Capital Interest February 2015

CA PITA L INTEREST FEBRUARY 2 0 1 5 / VOLUME 1 / NUMBER 2 / W W W .RPS.ORG

Image ©Steve Reed

THIS M ONTH

FEBRUA RY 2 0 1 5

FROM THE EDITOR A DRIA N M cCA RTHY Well already it is nearly New Year, Chinese New Year that is.

As my wife is Chinese we celebrate CNY, it is a time for family, and celebrations, with red packets containing money given to young unmarried relatives. The date of CNY is related to the Chinese Zodiac and this year the New Year - the year of the Goat/Sheep - starts on the 19th February. It will not be a good year for those sheep among you to invest or lend money, so be warned. Did I hear someone say Baa Humbug?

London is a great place to celebrate and photograph CNY, the celebrations kick off on Sunday 22nd February. There will be fireworks in Leicester Square, a stage and entertainment in Trafalgar Square, and dancers and acrobats, drum bands and dragons will parade then go round the Chinese restaurants collecting cabbages with red envelopes. It is great fun to watch, why not visit? Be warned though; it is not safe for young children as it gets extremely crowded, they could easily get lost or trampled. If you go with friends agree a meeting place as it is very easy to get separated and difficult to find each other again, go early to a restaurant as they get very busy later.

And if you get any good images that we can publish in a future issue of Capital Interest, send them to me at london-news@rps.org.

CONTENTS HA M PSTEA D HEA TH : Member Article

LONDON, TOPICA L : Capital Exposure Week

LESSONS FOR CITY LIFE : Member Article

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4-5

6-7

Image © Roger Towell ARPS

BOOK W ORM

CORNER The Good Life: Perceptions of the Ordinary by Jasper Morrison.

Lars Müller Publishers, Zürich, 2014.

I?ve recently acquired this slim volume of photographs of everyday and ordinary objects.

I was immediately attracted to Morrison?s book, since many of the subjects are exactly those upon which I alight with glee ? the shop-window, the simple hand-written notice, a chain, a brick-wall, boxes. Since being involved with the Bleeding London project, where I?ve been tramping the streets looking for the extraordinary in the ordinary, I?ve been thinking a lot about this genre of photography and what makes it so appealing. We don?t want to have to put the ?spoiler alert? banner on this review, but the answer lies in Morrison?s commentaries - both on his collection of the ordinary and the individual images. And a very satisfactory answer it is. Del Barrett ARPS £14.42 from Amazon: (Click on image to link)

LONDON, URBA N : Hair Salons Of London LONDON, NA TURA LLY : David Greens 'Best Of Britain' SOCIA L M EDIA : Events, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Blog, Website

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10-11

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A number of us were swapping notes about our favourite photography books, when Britta suddenly had a flash of inspiration and suggested that RPS London should start its own book club. We would meet once a month and discuss different photography books. If you're interested in becoming an RPS London book-worm, drop us a line at london@rps.org.

LONDON, TOPICA L

HA M PSTEA D HEA TH PHOTOGRA PH THE HEA TH BEFORE IT?S TOO LA TE! BY JEN PEDLER

Drastic changes are imminent on Hampstead Heath. The controversial project to strengthen the dams on both chains of ponds has finally been given the go-ahead.

Preparatory work will start in February before things kick off in earnest in April. Whether it will be the disaster that the protestors have predicted remains to be seen but one thing?s for sure, there will be around two years of disruptive heavy construction affecting vast swathes of the Heath and when it?s completed the landscape will be changed forever.

A map on the Protect Our Ponds website shows the extent of the work. As the Highgate Ponds are only about a 15-minute walk from my house, I?ve been trying to get over there as much as possible lately to document things as they are before it all changes. And I?m planning to continue this as the work progresses. You can see some of my recent pictures posted to my Hampstead Heath album on ipernity.

Would anyone like to join me for a photo walk on Sunday February 8th to capture the Heath in its current glory?

Details here on the website.

RIVER STA IRS, W A PPING VIDEO BY JOHN TA RBY FRPS This documentary was made to support local charities (Turks Head Trust, History of Wapping Trust) in an application for lottery funding. The intended audience are members of the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Local Authority - Tower Hamlets.

