook, the second photo is her in her pinny picking coriander from the garden. She's too sweet for words.

Dan the Man

2011-10-25T04:39:00.000-07:00

Just playing about with lighting and the Canon 5D II with my homie, Dan. Like the shallow depth but cropped way too tight next to his ear...annoying.

Look how deep in thought he is...

Another one from Cleveleys...

2011-10-21T06:08:00.000-07:00

Don't think I've shown this photo. My tutor gave me a link to http://www.xavierribas.com/ project 'Sundays' where people sunbathe/sit in strange places. Could be a good project...

My Dad

2011-10-18T07:10:00.000-07:00

Stew. Photo of mother to follow soon...

Brilliant Animation...

2011-10-16T11:58:00.000-07:00

I don't like to blog about stranger's work really anymore but I loved this video so much that I have to...it also applies to me as I'm afraid of spids! Thanks to Martha for showing me...

Set of Images

2011-10-13T03:51:00.000-07:00

The set of images that I showed in my crit today...going to continue with this project on the side:

Stanley Park cont...

2011-10-10T03:22:00.000-07:00

Mike the Egg...

2011-10-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd share a drawing I did for my illustrator friend Martha...

It's Never Dull...

2011-10-05T10:44:00.000-07:00

A woman doing karaoke in a bus stop and a man with a rat on his shoulder.
Same as always, click on the images for the real colours.

My Dog

2011-10-03T13:40:00.000-07:00

This is a photograph I scanned today. It's not mine it's off my sister, Alex's lomographic camera. She multi-exposed it by accident but I like it. Ginny dog is one of the best people ever (and yes I mean people not animal)...

Cleveleys

2011-09-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

Click on the pictures for the real colours!

Some shots I took on a shoot in Cleveleys the other day - taken on medium format again.
Using film a lot at the minute and really enjoying it.

Martha Rushworth

2011-09-30T04:17:00.000-07:00

This is an illustration my friend Martha did of me and Ginnydog.
Check out her blog! She's very talented...

http://martharushworth.blogspot.com/

Stanley Park

2011-09-26T09:57:00.001-07:00

Click on the photos for the real colours - the blog dulls them down on the thumbnails

Some shots taken on medium format film this morning at Stanley Park

Dan and Martha

2011-09-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

I just photographed my housemates Dan and Martha whilst we were all sat in the lounge.

Martha's an illustrator currently drawing a picture of me and Ginny dog.

I'm photographing a lot at the minute so keep your peepers peeled.

Taxidermy

2011-09-25T05:08:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to find people who have had their pets/animals taxidermied. If you know anyone PLEASE can you let me know?

Thanks!

Pet Cemetery

2011-09-23T11:34:00.000-07:00

I've been researching for my next project and have been looking in to people's relationship with their pets. I'm hoping to move in the direction of taxidermy but we shall see.

Today I went to Leyland Pet Cemetery with my friend Liam. It was really interesting and quite sweet.

Street Photographs

2011-09-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

A few shots taken yesterday on a walk along the front/central pier.

USA Shots

2011-09-20T08:31:00.000-07:00

A few photos from America that I've just re-edited.

America

2011-07-22T08:06:00.000-07:00

The colours dull when I upload them on to this blog. They are brighter on my computer...

Zion National Park

Grand Canyon

LA - Venice Beach

Route 66

San Diego Zoo

San Francisco

The photograph above is of a restaurant we ate in in San Francisco. You wouldn't think it from this picture but it was the best meal we had - all different noodle and rice dishes. It was a recommendation by a local we met on July 4th.

Lucky Charms - no saturation used here! Actual colour.

San Luis Obispo/ Santa Cruz

Yosemite National Park

I will blog soon about what we did and saw, just thought I'd show a few photos first.

Buy my Book

2011-06-10T04:19:00.001-07:00

Click here to see it!

My Book

2011-05-31T04:17:00.000-07:00

My book arrived today...here's a sneak peek:

New Website

2011-05-13T15:22:00.001-07:00

www.susiebrady.co.uk

Roadside

2011-03-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

My next project is to create a series of images on any subject I want and then publish these images into a book however I want. You've probably all heard what I am going to do because I have emailed/contacted a lot of you to ask you to look out for memorials.

