Where the heck do I plug in my hair straighteners? and history repeats itself.

So, filming is underway for our music video. So as not to give away anything about it I've just popped up these two shots from the first day of filming. I took it upon myself to climb a six foot wall in order to get the best shots I could. I know six foot is hardly Everest, but it is when you're terrified of heights and when your friends think it's hilarious to film and photograph you trying to get down! (Thanks, guys *sarcastic face*)

It was also so cold that day that we all had numb fingers and could find our way through dense fog with our red noses alone! Still it was productive and should match up to the immense quality of the audio recording!

Following the success of last weeks human landscape shoot I decided to make the most of reading week by booking the studio again today. The model, Craig is an old friend of mine who I met on one of the modelling websites that I'm affiliated with. He's versatile and will willingly take on board instruction.

This is actually rather rare in models, and considering that he's still new to modelling it's a lucky find on my behalf.

Last week I was on one of my regular mini road-trips trying to find something to do, and looking at my phone (one of those Android deelies that do everything but make tea and toast) and typed in fancy dress shops as I wanted to pick up some props for Craig's shoot. I ventured into Ellesmere Port and happened across a three storey shop called Party Place. It had a Mad Hatter costume in the window, it was a little scary. Inside was like a treasure trove! I asked if they sold top hats and I'm was lead to a small passage which had hats from floor to ceiling. I asked for a cane, braces, a bow tie, a clapper board (unrelated to the shoot) and all were in stock, what's even better is that they were so cheap! The woman (who was extremely helpful) said that if they didn't have anything in, that she would order it for me.

As the pictures show, we had a great time. Craig's style means he pulls off pretty much anything you ask him to wear, my only issue was that with him being so tall there was some editing our of backdrops to do. Considering all the things that could potentially be problematic in a photoshoot I know I aught to count my blessings, and believe me I DO!

I'm loving being back in a studio setting, I feel my creative libido ebbing back. I can't wait to get back in there soon, and with at least another two models lined up I can see it won't be long!

Being bored leads to a transformation and my take on size 0

For those of you who choose to read my blog, most of you know what I look like from day to day. One night, a few nights ago I was doing what I do best; procrastinating. This does grow a little tiresome from time to time, so I figured I'd combine two of few of the things I seem to be able to do 'quite' well (I say quite because the extent of my true talent is debatable; also, I told you I was good at procrastinating!)

I pulled down my make up box (I don't own a 'bag', and considering I rarely venture out with more than a little eyeliner and some mascara, I own quite a lot of expensive make up) and spent an hour and a half transforming myself. I do this for fun, just to see what results I can get. I pulled on my red wig and put in my red contacts and went all out. I was rather surprised with the outcome. So, I did what most do, and posted the picture (and a rather hideous 'before' shot) onto facebook for the masses to judge for themselves.

I was told by one friend that this was the nicest he'd ever seen me looking. Now don't get him wrong, he doesn't mean it nastily, only that with some effort (well, a lot) that I can look totally different to how I would normally leave the house. This got me to thinking, if it takes me an hour and a half to look 'pretty' (again debatable) and a complete change of hair colour, then at what stage will be be widely accepted that going out without half a box of make up is considered 'unattractive'? Now, without sounding like an emo, I'm not the most confident about my looks. I'm happy to admit this because moreso than ever before, it has come to my attention that 99.9% of the population is unhappy with some part of themselves. Even people I had always considered to be 'attractive' (i.e. the good side of curvy, in proportion, symmetrical face and a nice smile) have been able to pick two or three things about themselves that they would change if they could.

To whom can the blame for this mass lack of confidence be pointed at? The person for succumbing to the media? Or the media for portraying an unachievable image of attractiveness? I was reading in a newspaper yesterday that Samantha Cameron (the PM's MRS) was slated for looking glum at catwalk event for the London Fashion Week. Quick to cover her obvious distaste for the skeletal Swedish matchstick, I mean model Chloe Memisevic, insiders told reporters that it's not the done thing to reveal emotion when sitting in the front row. The article basically says, who can blame Mrs Cameron for looking glum when all young people have to aspire to are a bunch of malnourished sticks that probably fear inhaling the scent of McDonalds in fear of putting on a few calories. How are anorexia and bullemia an acceptable rolemodels for young children aspiring to be supermodels?

Yes, I know this subject has been done to death, but how many young people have to kill themselves trying to obtain this ludicrous image that some fashion designer tells you is 'perfect' before they all pack up their ugly chiffon creations and go eat a 6 course meal and a family size bar of Dairy Milk?

Coming back to the picture once more, would you say it was an attractive look for me? Would you say that it would be a good idea to spend that much time each and everyday to make myself more 'attractive'? I would like to hear your opinions.

Thanks for listening.

Human Landscapes and a recording studio adventure

So here it is. Hot off the proverbial press (ok out of Photoshop) the first glimpse into my human landscape project. It has been an interesting day in the studio. The lighting was a doddle, a lot easier that I thought it would be and my model was very cooperative.

So out of all the project we have to do in this module I have human landscapes and typologies covered. I've found it both challenging and fun to work on them, putting me out of my comfort zone but I seem to posses the skills to tackle them.

