Big Shock!!!!

Well it's a sad day. The Exhibition is no more.

There is a new man in the Area Manager job above Emily in The Hogshead, and it looks like he's not an "art or photography" lover.

All the photos have been removed, save a few that Emily, thank goodness for Emily has saved and has on display behind the bar.

If anyone out there wants to start a campaign to get them re-instated do feel free.

various contact details can be found here.

http://www.laurelpubco.com/contactinfo.asp

I'll get myself barred, but what the heck.


12.11.06

Been a little down after the shock!
If I happen to run into the new area manager I think I'll probably "deck" him. So I'm staying away from the pub for the time being.

This is it last weekend with a camera, anyone want to buy one!

I am currently working on a new blog project. Which I hope to have up and running shortly.

Sorry for the delay

Over the last week or so I’ve taken a few days off from updating things.

I’ve still been up at the crack of dawn on Sunday mornings working in the pub on the exhibition space. I think I’ve about four more days work to go, then I should be as finished as I can be.

The Last Picture Show will be complete. A record of the Fringe 2006 and one or two shots from previous years along the way.

As many people, celebrities and friends as I can display.

(The area manager had them all ripped down!)

September and Still Working

The Fringe now over for more than three weeks. Still working on the exhibition space. And I've still articles and photos to post to my blogs.

Started a whole new blog dedicated just to the Nikon 8mm lens shots; for those that are interested. (see link in side bar.)

Sophie and Jacob

Over the years some performers have returned with shows that vary very little, year in year out.

One duo have since I started photographing them always brought something new with them in terms of their show or how the look in their show.

Clowning around was how I was initially introduced to Sophie and Jacob.

Their juggling and acrobatic routine a true testament to a great performing husband and wife team. As always a great joy to shoot, watch and enjoy the fun of their vibrant show.

Out armed with my 8mm lens this year one or two performers got a reasonable number of shots. Sophie and Jacob are the only act that during their performance invited me into their circle twice to get even more spectacular shots. And for that I am so truly thankful.

Advertising My Exhibition

With the guy's in 1 Stop Photo supporting what I do on the High Street, this year they took it upon themselves to advertise my exhibition in their window.

That of course meant I had to reciprocate the favor so where possible I caught, grabbed whoever I could find passing in that direction and have them stand in front of the shop. So over the course of a few days we added a few photos here and there to the display. Getting street performers and one or two cast members to stand outside their little shop.

A Fringe Venue Always! (Not)

With the Fringe and the Festival over life for all those visiting Edinburgh has possibly returned to normal.

For those of you returning for updates on my blog, and that were at the "last night party" at the xxxxxxx will of course know I mentioned the exhibition becoming permanent.

Over the last couple of Sundays I've started making that a reality. One or two changes in the layout of photos on the wall. But with the amount of glue applied to each photo, the exhibition may out last the pub!

So for me it looks like the exhibition is not over, it's about to take over my free Sunday mornings for the next few weeks.



With "blogging, and mounting photos, this years exhibition has truly taken over my life.

There will be more updates as the Sunday's progress and I get more work done.

J-P and Stickman

Two performers without whom I’d probably not be as “respected” on the street. Stickman as previously mentioned it took me a couple of years to shoot his show, but always there on party night, always a supporter of what I’ve done on the street.

This year armed with the 8mm lens I made my way into the danger zone. As umbrellas and pitch forks spun I was there underneath taking photos. (The pitch fork one I didn’t do) It’s all about timing and it was something Tim and I had talked over, but I’d not worked it out completely to keep his show flowing. Still the umbrella shot is as spectacular as any I got during the Fringe with the Nikon 8mm.

J-P as one of the greatest showmen on the street is a figure of respect within their always expanding community. It was with his voice as the reply to my request to enter their “circle” space a couple of years ago that made me truly part of the street performers community. Without his “Yes!” to my request I’d still be standing at the back of large crowds. Although I still like that position anyway, it does give me shots I like.

The day this year I arrived on the High Street armed with the 8mm lens J-P was the show I first shot. It was my trial run. I realised after seeing my initial test shots what would work and what wouldn’t. It was about getting as close as possible to the performer and then see what happened.

As early on as I’d got shots of his first show it was not until much later on in the Festival run that I managed to get shots of his show, I was getting worried. JP and his Axe could make for an impressive shot to take away. And I’m right it did!

The show I shot J-P played the crowd as he does to a t. His closing emotive speech regarding street theatre could have almost cost him his place in the draw the next day, but it was what he wanted his audience to hear and with Terry videoing the show, a lot more people would see it too.

Twenty One Days, but a thousand stories (and even more photos)

Every hour of every day there is something happening on the High Street. Arriving early before the street has closed to the delivery traffic that fills the street you get a feel of the type of day you are going to have.

Then there's the performers draw, a chance to say hellos to friends not seen for a year or more. Those that you have shot and those that you haven't.

The informal nature of what the draw brings out is a beauty to shoot for any good reportage photographer. Everyone, relaxing, talking, laughing.

