January 2018

B302 – SOMETHING ON EVERY WALL

January 31, 2018January 31, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

I forgot how hard it is to think of photos to post during a working week, its a completely different ball game all together and takes a lot of brain usage each day. but my thinking last night was what kind of typography you might see about London and the different kinds of advertising tactics that different companies use.

I feel that east London especially puts a lot of effort into the different types of advertising that is used, like the photo I took of the new Maze Runner film, they literally went all out on that thing, and painted a whole wall, then just to make it look that little bit better than stuck some UV lights at the top to make the whites stand out. but I think that my favourite photo from last night was when just by chance I looked up and saw that Jealous sign in Old Street, just by the American Car Wash for those of you that know the area. The way they have done that stands out so good for the area and its not completely in your face, I bet most people just walk past that and don’t even see it, then once you do notice it you wont ever forget its there. its genius. Then to give it some more depth, you wouldn’t even know why its there, so you do what I have done and go home to google it and find out its a framing and picture printing studio, I know it says print studio in the window but I genuinely thought that meant like magazine printing or something but now that has become somewhere I need to stop by and find out more about, as Ive started printing my own pictures but don’t really know enough about yet, so Jealous Printing studio has now become somewhere I need to explore more and maybe speak to them about helping me figure out the best way to print my photos.

Its now Wednesday morning and Im just getting ready to get out the door, so have a smasher of a Wednesday and hope you like these photos.

B302-1 — – they’ve definitely done a good job with this one –

B302-1-5 — – this must of taken ages todo! –

B302-1-3 — – east london has got something writen on every wall! –

B301 – MONDAY NIGHT FOOD

January 30, 2018January 30, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

So yesterday was my first day of work and as a result I did the same thing as everyone else in London. I stopped off at Sainsburys and starred at the oven pizzas thinking that because its Monday I might as well go for it, well that maybe something I would have done in 2017 but its now 2018 and Im determined to cook as much as possible, nothing to crazy each night, not like some weird roast beef with home made horse radish, more like the dish I went for last night which was actually really easy and cheap.

for those of you at Ive talked to about cooking, you probably know that Ive been using the Yummly app, which is basically somewhere I am getting all my recipes from and last night was no exception. The meal I decided to cook was called “Summer In Winter Chicken” I like to call it – Pesto Creamy Chicken. And its actually really straight forward.

the ingredients were:

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

200 grams cherry tomatoes (pack)

3 tablespoons pesto

3 tablespoons crème fraîche (half fat is fine)

fresh basil (if you have it)

and then you literally just follow these simple steps and your done:

Heat the oil in a frying pan, preferably non-stick. Add the chicken and fry without moving it until it takes on a bit of colour. Turn the chicken and cook on the other side. Continue cooking for 12-15 mins until the chicken is cooked through. Season all over with a little salt and pepper.
Halve the tomatoes and throw them into the pan, stirring them around for a couple of minutes until they start to soften. Reduce the heat and stir in the pesto and crème fraîche until it makes a sauce. Scatter with a few basil leaves if you have them, then serve with rice and salad or mash and broccoli.

I left out the Broccoli, because I forgot and decided that I would have it wish some mash potato, which was just because I had some potatos in the fridge. If you cant be bothered to cook one night, give this dish a try.

Its now Tuesday morning and Im just getting ready for work and about to attack this day, I forgot how hard it is to photograph during the day when your working so maybe Ill just have todo loads more of my favourite food recipes, otherwise we could start to run into some stressful evening chucking fairy lights round Amys check and taking some photos of her.

Heres my photos from yesterday. Enjoy

B301-1 — – the walk to works isnt that bad really –

B301-1-2 — – this is mid cook, pesto and creme freche now involved –

B301-1-3 — – doesnt look that good, but it did the job –

B300 – I CANT BELIEVE I MADE IT THIS FAR!!

January 29, 2018January 29, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

Its a bit of a special day today, this is post 300! that means Ive posted photos everyday for the past 300 days, so heres some rough stats. thats about 90,000 words and 900 pictures, which is about the say about 8,800 words a months. for some people thats not that much but for someone like me, thats more words Ive written in the past 300 days than for probably my whole school career. See most of my classes were about me colouring in between the lines and then ticking the correct answer, everyone I think realised early on that essays where not going to be my strong point.

