B309 – CLEAR SKYS AND COLD WEATHER – PERFECT

Last night was one of those nights, while on my walk to Old street, my photos just seemed to happen. I think half of that was down to the light, I had hit the perfect time, just as the sun was setting and theres this cool kind of blue light in the sky. I know it might sound a bit weird as well but I think it definitely helped that it was ridiculously cold. A lot of the time I walk around and really struggle to take some photos decent photos that I actually like, that definitely wasn’t the case last night.

One of the things I have learnt about myself over the past 309 days is that I really love street photography and take pictures of people and capturing those random moments that we all see happen and that give us those little chuckle to ourselves. thats definitely my favourite thing to photograph, but Ill also take a clear cold night where you are given loads of strong, bright, contrasty colours from shop windows and the odd coffee shop.

At the moment I really don’t have a lot of time to make it down to gigs and music venues to work on that photography project, which is really annoying. The only way I could make it is if I probably stop eating dinner and cut my sleep down but as I think that would probably do more damage than good, for now Im just going to put it on hold and get through the next couple of weeks / months and then pick it up from there. So sorry to anyone that Ive been speaking to about gigs for events, I haven’t forgotten about you.

my plan for the future is to write these posts that night instead of the morning before work, I just dont leave myself enough time and now spent my morning rushing around. theres nothing better waking up in the morning before work, knowing that the post is ready to go. C’mon josh up your game!!!

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– Bethnal Green Road towards Shoreditch –
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– I cant remember if I have taken a photo of this before, but I like this shot so Ill post it anyway –
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– its like the hand it pushing him back –

B306 – I GAVE UP AND HEADED TO THE PUB

The plan yesterday was to get all those jobs done that you need to in preparation for work next week and just to get my life in order, but after a Barclays paying in machine took all my money then going out of service. Meaning that it had swallowed my money and now I have to wait till they sort the machine out and I get my money back. That is how my morning went, so from there I realised that my day was destined for disaster and if Im going to fail I want to fail properly, so Weatherspoons became my next location and somewhere I planned to wait out this bad fortune and even worst weather. Some times its all thats needed, cheap beer and friends that will laugh your bad luck and thats exactly how we went on till it got to that point went vision became impaired and life got lighter. I do need to apologies to Amy who came to meet us, just to be met by the instant realisation that she was now my Saturday night carer. So for that Amy I am really sorry and thank your for the GBK burger and fries, Im sure the meal was amazing if only I could remember it.

We are now up early on Sunday and I feel like yesterday was a terrible idea, but it was good to see some friends and have a good old Saturday day time beer, something I haven’t done for a while, normally I get caught up with photography or some other idea that we come up with. Well anyway the plan for today is to go over to amy’s nan’s house and then onto a family meal with all of her family, some of which I haven’t met before so today will just be a case of making sure I don’t make any bad jokes, spill a drink, knock something over or just generally do something wrong. As you can tell Im not nervous at all.

Heres my photos from today, enjoy.

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– amy and the shop keeper picking up the sweets that amy (or possibly me) knocked over –
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– a great shot of a great support system –
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– Weatherspoons, six nation rugby, Saturday is sorted –

B305 – CANT RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH

I think everyone in the country likes the fact that it was Friday yesterday, probably the only think better about Friday is the fact that tomorrow is Sunday and that means good food and time to chill. Before we start thinking about Sunday we need to appreciate a good Friday, yesterday for the first time since 2017 I had that Friday feeling, you know that feeling that when it starts to get to 3/4ish your plans for the next few days start coming to mind and it all gets exciting.

One reason for me starting to get that Friday feeling was because I was going to see that new movie. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and do you know what it definitely lived up to what everyone has been saying about it, I literally cant recommend it enough. I really wish that I listened more in my media classes at school so I could now go on to write something really interesting about the characters and script, but unfortunately I was probably smoking round the back of the bike shed or causing some sort of mayhem during that lesson. So Ive done what every kid does when they need to give some answer but not really sure what the answer is, Ive gone to google and copied some reviews from there. Here are two reviews that I think really say what I want to say about the film.

Funny, brutal and breathtakingly beautiful. Two exceptionally raw lead performances, supercharged by a bold script from Martin McDonagh, could make Three Billboards this year’s Awards-upsetter. ” Terry White, Empire – Full review here *** SPOILER ALERT *

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/three-billboards-outside-ebbing-missouri/review/

“As we watch this wonderful movie we’re able to see who Mildred and all the others really are, and, better still, who they may become.” Joe Morganstern – Wall Street Journal Full review here – SPOILER ALERT – https://www.wsj.com/articles/three-billboards-outside-ebbing-missouri-review-signs-of-life-too-vivid-to-miss-1510253127

I really hope a lot of you get to the cinema and see this film, it has to be one of my favourite films in a while. Today is a good day, Ive got fair amount of things I want to get done as well as tackling the growing pile of washing that has been building up in my wash bin. but first a coffee and maybe a little Saturday morning chill.

