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Photography Lessons

I see this guy most mornings. I have his name on an older blog post but can't remember/find it. We always stop for a chat and he rests on his stick and his Labrador sits respectfully by.

He asked me today If i could help his Daughter and Granddaughter out with a new camera they have got. Sounds like it's a large expensive digital SLR. They have no idea how to use it and would like a photography lesson.

I say no problem, but a part of me is wondering, I am so busy at the moment how will i fit in another favour for people I haven't even met. I like the guy though, and one day when I don't have him to talk to on my morning dog walk I will take comfort in the fact I once did him a favour.

He then goes on to tell me that it may be better to get it done sometime in the coming week. His Granddaughter would really like to take some photos of her Mother before she has to go in to have treatment for a third tumour in her head.

I am glad I said yes without thinking as suddenly I feel it's as important for me to show them how to use their camera, as it is for them to take photographs.

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Posted September 2, 2010
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Photos I Never Knew Existed

I have spent a good chunk of the night going through a pile of prints and negatives dating back 10 years or so. Wrapped in their paper envelopes with the negative in little plastic sleeves.

I must have taken these two shots on the end of a roll just to finish it off. I hated wasting film and would often shoot whatever or whoever was in front of me just to make sure I was getting 36 prints back.

I don't recall taking these two images. I know I did as there are a couple of images on the roll showing Mini Coopers racing that I do remember taking. That said, I don't remember the day or any of the locations that filled the rest of this roll of film.

That makes the finding of these two images all the more special. Not just because they are of my Mother. But when she died a few years after these photos were taken, I honestly thought I had all the photos I'd ever shot of her scanned in and stored in a safe place. There were very few images. Not enough to fill a CD.

This for me is like finding treasure. An extra couple of moments of my Mothers life I have not only found, but moments I captured that now show me more than any other photos exactly how I remember her in my minds eye.

On this particular day I must have been passing my Mums house on the way home and popped in for a cup of tea. I am so glad I did.

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Posted August 29, 2010
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Triumph Scrambler 900 Pannier

Having traded in my BMW GS650F for a Triumph Scrambler 900 I have not missed anything other than the capacity to carry my tech. I have got round this in two ways. One is to fit a removable tail pack to the rear rack which can carry all my camera gear and lenses. And the other main solution which is all I need 90% of the time is to buy and fit the official Triumph Scrambler 900 Pannier.

It's effectively a thick leather briefcase large enough for a 15" laptop, small camera and cables etc. More than enough should I be off to give a presentation or consultation for the day.

It's not cheap mind. Around £200 from @PureTriumph but this includes the bracket that fixes to the bike allowing quick attaching and disconnecting. It's probably the most well made bag I own which is saying something what with my present bag fetish.

High quality, big enough for my tech and comes with a rain cover should you find yourself in a torrential downpour. I thought I'd feel weird having a bag on only one side of the bike but it off sets the twin pipes nicely and reminds me of the saddle bag on the classic triumphs in the film The Wild One.

It's also the perfect size for me as with other bikes, if i have the space to carry stuff.. I tend to go crazy.

I'm @Documentally on Twitter

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Posted August 25, 2010
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My camera with the red dot.

I was stood at the counter of a respected Leica dealer today with the intention of selling my precious Leica M6.

I couldn't do it. Even though the camera sits wrapped in a cotton cloth hardly used, I couldn't bring myself to sell it. Especially when the dealer told me my 35mm f2 was a seriously sought after version of a classic lens & worth way more than the camera itself.

I'd love the Leica M9 but it really is out of my price range right now. An amazing tool like none other I have handled. But still.. a shed load of cash.

I'm in a good mind to buy a 35mm film tomorrow to put through the M6. Especially as today I was in the London HQ of Magnum Photos. I was surrounded by some amazing images and I could not help but feel inspired. 

The photos on this post were iPhone snaps taken inside Magnum Photos.

The woman in the photo below is Jinx Roger the wife of one of the original founders. The audio of us talking is at the bottom of this post..

Listen!

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Posted August 25, 2010
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SoulBoy All Nighter

                                                                     

Photos and audio captured by @Documentally at Kings Hall in Stoke-On-Trent at the SoulBoy premiere and all night party.

 

Listen!

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Follow the SoulBoy Twitter list for stay connected to those involved with the film, fans of the film and those passionate about Northern Soul.

Please comment below if you are missing from the list.

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Filed under  //   audioboo   club   dance   film   hipstamatic   music   northern soul   party   photography   soulboy   stoke-on-trent   wigan  
Posted August 21, 2010
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Wondering if I'm 70's enough..

I just saw a tweet mentioning me and the Soul Boy All-Nighter. All this talk about me live blogging 'all night' may be a little far fetched.. The clue is in the title.. This is called the Soul Boy ALL-Nighter... It doesn't finish till 7am!!

I should really be catching 20 winks right now. Too late. I'll be heading over to the Kings Hall in Stoke in no time at all. Tonight I'll blog what I can but there is a chance things will either get too messy and i may be asked to leave or i'll just collapse.

I guess with the drugs laws as they are in the UK the key is to pace myself.. And drink lots of coffee. Either way, I am really looking forward to seeing the film and partaking in a Northern Soul night.

I just spotted the tickets saying dress like it's 1974. Hmm.. If anyone from 1974 should see me tonight.. dripping in tech, connected to the world via an invisible data umbilical and wielding hightech gadgets looking like Kirk's Tricorder.. They will either think i've just beamed down, or that the headache tablet they just took was a little stronger than expected.

Oh well. At least I accidentally put on some old 'retro' trainers. No doubt those face down in their own dancing sweat at 7am will see my natty daps as I step over them on the way out.. Oh.. hang on, i'll be in bed won't I.

Listen!

In case you want to follow the action tonight.. I am @Documentally on twitter and the hashtag is #SoulBoy

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Posted August 21, 2010
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The Documentally sew-on patch from @DFBmbe

I just got a parcel from Afghanistan and these were inside.

Big thanks to David Bailey MBE for posting these and for the great updates he's posting from Afghanistan into http://www.twitter.com/dfbmbe

Now.. What to do with them... ;)

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Posted August 19, 2010
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Left Behind

I found these items in one of the vacant houses I was viewing today. They belong to a Flight Lieutenant J.E.V Davies. The logbook shows an amazing flying career starting during WWII flying Lancasters.

I had no idea why such an interesting and important document would be left behind. I wanted to put it in my pocket, to explore and share later, but it wasn't mine to take.

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Filed under  //   death   history   house   logbook   old age   pilot   raf   war  
Posted August 14, 2010
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Trapped on a train.

Trapped on a train but I don't mind. It may be Friday the 13th but it's also Left Handers day and sat opposite me is @ianwardle, a left hander & lover of tech.

We have enough tech to start a small revolution and if this train doesn't move soon.. We just might.

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Posted August 13, 2010
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Eaters Of Peyote

After a very long absence I thought i would take another look at the iPhone app ReelDirector.

This is 3 mins filming and 5 mins editing random test clips using ReelDirector on the iPhone4. For some reason i could not upload from the app so i dragged the 100meg file off onto my laptop and uploaded from there.

I also compressed the film before saving. All i need is a killer bandwidth and it still looks like a useable tool.

The music is by @Kundama (Ed Hipkins.. He hasn't tweeted for a year) and I'm @Documentally on twitter.

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Posted August 12, 2010
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