That's It Folks!

 

The gate is now shut. With no one around, it's time to turn off the lights and leave. It's been fun and maybe one day someone will discover this personal trove of nonsense. That is, as long as the big companies that host all this stuff stick around. They do have a tendency to vanish when the economics demand it and erase all signs of a previous life. Digital is very pervasive yet at the same time, incredibly tenuous. 

Hopefully it'll stick around. My grandkids might get curious and read something of me here. Maybe they will look at a few of the quaint pictures I've taken over the years and wonder at the creaky old technology used. I'm not afraid anymore of dying, but I AM afraid of FOMA. The Fear Of Missing Out. 

I really, really want to see the grandkids grow up, see who they choose as partners and what they do with their life. I've not done half the things I wanted to do in life, but the half I have done has been wild. I watched, live, as the first humans walked on the Moon. Now they are going back once again, but I don't think I'll see it happen, never mind them walking on another planet, on Mars. Damn, but I want to be able to watch THAT when it happens. I'm sure it will happen. It has to. 

Back when I watched the Moon landings, I expected by the year 2000 we would all be enjoying a hotel holiday on the Moon. The politics that enabled the space race back then is once again enabling another push to space. So it will happen. But maybe not as peacefully as I would hope. 

Conflict has been the overriding theme through my lifetime. The threat of nuclear war when I was at school gave me and everyone else the feeling we might as well live for today as we expected no tomorrow. That was liberating in a way. The swinging sixties was the result. Which is ironic as I have personally lived through the most peaceful and prosperous time in human history despite all the regional wars that went on and are still ongoing. I also managed to be there as the Iron Curtain fell and joined in with the celebrations in Berlin at the Brandenburg Gate. That promised so much, yet the West screwed up and didn't bring Russia into the fold, and once again, a new version of Stalin has arisen in Russia. 

I fear for the kids future in what is now a far more dangerous world than it ever was in my own time. Much more dangerous now than it has ever been. The rise of Christian Nationalism in the USA alongside all the other fundamental religious dogmas around the world is frankly horrible and to my mind, incomprehensible. We have the entire human history and knowledge at our disposal in our hands, and yet many choose to believe what they believe in a closed bubble and actively ignore any opposite view that does not agree with them or even what history can tell them. 

Artificial Intelligence is dumb enough to regurgitate any nonsense as fact and in doing so, validate it. Truth inevitably becomes the victim and then the tool of corrupt. Politics has always been this way. George Orwell wrote 1984 and was correct, if a little early, in his predictions. I fear for the future but hope that sanity will eventually survive. It's up to the kids now. My hope is that the love we give them now strengthens their moral compass for any future trials they might face and do the right thing whenever they can. 

This all sounds terribly gloomy and it is. But it all sounded terribly gloomy when I was a kid too. Back then we were told to expect another ice age. That we would all be blown up within three minutes any second now. Nothing much changes much does it? Yet here we are. Life goes on. Wonderful things DO happen and they happen all the time. And damn, but I want to see those wonderful things but of course, I never will. The changes will be immense, perhaps more so than during my lifetime.  

But I have seen wonderful things in these brief years on earth, and read about all the other wonderful things that have gone before I was around, and that's, well, wonderful isn't a strong enough word. We are conscious for such a brief moment in the huge depths of time, so we must make the most of it. Enjoy and celebrate that simple, yet astonishing fact. I'm not religious, but isn't it a true miracle that we even exist at all...?

The above picture is a self portrait. Kind of. You see, every human alive at the time this picture was taken, on July 21st 1969, is in this one photo. (I was seventeen at the time on that pale blue dot in the background, wide-eyed with wonder staring at the grainy black and white images being beamed back live to Earth on the TV). Every human being apart from the one taking the shot is there. That person is the photographer, astronaut Michael Collins sitting in the command module as the lunar landing vehicle returns. And as a photographer, I know that feeling of not being in the picture! This image and the next, was downloaded from the NASA the scans taken off the original film and then I digitally re-mastered them both, to show them at their best, here. 

Two other historically interesting events I'm proud to have witnessed (and this time photograph), is the fall of the Berlin Wall and Concorde. Only one image from Berlin survived the film processing lab boiling and ruining my films during processing, which is why the quality is so gritty. But it works as an image I think. 

I watched Concorde fly as a prototype well before she came into active service. I also saw one of the last flights she made from the USA to Heathrow in London, and took this image on the 8th of June 2003. And damn it, I never flew her. 

