Another day, another hand!
I've started running again.
Possibly not the most earth-shattering statement but one with some significance. I'm not a natural athlete and when friends tell me about going to the Gym I usually ask if he is cute and single. However running is different. For a start my running is sporadic. I can go months without running and then I have to go. It's usually when my head starts to feel a bit messy. There is something almost cleansing about selecting great tunes on my iPod and running at a steady, rhythm and losing myself within it. At this time of the year I tend to go at stupid o'clock in the morning which heightens my sense of solitude.
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This is completely not the picture I'd planned on posting. I'd been out with my friend and I took some interesting "arty" shots of the cruet set.
On the way back home I spotted a beautiful, large spiderweb, lit up by the street lamps. The shot is hideously shaken because the cool night air was making me shudder and I wasn't the steadiest on my feet. However I love the feathery quality this gives the shot. It makes me want to create something and is therefore infinitely more inspiring to me than salt and pepper pots.
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These are my house keys.
It may not look like an exciting shot but this was me experimenting with focus and flash. This may not seem much but to me it's quite a big step.
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My internet died a few days ago hence the lack of posts. However I put some money in the meter and all is well. So now I'm posting the "missing" pictures.
This was taken on Wednesday. It made sense to photograph my pot of pens. I have a collection of all sorts - biros, gel pens, felt-tips, pencils of varying softness. Oh and some coffee stirrers from several coffee shops.
I really love the difference of focus and the light coming through the plastic. The colours kind of zing.
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Really short of inspiration today and had alot of stuff to do for college (not thinking about my show which is 4 weeks tonight - eek!) and Uni - paperwork is so dull.
I saw this and decided it could be an interesting subject. Unfortunately it won't be in use for sometime now - not until my show with one day of exception - so I put it to another use.
Model
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Today I walked from Marlow to Maidenhead along the river Thames. I went with my friend B who'd suggested a Bank Holiday stroll. Of course for me it was a photo opportunity.
As we walked through a field,we came across these beautiful ladies who were determinedly guarding the gate. As we approached, the front two moved aside but the third cow (who;s grazing in this shot) looked up and stared at me. I had a moment of "Oh shit, I hope she's placid" before I gently but firmly moved her head. The rest of her followed and we passed through the gate shutting it behind us with a definite click.
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This is the glorious fountain Britswitch and I found today. It was so hot, that this was wonderfully refreshing. I admit I had a little paddle. It was utterly delicious.
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OK I know I've taken pictures of candles before, but this is how I've wanted the previous to turn out - well nearly ;). I love the movement in this, the simplicity and the drop of wax that hangs - trapped in a moment.
I can't guarantee that this will be my last candle photo - I have one more planned - but I'll try and make them more exciting.
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This is the "thingy" that hangs of my favourite bag. It's made of shells and pennies and makes a lovely sound as it rattles against my bag. I love it.
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This is the hand of one of my colleagues. It took a bit of persuasion, but eventually I managed to convince him to let me photograph his hands. I love the lines and shadow of this, especially against a contrasting background.
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This may look like folded fabric. It's actually the ceiling of a building I was in today.
I love the very textile feel of this with the struts of support.
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These are chairs that caught my eye. I may well be on my own here, but I love the texture of the wood and the shadows. It was also an experiment in a low-lit venue.
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I've been wanting to take this for a while but have never been quite satisfied. However this evening, it did seem to work so it's my post for today.
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This is a bit of a cop out but tonight I photographed my lovely new tattoo.
I had it done 2 weeks ago so it's pretty much healed now. The scabs have healed over and I'm left with a bit of "silver skin" (new, fresh skin under the scab) which will go in another week.
This was done to mark (nearly) finishing my Access course and getting into Uni. The symbol comes from reiki traditions and is called a "Fire Serpent". Fire is an element very personal to me for more reasons than I can share here. However, fundamental to it's characteristics is the obvious link to creative endeavours. The spark of creativity and passion. In my spiritual practice, serpents are seen as creatures of re-growth and re-birth (think how they shed their old skins to grow and develope). They are also linked with positive health and female intuition. As soon as I saw this symbol and allowed it's meaning to penetrate, I knew it was how I wanted to mark this significant point in my life. I also had it placed on my left wrist because I'm left handed. Therefore every time I write, paint, draw or work creatively, I'm reminded of how far I've come.
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Wet reflections in the street. This is not how I've seen this photo before, but it is how I've done it today.
I may well do it again.
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Well exhibition time is looming - approximately 6 weeks - so now I have to get on and do some work (and try and keep this a creatively challenging blog!)
These make look like cardboard tubes to you, but I assure you they are important tools to enhance my creativity. There will be more pictures - if only because I may get short of time and inspiration.
You've been warned.
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I finished this book on the train, whilst on my way home. It's beautiful and as I read the last few pages, I was in tears. I'm sure my fellow passengers thought I was mad but I don't care.
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This has been my view for most of today.
I'm full of cold and feel dreadful so haven't done anything all day. I haven't even had the energy to read.
Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
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This is the greenery that climbs up the side of a wall, seen through a mesh fence. I took it on my way home from work tonight.
I like that the foreground is blurred but also obscures the in focus, background.
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This is one of my friends at work. I wanted to do some close-up pictures in contrast to the wide, sneaky photos I've taken recently. I looked for a willing vict ... volunteer and my friend kindly agreed. Even after I told her that it would be posted here.
I love her smile and how it so easily extends to her eyes. I'd like to try this with other faces. just because they are so interesting. Especially eyes.
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Today I have mostly been cutting out fabric.
I'm making new tops for summer and I've finally found a use for some old shirts that an ex-boyfriend gave me before we split up. I've spent this evening sewing pieces of material together to make pieces big enough to cut for the pattern - if that makes sense - and these are some of the bits that I can't use. I've kept some scraps for patchwork at a later date, but these bits were just too small so I'm afraid they were destined for the bin.
It really distresses me when I have to bin fabric but I really can't use them for anything else (they're even to short to knit with), however I was able to photograph them. I love the fact that you can see the pattern so closely and even the weave of the material. Maybe when I've finished the garment I'll post that picture too.
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This has shades of yesterday's shot - quite by chance.
Brits and I hung out at the Barbican centre today for a catch up and stuff. Looking up at the ceiling, I saw a mass of squares and right-angles. Add the reflections and I had to make it today's photo.
It was a close run thing, there were some other photos I liked almost as much, but they were too similar to things I've already done recently or they weren't quite right so you'll just have to be patient.
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I decided to snap some of the architecture in town this morning whilst I was out and about.
I really like the fact that the two buildings frame this and create a kind of false tunnel effect. It compliments the many straight lines that are in this shot.
May try this again with a different shape. If I can find one.
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Ok this may not look impressive but it took forever to get the focus and the light right. I also wondered how I could make bollards interesting.
Hopefully I have. It's not quite the way I planned this photo to happen - I was going to have the bollard in the background in focus but when this way round happened by happy accident, I preferred it so decided to work with it this way round.
I'm happy with the result anyway even if the subject matter is not the sexiest.
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This is the main street in town.
I loved how the storm cloud has high-lighted everything and, when coupled with the setting sun, makes the brickwork zing.
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