As this was a big day for the blog I was thinking I should post some cool photos to celebrate, but then nothing was coming to mind and then I decided why have a celebration for 300 when 365 is just round the corner now, so I should really just plan something big for that number.

Yesterday was still a pretty cool day, it was spent with some good chum, Amy, Jacob and Sophie having a look at some cameras at wex photography, Ive now fallen in love with a fujifilm x-pro2. that now holds my heart, but I suppose Ill just have to wait a bit and get it later on in the year, after that we took a trip to one of the coolest places in London, The Tate. That place is massive and so overlooked, its true what people say, one day is not enough time, you could spent a week in there and probably just about see everything. we managed to get through, the first half and then two floors of the new building. its given me some cool ideas and stuff that I wouldn’t mind trying out with my camera, its not me copying an artist its interruption right?

Anyway, today is now my first day of work for 2018! so not only is it a big day for the blog, its also my first day for work!! what a great Monday!

Enjoy these photos!

B300-1-3 — – Amy loves having her photo taken, can you tell? –

B300-1 — – Jacob looking at getting a new camera, do it! –

B300-1-4 — – I saw some photos like this in the tate and I really want to copy them –

B300-1-5 — – Jacob going looking like hes going at 100 mph –

B300-1-6 — – took this on the tube and I quite like it! –

B299 – FOOD ENVY?!!? IS IT A REAL THING?

January 28, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

Yesterday was a proper good little Saturday, it was one of those days which is kind of full of stuff, after a good meeting in Richmond yesterday morning, i was then back to where I belong in lovely east London, to get ready for a kind of date night with the bird (Amy).

When you have to travel across London only using public transport you start to see how cool looking the underground actually is, when I used to think of things I would like to photograph and places, I would always think of places like New Yorks Subway or some weird jungle in Asia. but really if you just look around London and your kind of immediate environment then there is actually quite a lot to photograph. I dont have to travel 5000 miles to find something cool, I mean I wouldn’t mind travelling 5000 miles to take some photographs, but Im also happy to explore London more and get photos of things I use everyday. Thats a kind of insight into my thinking this morning, tomorrow it will probably change, but for now thats whats going through my head.

I have to say as well, date night was a success. We went for a meal at Burger and Lobster, which is kind of this chain restaurant in London, I definitely had food envy over Amy. I always seem to get food envy on date night, its like I just always order wrong. Amy had the lobster roll and I went for the Lobster Burger and it just wasn’t in the same league as Amy’s Lobster roll. does anyone know if Food envy is a psychological thing or if some times we just order wrong? that is my 2018 question.

After a really fun meal, we then went on to meet her brother and brothers girl friend for a drink before we ended up in some Gay club in Soho, not too sure what happened there, but those were the cards we were dealt so we just had to go with it and boogie on down!

Its now sunday and by far the best day of the week, theres quite a lot planned today so looking forward to seeing how the day pans out!

here are my photos from yesterday, enjoy.

B299-1-3 — – I really wish Maplin’s was still open, could of done with getting a few things –

B299-1-2 — – I just like this photo, taken on Brick Lane, one of the coolest streets in London

B299-1 — – stopping to take a photo on the underground is something I havent really done before. Normally I just try to get through those places as quick as possible –

B298 – A MONKEY IN A MOSH PIT!

January 27, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

So last night im not really too sure what band I saw play, I know it was like nothing Ive ever seen on stage before. You know its going to be interesting when the band come out and say “We are the worst band in london” and the scream some words down the mic that this gig is going to make so cool photos. This is exactly my thought process last night, it was a mixutre between scream, death metal and drum n bass.

This was kind of the gig that Ive wanted to photograph for a while, its just something completely different and basically a gig that I probably would never end up going to if it wasn’t for photography. Maybe thats not a good way to think but thats the truth, and thats also why I am doing this photography project to uncover gigs and cultures around London that all associate with live music. What makes it cool is that fact that last night was the first time Ive ever seen a man in a gorilla suite wearing some kind of mad max googles join in with a mosh pit and then get up on stage in introduce the next band. I couldn’t stay for the next gig but I hope it was just as bonkers as the gig I saw. I really wish I knew the name of the band but Ive found their event page and think it is worth check out. so check out the event page from last night and maybe get down to the next one if you want to see something that I promise most of you have never seen before.

for now though I have to keep this post pretty short as Ive got to get up dressed and off to a meeting in Richmond that Im quickly becoming pretty late for. Heres some photos from yesterdays gig! enjoy!