Heres my photos from yesterday, enjoy!

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– this dog has definitely got some skills when it comes to drawing –
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– who doesnt love a trip to the cinema –
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– Amy acknowledging it was really cold yesterday –

B302 – SOMETHING ON EVERY WALL

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.

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– they’ve definitely done a good job with this one –
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– this must of taken ages todo! –
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– east london has got something writen on every wall! –

 

 

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

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!

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– Amy loves having her photo taken, can you tell? –
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– Jacob looking at getting a new camera, do it! –
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– I saw some photos like this in the tate and I really want to copy them –
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– Jacob going looking like hes going at 100 mph –
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– took this on the tube and I quite like it! –

 

B292 – SHES DREAMING OF THE SOFA

Yep this post is late and I should probably have been more prepared this morning, but its just kind of disappeared. Same excuse was for me not really taking any photos yesterday, I literally spent the whole day playing around with a GoPro and completely forgot to take photos, that was all apart for a really good 30th birthday part I went too in the evening but I kind of feel like those photos should go to Rachel (the Birthday girl) and my sister first, so what im going todo is spend the next few hours editing those photos and send them across for them to see first.

I did how ever wake up this morning and take my dog for a walk while it was snowing, which I definitely think I enjoyed it way more than she did. i just wish that we had at least a few inches so I could go sledging. right now though I feel like I need another coffee and some breakfast. Last nights party has taken it out of me, it was really good to see some old faces and have some good catch ups. its always good when you don’t come home that often and then when you do see everyone have a good old party. Thank you Rachel for throwing a good evening.

My plan for today is to try and have a proper Sunday, maybe try do some exercise, see how my leg holds up. As Ive probably said before Im doing a lot with GoPros at the moment trying to get better at using them so Ill probably make like a little video on that and then spend the evening editing. Im really trying to stay as productive as possible when I’m not working, its like the only way I can keep my brain ticking over, is by filling my days with a massive todo list and then its just a case of living in a state of constant mayhem that I actually quite enjoy in a weird way.

Heres my photos from the dog walk this morning.

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– in this photo Mooney is dreaming of the sofa –
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– getting out and getting some fresh air first thing in the morning is what the country side is all about –
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– once you get far enough away from the house, she starts to get into the swing of things –

B289 – AM I A FRAUD?

Im not too sure on something, if I take photos on a digital camera and then edit them on Photoshop to make them look vintage is that being a bit of a fraud? I’ve just learnt this new technique and Im not sure if it makes me look like my film photo skills are better than they are, because as a lot of people know my 35mm skills are terrible. it probably doesn’t matter, because well I suppose I can do what I like.

The other day I took a trip over the Ridely Road Market to have a bit of a walk around and take some photos, shooting in places like this can be really hard because no one there wants to have there photo taken, so if they see my with my camera walking around taking photos they start to get a bit edgy, so the plan is to walk around quickly and just snap and move.

Ridley road market is a pretty cool place to go though because its like one of the last really working class markets that i can think of which is kind of central, that and Peticoat lane market, that place is on my list so maybe Ill have a little trip over there and take some photos. the only problem is that my camera is maybe a bit too big to take to these place, it maybe draws to much attention, what I might do is just go with my iphone and do like some iphone photos. I haven’t really done that in a while so maybe its time to get the phone out again.

got a pretty fun Thursday, meeting someone to talk through some ideas I have for a video thats going to get made later in the year and off to my mates house for a three course meal, hes trying to up his cooking skills so going to cook me some Pork belly. Should be a fun Thursday. Still going strong on Dry January!!!

 

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– that vintage look is something I really like at the moment –
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– maybe I just need to bite the bullet and buy a film camera –
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– it definitely adds some effect to this daily blog –

B280 – NEXT TIME BIG BEN WILL RING WILL BE 2021

Last night I decided that my iphone photos from the day time weren’t quite up to scratch, no way if I’m (fun)employed at the moment should the photos I take not be “sick”, so yesterday night I made the decision to travel over to the south band when it was nice a quite and take some slow shutter speed pictures of the London Eye and Parliament. I don’t think you can be a photographer in London and not have taken slow shutter speed shots of the river thames, it has to be one of my favourite places to go an explore. I know it might sound a bit weird but who doesn’t love going to on the banks of the river thames at low tide to see whats happening. It almost feels like your breaking some sort of law or something.