Filming for both the short film, and music video begins this week. Luckily, we've been able to record a song thanks to Tracey (a friend of Sue's) being a singer/songwriter. The song has a fairly strong narrative that should be easy enough to script out, we just have to match the film to the intensity, and talent of the song. Yesterday (Tuesday) we went and recorded the song in a great studio at uni. We were really lucky to meet Tom and Johnny who are both students at the university. Watching them at work was fascinating, and considering the amount of work that goes into recording just one, an album must take weeks of work (not forgetting of course the editing it takes to get all the singing, harmonies, backing vocals, and instruments sounding great. Well, it's doing amazingly so far, I'm very much looking forward to seeing it all come together.

Thursday 3rd February. A day out in Manchester

Day 4, yes I'm posting a little later than planned but none the less productive. Manchester Picadilly station was busy with commuters and people reluctant to be photographed. It would set a trend for the majority of the day with people walking out of their way to avoid the lens, I know how they feel; I think that I would do the same if someone pointed a lens at me!

It was a nice, sunny day but really cold. After stopping for lunch, we found a huge ferris wheel in the middle of the city and spent a while photographing it, its reflections and the now lunching commuters we had first seen at the station.

A visit to Manchester almost always calls for a visit to Afflecks Palace, a huge department-style building full of alternative shops. We purchased tshirts with the obligatory funny slogans and perused the plethora of bizarre and awesome stalls, there's something new there each time I visit.

The day we visited also happened to be the Chinese new year and the celebrations were in full swing. Although the sky was somewhat washed out, and the pictures have come out a little dull.

So far, my exploration into street photography has been an eye opener. I find a lot of people seem suspicious of photographers pointing lenses at them, others remain utterly oblivious consumed by their work, destination, or electronics. I'm looking forward to Paris!

Strange goings on in Talacre and a giant Cyclops!

Strange goings on for day three of my photographic week. I visited ruins that belong to what used to be a fully functional abbey in Talacre, North Wales. Just a short distance from the town of Trelogan sits a camp site who's name escapes me now. It is on top of a hill overlooking the sand dunes and the famous lighthouse that marks the beautiful beaches of Talacre.

Between two rows of caravans a turn-style gate opens out into a field. It slopes sharply down towards a long, high and very imposing looking wall that runs as far as the eye can see on the right of the field. Up on the left there is a small, exposed henge of trees and some ruins of what look like farm buildings (we didn't venture up there). Instantly you get the feeling of being watched, and half expecting to be shot at by an irate farmer or chased by bulls we made our way to the first of three sizeable holes in the wall.

Forgive the similarities to the three bears story here but the first was impassible due to barbed wire, the second had a fallen tree which would have made a great climbing frame but a good six to eight foot drop into a puddle of mud. The last was a small climb and a squeeze between an old fence that had long since stopped intruders and we were faced with a daunting wood.

Immediately, the wind picked up and howled through the trees menacingly warning us to stay out. After a short walk we found the ruins, after years of neglect most of he buildings were covered in ivy and other climbing plants. As the pictures show, the further into the building (which overlooks the newer abbey, which has long since moved away to Chester and is now a private house) you go, the stranger the carvings become. Although there is little information on the internet about this odd building there is a Government site that describes it as a 'folly tower and grotto' and dates it to around 1824 although no information is given about its true purpose or the people that may have lived there when it was in its heyday.

Of course, you can't help but feel more than a little spooked being in a dense forest on a gloomy day surrounded by bizarre carvings including Death himself, a Cyclops and what could have been a huge lion with an open mouth leading right through the solid rock to where a candle may have been placed on the other side. Was it a warning? Or a welcoming? Who knows. But it was certainly an experience, especially happening upon the life-size headless monk happily sitting in one of the downstairs chambers. Above where his head aught to be there seems to be a ghostly replacement in the wall behind him, you can make out eye sockets, a gaping hole where his nose should be and ever-grinning teeth.

One of the rooms was decorated from floor to ceiling in shells, including cubby holes in the walls for candles and possibly trinkets. Also a Chaise Longue that looks so real you have to touch it to see if it really is made of stone! There were lots of seats cut into the stone, and a table who's legs were claws carved out of stone.

Outside the buildings if you walk towards the sea, you enter the graveyard. Small, metal crosses mark the resting places of nuns and monks, some of whom have very Italian sounding names, buried as recently as 1987 the grounds have truly gone back to nature and the ten foot tall crucifix is intimidating despite someone stealing the Jesus from it.

Well worth a look if you're ever in the area, and if you can find it. Oh and one more thing, watch out for the terrifying robin! They're very territorial and God help you if you cross his path!

Day two, promo shots and low key lighting.

Day two was another productive one, although several problems arose from the low key lighting we used. For me, although it looked well lit, my camera didn't want to play, especially when we moved from the floods to the spots which were smaller and didn't let out a lot of light.

Still, even after more than halving the number of shots I took after uploading, I managed to get two favourite shots from the day, usually I only get one. I have posted one of the shots here (Tracey - with the red electric guitar) and one of her friend Lucy who we also photographed.

Day three, today, I'm going on an adventure. I hope it doesn't rain!