Chris Gravett

Another photoblog from the area around my home. At this time of year across much of the UK the fields are an unatural yellow due to farmers growing rapeseed. The crop is now prolfic, I believe due to EU subsidies. At this time the crops are in flower and present some good photo opportunities. The only problem is at present the south of the country is in a depression (climate as well as economic). It has been raining endlessly and most days have been grey - not ideal for capturing the field of rape. Last Monday, a public holiday so naturally wet and cold! I decided come what may I would wander across the fields and take some pics. The 'weather God' must have noticed as for a brief period the clouds opened up and a little sunlight peered though.

The image above is looking West from the infamous Blue Lagoon.

Below is looking North back towards Arlesey.

Another shot from a lower viewpoint.

and a final shot shortly before the heavens opened up and I trudged off home!

Hopefuly before the flowers have died we will see some settled weather!!

 Went to town today, Mal wanted to buy some boots and we were to have lunch together. Naturally I took my Nikon with me. Boots bought and too early for lunch M. decided to scour John Lewis for some cushions. I considered the option of an hour in a department store or setting myself a photography project in the rain of Oxford Street. I initially tried shooting umbrellas and also managed a powerful street shot of a severely deformed busker. It was whilst shooting him I was attracted to the glistening discarded gum patterns on the pavement (sidewalk for American readers). I was soon on a mission - below is the resulting 10 image set entitled Oxford Street Gum..... I'd like to thank all those folk who decided to spit rather than swallow!

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Something a bit different today. A couple of times recently I taken a walk along the HICCA Way which is only a few hundred metres from my house. The area I live in is not renowned as a rural beauty spot or centre for wildlife. Some conservation work has been caried out along the river Hiz which runs parallel to the main railway line to London Kings Cross. But it's quite amazing what you can see - in terms of wildlife just about anywhere. So here are af ew photographs of Spring Birds in Bedfordshire.

Great Tit

 

Grey Heron

Great Crested Grebes

Long Tailed Tit

Grey Wagtail

Dunnock

Cygnet (Young Swan)

Since taking up photography full time I am continually amazed at the places I end up and the people I meet. Yesterday was no exception. I was on my way up the A1 to do an engagement shoot with two good friends Laurie and Iain when I had a call from Marc, a friend from Uni. Marc explanied that he had been contacted by an old mate, Gemma, who had asked him if he was up for shooting some 'Guerrila Marketing' actvity at Westminster later that night. Well Marc only shoots film and he thought the event may need digital. Marc assumed I might be up for it so hence the call.

So late yesterday evening off I set for the House of Commons with little idea what to expect. All I knew was something was to be projected on to the Commons, it was to do with someone appearing at Wembley and 'Gem' had said it was - you know - guerrilla marketing. My daughter, Jodie, once projected a pig onto the House of Commons for a TV programme she was making so I sought some advice from her. Jodie said the police told them they were not actually breaking the law but perhaps it wasn't the done thing and to stop immediately. She advised me to expect the police pretty swiftly and also suggested I might actually find out what the 'cause' was just in case I did not wish to be associated with it. I decided that the cause was probably irrelevant as I was just recording it.

At 2245 I met up with Marc on Westminster Bridge as planned and there we stood. Marc had a large format camera on a tripod and I had a couple of digital cameras one on a tripod. There was little evidence of 'guerrilla' activity but we did arouse lots of interest from passing Japanese tourists. Marc received a call from Gem explaining that 'technical problems' were causing a delay and that we would receive a call when the van (containing generators and projection equipment) was on it's way. We had to look out for a black ZIP van. When that arrived Gem and others would also arrive on foot.

Had it been the 1st of April I may now have been a little suspicious but I trust Marc, so we spent our time working out exposure settings for his film camera and guessing what the 'cause' might be. The Japanese tourists had all gone back to their hotels for the night.

Around 2330 Marc received another call - the van was arriving - he also gleaned that the projection would call Cameron and others liars. 

The van arrived and mounted the pavement just in front of us. Guerrilla marketeers appeared out of the shadows, some armed with cameras, some not armed at all. The guys in the van threw open the doors, the generators started up, we looked through our viewfinders in anticipation. Nothing!

