Tag: Photography

  • Quarter-plate

    Quarter-plate

    In 1969 my wife Susi’s family moved into a big, dilapidated 17th Century house in Wendover. Stacked loose in the attic were 64 quarter-plate glass negatives. The family moved out in 1989 and my brother-in-law Steve looked after these plates over subsequent decades. Last autumn (2023) he asked me to look at them. I scanned…

  • Creating a scene: XR Oct. 2019 Rising

    Creating a scene: XR Oct. 2019 Rising

    I’m working out how best to photograph Extinction Rebellion. A friend of mine tells me she does not support XR because their disruptions alienate people who need to be brought on side. So perhaps it’s best to back away from XRs photogenic performances to include the bystanders and their reactions. Much of the time this…

  • Crossness Pumping Station Open Day

    Crossness Pumping Station Open Day

    Sunday 23rd October was Open Day at the Crossness Pumping Station. The ‘Thames Tides’ installation, created by Susi Arnott and I, screened throughout the day alongside the mighty beam engines. You can still catch the show this Friday 28th Oct. Details and photos below. Crossness Pumping Station. Friday 28th Oct. 2016 Where?Crossness Pumping StationThe Old…

  • “To know hunger, work illegally, and be anonymous.” (Attributed to V I Lenin)

    “To know hunger, work illegally, and be anonymous.” (Attributed to V I Lenin)

    With thanks to all the photographers of the Displaces project On previous ‘participatory photography’ projects, we’d give people good compact cameras, and some practical and conceptual training. Then they’d return to their families, communities or neighbourhoods, and take pictures. The results could be revelatory; expressive as well as documentary, giving insights into lives and identities which…

  • Thames Tides at the Brunel Sinking Shaft

    Thames Tides at the Brunel Sinking Shaft

    Our Thames Tides installation has opened at the weird and wonderful Brunel Sinking Shaft in Rotherhithe. Only running till Friday 16th Sept. so get along quickly!Details here:https://thamestides.wordpress.com/screenings/

  • Through Positive Eyes – London

    Through Positive Eyes – London

    Last March this international arts and advocacy project, in which HIV+ve participants photograph their lives, came to London. I teach photography and co-edit the work with the participants, alongside Gideon Mendel and Prof. David Gere’s team from UCLA. This is the ninth city the project has worked in to challenge the stigma of HIV. Each…

  • Smartphones

    Smartphones

    Itinerant brick kiln workers use WhatsApp to stay in touch. Donkey owner-drivers working in the brick kilns of Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh are paid every Friday, but receive a lump sum payment at the end of the brick-making season. This allows them to buy Indian-made smartphones costing about 5,000 Rupees each. Most donkey owners are…

  • Donkey Cam

    Donkey Cam

    Donkeys have a blind spot immediately in front of them, but can see right round to their hind legs – though not behind their head. Simply mounting a wide angle camera on a donkey’s head won’t tell us how a donkey really ‘sees’ the world. But it can tell us something about its working life.…

  • Through Positive Eyes in Bangkok

    Through Positive Eyes in Bangkok

    I’ve just returned from helping to run the Thai chapter of this international arts and advocacy project, in which HIV+ve participants photograph their lives. This is the seventh city the project has worked in to challenge the stigma of HIV.Here’s a preview of some of the work which will be appearing on the project website: http://throughpositiveeyes.org/…