I have decided to do my book on roadside memorials/shrines. All over the world there are people who mark the death of a loved one by placing flowers, teddies, notes etc at the place they died. It sounds very morbid (which is the reaction I've had from a lot of people) but I think it will make a very interesting project. Here's a question for you...have you ever stopped to look at a memorial/shrine of someone you don't know on the road? Read the cards left there? Looked to see who died? I bet the majority have. Although it's not nice to admit we are fascinated by those who have died, and how they died. Ever been to a cemetery and ended up reading the headstones of people you don't know?

Yesterday Ross and I were driving down the M6 when the cars in front braked very suddenly. We realised there had been a crash on the other side of the road and they were braking to have a look.

I don't want to go into too much detail of what I have already photographed because I want you all to see the book but I have been to find three memorials already. Yes I have to go looking for them which may sound very odd. The first I can tell you about because it was unsuccessful. I went to find a 'ghost bike' (a bicycle painted white and tied to something to show where a cyclist died) in Moss Side, Manchester. A middle aged man had been hit by a stolen car and left in the road. The worst part is that the cars behind drove round him and the police said that his injuries showed he'd also been run over by a passing vehicle. I went to find the ghost bike on Monday but it had been removed.

I don't want to make this a dark or sinister project, I just want to look at the tradition of these memorials, why people do them and why strangers feel compelled to look at them. I'm not trying to be insensitive or to create a circus from the deaths of these people, it's just a subject that isn't often talked about and I want people to be aware of.

Ross and I went to another memorial yesterday in Bolton (like I said, not going to say too much at this stage). Someone who had died in a crash on Saturday night. It was very sad but I had to take photos. I've put up a photo I'm not going to use, of a passerby reading the notes left at the memorial.

Lake District

2011-02-18T16:52:00.001-08:00

Taken on medium format film

Past North Pier

2011-02-03T02:13:00.001-08:00

Dan and I went out to the beach front past north pier at 10pm last night (it was pitch black and we could hardly see where we were going) to take a few photos. It was ridiculously windy, the tripod was struggling to stay still so we couldn't really get the photographs we wanted. But here are the results anyway, these are around three minute exposures...

The light in this image is from some illuminations that are still up in the distance, and the sea is on the left of the photograph. It was very choppy that night but because it was a long exposure it looks smooth. We had to move at one point because the waves were starting to crash over the wall.

January

2011-01-13T07:47:00.000-08:00

Two night photographs I took recently...

London

2010-12-08T05:22:00.001-08:00

A few photos I took when I went to London...

Frost

2010-12-06T10:04:00.000-08:00

Possibly the only time I think barbed wire and cobwebs are pretty!

Manchester Christmas Markets

2010-12-06T08:37:00.000-08:00

Santa was there selling fur rugs...didn't fool me!

I went to the Manchester Christmas markets the other day. It was snowing really heavily, and we had mulled wine and pancakes. It was a very Christmassy day!

Blackpool by Night 2

2010-11-24T17:41:00.001-08:00

This photograph hasn't been altered at all in Photoshop apart from to resize it. I took this at the sand dunes near St Annes. It was a long exposure at one minute, and I altered the white balance on the camera to give a slightly bluer effect. I have noticed that it does look like the background picture on Windows which is slightly annoying, but never mind.

This is what Blackpool at night really looks like.

Blackpool by Night

2010-11-24T17:35:00.000-08:00

Car Boot

2010-11-23T09:10:00.000-08:00

I went to a car boot in Quorn, Loughborough on Sunday morning. It was really interesting talking to all the different 'booters' and seeing what they were selling. Mike (in the fluorescent jacket) goes to the car boot every Sunday because 'it's something to do'. Penny and Sandra (the two women in the photo) were doing it as a one off, 'to get rid off old things'. They both insisted they put 'lippy' on before I took their photograph.
The dress and wetsuit belonged to the lady in the second picture, Cathy. She was selling her house with her husband after living there for the past 30 years...and had lots to get rid of! I spoke to her for a while, she seemed sad to be downsizing to a smaller house and leaving her current home. They'd only sold £13 worth of things that day too - not a success.

