Jumping for joy ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

So many good things happened at the weekend (and I don't just mean in the FA cup!) that I'm surprised I can get my head through the door this morning ..

Out of the blue, I received a message on Facebook saying "I'm LOVING seeing your work, absolutely fantastic. So inspiring .." and then an email came in saying "I always enjoy your bloggy ramblings." (Here's the next one, Simon!) As if that wasn't enough, I was contacted by a Scottish chap who's started reading my first book 'Page 99, by Joe Bancroft', having been sent it by a friend who'd read it on the Gold Coast in Australia. From Brisbane to John o' Groats, no less ..

Speaking of long journeys, today's photograph is one of the Kodachrome slides I've scanned as I move towards making a new travel-photography book. Can't wait to announce its launch ..

 

 

Calm down ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 23rd and it's 85 degrees in the shade. At least it was, on Miami Beach, back in 1997. This shot came to light as I delved into more of my Kodachrome slides, with the aim of adding a travel photography title to my collection of photography books.

As I write, Storm Jocelyn is hurtling its way towards the UK, mere minutes (it would appear) since the country was battered by Storm Isha, the tenth named storm this season. It seems to me the UK is actually living under one constant storm, so might it just be simpler to name the calm periods in between instead? You know, the quieter moments between all the wind and rain? Calm Albert, anybody? Calm Betty, Calm Charles, Calm Dave? Just a thought. Back to my Kodachrome ..  

Muscling in ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought I'd muscle in on the fact that Gladiators is back on UK television tonight. The news had me diving into my archive for pictures of two of the 'originals', who I photographed for PR companies back in the 1990s ..

Wolf, at the top, was opening a ride at Staffordshire's Alton Towers Theme Park, and Rhino was promoting .. er, something to do with very strong cable ties! They're called Michael and Mark in 'real life' ..

It was on this day ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've never been good at football photography, so it's no surprise that I only have one stand-out memory of ever covering the 'beautiful game'. When I was eighteen years old, just three months into my first ever job as a press photographer, I was sent down to London's White Hart Lane to photograph Altrincham v Spurs in the third round of the FA Cup. The date was January 10th, 1979. Forty-five years ago today. It was cold and my camera gear was basic, but I managed to (very nearly) catch the goal that earnt Altrincham a one-all draw and a lucrative replay at their Moss Lane ground. After the match, I headed for the changing rooms and took this lovely shot of goal-scorer Jeff Johnson enjoying his 15 minutes of fame. I achieved a little fame myself when my photographs appeared in the Manchester Evening News the following day. My boss had 'borrowed' my photographs and sold them to our rival. I think he gave me twenty-five quid for my efforts ..  

Blow your own tuba ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There's this bloke in Switzerland - let's call him Adam, English bloke, been there for years. Anyway, he goes and orders all seven of the books in my photo series, doesn't he? Sort of a Christmas present to himself. So I sent him a message, asking what he thought, and he sent back this ..

"Just finished all your books. I can now pronounce you officially as the L.S.Lowry of Salford and environs of the 1970s and ‘80s. Really enjoyed them. (PS - I’m a great fan of Lowry)."

Which made me rather happy, and so I thought I'd share it with you, just to let you know what you're missing ..

 

 

Time to face the New Year ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 It's time to face the New Year and, if I have one resolution, it is to read more, as was the plan when we moved to France. I'd spend afternoons - I imagined - in the sun (or by the woodburner!) making my leisurely way through heaps and heaps of books, catching up on titles I'd not yet read and re-reading some of my favourites from the past. Fat chance! I never seem to get a chance. There's always something to do, even if it's something as pointless as writing a blog that gets seen by seven people ..