Digital and Darkroom

For the first time ever I had a digital camera with me during a darkroom  session and shot a few pics. This one shows the process of proof printing some of my Dark Waters project. Negs from my recent Cornish trip are drying in the cabinet.

I’d just shot a final session with Ptolemy the Weaver. The three pieces that she’s been working on are framed and ready to go to the exhibition that commissioned them. Inspired by the Legacy of Anni Albers is showing at the Ruthin Craft Centre: Ptolemy Mann has produced 3 pieces that are inspired by the colour work of this Bauhaus colourist. The show runs from 4th Dec 10 to 6th Jan 11. Have a look ...www.ruthincraftcentre.org.uk

It’s been an absorbing process to follow the making of these 3 pieces of art/craft: I’m planning to shoot a video with Ptolemy and look forward to exploring the boundaries between art and craft in her work and also showing more of the process of weaving.

Deptford, Putney, London Bridge & Timbuktu ...

... all locations that I've shot at this week or been asked too... I started the week with a great shoot for Made in London, with Ndidi Ekubia at her workshop in Deptford.  Ndidi is a silversmith who crafts beautiful 3 dimensional pieces out of single flat sheets of metal.  I was expecting a delicate, gentile operation but the grace and precision of her pieces belies the effort and power that goes into their making.  I've never been with a worker of precious metal who had so many anvils and hammers.  I'll be shooting more with Ndidi when she returns from New York where she's taking part in a show at the Museum of Arts and Design.


Meanwhile I've managed a couple of shoots for dark Waters - from the footbridge at Putney and from London Bridge.  


And where does Timbuktu come into it? I've been asked to shoot a documentary for BBC World following in the footsteps of Leo Africanus - a 16th Century traveller and writer.  His most famous destination was Timbuktu.... so if we can get visas from the Mali government, we're off to Timbuktu. Although I'm not the first person in my family to go there... apparently my grandfather made it there too.....if I can believe the family stories....

Made In London -Ptolemy Mann and more people and more pictures

A new and improved blog for my latest project - Made in London - a book length documentary project to discover the lost crafts of London. This picture is from one of 5 shoots I've done with the weaver Ptolemy Mann.