Tuesday, 27 November 2012

Inside the Chapel.

IMG_0673_edited-1.psd by paul g neale
IMG_0673_edited-1.psd, a photo by paul g neale on Flickr.

Different types of meat.

IMG_0708.CR2 by paul g neale
IMG_0708.CR2, a photo by paul g neale on Flickr.

Self portrait with long hair.

IMG_0628_edited-1.psd by paul g neale
IMG_0628_edited-1.psd, a photo by paul g neale on Flickr.

Ladies who lunch.

IMG_0686_edited-2.jpg by paul g neale
IMG_0686_edited-2.jpg, a photo by paul g neale on Flickr.

Brunch

IMG_0640_edited-1.psd by paul g neale
IMG_0640_edited-1.psd, a photo by paul g neale on Flickr.

Trip

Last Friday saw myself and a colleague as well as our two classes, venture into the city for a writing assignment. Photography was considered an important part of the note taking, remembering and ordering process.

We hung out in a variety of places, commercial and historic, and in the case of King's College Chapel, both. Those guys must earn a fortune from the punters.

Masks were produced and I am obliged to the students and my colleague for donning them so quickly and imaginatively in a variety of venues. The fact that I am an average picture taker is more than revealed but it was a useful day and being able to shoot people in vernacular settings whilst looking somewhat gruesome was a lot of fun.

My kids were also more than willing a day or so later so we got in some exterior shots. Still want to take a whole bunch in a supermarket or in one of the friendlier museums.

I am working on some ideas for masks that are printed versions of the wearer's own face and I have an idea I may shoot in the Geology or Sociology museums. The idea is to photocopy a face and paste it onto a large paper bag, which will then go over a head. The slight oddness of the mask might, I hope, complement the oddness of the exhibits. We will see.

Wednesday, 14 November 2012

I have got the old Meatyard Blues.

I now officially harbour doubts about the person who reminded me of good old Meatyard.

Where I was happily squeezing the kids' heads into masks and having fun, I now have the dead weight of a specific strand of art history resting heavily on my shoulders.

How carefree I used to be and how compliant the models. For a bribe of Fruit Shoots, chips and a Mars Bar my kids stand reasonably still, in public , wearing a scary mask.

Now of course, Mr Meatyard's imagery stares at me from my mental monitor and I suppose I am going to have to steal from him in order to carry on with the project.

To be fair, I have no crumbling mansions on hand to use as a backdrop, or that peculiar American street look in which to position my characters. And I am not using black and white.

I do have, however, creepy suburban village parks, and the mist slowly filling the local tennis court at the fall of dusk. It is time to get out the notebook and generate some locations, collect up the sticky drinks and confectionery and drag the offspring away to their child labour.