There was a lot of activity in and around the van during which time I came to understand that the event was to draw attention to David Cameron and others lies (I think Rothschilds came into it somewhere). The projected image would declare 'Lies.Inc' and have three mugshots. Everyone was excited but noboby was very clear about the cause. I began to understand that it all had something to do with David Icke and an appearence he is making at Wembley in October. Now I don't know a great deal about David's long and varied career other that his sanity has been questioned on more than one occasion and that his career has indeed been varied and long. However anyone who claims that George Bush is a reptillian humanoid can't be at all bad in my book! (You may have noticed that this is not a regular photoblog - more words that photos today - sorry about that but for once maybe the narration is superior to the images).

Then there was light - a bright white light shining from our conspicuous van onto Parliament forming a bright white rectangle. I noticed a couple of lights go on inside the building. Then the white turned to green. A photo methinks...

As you can see the van is in a great position to project onto the dark area on the House of Commons. The only problem is the image is not the one that was wanted. Now the guy standing next to the van can only be a Guerrilla Marketing IT Man because at this point I heard him say "have you tried turning the Mac off and on? That should do it". Oh the times I've heard that!

Well, talking of 'off and on' it was at this point a bright red Met Police car arrived with blues and twos definately ON.

Us togs, Gem and most of the Guerrillas retreated a few metres back along the bridge and did a poor job of pretending to be Japanese Tourists. We left the projectionists, van driver and IT Man to deal with the cops.

And hat's off to how they dealt with them. I'm not sure how but they persuaded Old Bill to hang around a while while the technical problems were resolved and we had a chance to project the intended image before they took us off to the tower.

After a while problems were resolved and....

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Unfortunately the projection never quite got in focus ("It worked OK in my front room" I heard IT Man say). I must admit though for the couple of minutes the image was there it was a really joyous occasion. Mr Icke should be proud of the team!

No sooner was the image there than the polce had to say 'turn it off now lads and move the van - you can't park here".

Apologies for the blurred image below - I would not normally post such a poor photo (I forgot camera was on manual Doh!) .......

....... but what a top couple of cops these boys were. I give jobsworths in uniform a fair amount of grief on this blog as you are no doubt aware but credit where credit is due. These two allowed the Guerrillas to fix the Mac and project their image before asking them to move on. A ticket had to be issued - just a warning that one should not park on the pavement  just outside of the British Parliament with a van full of generators, electronic equipment etc.  In return cheif Guerrilla, I think his name may have been Darren, told the Bobbies he would sort them tickets for the David Icke show at Wembley. If you'd like to find out more about it, and I'm sure you would, click here Remember Who You Are

I'm now back off up the A1 to photograph for a nail (as in nails bars) competition the theme of which is Strictly Come Dancing. As I said at the begining variety is the spice of a photographers life!

I've been waiting since last September to see Kill It Kid live again. They've been touring Europe of late and have just three UK gigs lined up. Manchester, Bath (their home town) and last night at The Borderline, London.

I first heard of KIK when I shot them at Lodestar Festival . What a joy it was to discover them. Raw blues live at it's very best. I read a review of their Manchester gig this week which quite rightly rated them highly but complained that they should relax and enjoy themselves on stage. Last night they enjoyed themselves visibly. Playing to a full house at The Borderline they went down a storm. Chris Turpin, who fronts the band with Stephanie Ward, mentioned two names during the set which say it all about their musical influencess - Blind Lemon Jefferson and Woody Guthrie. Kill It Kid's live performance gives them every right to associate themselves with such musical legends. Take a look at the set of images below and check out their music here  and here . But best of all catch them live if you can.

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On Monday 19th March 2012 the new Western Concourse at Kings Cross Station, London opened. I popped down to get a few images of what will no doubt be another popular photo spot in London. This is just the begining, the whole complex will not be completed until September 2013. This is the view from the balcony from the Southern end.

Here's a view from the opposite end, again on the balcony. 

If you are thinking of taking photographs here be warned. Similar to my previous blog on the subject 'jobsworths' are also employed by Network Rail. I was approached soon after I arrived and advised I could not use a tripod. I asked to see the written regulation on this matter and the official went away muttering about getting the supervisor. Fifiteen minutes later just after I'd taken this shot (using a tripod) two officials, one with a clipboard, approached. They brought an officer of the law with them (I guess because I was armed with a tripod) but he remained in the background as I did not become violent. I won't bore you with the details of what followed but suffice to say flash is fobidden and if you wish to use a tripod you must apply for a permit in advance. Oh, and of course if in the opinion of officials your equipment 'looks expensive' you will be hassled and under suspicion from the moment you arrive! Best just take your iPhone to be safe.

Anyway back to the new concourse and a view on the ground floor at platform level (they are behind me here).