The River Stairs in Wapping are a significant feature of the riverside and have many historical connections.

However it would be impossible for people to view the project in one short visit so a film is the obvious way to give a well thought out message about why they should be saved and deserve the funds. Full length copies of the film (16mins) are available on a DVD for ÂŁ10 from John Tarby FRPS of the Film and Video Group who can be contacted by email at johndtarby@gmail.com

LONDON, TOPICA L

CA PITA L EX POSURE W EEK

BY DEL BA RRETT A RPS

Inspired by the European Month of Photography (EMoP), RPS London thought it would be both interesting and fun to organize our own mini-exhibition festival. We?re planning to hold a series of exhibitions, installations and studio events around the capital during the first week of November. Although we can?t hope to achieve anything on the scale of EMoP, we can still offer a stimulating programme for members and visitors.

There were several themes evident in EMoP, which we think we can usefully ?borrow? for our own event.

Space The big exhibitions were in the main galleries, but many of the smaller exhibitions and installations took place in spaces designed for other purposes ? or ?offspaces? as they are known. Some of the most imaginative included those on a front door, in someone?s front room, under a railway arch, in a disused warehouses, in glass advertising cases and in shop windows. Then there were the more conventional spaces, with cafes and bars proving popular, as were spaces in public buildings (such as the corridor of the Town Hall and the entrance hall of the library).

Collaborate, Curate, Communicate Collaboration was one of the key-words, so many of the small shows comprised the work of several photographers and displayed a variety of technique and genre ? for example, a row of small Instagram images next to some large prints on canvas. Small spaces demand an imaginative approach towards curating and this was evident in the way space had been used three-dimensionally; not only were images hung on walls, but they were suspended from ceilings or stuck on boards in the middle of the floor. One of the most creative ideas was a mirror on the floor reflecting images that had been pasted to the ceiling. Installations (where the space is changed and the structure of the space becomes part of the show) were popular with brick walls, concrete floors, iron columns and barred windows all becoming part of an urban show. And not everything has to be indoors; it?s amazing what you can do with some old tarpaulin, a printer and a car-park or a shipping container or a couple of cans of spray-paint. Multi-level communication was apparent in many of the displays with projected and moving images screened on everything from old television sets to mini iPads - sharing a small space with prints and stereoscopic images.

GET INVOLVED We think London members can be just as creative, so it?s time to put on your thinking cap and start planning how you can be involved in Capital Exposure week.

Over the next few months, we?ll be publishing tips and ideas for shows, running workshops, bringing you updates of events and providing inspiration and information so that members of all abilities can participate.

Main features will appear in Capital Interest and other features will be publicized on the London Blog and our facebook pages.

Make sure you?ve bookmarked them in your browsers!

Next month we?ll be bringing you the background story to Lizzie Brown?s View from the Loo ? a recent installation that is an inspiration to us all ? as well as an update on spaces available and planned exhibitions

W HA T TO DO NEX T Download the form from the London ?ABOUT US? section of the RPS website, fill it in and return to londonevents@rps.org.

All images Š Del Barrett ARPS Image 1: Various artists at Gallerie Schleifmßhlegasse Image 2: From ?Walk a mile in my shoes?by various artists Image 3: Museums Quartier

LONDON, TOPICA L - CA PITA L EX POSURE

LESSONS FOR CITY LIFE

BY JULIE CA LVERT A RPS

A capital city like London is an exciting place to live. There is no shortage of things to do and you have access to the cutting edge, the very best from all over the world, whether it be independent world cinema, theatre, food, fashion, stuff to fill a home with etc. etc. And like many large cities, London is multi-cultural: I have worked with people from just about everywhere it seems and I can eat in restaurants which serve all that the world has to offer. But as a taxi driver said to me recently, 'London is relentless.' There's no downtime. Even when you think you are relaxing, you're not. It's just too hectic a city and you're always connected.