Apart from taking pictures, I've also dabbled in writing a few stories. These are all hosted at this website link ABCTales. Again, no idea how long that will exist. But for now at least, it does... Two other sites that host some random photos of mine are One X and Flickr.

 

If I'm still around this time next year, I'll update this. But for now, so long and good luck.

Peter 23/01/23

Coronation Cheers!

 

This was my second coronation experience. I sat the first one out sitting on the potty, being only two. I very much doubt I'll be seeing a third, but if I do, I'll probably have regressed to sitting on a potty again. Such is life... But I wanted to capture something of the day, if I could. But there was nothing remarkable going on locally and I was not about to brave the crowds downtown. I managed to get nothing. Nothing that is, until I gave up and headed for the pub for a meal and a drink. 

The image above was taken on a budget iPhone that's out of date by a number of years, much like myself really. But the resulting image does remind me slightly of those old Norman Rockwell paintings of American life way back in the day and I like that. Just a moment in time of an ordinary family enjoying themselves as history plays out around them. Or more correctly, above them on the TV. 

I watched as this little group chatted, glancing up occasionally at the coronation proceedings being broadcast live to the TV screen above. I knew there was a picture here. Eventually I managed to get up the courage to go over and ask them if they would allow me to take their picture raising their glasses to the TV and the newly crowned King. They were delighted to do so, and so was I, as I had my picture of the great day. Funny how things turn out. Cheers!

Sebastião Salgado

I don't suppose many will not have heard of our next iconic photographer, Salgado. Personally, ever since I first saw his work on the miners in Brazil back in 1986, I was addicted to his social documentary style. I managed to be in the audience of one of his talks in the UK several years ago, and more recently to have viewed his work displayed at the Natural History Museum in London. It was a real pleasure and honour both to hear him talk and to see his work displayed in the 'flesh' so to speak. So much more powerful than viewing images on-line, his actual prints have a real power, something we tend to forget exists in this screen-age era of digital display. 

Sebastião Salgado is a Brazilian photographer who has become one of the most acclaimed and respected photographers of our time. Salgado's images have been exhibited in some of the world's most prestigious museums and galleries, and his work has been published in books and magazines around the world. His work is known for its powerful social commentary, depicting the human condition in various parts of the world.

Salgado's early life and career

Born in 1944 in Aimorés, Brazil, Salgado originally studied economics before becoming a photographer. After completing his studies, he moved to Paris to work for the International Coffee Organization, but he soon abandoned his career in economics to pursue his true passion: photography.

Salgado's early work was focused on documenting the lives of the poor and marginalized in his native Brazil. He soon began to travel the world, capturing images of the human condition in various countries, including Ethiopia, Sudan, and Rwanda. His photographs were featured in major publications such as Time, Newsweek, and Life.

Salgado's style

Salgado's work is known for its stark black-and-white imagery, which often portrays his subjects in a powerful and emotionally charged way. His images often depict people in difficult circumstances, whether it be refugees fleeing war or workers in a Brazilian gold mine. Salgado's work is characterized by a strong sense of social commentary, as he seeks to shine a light on the challenges faced by people in various parts of the world.

One of the key aspects of Salgado's style is his use of light and shadow. His images are often dramatic and striking, with deep contrasts between light and dark areas. This helps to create a sense of drama and tension in his work, drawing the viewer into the scene and emphasizing the emotional impact of the subject matter.

Salgado's achievements

Salgado's achievements as a photographer are numerous. He has won numerous awards for his work, including the prestigious W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund Grant in 1982. He was also named Photographer of the Year by the International Center of Photography in 1985.

In addition to his photography, Salgado has also been involved in a number of social and environmental causes. He and his wife, Lélia Wanick Salgado, founded the Instituto Terra, an organization focused on environmental restoration in Brazil. The organization has planted millions of trees in the Brazilian rainforest, helping to combat deforestation and restore damaged ecosystems.

Salgado has also been recognized for his humanitarian work. He was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2001, and in 2019 he was awarded the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to peace and social justice.

Conclusion

Sebastião Salgado is a photographer whose work has had a significant impact on the world. His images are powerful and emotive, offering a glimpse into the lives of people in various parts of the world. Through his work, Salgado has brought attention to important social and environmental issues, and his efforts have inspired countless individuals to take action and make a difference. His legacy as a photographer and humanitarian will undoubtedly continue to inspire generations to come.

Scented Gold Macro

 

Macro photography is endlessly fascinating. From the simplest objects, images of weird beauty can be extracted if you look closely enough. This shot was taken using an old, (40 years) and broken manual lens.  (Nikon 105mm f4 macro) Broken in that it cannot be stopped down as the aperture linkage has stopped functioning. But shooting at wide open gives lovely results. And these days, focus stacking is quite easy. (but no focus stacking here) In case you are wondering, it's a small perfume bottle and atomiser tube. 