Now a couple of fun images, another view at ground level - Technicolor Process 4

 

and finally looking up...

 

See more about the concourse opening  here

 

Regular followers are aware that I fill my spare time by studying for a BA in Photography at the University of Westminster. Currently I am undertaking a project entitled Public/Private. Researching for that project brought to my attention a byelaw that has recently been reviewed in London. It concerns photography in Trafalagar Square (well some of it) and Parliament Gardens Field. The byelaw hasn't exactly changed  but the penalties for contravention and the ability for police to become involved has been increased. The byelaw has been drawn up by Boris's boys but has yet to go through parliament.

In Trafalgar square there are a squadron of weirdly named Heritage Wardens. Here's one so you get the idea...

These Heritage Wardens constantly patrol the inner part of Trafalgar Square - an area I might point out that according to numerous brass plaques not yet nicked by the metal thieves (you know who I mean) is funded by the national lottery - i.e. the general public. I have been observing these wardens recently as I have it on good authority (Demotix, Amatuer Photographer etc) that they are picking on random photographers who they think, usually due to the size of their equipment, may be contravening the vaguelly worded byelaw appertaining to commercial photography in parts (not all) of Trafalgar Square. I have decided that they will contribute to my Private/Public project. So in carrying out that project today I witnessed nonsense beyond belief and feel it necessary to share.

Just after two o clock today I noticed a young lady with a video camera of TV proportions. So I just stood back and waited for a Heritage Warden to appear on the scene - and within minutes one did, bustling through a plethora of folk armed with every camera under the sun to single out this lady with a real big one....

They chatted in the Square - owned by the public, underneath the clock counting down the Olympic Games - sport in the UK and as far as I and I'm sure the bespectacled camera person thought, our friendly Heritage Warden was relaxed that there were no byelaws about to be broken.

The camera lady set about gathering her team and director (they were filming for Sport Relief, a charity I believe associated with sport so what better a backdrop than that famous Olympic clock?). The warden went off to chase a Japanese man with a tripod and a large Nikon and I shot off for a coffee and a pee.

An hour later I returned and what's this......?

The BBC crew are happily filming, the tourists love it (what a great advert for UK) but do I spy a jobsworth warden confronting the director?

Here he is explaining the byelaw "Basically mate , however little I know about photography, commercial gain and so on, what you got to understand is I have a uniform and a walkie talkie. So what I say goes OK?" "Sonny!"

The director goes to break the bad news to the producer - Jobsworth the Warden puts on his bulldog face and adopts his NY Cop stance.

It's a good job our lady producer has her ears covered here as Bulldog Warden verbally lays into her - to the amusement of onlookers.

The lady warden arrived and photographed the photographers in action - this is the point where she serves notice that she has evidence (a photo!!) of the BBC filming in a public place, for a public service, more importantly a sports charity underneath the Olympic clock - against the express instructions of jobsworth bulldog Warden. The BBC crew, actors, athletes and all are now marched all of thirty metres to the left to a point where an imaginary line ( I think it's similar to Palestine) demarks the part of Trafalgar Square where the Heritage Wardens have no power as byelaws do not apply.

So at much cost to the taxpayer the crew start over again, thirty metres away but no longer under that Olympic clock, they've been removed from an area owned by the taxpayer for no other reason than the whim of a Heritage Warden (a what? how does that name mean anything? how does one 'warden' our Heritage?)

The Wardens report back to their Fuhrer, another satisfactory eviction. Well at least in these difficult times the jobsworths  do at least have jobs of sorts!

You can witness this kind of activity anyday in Trafalgar Square. The wardens do answer questions and give advice to tourists, even take photos of them (does the byelaw allow that??). But of late they aggressively confront anyone with a camera they take a dislike to with no regard or undertsanding of the actual byelaw. The area is ripe for them - next time you are in Trafalgar Sqaure check how many present are taking photographs....

Today my photoblog with a difference. If you've followed my work over the last couple of years you'll be aware that as a photographer I'm at the 'jack of all genres, master of none' stage. I'm hoping that my time at University of Westminster will result in a narrower focus for me. So what better time now than to embark on yet another genre - 'wedding & lifestyle'. Well why not? It seems a more reliable revenue stream than music, street or fine art and until recently I thought not quite as exciting or fulfiilling. Oh dear how wrong I was. In 2010 my daughter got married and a friend of a friend was the photographer - Joanne. We got chatting about photography etc. Now fast forward - we have embarked on a joint venture to offer 'reportage' wedding photography services to any lucky couples we feel comfortable working with. Neither of us have a desire to be solely wedding photographers but we believe our passion for photography can add something of value for the clients we decide to work with. 2012 will see us delivering against the promise we have made in the bookings we received last year and one or two more we will no doubt add over forthcoming months. Our wedding services will be as J&C Photography so this will be one of the few references on my LeFlic17images website/blog.

