Go somewhere you haven't

Another week, another challenge...

In response to the 28th week of the Street Photography Challenge, set by Paul Russell, I ventured in new directions throughout Belfast. The brief stated: "Go somewhere you haven't been before - a dog show, a polo match, a monster truck rally - and remember, the interesting things often happen at the fringes away from the main 'action'". Initially I look this more literally, like a few others undertaking the challenge, and deviated from my regular walking routes to find fresh scenes. Russell, posting later on Flickr, clarified that it was the events or occasions that should be attended - not just anywhere new.

My entry for this week was found at a fashion fair. I found a man who had had his fill with the event and was seeking refuge on a bench. When researching what to photograph this week I found that Belfast's next dog show is not on until the 28th, which I may go along to with this brief in mind. I'm sure it will be full of characters, some of whom I could coerce into taking part in the '100 Portraits' project.

Whilst exploring the city, before the brief was expanded, I did find some fantastic sights. I think I will return to those areas with the intention of looking for moments, in true Paul Graham style. The atmosphere is never different when you leave the well worn paths, and venture closer to Black Mountain where graffiti becomes very mixed [see above] and murals appear at every turn. From this walk through less populated areas I was able to find a fantastic subject to include in my 100 Portraits project - Sister Marie.

-PM

Ongoing projects, and other things.

Things are trundling along: the 100 Portraits project is almost a month old; the Street Photography Now challenge is half over; and I am still holding out for information on what my next step in life will be [off to Japan as a JET, further study or Irish island life on Rathlin].

Day 25 of 100: Betty, and her dog Bambi. Betty was a lovely and obliging subject to photograph. Her hands were dry, and her nails were long. She has lived in Belfast all her life, and walks the Lisburn road daily. Her dog, Bambi, had been abused as a pup and is now wary of men.

Week 27 of the SPN challenge:

"Bend the rules and play tricks with the mind; make documents of moments that have never existed." - Peter Funch

Again, I was not a huge fan of the week's challenge. However, I do enjoy weaving worlds together with reflections so it wasn't all bad. It allowed me to set up this scene in which the mannequin was voyeurising a couple. It was his 'gaze', which seems so severe, that forced me to frame it as such.

Outside of my photography I continue to keep busy. For example, Ireland will soon have it's first camera obscura and I am functioning as the online media facilitator, by maintaining the blog and digital archive. Construction is due to start soon, and that will mean plenty more updates. Until then I will be creating and uploading information sheets on the Camera Obscura, borders, surveillance, optics and more.

Visit: http://gulliverscamera.wordpress.com/

Also, I had to submit a portrait and bio for the website of Mute. For more information on the film, as well as my very stern Director of Photography portrait, please see the Mute film website.

-PM

Follow the Money...

Week 24 of the SPN project.

"Follow the money" - Stephen McLaren

After following one man (seen above) for ten minutes or so, he doubled back on me. His facial expression says that he was annoyed that he was the subject of my gaze, and (I think) his clutching hand gesture belies the nervousness/uncomfortableness. I may have taken the brief more literally than was intended but it provided interesting food for thought on a fantastically bright day.

I spent most of my time in the financial areas of Belfast, which provided a wonderful playground for scenes littered with busy people too wrapped up in other matters. Photographing at lunch also in my favour because it forced more people into the public spaces where I was able to 'follow' and frame them.

My B-sides for this week include:

-PM

"Slow down..."

"Slow down, the next picture may be very quiet and close." - Bruno Quinquet

Businessman with a parking ticket, Belfast, 2011 (SPN Challenge 20)

Week 20 was a tough one. Bruno Quinquet's statement was a more open brief than most of the recent posts in the Street Photography Challenge. Plenty of of the early posts in the Instruction No.20 Flickr pool, and discussion boards, were aiming on a 'good' street photo because of the openness of the brief (or so I gather from reading the threads), and the results have been good.

Bruno Quinquet, Salaryman Project, 2009

I first came across Quinquet's work at this time last year when his series on Japanese salarymen, Obsession of a salaryman otaku, was published in the 1000words Photography Magazine (Spring 2010). I was instantly hooked. Here was a photographer who was exploring a breed of working man bound by cultural constraints, constraints imposed by a distinctly Japanese view of the working world. Quinquet's poetic portraits documented the salarymen but also embodied, through his choice of composition and colour, the fleeting and transient beauty that is magnificently celebrated within Japanese visual culture.

Bruno Quinquet, Salaryman Project, 2009

In his artist statement for the series Quinquet wrote: "On one hand, it explores the identity of the average Japanese male office worker, called salaryman, letting mystery and poetry blossom in the supposedly boring corporate world. On the other hand, by concealing the subjects’ identities, the project tries to adapt in a creative way to the increasing constraints of portraits rights on candid street photography."

Woman waiting on a bus, Belfast, 2011

So, with the Salaryman Project in mind, I began shooting this weeks brief with the intentions of ferreting out workers seeking quiet and peaceful moments during their working days. Since the salaryman phenomenon does not exist in Northern Ireland my challenge was harder, but not impossible. I also wanted to avoid the repetition of a previous SPN challenge that urged the photographers to find people who were lost in thought amidst the new urban environment. The woman above was photographed through a bus shelter window, hence the strange lightened area where light has been reflected, and I loved how her cap covered just enough of her face to conceal her identity.

My entered image for this week, found beneath the brief at the top of this post, had some of the mystery of Quinquet's salarymen with the man's face being obscured by shadow. The layers within the portrait come from the green mesh fence, which protects the car park, and the glistening reflections upon the car. The colour in the image comes across more as a barrage of turgid tones than the simple palettes found in the Salaryman Project; however, the red brick is a stalwart in Belfast, and the blue sky reflecting on the car only highlights the fresh weather we are experiencing at this time of year. The simple action of searching for and reading a parking ticket is probably something he does every single day... Again, this leaves me celebrating the transience of things. Mono no aware.

Another week bested... Only 32 to go!

-PM

December... Fail!

The last month of the year and things are going well, mostly. I reached my one year 'dreadiversay' on the 3rd [photo below] and have been working flat out, which is a good thing. The down side of working as much means that my time to photograph is being gobbled up by things that offer me money (thanks HBO!). As a result I missed my first week of the 'Street Photography Now' challenge, it was Week 9: "play photographic poker"... for week 9 info see here.

One Year Dreadiversary!

On the plus side I did help an old friend, Mark Robinson, out by recording myself singing some of my favourite lyrics for his interactive media project, 'A Networking Project'. I will post the full video up when I find it... It really turned out well, and luckily a few vocally talented individuals got involved.

Week 10 of the Street Photography Now challenge should be fine as it overlaps with a style of photography that enjoy, and can easily slot in on the way to work. Week 10: "Photograph like an assassin; Suddenly and silently." - Osamu Kanemura

More on this challenge soon. With Belfast firmly frozen over I hope to silently snap up some fantastic falls... :)

-PM