Then there was the young girl serving food... by herself, the wacky looking guy with the camper van, and the van with dirty messages on. 'Car boots' is definitely going to be an ongoing project for me...

Messing Around with Lighting

2010-11-23T05:02:00.000-08:00

Britain

2010-11-16T14:32:00.000-08:00

I had to write my own brief for my next project which I enjoyed, I decided to do it on Britain...what makes British people British?

We have to write five briefs over the next five weeks, and hand in a set of images every week. I have decided to keep mine connected by focusing on different parts of our society, traditions and norms. This week I am photographing queues...why are British people known for their queuing?

I went to capture people queuing in the local supermarket today...I will be putting my final four photos of queuing up at the end of the week, but for now here are some others I took for fun.

For my next brief I am thinking of shooting allotments (and the people who own them) or possibly a car boot sale.

P.S Why are supermarkets so bright? When you go into the heart of one you've no idea what time of day it is. Is this something they do on purpose?

50 x 50

2010-11-10T11:30:00.000-08:00

I had to put 50 images on an A2 print to show one of my personal projects over Summer.

Help!

2010-11-04T05:12:00.000-07:00

I have been lacking in inspiration since I started back this year. For some reason I just can't seem to come up with great ideas. I don't like any of the work I have produced for this year so far, so in an effort to be inspired I am going to a few exhibitions soon. However, I thought I'd ask you lot for ideas too.
I would like to focus on my documentary/editorial/portrait photography, but I need a great idea for my next project. Preferably I'd like to focus on interesting people/ideas within our society.
I have to produce five briefs - one a week until Christmas. I have to write my own briefs which is great because I can direct it wherever I want but at the same time a bit tricky to know where to start! These five briefs have to be different, however I would like my images to fit together nicely at the end of the project.
Any ideas?!

My Next Door Neighbours

2010-10-30T13:04:00.000-07:00

Magic Tree

2010-10-17T13:42:00.001-07:00

I bought a Magic Tree yesterday, remember these? It took about 4/5 hours to grow.

Sunset Outside my House

2010-10-03T15:26:00.000-07:00

Patrick

2010-10-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

I took some photos of Patrick modelling some of Becci Neary's menswear designs. I have just gone through some, tweaked them and decided to put them on here. Let me know what you think!

Prices & Prints

2010-09-15T04:38:00.000-07:00

If you would like to buy one of my prints from my blog, prices* are as follows:

Unframed

7 x 5 - £7

10 x 8 - £10

12 x 8 - £15

A4 - £18

A3 - £25

Framed

7 x 5 - £12

10 x 8 - £15

12 x 8 - £20

A4 - £25

A3 - £35

Comes in a black photo frame unless otherwise stated
*These prices do not include a postage charge

To order a print please contact me via my email address: susie.brady@hotmail.com

Also... I am soon to be unveiling my new website:

www.susiebrady.co.uk

I will let you know when it is up and running! Exciting stuff!

Notting Hill Carnival 2010

2010-09-06T06:06:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I went to visit my sister, Alex in London and my cousin Pat. On the Sunday and Monday we went to the Notting Hill Carnival, at first we were a bit nervous because people had warned us it was rough and a lot of the shops had been boarded up...even the trees were!

However, it was one of the best things I'd been to in a long time! I'd never seen anything like it. The costumes were incredible and the atmosphere was amazing. Thousands of people turned up but you could move freely and we weren't squashed at the back somewhere! We ate some jerk chicken, watched the dancers go by and then went to a few different street parties. Every street had a different DJ and hundreds of people dancing to the music! I ended up taking nearly 400 photos - here are just a few! All in all a great weekend.

A street party we went to...
Alex getting her groove on with one of the dancers...

