Light WritingLight Writing | Paul Christopher Photography

The Art of Focus

Paul — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:07:17 +0000

Yesterday I attended a warm and friendly do held at Metal, Edge Hill railway station, Liverpool. They are based in the old ticket office on platform 1 — a truly cool location. photography needs an obsessive compulsive streakWith lots of other peeps, I watched The Suitcase Ensemble give a selection of their stage work. I had asked if I could photograph them performing (there are some strict penalties for photographing theatrical works, if you’re caught). Having got permission, I entered the photog’s zone: the waiting room people behind lenses go to when they’re about to snap. Which coming to think further on the photog’s zone, there’s rather a Freudian connotation to it — it is conducive to being either happy or angst-ridden. photog’s zone: the waiting room people behind lenses go to when they’re about to snapSo whilst ducking and weaving, trying to find the right angles, and nurse/cajole open a stuck aperture, it dawned on me that the clunk of the shutter wasn’t compatible with the setting/ambiance, nor as an accompaniment to the music in the intimate space in which the performance was being given. I have to admit that is a first for me… photography needs an obsessive compulsive streak — and tunneled sight. The double-entendre of focus vis photography bounced and boggled my mind for a wee while. Zoning in behind the lens does make photogs selfish; sure, the images have to made but perhaps being a better and greater photog requires more being than doing…? Viewer or participant: a quandary, in’it.

Ira Glass: Story Telling

Paul — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:09:06 +0000

This is lifted from Nat Rogers’ Facebook page. She’s an Australian commercial photographer, known as “The Light Lover“. I’ve featured her work in Thailand here. Sadly, those posts disappeared into the ethernet when a bug hit this blog’s server.

But soon I will be running another post about her and her fabulous photojournalism.

Ira Glass on Story Telling

Here’s Ira Glass’ own words animated(from Vimeo):

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

And the man himself, the full interview:

Ira Glass on Storytelling from Neil Lee on Vimeo.

More to come,
Paul

LSH U10s v Bolton U10s

Paul — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:49:19 +0000

Sunday 30 October 2011
There are over a 110 photographs, it may take a few seconds to load up. Please be patient. If you would like to view a larger slideshow, click on the blue tag-words: LSH U10s v Bolton U10s at the top.

Liverpool-St Helens v Bolton

LSH 30 Ocotber 2011

Liverpool St Helens v Bolton, 30 October 2011

This IS Rugby

Thanks for visiting,
Paul

Thatto Heath

Paul — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 19:47:00 +0000

St Helens has some curious district names: Thatto Heath, Pocket Nook, Finger Post, Ravenhead… Some districts take their names from the old landed gentry, like Parr, Sutton and Bold. Others like Eccleston, have namesakes all within 20-30 miles; a throwback to the days of William the Conqueror, when he parceled manors and land out to his soldiers from across the counties of England, all further than a day’s horse ride apart, to prevent them from having too many men and too much land and wealth in one place — William had had to fight for his Dukedom at 16 years of age and he face rebellions from even his own sons.

Anyhoo, here’s the view from the edge of Thatto Heath park, looking towards Ravenhead in the distance.
More to come,
Paul

A Promise Kept

Paul — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 21:54:37 +0000

Shooting at Liverpool-St Helens today. They were hosts to the minis and juniors of Bolton. It rained last night, so the pitch was soft; add sunshine and whizzing youngsters and you’ve got nearly a perfect Sunday morning — especially as the clocks went back last night.

Anyway, these two young men presented themselves to me and asked if I would take their picture. But, of course. I gave them my card and told them to make sure their mums got it. So, without further preamble:

More to come,
Paul

Liverpool’s Pier Head

Paul — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:14:41 +0000

Liverpool is a magical place; full of joie de vivre, colour and the exotic. It is a street photographer’s heaven. Even on an overcast day, there’s something about “Scouse Light” that gently slaps a smile onto your lens.

Here’s just one roll (36 photographs) of the visual delights of Liverpool, taken in an afternoon. Forget visiting London: it’s dirty, smelly, cramped and full of anger; come to “D’Pool” with its glorious architecture, fabulous culture and friendly folk you’re assured of a fab time!

Click the blue tag words Liverpool’s Pier Head at the top of the post for the slide-show

More to come,
Paul

The Suitcase Ensemble

Paul — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:29:30 +0000

I saw a wonderful, funny and evocative musical at MASH, last week, called “Look At Us Now“. It was performed by a theatrical collective, who are based just down the rails at Edgehill Railway Station. They are The Suitcase Ensemble.

Here they are, as photographed by yours truly.

Beth, Tessa, Lauren, Julie & Andy: The Suitcase Ensemble

Suitcase Ensemble: The Final Sing-Song

And below, a lovely member of the audience:

Audience enjoying a pre-performance MASH cuppa!

More to come,
Paul

Just Try This With Your Dentist

Paul — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 07:32:21 +0000

from the photography blog of John Dowling

Faces of the Game

Paul — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:35:03 +0000

Yesterday, the 1st XV of Liverpool-St Helens played Wirral. LSH won: 21–14. Below are a couple of impromptu portraits I made at the game.

Andy McKinney: chairman and coach of Wirral, plus an anonymous supporter of theirs.

Andy McKinney

Anonymous Wirral Supporter

More to come,
Paul

Potter Time

Paul — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:22:13 +0000

Finding time to just wander, pottering around is something of a luxury in our busy-busy-busy world, so it was kind of cool yesterday to have an hour or three to just walk around with my camera. One of my favourite places to walk to is the small but beautiful George Street Quarter of St Helens. Originally, I came from Leeds, a city which is quite well known for its Georgian and Victorian architecture (it has some stunning Georgian squares and its Victorian shopping arcades are world famous); I feel very much at home around such buildings but, more importantly, such buildings attract people. And people make the best photographic subjects in my book.

St Helens’ George Street Quarter is home to the gorgeous MASH Cafe/Gallery. There you’ll be surrounded by stunning artwork, seated on comfy settees and enjoy the best mug of hot chocolate anywhere — and it’s only £1.50! so it scores highly both in quality for my taste buds and in value to my mean Yorkshire wallet

So without further ado, here’s some shots taken during my autumn afternoon walk for my mug of Hot Chocolate. Click the blue tag words Potter Time at the top of the page for a slideshow.

More to come,
Paul

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