Fire, fire .. !

 

 

 

 

 

My Mum was on the 'phone the other day, telling me about a new building that's going up on her street. "I've been watching the teams of men working on it," she said. "All in hi-viz and big boots and helmets." I, in turn, told her about a French chap that's re-tiling the roof over the way, tippy-toeing across open roof beams as he works alone in shorts and trainers, with only a soggy Gaulois as counter-balance. I mention this because I've been thinking about 'Health and Safety', and how it seems to have gone crazy in the UK. Indeed, I remember one occasion when, needing to get a touch higher to photograph a group of people, I was forbidden to stand on an office chair because of the 'dangers' involved. Anyway, I've found some old negatives of a factory fire I photographed in the 1980s, and show them today to illustrate how it was in the 'old days', when H & S hadn't even been invented. I started my work with a long shot of the burning building, and ended up right next to the firemen as they entered a door to tackle the blaze. I'm amazed I was allowed to get so close. I'm even more gob-smacked that I was daft enough to be so reckless. Oh, the joys of youth ..

Timing's everything ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just in time, I present an image from my early days as a freelance photographer. It's the sort of thing I used to shoot every time the hour went forwards or back. I'd find some clocks, chuck in a tasty bird (I'm using the lingo of 1983 here!) and was practically guaranteed a twice-yearly publication in the newspapers. The clocks went forwards again yesterday of course and, with perfect timing, I found this negative in my archive, along with lots of others that I think might just turn into another of my 'Wrong Way Wround' books. All in good time .. 

 

 

 

Back then ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought I'd chuck in another 'double' photo today .. two pictures that I've placed together because of their similarities. I recently managed to look through more of my archive, and it's fascinating to see just how many famous people I met on the job. I even knew who most of them were! Not like today, when people are 'celebrities' just because they've been on some trivial late-night 'reality' show on Channel 193. People we sit down to watch on television as they .. sit down to watch television! Oh yes, the old days were definitely better. Things were simpler then, four channels to watch and shut-down at eleven o'clock. None of this .. sorry nurse? I have to take my tablets? Lead on ..

You're twistin' me melon, man ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To a certain generation, the word Manchester meant "The Haçienda" and if you mentioned the name they'd stick their tongue out and look at you like you were going to throw them an 'E'. The club was a major part of the city's landscape in the 1980s and 90s but, not being into the 'Madchester' scene, (You're twistin' me melon, man!) I only went there every now and again for a pint or to see a band. I remember my pal Chris ringing me up once and asking if I fancied going there to see 'some girl called Madonna'. "Never heard of her", I said, and we gave up the chance to see an up and coming Madge and probably went to stare at girls that were far above our pay-rate at Placemate 7 instead. I do remember going to see The Gun Club there, and The Eurythmics with Blondie's Clem Burke on drums, and having pints in the ever-so-unspacious 'Gay Traitor' bar down the stairs, but that's about it. Even despite the Joy Division connection, it just wasn't a place I bothered with ..

Nice though, to stumble upon a couple of transparencies I shot there when I was commissioned by the (now-defunct) Sabena Airlines in-flight magazine. Not many people on the dance floor so I'm guessing it was a wet Wednesday in March, but who's to say? Lovely memory, all the same ..

Tut tut, Martin ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joan Collins and her daughter Tara Newley, seen in two separate photo-shoots I did in the 90s, both of which resulted in a ticking off for your dear old blogger! Joan 'Superstar Goddess Wonderwoman Don't you know who I am?' was launching a new book and chastised me for "getting a little too close, darling." Then someone wrote into the newspaper berating me for "desecrating" graves after I'd posed Tara in a cemetery. I have learned my lesson and haven't gone near either of the ladies ever since .. 😂

The Boy who missed Next Year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, my Lord! I woke this morning to the news that someone has actually bought a copy of the first book I wrote. 'The Boy who missed Next Year' is a children's adventure story that I put onto Amazon Kindle about six years ago, and which promptly disappeared down the long and echoing rabbit warren that is self-publishing. To say I'm surprised is an under-statement. (Delighted too, of course!) I'm just going to sit back now and wait for the royalties to pour in. I always knew it was a long slog, this book-writing mullarky ..

(Oh, and to get your own Kindle copy, just paste this bad boy into your browser .. https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=the+boy+who+missed+next+year&i=digital-text&crid=11TDAS8AG8B8R&sprefix=the+boy+who+missed+next+year%2Cdigital-text%2C72&ref=nb_sb_noss)

I'm confused ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My blog on Wednesday achieved 984 reads. Now how did it do that? I didn't even write a blog on Wednesday. The world of social media continues to bewilder me. I'm just really happy I don't need it to run a business anymore ..

I had a great day in Bournemouth last week, catching up with two old photographer pals from the Manchester Evening News. We talked of battered Nikon FMs, of rushing film back from football grounds and of The Bumblies - the nickname given to the ever-complaining darkroom staff at the MEN. Not a word about digital cameras. Nothing about online portfolios or having an Instagram 'presence'. Ah yes, life was so much simpler then. Although, without all that, you wouldn't be able to read this blog, would you? See, I told you I was confused ..

Ps: Today's picture is another blast from my past. Street 'entertainment' in Canton, China. Shot on film - on an Olympus XA - about fifteen years before I had a web-site on which to show it!!