Puffins & a Seal Named Cecil

2010-07-13T15:04:00.000-07:00

A massive thank you to Danny Green. He took us to Skomer Island off Wales to photograph puffins and he let us use his amazing equipment. Here are just some of the photographs I took. We came across the seal, who was on a rock on the beach, so I decided to get some snaps of him whilst waiting for our boat.

Video Number 2 - Stewart

2010-06-02T08:04:00.000-07:00

http://vimeo.com/12235795

As you know (if you've been reading my blog) I have been doing a film project on my dad, Stew. I presented it today...went down really well, my lecturer liked it a lot.

Have a watch and let me know what you think...

Coffins, Urns and other Merchandise

2010-04-29T06:11:00.000-07:00

Next week I am going to be photographing coffins, urns and 'other merchandise'. The undertaker that I photographed for my medium format project has asked if I would take some photos for a funeral brochure they are putting together. I am wondering what 'other merchandise' is...should be interesting. I'll post on here whatever I shoot.

Easter

2010-04-26T13:03:00.000-07:00

Me on a ride at the beach!

Photos from my trip to see Alex in Alba

I've been awful at updating my blog this Easter. No excuses except laziness.

I've had a really nice few weeks - been to Italy, Alex came back, been to the seaside, went to London, cousins came down, taken Ginny for lots of walks with Ross, seen my pals lots and been doing my project on Dad.

It's been a good break, it's my birthday next week - the big 22. I'm going to go home and have a bbq with the family I think. I can't believe I've only got a few weeks left and then I'm onto my second year. Woohoo!

2010-03-23T09:12:00.000-07:00

Also this guy...

http://www.petercallesen.com/

It's good to know that you don't need loads of expensive resources to create amazing art. All of this stuff was made out of an A4 piece of paper.

Fantastico!

Squashed Tomatoes and...Stew

2010-03-22T08:17:00.000-07:00

Photo by Catherine Brady

I have now decided that I will be doing my film project on the one and only...Stewart Brady.

What do people know about my dad? He is 60 years old, married with three daughters, has two grandsons and a dog. He was born in Bolton...lived in various places around Manchester, and then moved to Loughborough 25 years ago. He was in the police in Manchester and Leicestershire. He likes crosswords, hot weather and ice-cream... (and he'd like to order a skip......inside joke!)

However, although many people know he was a Manchester Policeman, they don't know a lot about the stories he has to tell...and blimey does he have some stories to tell! I am still finding out new ones to this day. I was told a few more the other day which involved...tramps, robbers, fighting, a 200lb weight, a crane and ending up in hospital. I have to say my dad has seen some crazy sh...shenanigans. I don't think many people have heard his stories not even me, Emma and Alex....the odd one here and there but not all of them.

So...instead of telling you them all on here you'll have to wait for my short film on the incredible adventures of Stew...

Sunset and Starlings

2010-03-07T12:15:00.000-08:00

In the last photo I added a vintage effect to make it look older and worn.

This past week Blackpool has been lovely for once! Blue skies, fairly mild; felt like spring was on its way! Finally. Today was another stunning day, so my housemates and I headed to the beach for a walk along the pier. I had a rum and raisin and mint ice cream..yum yum! Then we walked along the North Pier where we saw thousands of starlings...and this time I caught them flying!

New Brief

2010-03-05T06:12:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday we were given our next and final brief for this year (I can't believe I've nearly finished my 1st year!)

I mentioned it in an earlier post, it's the documentary film project. I am really looking forward to this project a) because I'm fed up of my current project which is nearly over, and b) because it's very different to any other project we've done and I think delving into film will be fun!

These films are the kind of thing my lecturer wants us to produce, a mixture of still images and filming, along with music, dialogue and words.

See Magnum in Motion http://inmotion.magnumphotos.com/essays
Another great short film website - from the Magnum photographers

+

www.mediastorm.org - which I've mentioned before.

I haven't had any ideas of who to document yet...so I'm watching these films to give me inspiration.

