Slate pots, in progress.
Good slate is so enjoyable to work with. Making these pots today gave me a really sense of connection with the past. Maybe it’s because slate can’t be worked without slowing down and being patient. Slate is unforgiving to any modern-day rushing around; it won’t hesitate to break with one over-zealous impact.
This chap lives on my street. He is a real talent on a bike and rarely rides these local park dirt jumps any more – they just ain’t big enough for him.
It seems like shooting this sort of thing is a lesson in keeping it simple; sun near straight on, fast shutter speed, wide angle lens to show the landing/context, getting in very low and close (i.e. lying in the mud in this case), then just shooting loads. On the ‘cool sports’ theme, I love the work of photographer [Ryan Allan] who has shot some amazing skate, bike and surf images, but all shot in an natural, earthy style. Inspiring.
Canadian Cove Stiffee Bike & Goodbye lens
The guts of my ‘pub’ lens were sprawled alarmingly over the bottom a bag this morning – it didn’t survive the party the night before. I thought perhaps that a good whack back in place might have sorted it, but if you click on the larger version of this image, the lens may not be quite right? Time for a new pub lens. Canon make [these] light-weight plastic, almost disposable, 50mm pub lenses with really good optics and a street price a fraction of the cost of a proper lens. That’s why they are safe to take in the pub.
Oak Smoked Garlic, hand-fired pots.
This smoked garlic smells like those carefree days from childhood, where a box of matches borrowed from the kitchen draw led to secret bonfires in the woods, sheepishly returning home trying to hide the smell of smokey clothing from prying noses. I have no idea how to cook with garlic that smells like post-bonfire clothing.
