SAC/SS to CS

Original artwork by Maurizio Nannucci, Copyright 2003 

I had to look to the archive to find a suitable image for today!
The last day of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen. Tomorrow we move forward as Creative Scotland the new national development body for the arts, screen and creative industries. The mission to “invest in ideas, invest in talent, invest in education, and invest in places”. The intention that we will be more of a “rallying call” than an institution. We will be taking a holistic view at the contribution that the arts, screen and creative industries play in the quality of life and economy of Scotland. There will also be a new corporate identity and logo to reflect the new organisation.
Live from 3pm, 1 July 2010 – www.creativescotland.com

The stage is set

http://www.bodycurrents.co.uk/

All of the photos of Ripple Effect at Loch Morlich, as well as those taken on Cairngorm can be found here.

If you go down to the woods today ...

I think a lack of explanation makes this an interesting narrative!

http://www.bodycurrents.co.uk/

"I always thought of photography as a naughty thing to do - that was one of my favorite things about it and when I first did it I felt very perverse."

Public Art

It's been such a good day, I thought I would post some more!

All of 6 Times can be found here. Worth having a look as two already (excluding the one above - naughty me!) have been enhanced as a result of public intervention. Another has attracted the attention of our feathered friends.

Celebrity Spotting

Tilda  "Would you like a badge?"

Me "Yes, thanks!"

Tilda "Are you going to dance?"

Me " If yer askin' I'm dancin!" (what I wished I'd said, but I was momentarily star struck!)

Me "No" (what I actually said)

Tilda "Well your not getting a badge then!"

Up & Down & ripple effect

What a day (Friday)! They don't get much better than this.

Bling

Been a good day, but a rather sad one. Morning spent seeing the results of good work that we supported. Afternoon in the house of pain (but at least it is almost over). Wine tasting and the departing - so many! Meal in the company of friends and colleagues and home before it tipped over into tomorrow and the banging head. Need to be OK for a journey tomorrow.

Holiday Camp

Reading Sontag (On Photography) makes your brain hurt. "All photographs testify to time's relentless melt". She had a way with words. Some examples of "melt" to follow ...
I like the new Flickr layout that's being tested at the moment.

Words

Well the no title no words thing didn’t last long!

Not much happening really. Well I suppose there is in the arts world, but I can’ t really be bothered talking about work (currently it’s me time and not something I want to be thinking about). Film Festival ongoing this week. Some good stuff, opportunity to see some (passes), but I tend to wait until they are shown at the Filmhouse over the coming months   All of the various Edinburgh Festival programmes have now appeared (apart from the visual arts one) which is great. I ignore the indigestible Fringe until the reviews start. Taking time to work through the rest and mark-up what I want to see/do. You have to be quick of the mark these days as some stuff sells out very quickly (popular/populist). Maybe I should start a recommendations section – probably little point as it would end up being what I like which may not be what others like, though you couldn’t go wrong (assuming you like high energy dance and the Gershwins) with Grupo Corpo and Porgy & Bess (both in the Edinburgh International Festival). Also the programme at Dancebase is usually good if you like modern dance in bite size chunks.

#3

#2

#1 (cropped)

#1

It has slowly dawned on me that there are five elements to this blog (no sh*t Sherlock!):

The image, the title, the blurb that I write, and the comments (which may/may not, be a response to one or more of the first three) & my response to these comments. These elements may/may not relate to each other, and could influence the view of the blog overall.  For the next period I intend to stick to images only (i.e. no title, no blurb about my day or anything else). I’m keen to get comments on the images (subject, composition, approach, technical, emotional response, etc). I usually know why I have chosen to post this or that, which could be for a very specific or for a number of reasons. What I’m keen to know is what the image says to anyone viewing it (something/nothing). I will (if appropriate) respond to any comments.

What has sparked these thoughts is the sometimes difficult relationship between image and words. A good example is a Helmut Newton photo that I was looking at recently where the image appeared to be leading viewers (or was it just me?) to a conclusion that was completely turned on its head when you read the title (or was it? – I get the impression Mr Newton liked mind games and messing with the viewers perception!)  

Abandoned

No words. All used up for the day!

Extreme processing #2

Extreme processing #1

Silenced

These days you find them in every city and town in Scotland. Shops that have gone out of business and are up for sale. Suspect this one will be on the market for a while. Can't see that the charities will even be interested.
Lots of system problems at work today (also yesterday). Something to do with rationalisation/system alterations as part of the preparations for CS which is to launch on 1 July. You realise how dependent on technology the modern office has become when you can't access the servers or your email for over 4 hours, and everything grinds to a halt.
These made me laugh today:
Hitler gets turned down for Arts Council funding
Hitler gets feedback from The Arts Council

The right mentality

Nice picture (what are these used for?!), but nothing much to say. Monday, back at work after a relaxing weekend. Today it was words, words, words. The last thing I want to do is write more. Think I'll watch to see what Italians have turned up, and to see if they have any intention of trying to retain the cup.