For those on first it's a time to stretch and ready themselves for that first show of the day. For those of the performers who were unlucky and didn't get a show that day it's off to the Mound to try their luck there or just another day in Edinburgh in August.

Then at the sound of the bells from St. Giles the High Street closes and "opens" for the business part of the Fringe. Another day another dollar. More miles added to them many I walk during August. Another of pouch full of flyers I collect on my day on the High Street.

Every hour on the High Street the scene changes. The first street performers now finished for the day now packs up and the next arrives on the street.

The numbers of people on the street steadily grow until at times all you can see is a sea of heads and shoulders. Still even then there are faces that stand out from the crowd. And with the advantage of many years at the fringe I hunt down my quary weaving through crowds that block my path ahead.

The photos I collect throughout the day I eventualy get into the lab near the end of the day. My first break since 9.30am. Then it's a once or twice scan of the High street and off to the pub, for dinner and a couple of beers.

Some evenings I've returned for another hour or so. I see the High reopen to the evenings traffic.

Another day over I return to the xxxxxx to relax for a couple of hours. Before my cycle home and as much sleep as my body lets me have. Which it seemed was not enough some days.

James James and a new vantage point

A couple of weeks before the Fringe had started I got a text from James James He’d just come across my original Fringe blog and was amazed at the work I’d put into it. He loved it! He must have spent a good couple of hours I recon going through everything. Not just the first, the second, but all the rest to. Leaving comments on one or two photos too. He told me that he and a couple of other performers had a flat with a view of the mid High Street pitch. A great vantage point for photos.

With James James being out on the street so much during the Fringe and heading off to one or two other events during the run I only had the chance of an hour or so hanging out of his window. But during that one small “window of opportunity I managed to grab one or two interesting photos. Ric was performing mid High Street and it was his show that got the aerial point of view shots. Which when I passed on to him he was greatly appreciative of. I may not have managed the other “circle shot of his show, but this one I know that he and his mum like anyway.

standing out from the crowd

Everyday out on the street armed with my trusty Nikon cameras and the various lenses I have at my disposal I take up my usual vantage point just beyond mid high street atop one of the many bollards that people never seem to see as they walk up and down the High Street.

The bollards can get a little busy once the many Fringe groups take to the street later in the day, and looking for one to gain that height advantage in some situations can become tricky. The other thing is that not all of the bollards are all that stable and it’s taken a few years of pounding the High street and checking the ones that wobble to know the good ones to go for.

On this particular morning I had just finished my first, if not second coffee of the day stood there surveying all I could see, when I was approached by a lady and she asked if she could take my photo. She’d seen all the stuff I was carrying and the Lowepro belt, pouches and backpack I was wearing. Her son, if I recall it right had just got a job working for Lowepro in Canada . And she wanted to forward the image of me decked out in all my Lowepro kit. I told her that from my blog from last year I keep getting hits for people looking for Lowepro bags. And that I’d even got a nice e-mail from Lowepro, regarding the testimony I’d written about their products.

It was not the first time I’d been photographed, and it would not be the last during the Festival. It does prove that I’ve become part of what’s happening on the High Street. And from another photo here the respect I have from some of the High Street staff on or off duty.

Thanks to Suzanne from Firefly for the photo of me “working” on the High Street.

biggest show at the festival

Once again Vince and his band of fellow street performers organised a street show to rival the biggest show I’d seen so far. With artists from the UK, Israel, France and as far flung as New Zealand 45 minutes of the best street entertainment was to be seen. I arrived a little after the start of the evenings show, slid myself into the front of the audience, in fact just in front of everyone, lying on the ground so as not to obscure the view of the people behind me. The light fading fast I once again was running through film at an enormous rate, when Gili came over and asked me for my second camera, I let him have it and he headed back to the mêlée of performers and took a few photos of them and of the crowd and myself. One particular shot he got I loved so much that I have had it enlarged and added to the exhibition; all I have to do now is add his name to it. “Great shot Gili.”

The Late Late Show at The Mound (Stickman vs. James Bond)

One evening after my short visit to the pub I was heading back up to the High Street via The Mound and I found Pete and George performing their show. The crowds had already formed so a vantage point to see and shoot their show was impossible to find, until Tim “Stickman” came to the rescue. With the largest prop-box of all the street performers I know, he beckoned me over and told me to get up on the end of the box. From that vantage point I had the perfect vantage point to shoot the end of the show (I should have asked if I could have taken it with me around on the mile.)

After Pete and George finished Stickman prepared to take centre stage. With the evening closing in the sky darkened around us. His silent build his trademark opening. A show that he performs in countries where language would be a barrier.

With the crowd now gathering in numbers the show moved into the serious and dangerous part of the routine. From chainsaw juggling to spinning pitchforks Stickman covered it all. Ending with his finale on the bed of nails. There are times when street performers at the Mound have to compete with another performer. That night Stickman was competing with a Gala event at the National Gallery at the Mound in connection with the film festival with of course. Sean Connery as the star attraction of the night.


