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another invented disease

We need and we will always need

Another invented disease

We need and we are taught to need

Another invented disease

 

Manic Street Preachers - Another Invented Disease

 

Stuck around the house recuperating forces one to think about what sort of compositions you can take, I try and mix up my work by finding things to shoot that reflect whats going on in my world, elements of my life at that moment, I call them message pictures and they often start with a feeling or perhaps even a song.

 

Interestingly people find it astonishing that I often take photographs specifically to fit a song. Im not remotely sure why this is unusual to people - motivation and memes come from all sources and for me there always has been a connection between music and imagery - perhaps its those hours spent in the darkroom with the radio on for company or perhaps its because i tend to think visually - I am a visual person; i read compulsively but if you cant give me the framework to visualise in my mind what youre talking about you have lost me and the same goes with a scene - Im constantly looking at light and shadow when im out, cant help it really as if you work on it then it becomes something you do automatically and its also a way you find the most unusual shots, you eye is drawn to the light and the way it falls

 

I personally didnt set out to be like that it just happened sometime in my formative years and working years - mind you I had a very demanding natural light purist as a teacher and mentor and he's also the reason why i think theres about .01% of images in my shots which use a flash.

 

But anyway yes I do shoot somethings to suit musical themes I have in mind - I've been trying to come up with something special to suit "Lucretia My Reflection" by Sisters of Mercy for the longest time now but this shot wasnt one of those -

 

Instead I guess I am commenting on the nature of modern illness and hopitalisation - the name tage, drugs and the black mood that it evokes - the harsh light is meant to suggest the harsh industrial light so common in hospitals. Basically I encourage people to get their minds working and look around them at the everyday world - there's compositions there you can use - give it a go and see what results you can get - you dont need a lot of props - i use a plain black card background here and shot it with a halogen desklamp mounted about 1.5m above and to the left to throw a slight shadow.. Experimentation is key to photography for me - its how you work out what youre good at and not - strecth yourself - you dont need lots of equipment and in fact a point and shoot digital can be great for these as you dont need macro lenses or fancy exposure settings.

 

Of it might just be wank. Youre decision.

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Uploaded on October 17, 2006
Taken on October 17, 2006