Lake District Climb

2010-03-03T15:46:00.000-08:00

Today I went to the Lake District with Dan and Grant. We climbed the fell which took us about 2/3 hours, stopping to take photos along the way. It was a bit cloudy which was a bit disappointing but the views were spectacular. There was snow at the top of the hills and the temperature dropped considerably at the top. We all really enjoyed ourselves...it made me realise how unfit I am though! Eek! We're definitely going to go back soon but to a different lake/ mountain area.
Then afterwards we treated ourselves to a Chinese with Jenny and Josh - 'all you can eat' buffet at a great Chinese restaurant in Preston. Very tired after a long day now so off to bed!

Cambridge

2010-03-02T09:03:00.001-08:00

Last weekend Ross and I went to Cambridge. It was my birthday present to him. We had a great time punting on the river with blankets and hearing the King's College Choir sing. It turned out to be a lovely day after a rainy morning! Would definitely recommend both punting and listening to the choir, amazing voices and the church itself is beautiful with large stained glass windows and a grand organ in the middle. We'll definitely be going back to Cambridge in the near future to explore some more!

Noise Project

2010-03-01T13:19:00.000-08:00

Here are some images I took for the current group project on hip hop and rap. The first photo was taken of a guy in the studio 'snorting' sherbet. I projected a picture of hearts onto the same person for the second lot of images.
For this project we have to make a magazine with the graphic designers. I'm in a group of six with four photographers and two graphic designers. I'm getting fed up with this project now because some of my group members aren't pulling their weight. Our magazine is a parody of hip hop and rap. We've decided to do the opposite of what you usually associate with rappers e.g. guns, dark colours, violence etc.
Each photographer in my group had to come up with two photo ideas and shoot them. My first idea was to photograph a rapper snorting what looks like cocaine but is actually sherbet dip. I got this idea from an image I saw on www.thecoolhunter.net
My second idea was to project hearts onto a 'rapper' to mimic the tattoos they often have but use an image that's innocent.

More on gypsy wedding...

2010-02-23T04:35:00.000-08:00

Ross showed me this.

Guests reviews on De Vere...there's a few from the gypsy wedding! Oops!

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g186332-d191526-r56740594-Herons_Reach-Blackpool_Lancashire_England.html

TV Programme

2010-02-18T14:12:00.000-08:00

Well I have to say I was disappointed with that documentary...I think it was focussing on them coming across well to us 'country' folk.

The outfits were spot on, as well as their attitudes to marriage and uncomfortableness of the married couples! But the weddings looked extremely tame compared to what we've had. The two I've done were far more raucous, hectic and...mad!

I was told today at work that there was another small wedding the same day as the gypsy wedding, in a different part of the hotel. That bride cried and the guests left instead of staying over because they were scared of the gypsies!
The manager said that they've not had that amount of complaints for years. They had to refund that whole wedding and several couples on romantic valentines weekends. But they said that they had actually made £14,000 on the bar not £9000 as I'd originally been told.

Read this...

2010-02-16T08:49:00.000-08:00

This is spot on...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1251444/Tacky-spectacularly-OTT-steeped-traditional-values--scenes-gypsy-weddings.html

including the outfits!

Gypsy Wedding

2010-02-15T08:06:00.000-08:00

Image above from Channel 4 website

Last Friday I did a gypsy wedding at work.....I wish I was allowed to take photos at these events because they are like nothing else! I ended up working 5pm-5:30am which was a killer!

To start off with the bride was 16 years old (just turned the day before the wedding). We think it was an arranged marriage because both her and the 19 year old groom looked very uncomfortable around each other. Apparently if you reach the age of 20 and aren't married then you're past it!! eek! Her parents said they'd been organising it since she turned 13. Nice.

Gypsies are really odd people. They don't seem to have the manners that we have, even the simple things like putting your knife and fork together on your plate, saying please and thank you, and moving out of the way when you're carrying hot plates!!! They're quite rude...and most of all wild! They're actually like wild animals. When we brought the buffet out (which consisted of ribs and chicken legs) they ignored the plates, picked the meat up with their hands, ate it in a few bites and then threw the bones on the floor. There must have been over 200 bones on the floor at the end of the night. Then a few people wiped their mouths with the table cloth!!