Stickman held his crowd enthralled. Not bad James Bond bested by Stickman, it had to happen one day!

Beautiful Women and One Final Shoot

Over the years I've met and photographed some beautiful women. The reason behind almost all the photographs is the Fringe. If I havent photographed them as part of the Festival, they have seen my work achieved during the Festival and that has swayed their judgement in using me as a photographer.

From the Fringe came work with Night clubs and then on to dancers and models and the Edinburgh College of Art Fashion Show. I have photographed Weddings even though I hate the idea of that as a job. I want only the best out of everything I do and some people just produce production line photography.

During my Fringe run this year I took a final few moments out of my busy schedule. The party over, the exhibition almost complete and my last year on the High Street winding to a conclusion. An hour to “chill out” away from everything Fringe and Festival related.

Always looking for beautiful women to shoot, but most of the time to scared to ask.

That evening I met a stunning young woman. Her eyes drew me to her, full of colour and life. I offered her the chance to let me add her to my ever growing portfolio of stunning women, she said yes, but it would be a few weeks before time would be right for both of us to meet up on a Sunday. She had a parachute jump to do and one or two other thing like work and her birthday to get over first.

Then two weeks ago I got a call from a friend; he was looking for photos in his full Highland dress. I’d said I’d get it done when time allowed.

Last week weather against us, not my choice of day, we headed down to Holyrood park and managed to get a couple of films run off. My one concern now was that I didn’t want the last person I photograph to be a guy, however good the whole Jacobean outfit looked. I want to end on having photographed a beautiful, stunningly attractive woman and luckily it does now look like that will be a great possibility.

I ran into her again on a break from work and was able to run off a couple of test films yesterday which turned up some cracking shots. Now I can’t wait for the Sunday where both she and I can get out for a couple of hours and I can truly capture the true nature of her beauty. But if that doesn’t happen at least I’ve got a few beautiful shots already in the bag!

And I can retire a happy photographer.

Then I can finally hang up my camera happy I’ve ended on a High.

Just To Give Me More Space To Play With!

I started a second "blog".

Start checking in updates will soon be arriving at this new address.

Pub Venue for a Photographic Exhibition

The beauty of a pub venue for an exhibition is that it's free entry. It's there for everyone (18 or over, sorry) and it's not some stuffy gallery space where you need those important letters after your name to display photos.

Anyone with a camera, can do what I've done it's not hard, just hard work!

Ask a gallery how many people they get through their doors during the festival and I'm sure they won't have had anywhere near the numbers I've had seen my work.

Every time I go into the pub there are always people looking at the photos on display, celebrity spotting or admiring the good looking women or pointing out the unusual shots. They may not have gone there to see it specially but in being there they've become interested.



And with a Pub venue for an exhibition, you can just visit to see the photos or you can stop, have a drink or even a meal. Then you can sit and look longer at the photos you enjoy.

Playing The PR Game (or another excuse for Rabbit Photos)

Everything about the Fringe is promotion of your show, whether your a one man show or a cast of hundreds. Promotion is the key to getting people through your door.

Flyers are handed out by there thousands. A good flyer will be kept an held on to for later reference. Everything else ends up in the bin or the bags carried by the rubbish busters.



I'd just done a short print run of flyers just to start me off and I'd spotted someone on the High street. Richard Jobson, film director, so I headed off quickly in pursuit. "could I give you one of these, sir." then watched as he walked off, flyer in hand. From the bollard I could see that he looked at it about three or four times before he disapeared into a crowd, I think I may have got his attention.

One unusual flyer I came across was that being handed out by The Penny Dreadful's, a playing card. As a once collector of unusual playing cards I later run into one of their crew, who told me the design was something she had made up. Getting into a conversation over playing card designs over the years. I was given a full deck of cards, which I have to say was a great gesture, considering I didn't get any shots of their cast and crew on the High Street. It's hard to catch everyone.


Back to promotion. Another factor is picking something that makes you stand out from the crowd. Gimmicks and costume usually work, sometimes they don't have to be part of your show. The cast of Rabbit did just that. A fantastic coup on their part, that's why I loved them on the mile.

Other factors are important, where to stand and how much work to do to get attention. My "expert advice" I've passed on to one or two shows now over the years. Seems to help I've found out.

Pulling a promotional stunt will get you attention or arrested, I'd just go for the attention myself.
A couple of years ago one play had had no one through their doors. They thought attention to this factor would get them an audience. A streak down the High street would do the trick, not quite, high street security and the police stepped in and I believe they lost the right to flyer on the High street.

Rabbit, yes Rabbit once again I offered assistance to one day. I had offered to do a group shot for them and everyone was out on the High street. I suggested that they keep the group together and armed with my camera I'd use my taking photos of them as the opportunity to draw people to what was happening and then they had a "crowd to flyer to." 10 to 15 minutes of playing at taking photos, when all I was doing was, just a stunt.

I'd used up the film I had in my camera, it just made things interesting.