Take a look below at one of our first 'pre-wedding' shoots with Ben and Tasha who tie the knot in April this year....

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Let us know what you think. You can find us here on Facebook.

Take note - the perils of the Internet and Social Media.

It was Monday afternoon, I was cold and a little bored. I took a risk and disabled Parental Controls (Mum is 91 and live 100 miles away so I guessed I'd be OK). I was soon into some chat with someone more shady than Redknapp ...'Carter'. "Fancy a challenge?" she teased, "want to prove you are a photographer and get outside your comfort zone?". "Be at St Paul's tube station at 1330 tommorow with your camera, 24mm, 50mm, 24-70mm lens - your choice but 85mm or bigger is for cowards. You'll be given an envelope with a 5 point mission - should you choose to accept it!

I was shaking, mixture of fear and excitement. I turned Parental Controls back on, phoned Mum and fessed up. Do the goverment know about these secret FB photographer groups??

One thirty on Tuesday I turned up outside St Paul's station as instructed. I eyed everyone there suspiciously. I then spotted him, a guy with a wooley hat, dark glasses and a Nikon. I edged over to him and out of the side of my mouth whispered "Are you here for Carter's photography mission?". I am, he answered, who are you? I'm Chris I replied and offered my hand. We shook, I'm Rob he said but you can call me Project Afghan. I've only come along as I'm twiddling my thumbs waiting for the call back to Hellmand Province. I thought this would be good practice for me....

We passed some small talk, Afghan seemed edgy, then he said alarmingly and pointing over my shoulder. "That's Carter, in the black and the guy with her is 'The Lash', he's running the show today. Let's report in before they get annoyed". We walked over. Rob seemed at ease with Carter and The Lash. I nodded to Carter when The Lash boomed "Hi mate", he grabbed my hand nearly breaking my fingers, glad you made it". A 5th Tog, Christina, arrived, also dressed in black. The Lash, call me Gary, took control, "how's we for time Carter" he enquired. "Getting tight" Claudia (I now knew her first name) muttered. The Lash handed us each a brown envolope. Open it, read it and get moving he ordered. We may or may not meet again. Good luck.

We each took our envelopes and sort of shuffled away from each other. I backed up against the Costa Coffee wall for safety and read through the two sheets within the brown envelope. It stated that the purpose of today was to push us as photographers outside of our comfort zone. Something about the more daring the approach the better the photographs as a consequence. I looked up, Project Afghan, The Lash, Carter and Christina had all melted away, I was alone. There were many instructions about times and places on the sheets, threats about conversing with each other before the 'final shot' and a clear message that instructions would be followed to the letter. The final salvo was the comment "We are watching you" the accompanying smiley face failed to reduce the threat.

So I anxiously read instruction one. I was to take the tube to Tottenham Court Road station, wait until 1405 and take a shot on the platform that included a person. Off I set. Arriving at TCR station at 1345. Goodness I can't take a shot for twenty minutes!!! I considered changing the time on my camera but the "We are watching you" comment deterred me. I gave some thought to potential shots. I set ISO to 2500 and white balence for white fluoresence. And stood there trying not to look guilty. After an age and about 20 trains coming in and out it was 1405. Click.

So above is image one with clear evidence of the time and indeed the location.

The instructions now told me to exit the station walk down Charring Cross Road to Trafalgar Square and take another shot, but not before 1435. Londoners will know that Charring Cross Road is blocked off at TCR station so I did a quick trot along side streets and proceeded as instructed. Again I arrived at my destination early so I wandered around the square with the confidence of a secret agent, which I now felt I was. Eventually my iphone said 1435 and I took my second image. I had somehow, call it intuition, deduced that this project was about street photography, so I produced my second image with that in mind....

The pigeon of course confirms I was in fact in Trafalgar Square.

For shot three I had to be at MARBLE ARCH STATION NO LATER THAN 1505 and being patient I had to take a photo on the platform but not before 1515. Mine is not to reason why. Instructions did not state whether to walk or not. I decided walking was safer than tube or bus.  However as I wandered my mind wandered and it soon became clear I would not make Marble Arch by the designated time. It was a cold day so I was togged up with thermals and wooley hat etc. but I ran. I ran as fast as I could scared I would be late. When a car backfired I hit the pavement, taking impact on my elbow to protect my Nikon. I couldn't believe they were shooting at me for being a few seconds late. They weren't of course!