Land of the Free

Quiet day of rest. Papers, wander, no camera. Topical image if you can figure it out.
Worth having a look at my link to "After Photography" which in turn links to "WikiLeaks". US troops playing video games for real and using civilians for target practice. Not on the scale of My Lai but still shocking! Americans have arrested the whistleblower (an intelligence officer with a conscience!) and are (according to Saturday's Guardian) on the hunt for the founder of WikiLeaks an Australian by the name of Julian Assange.  

The time I killed my first living thing ...

 

... It was a beautiful Seabass and was delicious. I seem to have a bit of a thing about lobster pots. The design stays the same, but the colours change depending on location. Should be out, but watching Argentina v Nigeria (half time). No more words, of to make a cuppa.

Handpainted

Friday and the weekend beckons. Nothing planned but a bit of painting.

What an exciting day today. New Chair and Board of Creative Scotland announced – most interesting!

Personal news – had already signed up for photography thing at ECA during August (Portrait Photography). Received an offer that I couldn’t refuse. Buy one (I had) get one half price -  so I'm now also now doing Photoshop for Photographers: black and white digital prints (personal brief/project, research, create, process and print a series of black and white exhibition standard prints).

Also today, lunch including wine with the ladies (Doreen, Margaret and Linda).
David Bailey just been talking on Frontrow on R4 - worth a listen, catch on the iplayer 

Impetuousness & introspection

Ambition Roadshow. Interesting keynote (as always) from Bill Thomson and couple of good case studies (Twittering Tate & Edinburgh Festivals). Also first reactions in the press and in conversation to yesterdays CS announcements . BB started (always watch the first one, then that’s it), usual bunch of wannabees, freaks and the delusional, who ultimately prove to be far less interesting than they think they are – clocked what looks suspiciously like Timorous Beastie wallpaper in the house. Just finished Boy Racer by Mark Cavendish. Can't wait for July and Le Tour. Cav for the sprints and possible green jersey, Wiggins for the overall (well maybe not quite yet!). 

Blip Brother is watching you

Pig Brothers

Immortality

Making your mark ... I didn't, just came across this, honest. 

Big news (in the arts in Scotland) today is the announcement of the senior team for Creative Scotland. Great to hear that Iain is one of them. 

At Little France to have the latest sign of physical decay checked out, have a chat, and to get an operation date. Nothing serious, but a bit of a shock to hear that even though it's keyhole I'll be out of action for 2 weeks +.  Also went to give one of my eight for somebody else, but they didn't want any - nurse said if I'm going under the knife in ten weeks I'll need to have a full tank.


WARNING - this blog appears to be monitored by representatives of Blipfoto (why? - your guess is as good as mine!).

Brian Duffy RIP

Did you know that there is a loophole in Manx law (Isle of Man) that says, that you can shoot a Scot, as long as he is on the beach and wearing tartan. I understand that no-one has to date actually taken the opportunity, but I'm taking no chances and won't be visiting anytime soon. "Let's make a dent in the universe",  the Steve Jobs Mantra - new iphone4/iphoneOS4 announced today. Not so much a dent, more a modest set of improvements. 

Not much to do in Wick

Well things didn't quite go as planned. I should have been back yesterday from my latest travels but wasn't infact back until this evening. I'm afraid the person who arranged my travel got a wee bit confused over week and weekend train timetables. The result was that I missed the only Sunday train so had to spend another night. On the plus side the rain eventually went off and I went exploring with camera. Some to be posted here over the next week, with the majority (once processed, as I've now become a bit of a RAW nut) on Flickr.

Note all the images I'm posting here are relatively low resolution. The biggies are on Flickr

Light and shadow

It's been a good day. A bit of spring cleaning at work in preparation for the changes ahead. Quiet with just myself and Sarah in. Getting organised for a working weekend, if you can call heading up North (to Caithness) to meet and attend a dance performance (in Lybster Harbour) working! The things I do for other people's art! One of my favourites on trips away is the cooked breakfast the morning after, especially the black pudding. Long journey back on Sunday with the papers. What could be better. 

Into the light

A day spent out and about. Much prefer to be out doing the good works, rather than stuck in the office. Downside, hot and sweaty trains (they really put the rubbish rolling stock on the more minor routes). No one tell them it's summer time and that they can turn the heating OFF! Had a suit opposite who was wearing pink socks. Corporate Blackberry rather than creative iphone appeared. Under the intense heat eventually removed his jacket - the rebel! Pork-pie-hat joined us at an intermediate stop - may have got away with it (just) if he had been 25 years younger (probably was in his head - under the hat). What was he listening too on his 'phones?

Life's a beach

A blah blah day, but in a good way. What a difference a day makes. Radcliffe & Maconie always put me in a good mood. These guys are somehow hot wired to the psyche of males of a certain age. Hafdis Huld on talking about the influence of Dolly Parton. The icelandic accent is brilliant. The music isn't bad either.
I love signs that you glance at, do a double take, and think what does that mean! Pests, somewhere between caution and unsafe.

A day of no consequence

Not much to say really. Been a bit of a blah, blah day and going through the motions without any real enthusiasm. There is always tomorrow. A time of change, but will it prove to be for the better. Note the other place is running competitions now, with public funding support. 'Open to everyone', continues to be their PR face. JT thinking about giving-up on the day job.