The outfits were one of the highlights of the night. For a start the bride wore a HUGE dress. Very wide, with her hair piled up. The girls outfits are crazy. All bright colours, one woman wore a pvc dress, another girl of about 14 wore a thong and bra!!!!! All the little girls wear huge heels and faces full of make up, they look like they belong in these freak show American beauty pageants.

Then there were six fights in total during the night. One man covered in blood, police were called. The guests went from 250 to 600 after hundreds of gypsies gatecrashed! They trashed the hotel, the room at the end of the night looked like it had been bombed. The tables were upside down, chairs and glasses broken, drinks all over the floor, cigarette butts everywhere (they smoked in the hotel!) Picture frames smashed all through the hotel including the corridors upstairs where the rooms were. People wandering in the staff quarters, two people found smoking in the conference area (opposite side of the hotel). It was mayhem!!

But..they spent over £9000 on the bar..all cash in hand. They pull out wads of hundreds of pounds. They each put a grand behind the bar and when that's gone someone else puts another grand behind. One fifteen yr old boy asked to put money behind!! I don't know where they get that amount from, apart from not paying taxes.

Also the men treat the women like rubbish. A few of the staff saw different guys hitting women (including boys grabbing their mothers), holding them against a wall by their necks, spitting at them. It was horrible.

Anyway they eventually left the room at 2:30am and we began clearing the room, we finished at 5:30am. As I left they were still partying in reception which was an absolute mess! And the worst thing was there were couples on Valentine's weekends. Romantic. Haha.

A very interesting but hectic wedding. I felt like I was in Eastenders.
X

P.S Watch 'My Big Fat Gyspy Wedding' this Thursday on Channel 4, from the trailers they look exactly like the gypsy weddings we've done.

Day Two of Sunny Blackpool

2010-02-11T09:14:00.001-08:00

St Annes & Blackpool Beach at Sunset

2010-02-10T10:00:00.000-08:00

The black mass below is thousands of starlings on the beach

I was there for about 15 mins but they wouldn't fly :(

A Lovely Yummy Weekend

2010-02-07T12:15:00.000-08:00

This weekend Ross came to visit me in Blackpool. Although we didn't stay there much. On Friday we went for a lovely steak dinner at a restaurant called Ego in St Ann's Square, Manchester. We both had steaks with peppercorn sauce followed by creme brulee and chocolate fondant with raspberries and ice cream which was deeeelicious! We came back to Blackpool after the meal and made brownies which were yummy!

On Saturday morning we headed to Oldham to see the O'Neills. We had breakfast at their house and then set off for Harrogate with Patrick and Becci. We headed straight for Betty's tearoom. We had sandwiches and then cream teas. YUM! After that we walked round Harrogate for a couple of hours, it was a foggy day though so I don't think we saw it at its best.

After heading back to Oldham we ordered a Chinese which again was lovely but very filling! We stayed over in Oldham and went to Manchester this morning to Nexus cafe. It's an art cafe which has events going on. There was a man doing screen prints and then giving them out, although we left before he started.

I had such a lovely gourmet food weekend and am looking forward to the next mini adventure!
X

Two New Briefs

2010-02-03T04:31:00.000-08:00

For this term we've been given two briefs.

The first is a project where we were each given a random phrase which we have to use to create a photograph.
Mine is '"Do not follow me, I don't know the way" said the sign.'
Any ideas? Dad said a sheep because they are known to follow each other. I then have to swap my phrase with two other people so ultimately I will have three photos from three phrases.
They can be any genre of photography, you can have free reign of this project.

My second project is a graphic design and photography project. I'm in a group of seven, made up of three graphic designers and four photographers. Two didn't turn up. I can tell that I'm going to get frustrated with this project.

We have to create a magazine with a starting point of 'Hip Hop and Rap'. Every group was given a different music genre. We take the photos and the GDs create the magazine.

Undertaker

2010-01-22T06:53:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I met with Andrew Floyd, an undertaker. He was a lovely man, very helpful and interesting.

