HOG in the Glens

I attended the annual Harley Davidson rally in Aviemore this year.  It is 2 years since I last attended the rally and it has more than doubled in size.  For my style of photography it is a wonderful opportunity to follow the bikes around the countryside and capture what is a magical sight.  The atmosphere is infectious - a group of enthusiasts out there enjoying themselves in the way that only the HOG do. It is an opportunity to witness a group of mainly well to do people trying to confront their mid life crisis.  Within that there is a hard core of bikers who live the "life".  Like Jim (not his real name ;-)  who was worried about my putting his photo on the web in case the police saw it - so I have not.  Who lives as the HOG says it to RIDE  -----VROOOOOOOOOOOM.

The images hopefully tell the story.

Edinburgh Festival - Stand Up Photographer

Alasdair and I had a great three day trip to Edinburgh.  It was my first visit to the festival in 20 years.  Kinda guilty about this as it is perhaps the finest thing we do in Scotland.  Anyhow we visited a number of stand up comedians and short plays all of which without exception were enjoyable.  The plays of great note were Ian Dury "Hit Me" and Hamlet The Musical which was magnificent.  Performed on the floor in front of us behind moving partitions and puppets and singing and rapid costume changes all in an hour.

Anyhow it was  rich ground for street photography.  It felt like people had dressed up and  made up just for the photographers, which of course was not the case.  But in the backdrop of the old city it was wonderful.  Walking about and listening to street music and witnessing drama and circus acts and all the other sites and sounds.

Summer Moves to Autumn

It has been a challenging summer.  I continue to make the most of my photographic opportunities.  Whilst trying to keep up with a rapidly expanding database of images.  What do we define as "image bloat"?  I am sure it is when you cannot keep up with your rate of acquisition.  Sounds scientific?  Sounds familiar?  It is not with good reason in my case.  It is perhaps not something I am particularly proud of, but I returned from Nepal last November with 18000 images.  Ever since then I have had an overhang of unfinished business.  Not a good place to be.  Creatively stifling I would say :-)  

Well it was time to act and I have hopefully found the solution that works for me - and potentially for others.  Hence the diatribe.  I have bought a 27" iMac.  With 8GB Ram and a 2TB HD.  I have opted to run Aperture 3.0  as my tool of productivity choice.  And so far I am both mightily relieved and very impressed by it.  Many of the reviews focus in on the software, however the uplift you get comes as much from the quality and size of the screen.  Put another way you can look at a lot of images at a decent size that allow you to select the image you are looking for.  In a big image set like Nepal 2009 I have found that I can stand back and follow the progress of my journey with greater clarity - exciting?  Astounding really to me a year after to see the breadth and scope of my trip.

So to celebrate here is an image that has emerged from the depths of my hard drive.  Also a quick :homage" to Rick who made the first ascent of the North Face (behind)

Dhaulagiri NE Face at Sunrise

Glastonbury 40 and 2

It was our second year of father and son bonding at Glastonbury.  It was fabulous in 2009 and again in 2010.  People who imagine a mudbath or a group weirdo hug would be disappointed.  It is none of these things.  Instead it is a wonderful chilled walk through the finest in contemporary music and performing arts and more besides.  In one word it is an event.  Alasdair and I savoured the enjoyment of shooting in the dark with the D700. 

I have to say that I am still overwhelmed by the experience of seeing the Bombay Bicycle Club, The XX, Florence and her dancing machine and Muse but particularly Stevie Wonder dueting with Michael Eavis.  Almost too much to absorb and am still trying to understand my photographs.  Prince Charles was as always charming.

Alasdair spent 8 hours standing at the barrier of the John Peel tent on the Saturday  photographing and photographing and never stopping. 

Here is a first few images by way of a starter.  More and deeper later  :-)

The Glastonbury roads at night

England Hair

Spotty Tent

Glastonbury Street

Boys

Stavanger Graffiti and the World Cup

I spent an excellent week in Stavanger.  The light was sharp and acute and it was seasonally cool.  Inside the sports bars and restaurants the World Cup was hot.

Stavanger has drawn me back very very occasionally over the years.  And hasn't changed that much.  The thing I enjoy the most is to visit the graffiti in and around the harbour,  Whether you thik that graffiti is vandalism or not it is always absorbing.  It seems to be appropriate along the harbour front and was much developed since my last visit in 2005.  The Norwegians encourage it and  obviously want to preserve it.  It has expanded and along with it thir own graffiti fest.  Some of it resembles the work of Banksy.  Whether it is his or someone else I cannot tell but the Mona Lisa was particularly interesting.  I won't reproduce it here.  Have a look if you are ever in Stavanger!!

And so to Glastonbury.  The tent is packed and my wellies are on hand.  The countdown is almost over.  I cannot wait.  If you are there then say hi.

Link to Blurb book. Chicago - Outside Its America

My book is now published on Blurb.com  Follow the link to see the full book contents.  Don't forget to select full screen in order to see the book at a good resolution.  I am really pleased with the quality of the book.  Blurb did a good job on the quality of the paper andprinting.  In the end the book took more time than I had planned to invest in it.  But, given that it only represents 5 days of photography in Chicago and a lack of preparation and foresight, then I am very pleased with it.

Proud to include a photo of Gail who made a lovely $5 breakfast for me and welcomed me with warmth and made it into the book!!!


Chicago - Outside Its America  

 Gail: The Lucky Diner Hillside Chicago