Yes, I’m still here, have a couple of things going on at the moment, so not much time to blog - hopefully things will calm down soon and I’ll be around here a bit more.
For those of you still reading this check out Alligator Pie, my sisters new blog. Its really quite witty.
I’ve recently gotten involved in a photography group based in Dublin called FlickrFatale - we all met on Flickr and -tired of lagging behind with our cameras when out for Sunday walks with non-photoheads - decided to meet up every so often for photo outings and the like. We’ve now arranged our first exhibition which takes place in Ballyroan Library from July 30th to August 31st.
We’re all very excited as this is the first (of hopefully many) exhibitions we’re planning around Dublin. If you want to see more of the groups work check out our website, blog or flickr group page:
www.flickrfatale.com
flickrfatale.blogspot.com/
FlickrFatale Group
Besides the whole ‘work’ issue the other reason things have been quiet around here is because I’ve been working on a couple of other blogs.
Elimare is where SJD originally started - I switched over to blogsome because the blogger editor wasn’t very good. Anyway, that was 4 years ago (holy shit!) and I’ve decided to revive that blog for scribblings and fictions.
Viva La Recession is a new group blog I’m involved in which pokes fun at the current ‘economic crisis’ and provides some tips on how to make your redundancy cash go further. Ignore the default template for the moment, we’re waiting for someone to get off his ass and do it properly (No names, Priscilla)
We’re also looking for writers so drop us a line if you are interested. *
*WARNING: The admin is a firm believer in the Casting Couch Interview.
‘written’ by my ipod. Should I take is as an insult \ warning \ wake-up call when my gadgets are more creative than I am lately?
Pass the Hatchet I think I’m Good
In the Great Below.
Keep the Streets Empty for Me,
Enjoy the Silence.
Out from the deep,
A Kentucky Nocturne.
With this love, alone together,
I can’t forget The Raven.
Alone at Night, Strike me Down,
Veni, Vidi, Vici.
Milk Thistle. The Only Time,
I Think I’m in Love.
Binaire: A Play in the Style of Beckett
Stage directions: 1001 STANDS in the corner wearing a BLINDFOLD, beside a BOWL OF BANANAS. 1010 SITS on the floor PICKING LINT from a JUMPER.
1010: The sky is pink with yellow polka dots
1001: Its not blue?
1010: Its not blue.
1001: Make it blue?
1010: I’ll make it purple.
1001: Make it purple then.
1010: It won’t be easy.
1001: Do it.
1001 EATS a BANANA. 1010 LAUGHS.
1001: Is the sky purple?
1010: No
1001: No?
1010: I can’t do it.
1001: you can’t?
1010: I can.
1001: you can?
1010: No, I can’t.
1111 WALKS across the stage, MOANING. Exuent.
1001: What colour is the sky?
1010: It has not changed. See for yourself.
1001: You mock me.
1010: Yes.
1001: You mock me?
1010: No.
1001: Is the sky purple?
1010: No.
1001 EATS a BANANA. 1010 LAUGHS. 1111 SCREAMS OFFSTAGE.
1010: The sky is purple.
1001: Congratulations.
1010: The sky is not purple.
1001: The sky is not purple?
1010: It is pink with yellow polka dots.
1001: You did not change it?
1010: I cannot.
1001: Who can?
1010: I can.
1001: Do it.
1010: I cannot.
1001 EATS a BANANA. 1111 WALKS across the stage and PICKS UP discarded BANANA SKINS. Exuent.
1010: The sky is pink.
1001: With yellow polka dots?
1010: With yellow polka dots.
1001: Congratulations.
1010: Thank You.
1111 WALKS across the stage with BANANA SKINS on HEAD.
FIN
Electric Picnic - Part the First
I’m going to have to do this in a few parts. I’ll start with the gigs anyway, links where I can find them. So chronologically beginning with Friday:
Christy Moore - Crawdaddy. Absolutely jammed. Couldn’t even get in to the tent, listened from outside. He should’ve been a main stage act, or at least Electric Arena.
The Presets - Cosby tent. EXCELLENT set. The tent was jammed and lots of energy. Myself and the barfly danced our socks off.