I took ten photographs of him for my current project, and seeing as loads of people are under-exposing their images and having problems with the medium format camera, I was quite pleased with mine. They're not amazing but fine for my first try with the camera. It's a fiddly camera but I really liked it. I think we can become good friends.
Looking back I think my idea was a bit of a cliche and I wish I'd done something else a little more 'out of the box', but I've learned from that and am going to apply it to my next project (which is a video project following a person).

Here are a few samples of the images I took, I've converted them to black and white and sepia because I think they suit the mood of the image and subject. However, I usually prefer to work in colour.

He said the best part of his job was helping the families get through a sad time, and the worst was children's funerals. He had just come back from Canada, he had done a two year degree in embalming. Although he said it didn't give him any advances in his job when he came back.

Also..I looked at Stephen Shore's work today...I really like his work! Look him up
X

A Short Film

2010-01-13T03:47:00.000-08:00

In my seminar this morning my tutor Alan said that at the beginning of the next term we would be given a project to do with film.
We will have to make a documentary style film lasting 4-5 mins.

He showed us a few short films on www.media storm.org which I had actually come across before.
I had seen 'The Ninth Floor' before which is about squatters who live on the ninth floor of a building on Fifth Avenue in New York. It was harrowing but a good film.

We watched two this morning...'Marlboro Marine' and 'Friends for Life'. They're all quite sad films but they're well made. 'Friends for Life' was one of my favourites.

We have to start thinking about what/who we want to document which I think is going to be really interesting. Who can I document........Liam? After finding this photo I thought of 'Me and my Milk Belly' or 'The Pregnant Baby'...haha!
Au revoir!x

First project of the second term

2010-01-12T14:59:00.000-08:00

Today I got my brief for the new project, working with medium format cameras this time.

Aims

* To demonstrate control of ambient and flash lighting on location

* To demonstrate control of Mamia 6x7 and Pentax 6x7 medium format camera

* To demonstrate control of exposure evaluation in assessing correct exposure

Objectives

* To create an editorial or documentary portrait demonstrating an original approach to the genre

* To transfer skills to a new camera format (medium format).

* To demonstrate control and skill in the use of electronic flash

The Brief

Find an interesting person in an interesting working environment and create either an editorial or a documentary style photograph. Think carefully about visual indicators, backgrounds and props. Make your photograph visually striking through the use of camera angle, composition, lighting and in the case of editorial photography, engagement with your subject.

I have a few ideas of interesting working people, so far I've thought of:

An undertaker
A dancer (the ones who wear the fancy costumes)
A milkman
A priest

Currently brainstorming ideas..let me know if you have any!
I'm going home this weekend to celebrate Ross's 22nd birthday which will be nice. Happy Birthday Ross!

X

Happy New Year!

2010-01-06T02:17:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I had a lovely Christmas with all the family and special guests Lucy, Jess and Gerry. We had such a brill time eating, drinking, going for a walk and laughing a lot. Before Xmas we went to Charlotte and Dave's wedding which was nice!
Then after Christmas me and the fam went to Cornwall for New Year. We stayed in log cabins in a forest near Looe.

I'm now back in Blackpool in a freeeeezing cold house!! I had to stay in bed all yesterday to keep warm! There's snow everywhere, really thick. As soon as I got back I was told uni had been cancelled this week :(. Could've stayed by the warm fire at home for a bit longer! Never mind. At least now I can crack on with work that needs to be done.

I have made a couple of New Years resolutions.. I hope I stick to them! Good luck with all yours!
X

Lake District

2009-11-26T14:56:00.000-08:00

Today I went to Kendal in the Lake District with Dan. He had to take his outdoor shot and wanted to take it at a waterfall near where he lives (nice place to come from!) Kendal's such a lovely place, lots of nice pubs and little shops.

It started off well...sunny and dry. Took some nice photos walking up to the waterfall. Then we got the camera out and as soon as we did that it threw it down...and then hailed. Hard. It really hurt! So we had to shelter for a bit...it carried on for a while so we ended up just taking the photo in the rain. Hope it comes out ok!

Lake District is such an amazing place though..definitely want to go back when it's a bit warmer!