B298-1-11 — – Thats a monkey in a mosh pit –

B298-1 — – they did well to hold down that stage, I would definitely go to the next one! –

B298-1-3 — – really good crowd there aswell! –

B297 – PROPER ROAD TRIP STUFF

January 26, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

My plan for today is to post some photos from the gig yesterday, I really get paranoid that I take so many photos I like from gigs and then they just sit on my hard drive for the rest of eternity, so Im just going to go ahead and post them. I haven’t stopped listening to Blueprint Blue since I heard them, its kind of getting me ready for the summer in a weird way, they are proper road trip music.

As Im sure most of you are aware today is Friday, which means its one more sleep till the weekend and thats my last weekend as a free man, because as of Monday I start my next job. Its been a fun two months of doing what I like and I have to say I’ve spent that time pretty busy which is actually quite good, Im not looking back on December and January and thinking “wow I watched some great TV series”, its more “oh cool, Ive taken some fun photos, made a few cool videos and created a pretty solid 2018 plan”. It now just comes down to putting all of that plan into practice and not spending to much of the time in the pub. Im quickly approaching a massive mile stone in this blog and thats something Im pretty proud of, its day 300! After that the finish line is in sight!

Today I have a bit of plan to get my life in order and sort out some of the boring stuff in life, but after all that I want to get down to the south bank and take some photos. I haven’t really been there in the day to take photos, so it will be good to see how that turns out, its a mini city adventure. but for now, heres so more of my favourite photos for that gig the other night.

B296-1-12 — – Seeing a pack out gig on a wednesday night at the Seabright arms, makes it all worth it –

B296-1-27 — – looking forward to going to their next gig –

B296-1-28 — – because the stage is so dark, I definitely think black and white photos look so much better –

B296 – BLUEPRINT BLUE, AMAZING WEDNESDAY NIGHT GIG.

January 25, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

As most of you know, Im trying to go to as many gigs as possible and photograph all these amazing free gigs around London. Last night I heard of a gig headlined by a Band called Blueprint Blue, before last night I hadn’t heard of the band, normally what I do is listen to the band during the day of the gig so when I get there I know what Im in for, but last night I was on a total wim.

When I arrived it was just starting to get busy and people where arrive but by the time the band were all set up and ready to go, the place was fully packed. I have never been to a free gig at the Seabright Arms before and seen it that busy. Then they started playing and I could see why, this band are amazing. Just good music and a pretty high cool factor, their songs are pretty slow but with the old fast rift everyone is always singing in Harmony and they’ve just kind of found a style and made it their own. After I write this blog post I will be sending them an email to see when they are next playing and if its ok to come along and take some photos. If these guys aren’t playing some amazing festival gigs over the summer Ill be surprised and i hope they will soon be on everyone radar.

One of my favourite songs of theirs is called Wheres The Sun, its one of those songs that you can just listen to over and over again. Im sure some music review person could give you a better reason for why its soo good, but I just like them tempo of this band and how well their voices go with the music.

Heres a link to their Soundcloud and my favourite youtube song.

Heres my photos from the gig, I hope you like them!

B295-1-2 — – for 21:45 on a Wednesday night it was so worth it –

B295-1 — – all of them just seemed to understand each other and had the timings down –

B296-1 — – sorry theres no photos of the Keyboard player, he was just out of shot –

B295 – IT WAS A NICE DAY ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.

January 24, 2018January 23, 2018 joshfspear9 Comments

Today we had my grandad’s funeral, its days like this which aren’t always the easiest things to include in this photo blog thing, but I suppose its just what happened today and I have to write something to go along with the photos. Firstly I think you’ve got to give my nan credit where credits due, it was a pretty good day and she definitely pulled it out the bag with regards to the organising, it must have been a pretty hard emotionally to sort out but she did it with flying colours.

My plan for today was not to photograph any of the actually funeral that probably wouldn’t of been ok, but my dad asked me to grab some photos of the wake so that was my opportunity to grab some nice shots. One of the highlights has to have been the Portuguese cream Tarts which were Grandads’ favourites, so that being the case I got a good photo of my nan and dad having a little toast with a cream cake. Its those moments that I like to remember from the days like today.