St John's Wood, New vs Old.

 

Opened in 1939 and still in its original form and now listed. This classic London tube design with its upright lighting pods remains visually powerful and iconic. I wonder if the new stations recently opened will stay in their original form for as long. The new stations are functional, homogeneous and I suspect built to a price point that precluded any individual design flourishes. I also don't much like the new modern LCD screens that have replaced simple posters as shown here along the walls. Posters don't break down and can easily be replaced. Progress? 

By contrast, here is one of the new Elizabeth Line stations. Clean, modern and impersonal perhaps. But it has its own charm I think. Maybe I should have waited for at least one person to be in the shot? No, I think not. I don't think humans were really designed for such places.

Easter Egg Macro

 

Well, perhaps not really macro, but it's only a small egg. A single egg, and then copied twice onto its own image which was then colour graded to a shade of electric blue. Just a bit of fun really. Looks weirdly sci-fi (ish) I need a suitably poe-faced new-age caption I think...

W.Eugene Smith

 

This photographer is one who's impacted my sensibilities as a young photographer probably more than any other. The first image of his that I saw, was of Minamata and the woman cradling her daughter. That image, shown above, has stayed with me. His ability to emotionally capture with an unrelenting gaze the humanity of his subjects was equaled only by his ability to use light to underscore those images. He then worked these powerful images into a visual story of immense impact. He is without doubt the reason I personally still love documentary photography above all other forms. His body of work, for one who died so young at the age of fifty nine, is astounding. While researching this article, I discovered there is a biopic film released in 2020 starring a certain Mr Depp as Smith titled Minamata. I haven't seen it, but I shall try to do so - now I know it exists. (Yes, I must live under a rock).There is also a video without words showcasing his work, and it's a highly recommended watch. https://youtu.be/mZginWQFWHI

At the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Curator David Little says many photographers are forgotten today, because their work was purely documentary and relevant only to their own time. But Smith's work is different.

"There is something about these photographs," Little says. "There's a transcendent quality to them. They document, they give us the morality, but then they give us more - it's that extra bit that sets him apart. Eugene Smith was knowledgeable about art and he used art as a way to make people care, and that's why his work carries on."

W. Eugene Smith was an American photojournalist and documentary photographer who was known for his exceptional editorial style and his powerful and evocative images. Born on December 30, 1918, in Wichita, Kansas, Smith began his career as a photographer in the 1930s, working for various newspapers and magazines. Over the course of his long and distinguished career, he produced some of the most iconic and memorable images in the history of photography.

One of Smith's most famous works is "The Spanish Village," a photo essay that he produced in 1951 for Life magazine. This essay documented the daily lives of the people in the Spanish village of Deleitosa, and it captured the beauty, hardship, and resilience of their existence. The photographs in this essay were powerful and emotional, and they conveyed a sense of empathy and understanding for the people Smith was photographing.

Another of Smith's most famous works is "Country Doctor," a photo essay that he produced in 1948 for Life magazine. This essay documented the life and work of Dr. Ernest Ceriani, a rural physician in Colorado. The photographs in this essay were intimate and personal, and they captured the struggles and joys of Dr. Ceriani's life and work. This essay is considered one of the most important photo essays in the history of photography, and it helped to establish Smith's reputation as one of the greatest photojournalists of his time.

Smith's editorial style was characterized by a deep commitment to his subjects and an intense focus on capturing the truth and authenticity of their lives. He was known for his meticulous attention to detail, his relentless pursuit of the perfect image, and his willingness to immerse himself in his subjects' worlds in order to capture their essence. He was also known for his technical skill and his ability to use light, composition, and other photographic techniques to create images that were both beautiful and emotionally powerful.

Smith's legacy as a photographer is one of the most enduring and influential in the history of the medium. He was a pioneer of the photo essay format, which became a staple of documentary photography in the mid-20th century. He also helped to establish the role of the photographer as a visual storyteller and a documentarian of the human experience. His work continues to inspire and influence photographers and artists around the world, and his images remain as powerful and relevant today as they were when they were first created.

In conclusion, W. Eugene Smith was one of the most important and influential photographers of the 20th century. His editorial style and his commitment to capturing the truth and authenticity of his subjects' lives set a standard for documentary photography that continues to this day. His legacy as a photographer is one that will endure for generations to come, and his images will continue to inspire and move people around the world for many years to come.