I now had 10 minutes on the platform at Marble Arch before I could produce this....

My next instruction was to take the tube to Oxford Circus Station, take a picture outside the station and include proof of the station in the shot. I must then return to the station but not before 1530. I began to see what they meant about comfort zones! As I exited the station I spotted Christina, Oh no! we must not see each other. I quickly ducked round the corner and into the pub. A stiff drink was beckoning but I needed a clear head. So a mineral water and a quick pee later I left the pub and fulfilled my instuctions for image 4...

The empty bladder more than the mineral water relaxed me and I slowly read my instructions. I was to now break from  the five mission images to get five bonus images. They were to be taken with at least one person in each, they had to be taken on the tube, they must not be posed and I could not seek permission to take them. They should be street photography style (my intuition had paid off!!). I then had to be at Liverpool Street Station at 1630 and proceed to a high point in departues for my final mission shot, image 5. I was forbidden to arrive there before 1630. So I thought this through. I set my camera up for tube conditions again (ISO2500, set the shutter to quiet mode, adjusted white balance and set both exposure and focus to auto) I don't like using auto but this was subversive surveillence of the highest order and I had to use available technology. How glad I was about the secret little  button in the base of my camera allowing me to click the shutter secretly. Back I went on the Central line to get my five bonuses. Here is the first....

You may think it cowardly of me to shoot this young girl sleeping? Oh no I was sitting next to her boyfriend and although my shutter was on Q it sounded to me like a bass drum. I broke out in a cold sweat and found myself off the train at Mile End station. I waited a while and took a train back in the westerly direction. It was on that train I got my second bonus image..

Oh yes I was cracking this now! At St Paul's I jumped off and crossed over to head back east again, taking bonus image number 3...

An image that does not require text! At Mile End I was off again and waiting for a westbound. On the next train I started experimenting by adding the environment around my subjects in the composition...

 

Can you spot which of these thre is the ticket inspector? It's easy! Off again, this time at Bank where I waited a while so I could arrive at Liverpool Street on and NOT BEFORE the designated time. I stood outside of this carriage and shot in. Exposed??? ....

That's it, five bonus shots taken now off to departures for Mission image 5, to be taken from a high vantage point. Here it is...

Well as I was taking this The Lash, Afghan Rob, Christina and Carter C. emerged from the shadows. We agreed we'd had fun, what a great job Gary had done organising this mission. I was told I would be accepted into the secret group as I'd passed an initiation with fire (I asked my new chums not to tell my Mum). I'm unsure if I will be terminated when this is read and my photography skills are exposed but I don't care I've experienced a mission most can only dream of.

Oh and by the way although much of this blog is a little tongue in cheek Project Afghan is real, take a look click here

Thanks Gary, Claudia, Christina and Rob for a fun 'photography afternoon'. Hope to do it again sometime.

Now for those of you who know me better - the instructions said you will post 10 images and no more - well rules are there to be broken so I took a sixth bonus image when I as in the square and there are no people in it...

Life on the wild side. Night night x

On Saturday we decided to go for a walk for a number of reasons. We are walking the foothills of Mount Ventoux later in the year so need to get fit. It was a lovely frosty winters morning. I fancied taking some moody frosty and misty photos. Well by the time we got going the sun was well up and frost and mist were dissapperaing fast. I was begining to think it was a mistake lugging my gear around in bright sunlight and clear blue skies. However I was not to be disappointed. I managed this capture in the woods of Millbrook Warren.

Millbrook Warren

So that made the effort worthwhile. The walk was glorious as was the lunch at The White Hart at Maulden on the way home. The only negative was we got to see close up the impact that the new Center Parcs in going to have on the little countryside we have left in Bedfordshire. The majority of Millbrook Warren is now fenced off and closed to the public with threats of 24 hour security and dog patrols - the warren looks like a prison camp!. The footpaths and bridleways we planned to walk on have been diverted and now run more or less parallel to the A507 instead of going deep into the warren as they always have. Great swarths of pines have been uprooted and I guess the abundance of wildlife that frequented the area will soon disappear as the area becomes another holiday theme park. They say that Center Parcs will bring employement opportunity to the area but at what cost to our heritage, countryside and indeed our access to the countryside? Soon views like this will exist only in photographs.