Each time I visit WordPress these days it seems to be with an excuse for why it’s been so long since the previous post, and GOD!! I know it gets repetitive…Drives me up the wall when others do it, so I just need to bite the bullet and admit that on occasion I’m a lazy good fer nuthin blogging twonk. That’s it!, end of!, subject closed!….
Now that I am here, I thought I’d seize the opportunity to flag up what I’m currently doing.
My final year of a BA Photography degree has just kicked off and I’m feverishly shooting for a project poles apart from anything I’ve done before. Since starting the course I’ve almost exclusively shot on colour film with medium format cameras. None of the fast snap happy digital work that was exactly what this blog was intially about, rather a slow and methodical approach to photography that’s been quite technically driven. Some stuff I’ve been reasonably happy with but a lot, (rather too much), has been about as exciting as nude macrame., and between you and I Dear Reader I felt I needed a bit of a kick up the arse.
Consequently for my final projects I’ve chucked out the medium format cameras, left the digital gear languishing in the cupboard for another year and bought a somewhat ancient, super cheap, fixed lens Olympus XA 35mm film camera and a fridge, (full to the eggbox), of monochrome film.
Plans are to shoot like a dervish. A free-wheeling, fast-spinning, speedy shutter-clicking, leave your brain behind, ‘if it moves photograph it’, leave no stone un-turned, thirty films a day, photo-bonkers,kinda dervish, and given that, what better place to shove some of the images than here at shpics?
Joking aside, I’m hoping that my existing WordPress pals, and anyone else who stumbles on this stuff, might take the time to give me a little feedback. This material is likely going to be very different than what has been posted in the past, and like with everything that has been here before, I always love to hear what you think of it.
The project has no over-arching theme or concept, I’m merely aiming to produce a random and subjective visual document of myself and my environment. To produce images which act as ‘detached fragments of reality’, with their own irreversible materiality. My mood might be every bit as important as whatever I find myself in front of, and yet both of these things might be completely irrelevant when compared to chance. It will only really be apparent at the selection and editing stage whether the project is any more than the sum of it’s (planned), many parts.
p.s. Anyone out there who does enjoy nude macrame, I really didn’t mean to give offence, it’s just not my cup of tea,
Sue
Great composites, Stuart, I especially like the first and last, very emotive. The second one doesn’t do it for me, looks like an accident that failed… There, you did ask! And good to see you here, I had been wondering how it was going…as for Nude Macrame, could be a load of b******s for all I know
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Hey Sue, great to hear from you, and glad you like (at least some of them haha)…They’re not composites though, or double exposures..All are single images using reflections and/or layers of glass…
And knowing nowt nude macrame-wise is not a bad thing in my book…..
Sue
Fabulous then! Brilliant observation on you part,, regarding reflections! Kudos
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Ta muchly…I got some of the funniest looks in the process.
TANYA ELLIS
i agree with sue,don’t like number 2 either,ave is the chinese one.
Stuart Hyde - shpics
I like those characters across the face as well… Probably more exciting because you and I don’t know what they mean…. It would kinda ruin it if it’s an advert for colonic irrigation or pest control or support tights….. I hope for the sake of my Chinese visitors that it means something cool ☺
westseventhfreelance
Personally, I like the second in the line-up, as it pictorially correlates with the cultural feelings in the run-up to the US election…:)
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Frazzled, out of focus, grimly distorted….. You’re not wrong
westseventhfreelance
Shrinking Island is my fav
Stuart Hyde - shpics
And mine ☺☺☺☺☺😘….I so so SO want a big print from it. The film grain is like gravel, and blown up large it’s SO nice. I’m saving my pennies for a trip to the print shop ☺
west517
Oh my– I love the Shrinking Island images. Stunning~ very beautiful! Smoky, grainy and delicious!
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Smoky, grainy and delicious sounds like a kipper….do you have kippers in the new world???
west517
Kippers…. I’m embarrassed to admit I don’t know what that is… I’m quite sure it isn’t the cartoon dog my niece loves 😀 Do tell- is it edible?
Stuart Hyde - shpics
A matter of opinion, just the thought is enough to induce nausea in some people, but I rather like’em…. A kipper is a smoked herring, and to my mind the breakfast of champions, however should you ever try one, do not, I repeat do not, plan anything of a romantic nature for at least 24 hours… Your breath will be like a hot wind across a trawlers deck. 😥
west517
Smoked herring– I’ve never had it – only seen it at the market 🙂 Sounds adventurous but I tend to be a little leery romance inhibiting foods that cause my breath to be like a hot wind…breakfast of champions you say? I was SURE that was OATMEAL!! lol It’s one food that’s sure not to interfere with a little romance 😉
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Hmm, in my experience oatmeal has it’s own dangers… Maybe not a hot wind but there’s worse things than temperature. 😨
equinoxio21
Nude macramé? Perish the thought. 🙂
Now that I have read the “Final project” I am reassured. Pff. Sigh of relief.
I like those last photographs. There is an eerie, oniric dimension to them. Good work, and a nice week-end to you.
B.
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Thanks Brian, I’m glad you’re finding some catch up time, never good when days seem short on hours. I’ve been shooting some more for the project so will post something up in the not too distant future, it will be interesting to see if a different city creates a different mood, but if I get eerie and dreamlike, (had to look Oneiric up😉), I’ll be happy…. Be well mate.
equinoxio21
Kep the Dream alive, mate.
Helen Cherry
Love the 1st and last particularly.. are you adding heavy grain in post processing? or is it the film? Are yo using film or digital?
Stuart Hyde - shpics
All film …..Fomapan 400, so it’s as gritty as gritty gets….I want a powdered glass in the eyeball kinda vibe 🙂
Helen Cherry
You’ve got it !
Stuart Hyde - shpics
I think I’m happy….. Pass the eyedrops…
aliciarombos
I absolutely love the first and the last ones. The fact you can’t see her eyes adds intrigue to the image. Maybe the second one could work alone, on its own, as it doesn’t really match with the series.
I’m using an Olympus XA too. It’s the only camera I have that it’s actually mine (not borrowed or stolen from my grandmother’s house). I bought it second hand and it’s flawless. It’s great to see what others draw out from that small camera.
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Hi..Glad you like the images and how fantastic to hear from another XA convert….I bought mine specifically for this project as I’d been shooting medium format for quite a while, and it hooked me straight away though…A truly fantastic little machine.