What you have to like about funerals is they are kind of highlight packages of someones life, people come together and talk about all those good moments and times that have defined the kind of life that was lived. Today we heard old friends and close family talk in such a nice and genuine way about how he had shaped their lives and how proud friends of 30 or 40 years were to have known him from his work ethic to how he and my nan raised three children. He always wanted the best for all of them and had the determination and structure to make sure that they grew into respected adults and in turn gave my dad, aunty and uncle the tools needed to kind of shape all the gran children into the people we are today, so I think I can say from all of us “kids” cheers gramps. Oh and thanks for the pocket watch.

I wish you could have seen us all grow into adults and join us on this weird journey that people call life, but that wasn’t the case. You were loved by many and will be missed by us all.

Peace out.

B295-1-4 — – Not sure what Phoebe was saying but i’m sure Michele got the jist of it –

B295-1-3 — – its only right that when in the New Forest you get a photo with a horse –

B294 – WHAT TODO NEXT?

January 23, 2018January 22, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

So I’ve got to get up pretty early tomorrow, so my plan is to get this post done the night before. Im also most certain if I leave it up to tomorrow morning then I guarantee that I wont get it done in time. The photos I took today were all about Landscape, I had to take the dog for a walk up to the local pet shop so decided that we would take a bit of extra time and get some photos from the top of the grove looking down on where my parents live. Whats so good about this time of year is the way that all the colours look faded and its just as if every where is kind of getting ready for the summer, its crazy that in a month this will all be green and summer will be round the corner. but this season is just as good as the summer season.

What ive realised about doing something like this is that everything is getting easier, I’m finding enough topics to photograph and the writing is definitely getting better. you guys probably cant see my writing improving as its still pretty terrible, but 294 days ago we would have been lucky if I could spell my full name correct on the first attempt.

As im getting closer to that big 300 day mark, Im starting to think about what I was like on day one and where I am today and how my camera the Canon 5d II has really been the best thing Ive ever brought, its not the newest camera out there but for a camera thats got over 110,000 shutter count it just refuses to give in and still surprises me how good it is, the cameras been knocked about, how with me on drunken pub crawls and had its fair share of close encounters with the floor. and yet it hasn’t let me down once, If you are thinking about learning with a camera, go about buy a 5d II, it wont let you down and has enough settings to help you to always improve as a photographer.

And now Ive reached that point where im starting to think about my next camera and what I should go for, as some of you are aware im on the waiting list of the new Leica, but theres a few other cameras that I cant decide between. I want a camera that I can film slow mo on just as well as I can take photos with, so maybe the Leica isnt my best option, maybe its time I got a Sony A7R or something. I suppose I wont know until im in the shop and have the cash.

Anyway, here are my photos from today. Enjoy

B294_02 — – the colours this time of year are so fun to photograph –

B294 — – right place at the right time, the sun was breaking through the clouds just as I got there –

B293 – I NEED TODO BETTER

January 22, 2018 joshfspearLeave a comment

Having a bit of a lazy Monday morning today, its like 12 O’ clock and I’m still in bed. I am doing work but I’m still holed up refusing to get up. I think this kind of behaviour is fine as long as I’m still getting stuff done, you don’t need to be out of bed at 7am and cracking on right? some days you can do what needs to be done laying flat in a warm bed, I put it down to the perks of Freelance life.

Today I’m going back to some thing I haven’t done for like 100 days, that is the Iphone challenge, what i do it look through my Iphone to see what photos I might have on there that I can use for todays post, I also try to see a good photo and then just take it on my Iphone quickly to store it up for when I have days like these. As Im still at my parents house I want to try and get out later and give mooney (my dog) a good old walk, go out into the country side and see whats going on. maybe try and get some cool landscape photos, I know that its better to get up really early for that kind of thing, but I’ve missed the boat on that one now, so I suppose Ill just have to go this afternoon before it gets dark.

I think how I have to move forward with this blog is the day before I need to give my self a goal for the next day, like right tomorrow I’m going to photograph people or tomorrow is all about Landscape. that is probably the best way to move forward, so each day Ive got the goals and I know what i need todo, because right now Im not thinking about the next day till it gets here and I realise Ive missed an opportunity or something. Maybe Im getting to complacent, time I stepped my game up a bit more.

Thats my conclusion from today, here are my photos, enjoy!

B293-1-2 — – this is a photo of the long walk ways at Bank station, its like human rabbit holes down there –

B293-1 — – bristol train station at the beginning of the year –

B293-1-3 — – that time I was at the British Library –