Human Rights Human Wrongs

Had a superb day out with number two daughter yesterday. Visited The Photographers Gallery to view their latest exhibition. A collection of conflicts and some people who won Nobel peace prizes as a result of them. It was not light hearted viewing, but raised questions for discussion on the photographic medium and genres and general philosophy. TPG also has an excellent bookshop and cafe, where we had coffee and indulged in a bit of people spotting.

After the exhibition it was off, into deeper Soho for more photography as part of my continuing self assignment about this area of London. I chose Dean Street and the small streets coming off it. Got some pics I am happy with, and the first part uploads are here.

I will hopefully post another set next blog if memory serves.

Once we got to the bottom of Dean Street, it was around and into Frith Street and the coolest coffee bar in London, Bar Italia. Great coffee and authentic Italia food. Great ambience and a mod icon. Train home a quick after match Birra Moretti in Wetherspoons.

Fantastico!

P.S I am trying to encourage Amber to display her pics, but I am not getting very far!

Dusting off the cobwebs

Managed to get on the bike today.



Carrying too much winter podge and it was pretty windy and wet for a good timings, but excellent fun. A couple of hours and 40 odd kilometres along the country lanes around Stevenage. Very little traffic which is always pleasant.

Before Color - William Eggleston

If you are an artist born into our class, The Working Class, you are in trouble. There are many obstacles preventing you from creating, and very little help. Equipment and materials are expensive, sometimes unobtainable, competing with life's essentials. Of all the myriad crimes of capitalism, and there will always be too many to list, the hindrance of art is up there with the best of them. The greatest paintings you never saw, and the greatest music you never heard are by artists from the working class.

But as Elvis said, If you are looking for trouble, then you are in the right place. The camera is a genuine democratiser of art. It takes next to nothing in skill to lift the viewfinder to your eye and press the shutter. You can get a basic camera fairly cheaply, and away you go. This simple start is deceptive though. The more you look the more you see. Light becomes an object and all things take on new meanings. The tenacity of the working class cannot be stamped out, and what does not kill us, makes us stronger.

William Eggleston is a pioneer in the genre of vernacular photography. The study of everyday things. His book, Before Color, is a collection of images from the late sixties to early seventies of America's South. He breaks the 'rules'. Body parts cropped out of frame, horizons skewed, Because the subjects take centre stage, not technical banalities. Working class life is captured in all its reality. Americana cars, diners and lounges transport us back through time and history. I love these pictures as I love work by Stephen Shore and Henri Cartier-Bresson. To the unskilled and uncultured eye, these images may be described as banal. Until you sit with them for a while, meditate on them and let the sublime aesthetics seep into your soul.

I found my copy in my local WHSmith. A poor excuse for a bookshop, but the only option around. It has a pathetically small photographic section, maybe ten books, so I snapped up this gem feeling like a diamond prospector. At the till, the barcode didn't register a price or any other details. It seemed right and fitting that something as beautiful as this book, and what it represents bucked the corporate retail machine. For minute, I thought they wouldn't be able to even sell it, but that part of the transaction was successful, of course.

Enjoyed today's meditation. I think I have attained level two of the Shamatha course. Level two is continuous attention, but don't get fooled by the title. It is similar to level one, but with longer bouts of attention on the chosen subject. The mind still wanders all over the place, like a porcupine treading on jelly beans, but is able to keep some attention.

Ambers birthday meal tonight yay! Happy eighteenth to my penultimate child. I could not be prouder of all of them.

Still playing the cards

After not playing much poker last year, I have returned to the baize. Still in the micro's and still in the basement, 2nl. That is No Limit Texas Hold 'em, tables with a max buy in of $2.

I had always hoped to progress up through the stake levels, and make a second income from the game. As time has gone on, the game has got much harder to win at. You must study the latest trends in playing style and keep up to date with strategy.

Here was January

Small profit, but only 1.70 bb/100. 3bb/100 is considered the minimum for a good win rate. Here's to a better February.