The best tonic my husband and I have found to balance our London lifestyle is to head somewhere where we can get close to wildlife. We really slow down and get into the rhythm of the African bush or the jungle or the ice scape of the Polar Regions, and observe the behaviour of wild animals. This grounds us, re-balances us and it even educates us. There is a lot to learn from the primal, from animals battling every day for survival, especially when you appreciate that we are animals which pride ourselves on our advanced evolution, yet we still display many of the same basic characteristics of wild animals. We want our children to be safe and to do well, and we all battle for food, assured survival and contentment. Some of us collaborate, some of us battle it out as lone wolves. Despite all the gadgetry and electronic distractions of modern life, we still share overwhelming similarities to wild animals.

A l l i m ag es Š Ju l i e Cal v er t A RPS

Observing animals in the wild is an exciting privilege. To follow a solitary cheetah or leopard over the course of a few days is fascinating although it does require some patience. A cheetah can reach speeds of 97 km/hour, from a standing start it can reach 20 m/s in 2 seconds. It is the fastest land based animal, however it cannot sustain this speed and it needs to take time out to recover before it can have another go at hunting. A cheetah needs to eat each day and it is not a foregone conclusion that each hunt will be successful. Sometimes it will need to walk many, many kilometres to find a suitable hunting ground, it needs to get close enough to a gazelle to be able to run it down but it's cover can be easily blown by the alarm calls of birds or monkeys or the obvious peering of long necked, curious giraffe. Its camouflage is great for the plains but not so great when it needs to climb atop a termite mound or a tree to scan the horizon. It?s important to set the ambush up correctly, a lesson in patience and planning.

Wildebeest travel together in the thousands along with various species of gazelles, following the rains and new grasses. They have a symbiotic relationship which helps them survive. They don't present as terribly smart but who knows what they know and we don't. They are preyed upon by the big cats and also crocodiles as they cross the rivers. It always seems to me, during hours and hours of sitting with them, that as individuals they have one of the toughest battles to survive yet their bond is so great that should they become separated during a river crossing, with one wildebeest making it across, the others balking and turning back, the successful wildebeest will frequently take huge risk and cross back again to be with his mate or offspring. These are powerful sightings and lessons in loyalty and family survival.

African Wild Dogs are terrific little things. They teach us teamwork and loyalty as with these, these small mammals punch well above their weight and are extremely successful hunters. Very social before and after hunting, during a hunt they are ruthless. There are many mouths to feed and the hunters return to the rest of the pack and regurgitate, ensuring the whole pack gets to eat.

Watching Egyptian geese squabbling furiously over a territory ridiculously larger than their needs is poignant given the current woes of our world. Yet despite their size, elephants are respectful and compassionate, demonstrating their wisdom and matriarchal bonobos have a great way to keep harmony and peace in their communities - you can look that one up on Wikipedia! So much inspiration comes from the wild, from our roots, but it is only seen by ditching the modern pace of life for a while, by really slowing down and spending lots of time observing and reflecting on what is important.

A l l i m ag es Š Ju l i e Cal v er t A RPS

LONDON, URBA N

HA IR SA LONS OF LONDON

BY STEVE REED I've long been fascinated with storefronts -- the signs, the colors, the clutter.

They're even better if they've been around a long time and show signs of age.

A little rust and flaky paint always adds character, right? I especially like barber shops and hair salons. They tend to be individually owned, with a sort of mom-and/or-pop charm, and they're very specific to their neighborhoods.

My project for the RPS London, Urban group involves photographing hair-related establishments (ironic, as I have virtually no hair myself). I hope the photos show the cultural, economic and ethnic diversity of London.

Even before the RPS Bleeding London project -- the effort coordinated by Del Barrett to photograph every street in the city, based on Geoff Nicholson's book of that name -- I've spent my spare time wandering the city streets and looking for interesting shops and quirky scenes. So this project comes somewhat naturally to me (as did Bleeding London).

It's been interesting for me to notice that many, many barber shops -- at least in northwest London, where I live, and in East London -- seem to be Arabic-owned or Arabic-speaking. The women's salons in those areas are often visually impenetrable.

I also like launderettes. I found one shop combining elements of a launderette and a hair establishment. Heaven! So far I've shot all my photos from the outside, documenting the shopfronts themselves. I may eventually take my camera inside and try to shoot barbers and customers -- obviously they're the more "personal" story -- but I haven't taken that step yet.