Goldfrapp - Main Stage. Good crowd, pretty good gig, Previous gig I’d been to (in TBMC) had been their first ever and she basically just sang ‘Velvet Mountain’ - nice to see her engage with the crowd this time round.
Digitalism - Electric arena. Loud and bangin’ German electronica.
Sigur ros - Main Stage. Have seen SR almost every time they’ve played Dublin, so nothing new here. Others rated it great, I thought it was ok.
Saturday
Liam O’Miaonlai - Main stage. We were too knackered and hungover to venture any further, so sat down for a bit when Liam came onstage. He was lost here by himself, lot of world music type stuff - only really came alive when he was joined on the last song by the Discovery Gospel choir and Ronan O’Snodaigh to sing ‘Bright sunshiny day’. Should’ve been swapped with Christy Moore.
Midnight Juggernauts - Electric Arena. AWESOME. These guys look like rockers, play electro-synth and sing like angels. The drummer is a total madman, the two lads in front switched from guitar to synth to guitar to ‘nother guitar sometimes all in the same song.
The Kills - Crawdaddy. Angry chick on stage with shoegazy type bloke on guitar. She reminded me a bit of Juliet and the Licks mixed with Chrissie Hynde. Only stayed for a few songs.
Duffy - Main stage. Not really my cuppa. Was walking past so stopped for a listen. I only really know her big single, the crowd seemed to be enjoying it though.
Elbow - Electric Arena. THIS WAS EXCELLENT. A lot of people around me hadn’t heard them before and thought it a bit mellow, but its what he does. LOVED it, they finished with ‘One Day Like Today’ (what else COULD they finish with eh? Just have a listen to it and tell me it doesn’t put a smile on your face.) Bumped into my workmate at this one - his comment ‘Didn’t know if it was you, but saw hands clapping in front of me and recognised your rings.’
cut copy - Cosby. Oh dear, I can’t even remember this gig. Their album is good though and I know I was looking forward to seeing them.
Milosh - Body and Soul arena. Very laid back tunes, sweet voice, nice to chill out to.
Donal Dineen \ David Kitt - Body and Soul arena. WHEN did David Kitt decide he was the new Orbital. ‘This ones got a groove’ he says. Seemed to be trying to ‘rock out’ a few times, which was a bit cringey as well. Brought his baby bro up on stage to sing - apparently they are in a new band together.
Pete Bennet and The Love Dogs - The Asylum. Yes that’s right - the bloke from Big Brother with tourettes. He came onstage in a wheelchair tied in a straightjacket and wearing a tutu. Not bad tunes, had a decent crowd and got them going. The Asylum was great, I’ll talk about it more in next post.
unknown band - The Time Machine. No idea who these guys were but they were great. Lead singer was dressed like a dead undertaker, and sang like Tom Waits. Lots of girls in the crowd dressed in a similar fashion with pale faces. They did an amazing version of Tom Waits ‘Way Down in the Hole’. (Also the theme to The Wire) Edit - thanks to the guys for commenting the band was ‘Johnny Cage and the Voodoo Groove‘.
Helios Jive - Dolab stage in Body and Soul. Don’t remember much except dancing to keep warm.
Sunday
Sinead O’Connor - Electric Arena. Very mellow with signature wailing. Didn’t stay too long - the high notes irritated my hangover.
Michael Franti - Main Stage. Absolutely AMAZING. The Roots showed up on stage at one point to sing along. I completely buggered my knee at this one with all the ‘I wanna see everyone jumping’. The barfly complained as he played all his new stuff, I thought it was great. Miz Rabbit (who I met later) went to see him play the body and soul stage later in the evening as well and said she thought his main stage appearance was better. Joined on the last track ‘Say Hey’ by the Lucent Dossier dancers. Magic.
The Roots - Main Stage. Good stuff.
Grinderman - Electric Arena. Nick Cave (and some of the Seeds) new project. Everyone raved about it, but didn’t rate this myself, could just be the mood I was in by then (knee was aching.) Love Nick and the boys but wasn’t taken by this at all.
My Bloody Valentine - Electric Arena. O Mi GAWD! 16 years I’ve waited to see them play. Someone told me the gig was louder than a jet taking off. I was right at the front. 18 minutes of pure noise on the last song (I timed it.) Came out completely deaf, and with knees completely gone (after jumping at Michael Franti the shoegazing just finished me) but THRILLED. Met blather with his camera (some of his photos here.) Too noisy to even speak to each other.
