Homeland : epilogue

So we hover over our homeland. That's where we live. That's what our people look like en masse. The river like a silver thread, buildings like lego blocks and those people standing in their pyjamas in the back garden waving...

People always say you can hear dogs barking from way up in a balloon. I didn't hear any dogs barking. In between bursts of flame, I just heard hearts pounding.

{Today's Soundtrack: Scott Matthews - John Leckie Sessions}

Homeland : episode iii

(Continuation of the series from Aug '07)

Clinging to the edge of a big basket that comes almost up to my chin, I realise I'm not breathing...

Everything is getting smaller and smaller, and an extraordinary tenderness wells up for the tiny humans down there looking like such vulnerable little specks. You can't help but feel moved about us and our possibilities.

{That Moment's Soundtrack: Halcyon + On + On - Orbital}

Homeland : episode iv

They thought the sun would burn off that mist, but it is thick and we get lost inside it. As I pray we will be looked after (not just us in the basket, but everyone down there too) we rise above the fog and emerge hovering just metres above the cloud base, hundreds of other balloons now in view, and there are patches where the cloud breaks and detail of the land becomes clear again.

The day we fly, I am preparing to shoot the Angels project. The task ahead feels quite overwhelming, but as we float over Bristol I realise–in the scheme of things–how tiny the physical space is that these Angels will inhabit. Suddenly I can relax, manage to let go of ballast.

{Sub-Sountrack: Lamb - Fly}

Mist slides underneath us like a warm blanket over Bristol, which is shrouded one minute then visible again, giving us glimpses of water like silver running through the city.

Sometimes the view is clear, sometimes not. We hang in suspense and carry on floating our way in and out of this weird semi-sensory deprivation, each person quiet and captivated by their own wildest hopes, until a radio interruption announces another balloon directly below us, suddenly emerging from the fog and dangerously close. Is this what it's like to discover the person of your dreams?

{That Moment's Soundtrack: Weightlessness - Freelance Hellraiser}

Finishing Things - Homeland revisited

I reneged on a promise - said I'd finish something and didn't. Please forgive me? Have a read through these to set the scene, as I am going to mend my broken word but it might not make sense out of context.

The series is Homeland from August 2007.

On a different and significant note, I have recently finished something else quite massive. Have a look here to see what that is.

{Today's Soundtrack: my strumming & song.}

House of Love

Yippee! Big Brother's back, again, save me a seat! Alternatively... anyone fancy coming round for tea and a slice of redcurrant pie, as I go ahead and just pour boiling water down the back of the telly?

{Today's Soundtrack: House of Love - House of Love}

An Email That Made Me Think

My friend Penny emailed this morning and asked my professional opinion on this article in the Guardian, and more specifically, this quote:

"photography, once a noble art, has become, thanks to the move to digital, a mental illness"

Arguably, it's dangerous to ask me–who thinks enough already–what I think, but here's my (at times controversial) reply:

*

Hiya Pen,

Interesting. I wouldn't say photography itself has become a mental illness, but the use of mobile/camera phones has, in line with our cultural obsession with machines and technology. This naturally overspills into more hi-spec camera use – I can't tell you the number of times I have been shooting a job and a keen amateur approaches me wanting to know the spec of my camera, quick to point out theirs is better. "If you'll excuse me," I think, " I have some images to make." (It's not about the camera!)

Largely, I would challenge people to consider whether or not what they do really is 'photography', although technically that's exactly what it is. I wouldn't say most use is helpful in a news and current affairs context, as implied by the article. Aesthetically and conceptually, the majority of common photographic practice is undiscerning, goes unedited and is more of a 'need to belong' activity than a refined and insightful use of imagery to detect deeper truths about the world we live in. A mental illness? Only in the sense it is fear driven, ie. led by a belief that if we (society at large) don't do it (take pictures of everything on our technically brilliant gadgets), we feel we will be missing something crucial to our collective experience and welfare, and if we don't have a snap of it then it didn't happen and we are poorer as a result. That is clearly a lie, but sadly is it the only thing many of us have to cling to?

Yes, I do feel sad when I see so many people unable to enjoy life without a camera between them and their real experience. As a professional photographer, I still say the same. Only yesterday I went for a walk around the docks with my camera, debating in my head (again) whether or not I was a genuine photographer because I kept my camera in its case on such an unusual snowy day. Then I saw a particularly brilliantly designed snowman and couldn't resist.

For me to record images of the world around me, I need to be engaged with the world around me, and I can only do this if I stop and take it in one on one occasionally. It means when I do lift my camera to my face, the intuitive response is then much more interesting to look at.