London, Urban i s su p p o r t ed b y t h e Ni k o n Sch o o l Cl i ck HERE t o si g n u p f o r t h e Ni k o n Sch o o l New sl et t er Det ai l s o f t r ai n i n g co u r ses can b e f o u n d HERE.

A l l i m ag es © St ev e Reed

LONDON, NA TURA LLY

BEST OF BRITAIN A REVIEW OF DA NNY GREEN' S TA LK BY PENNY DIX IE A RPS I know I?m biased because I?m lucky enough to call Danny a personal friend, but he really does tell a good story! We asked Danny to do a talk for London RPS and to show some of his favorite British images. We asked him to weave in the story of his personal journey as a photographer. He certainly did us proud. As he entered Wetherby?s Preparatory School near Marble Arch, Danny joked that his primary school had been a bit different.

Danny was born in Loughborough, Leicestershire as the younger of two brothers. The family lived in the rough end of town and Danny went to the local primary and secondary schools. I think it?s fair to say that he didn?t like school much. He says that he probably spent more time out of school than in school and was often missing as he roamed the local countryside looking for wildlife.

The annual family holiday was to north Norfolk, and it was in Snettisham one October that the 8 year old Danny was introduced to the famous 'seabird spectacular' by his Grandad. He clearly remembers standing in the cold wind watching the thousands and thousands of wading birds swirl around the estuary. Later on, pouring over maps showing the migratory routes of the Knot, his Granddad explained that these were Knot that had come to Norfolk from the Arctic and were visiting for the winter months.

Danny clearly identifies this as the start of his passion for British wildlife and photography.

It?s a passion that?s taken him from humble beginnings in Loughborough to being a published photographer for National Geographic and an ?Explorer of Light?, part of the Canon Ambassador programme.

Danny has been successful in a glittering array of photography competitions and published his first book in 2012. The kind words Danny wrote in my copy of ?The Long Journey North? make it one of my most treasured possessions. He could easily spend his life on the circuit giving talks and dining out on his past successes but, at the age of only 42 he?s got a million projects on the go. Danny?s working on a second book, 'Wild Britain?; photographing for another long project for National Geographic magazine; co-running a highly successful photography holiday company (Natures Images); plus teaching and mentoring many aspiring photographers on 1:1s and workshops. He?s also a very devoted family man and likes few things better than being at home with his wife Liz and their two children.

A l l i m ag es Š Dan n y Gr een

Wetherby?s is a fantastic venue and London RPS is very fortunate to have the school?s support. The hall was packed for Danny?s talk and the audience clearly enjoyed his amiable and relaxed style, his honest and amusing anecdotes, and above all his extraordinary images. He showed us stunning animal and bird portraits, beautiful landscapes, as well as exquisite macro shots taken across the different British seasons.

You can see more of Danny?s National Geographic Puffin images on the National Geographic website; CLICK HERE He made us giggle by saying that having taken thousands and thousands of puffin images for the project, he wouldn?t care if he didn?t have to look at another puffin for a while? but we hope that he will make an exception for the puffin mugs that we gave him as a little 'thank you?.

I must have heard Danny talk a dozen times over the years, and despite having seen some of the images before, I always learn something new. When I look at Danny?s images, I sometimes feel as if I might as well put all my camera gear down and give up but, that feeling never lasts and I always end up truly inspired and ready to pick up my bags and dash off to take more photos.

Hopefully everyone in the spell-bound audience will have gone home with a bit of ?Danny magic? too.

Very many thanks to everyone who made this evening such a resounding success.

www.dannygreenphotography.com www.natures-images.co.uk

A l l i m ag es Š Dan n y Gr een

RPS London is delighted to announce that the first Bleeding London exhibition will be held at City Hall in July.

If you?ve participated in the Bleeding London project, you?ll be hearing from us very shortly. And if you haven?t participated, why not? It?s not too late to help fill in those last small pockets of uncovered streets. Email us at london@rps.org for details of how you can still join in.

Image @ Will Cheung FRPS

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