Sex Pistols - Main Stage. Unfortunate enough to be eating on the hill above the main stage so heard the vitriol and spew from wanker onstage. Thankfully still partially deaf so didn’t have to hear too much. Odd choice for headlining gig at a festival like EP where everyone is chilled and friendly.
So that was the gigs - at least those I remember. There was lots of other stuff I stood outside the tent for a song or two on my way to another gig that aren’t included here: Cathy Davey, Gemma Hayes, Get Cape Wear Cape, Dan Deacon, Turin Brakes, Wilco, Jape, Grace Jones, etc. And FAR too much that I missed.
I finished the 365days project on flickr yesterday. I can’t say that I’m happy with my final shot - I was tired and cranky and its kind of a lazy shot. Very little setup and effort put into it, which is why I’ve posted my day 363 shot in the blog which I’m much happier with. A year of my life in self-portraits - although even that isn’t quite true as I only managed shots for 217 days.
I ‘gave up’ twice - unhappy with both my technique and myself - and then came back to it with a bang for all of about four days until I once again lost my creative spark.
January and February I was using the Finepix Z2 - a slim little machine that could be thrown into my purse and pulled out on a whim. There are a fair number of ‘arms length’ self portraits from the Z2 - not particularly flattering as my arms aren’t that long and the fixed focal length made my face look deformed. With the limitations of the camera I tried different things, using a tripod, props, hats and different locations to make something interesting. My potatoshop skills were pretty rudimentary - cross processing and desaturation was about the limit of it.
March and April were fairly similiar but the weather was getting warmer so I could go outside - also I went to Barcelona but had neither the time nor the patience to set up intricate shots - he11 who does on a holiday?
I bought the D80 in May of last year and there is a noticeable improvement in the quality of shots. Partially down to the camera and partially down to a new found sense of interest in the project. Day 141 was the first hiccup. I took a break for a couple of weeks, unsure of what I was doing. July and August were pretty good months, I managed a shot most every day. Most of my ‘explored’ shots come from the summer portraits. Day 151 is still the most popular shot on my stream.
September was really flaky and October wasn’t much better.
Then came November.
The more astute among you will notice that there were NO shots taken in November. You may also remember there were no posts to the blog in November. Actually, there was nothing at all done in November bar me writing the World’s Worst Novel - I have mentioned that I killed off all the characters in one massive cull in the last paragraph haven’t I?
December wasn’t much better. I got lazy and used to not taking a shot - there was always ‘tomorrow’ and I wasn’t ‘that far behind.’ And then it was January ‘the final month’. Even that didn’t get me taking pictures, I knew I was falling farther and farther behind, and it was only in the last two weeks that I began to make the effort again, despite a massive lack of creativity.
And now its done.
I don’t know why I started the project in the first place, possibly something to do with the long cold boring January nights last year. Or maybe something to do with wanting to see if I really was any good at it. I know a lot of people think that the whole thing is pretty narcissistic but I never really thought of it that way. I hate looking at myself in photos for a start, so when I was choosing that days shot it wasn’t with the idea of ‘which one do I look the best in?’ The questions I asked myself were more technical: ‘Which one has better shape \ colour \ form \ lighting \focus?’
If I was to look at the photos from a more self-centred point of view I’d have to wonder what I was trying to say on a particular day. Some of them I really love and think ‘jeez, that was a fluke’ others are just awful, awful, awful and I don’t know what I was thinking posting them up.
And then there is the nostalgia \ life thing. Looking back at the first few days and weeks of the project I’m tempted to question everything. Has anything about my life really changed - besides getting another year older - am I any closer to realising any of my goals or ambitions? Probably not. Has my self-confidence increased? In some aspects, but generally no. Am I more comfortable in front of a camera? No, not really, especially if other people are behind it. Do I have a better understanding of what it takes to make a good portrait? I think I’m beginning to…
So yeah, woot and all that.
It was an extremely hard one this month. In the end I killed off all my characters I hated them that much.
I’m off now to bathe my wrists in ice.