This week I was supposed to be working but at the last minute the job fell through, so now my January has become a proper freelancers January, where you just wait for February to come back around. Being a freelancer can be a bit of a lonely existence, you can literally spend weeks at a time watching Netflix and scrolling Facebook waiting for that email about work. I try and do the opposite, my aim is to completely forget that works quite and just keep myself busy with ideas and photography, the amount of stupid ideas Ive got written down or saved on my laptop is crazy, but as long as it stops me from watching day time TV I cant complain.

Today I have a plan to head over to the British Library. One because Ive never been there before and it looks like a pretty cool place and Two because I want to read up on a idea that Ive been working on for a while and sometimes google isn’t the best place to start.

oh and if anyone knows whens the best time at night to get a photo of the London eye spinning, please let me know. I cant work it out.

Heres my photos from yesterday. enjoy.

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– The next time youll hear big ben will be in 2021 –
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– I wanted to go a photo of it moving but unfortunately I think I was a bit late –
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– South bank, pretty cool place –
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– just ignore the metal gates, otherwise this would be a pretty nice shot –

 

B279 – MIGHT WATCH ZOOLANDER A FEW TIMES

One of the perks of having a girlfriend that works in fashion is that she’s always up for taking photos, yesterday morning we decided to travel over the Greenwich and have a little adventure finding cool locations and seeing what sort of photos we could take. its fair to say the weather was freezing and definitely not just cardigan or roll neck weather, so me being the amazing boy friend I am decided that every time amy had to take her jacket off, I would do the same. Thats some big boy friend points right there.

Fashion photography is really something I want to explore a bit more, what I think interests me so much about it, is the fact that fashion can be interpreted in so many different ways, so you cant really go wrong. and as I’m someone who practically get everything wrong all the time, that is a concept that really appeals to me. the only problem is Im not that much of a fashionable guy, maybe I need to watch Zoolander a few times and get myself up to speed with the lingo. It is mens fashion week this week so maybe Ill go to a show or something and take some photos of the people going into them, they all seem pretty trendy.

Apart from my aspirations to be the next top photographer, today I went on my first run of 2018, only a 2.5 mile run but my plan is to run 2.5miles three times a week for the next 4 months after that I will step it up to 5 miles and then 4 months after that Ill step it up again. I think the injury I had in the middle of 2017 was probably good for me, its taught me a lot about my body and probably made me a better runner.  but for now, its back to me getting my leg used to running again and also time to lose my baby fat.

its currently Monday morning and I’m on a mission to keep myself busy with some ideas I have and want to put in place. I had a job cancel on me at the last minute so now im unemployed this week, so if anyone wants their car cleaned or grass cut theirs just a chance I might take you up on it.

Here are my photos from yesterday, enjoy.

 

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– this is her complaining its cold –
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– the jacket is off! –
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– greenwich is the perfect place to take photos –

 

B268 – RUNNING AROUND LIKE A CHRISTMAS CRACK HEAD!

Its that weird time of year between christmas and new years where you still have to run around like some sort of christmas crack head trying to get your fix of family and chocolate and that exactly what amy and me have been doing, yesterday after waking up at Anders house I was on the move back to my flat for a 10 minute pit stop to meet amy and grab some clothes before heading back to see Flo so Amy can give her, her christmas presents. so naturally we stayed for a bit and played hide and seek and all those other games that a 3 year old likes to play. Flo was typically took control of my camera and decided to take a photo of us, so as you can expect I have included that photo below.

its now 10:37 on the 28th of December and we are sitting on my parents sofa getting ready to have a productive day of dog walking, car cleaning and hairdressing. a lot of activities but Im ready to rock n roll and get this show on the move.

theres something I want to write about on this blog today to make it final and then I have no excuse if I fail and that is a bet that I have put together my a good chum anders, we are going to be doing Dry January, No drinking alcohol for the whole of January and if we do then we have to give the other person £30. Im determined to fail and get back to track with my running, this time last year I was training for an ultra marathon and now I want to put those running shoes back on and start training of another race, my leg is in a good place and I’m sure with a bit of swimming and my a gym session or two I can get back to a good place and start running fast times.

Here are my photos from yesterday. Enjoy.

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– just flo sorting out Amy’s hair –
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– my arty shot from a coffee shop in crystal palace –
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– flos photo of amy and me –Â