So no, photography isn't a mental illness, but gadgetry maybe. For me it all shouts of our need to belong.

That's what I think anyway... you did ask!

Bessx

*

{Today's Soundtrack: Nina Simone - Don't Explain}

Buttery

Sorry if this makes no sense but–a bit like how you talk when you're outside in the cold–it'll be quick as I should currently be halfway up the M5 to attend some family moments. Needless to say, they were right about that icy blast!

And on the theme of family moments and kindling, my sister has just come home after working in Spain for a few months. She sensibly–and perhaps inspired by that spanish earthiness–came back to Bristol prepared with a big fleece, and wrapped up in it as we strolled around the docks after our own private Christmas lunch at the Buttery (outdoor café on the docks, and one of the most special places in the world). She had a kind of pied piper effect on the swans, it was magical.

Frosty-snowy-icy-bacon-sarnie-chilly-toes-extra-sugar-in-that-tea-please-good-to-have-you-home-our-g....quick let's get inside again....brrrrr!

Gotta dash!! Happy Christmas people. xxx

{Today's Soundtrack: Bon Iver again, has to be.}

Kindling

Driftwood kindling, which–tied up with a bow–made a sweet birthday present for someone who doesn't like fuss. Almost too pretty to burn!

They reckon we're in for an icy blast in the next couple of weeks, and an end to this rain we thought had no end. Hopefully some of those rich, blue winter skies will clasp us around the lungs and make us stand up a bit taller – so refreshing, those vast, open spaces of thin winter air.

Not long until the shortest day now, then unfurl the sails and cruise on downwind all the way back to summer. Icy blasts in mind, winter storms and not forgetting the season's poetic licence, the early part of the voyage will certainly require some warm sparking up of fires, either real or of the heart. (Now, where did you put that mistletoe?!)

Strike a match, and make mine a whiskey mac.

{Today's soundtrack: Friendly Fires}

The Rules : II

My little lion, how reassuring it is to find this picture, the poppet. (Look here if you want to know what I'm talking about.)

Laterally thinking today, I'm trying to come up with an indie/folk reworking of a fairly serious old carol 'cause I have to play it on Sunday for lots of people, but it's really hard. The syncopation is challenging, which is a problem as I have to steer a drummer and bass player too - as if I know what I'm talking about - ha! I've tried building in some open chord progressions so it's not so gloomy, but forget where they are and trip up, and now my fingers really hurt and my voice is going like I swallowed gravel for breakfast! I'm stuffed, but so is my bassist as I'm transposing but can't work out the new key. Latest is I'm thinking that for most of the set I'll ditch the guitar and lead three-way acapella harmonies instead. hmm... do you think I should reel this in a bit??

Oh flip. Anyone got a spare teacosy I can wear to distract everyone if I stuff up... ?

{Today's soundtrack, oh yes we're back and this I love:

Mumford & Sons - Little Lion Man + Sigh No More}

Soundtrack Crisis

Right. Help required.

Plugging the ipod into an unfamiliar mac to charge, forgot to turn off ipod sync in a thoroughly empty itunes. Guess who's ipod was wiped?

Breathe in, breathe out, repeat until calm.

Now, all is not lost as obviously I have my library back home, but this doesn't contain tunes from two prior lappies that blew up/got stolen. Sadness, and grief!

NOW, this is where you come in. Can you recommend your favourite soundtrack of today so I can go and have a listen and build that library back up again??

All comments welcome! Thanks x

{Today's Soundtrack: . . .    ?!   . . . }

Passport Booth

Passport booths are a good metaphor for life – at least the old fashioned ones were. You get to have another go if you stuff up. What a relief. Who do we thank?

{Today's soundtrack: Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid}

Pinko, Dog, and the Orange Badge People.

Just in case you thought things had become slightly serious, here are a couple of little characters to lift the mood slightly. They are from a place I used to live in. I moved from that home recently after 10 years, which felt sad but a relief too, not clinging too tightly to it/stuff, and making a break for the next chapter, whatever that entails.

Introducing: Pinko, Dog, and the folk on a little orange badge who shelter together under a brolly and always make me think, "hmm, cute."

An antidote to those colourless, lightless moments – we all need funny little allies in this life, hey? Punctuations of colour with strong, bold character, but soft too, and a bit daft. My best friends are like that!

Last Post? Let it be known, I don't speak much french, don't think about death all the time, and am prone to being seduced by the surface of things. Aren't we all? Am I in good company?

{Today's soundtrack: Angus & Julia Stone}