My latest post ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

A shot from my book of portrait photographs, coming out in the New Year. It was taken in the late 80s/early 90s, when I used to do an awful lot of PR photography for the Royal Mail. Back in the day, there was enough money in the company coffers to produce a monthly newspaper called The Courier, with offices in the centre of Manchester and distribution to everyone who worked for the Post Office. Now, the PO is in deep trouble, having been sold off to a foreign billionaire and with branch closures threatened all over the UK. (Sadly, there's talk of shutting down the main Post Office in Eccles .. a branch that opened in 1932!)

But hey, speaking of foreign takeovers, does that mean your post will now be in the Czech?? (Badum, tish!!)

Bah, humbug ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

The festive season steams in earlier and earlier and I think it's three weeks already since I heard Wham's 'Last Christmas' on the radio. When we moved to France we were rather pleased to see that the shops and supermarkets didn't go as crazy on the commercialism as the UK, but I'm afraid that's all changed now. Our local Intermarché, for example, has had a decorated toy 'grotto' open for business since the start of November. Still, the 'season of goodwill' was always good for me as a freelance photographer, what with all the parties and promotions like the shot I'm showing you today. Back in the day, I used to do a lot of work for Royal Mail, and a regular PR shoot was the arrival of that year's Christmas stamps. (I'm guessing this picture was taken in the early 90s, with pantomime characters out on Manchester's Market Street to plug the launch.) Now, things are so bad that I'm not sure anyone can actually afford to buy a stamp. In fact, I've heard the main Post Office in my home town of Eccles is likely to be shut down to save money. Talk about 'Bah, humbug' ..

Weird ..

Our local Post Office has just re-opened after a two-week refurbishment and, when I went in there for the first time yesterday, there was a new chap serving behind the counter. I put my parcel on the scales and filled out the return-address label on the back. "You're not posting Wedding photographs, are you?.." he asked, completely out of the blue. "Yes.." I gasped "How did you know..?" "Just a wild guess.." he said, bizarrely..

Turns out his daughter is getting married next year, and he asked if I had a card. I told him about my studio, which is just up the stairs from the Post Office, and said she was welcome to come along any time to have a look at my work..

I'll tell you what! If this booking comes off it'll be one of the weirdest references I've ever had ..

Stamp your mark ..

I passed a derelict Post Office in Salford yesterday. God knows how long it's been closed but look at this .. a book of stamps for 50p! A book! Nowadays a single first class stamp costs 60p! Anyway, I was on my way to the Deli-Lama cafe on Chapel Street, who have said I can have their walls for a mini Music Photography exhibition when they next become available. Don't all rush out at once, though! We're talking this time next year! God knows how much stamps will cost then!..

I'm going to Bradford today to check out the Tom Wood exhibition at the Media Museum though be warned .. I may return an envy-ridden, spiteful twisted snapper! There's just something about his work that makes me think 'Well, if they're showing his, why don't show mine?' The green-eyed monster has risen!..

Great times for PR photography at the mo! This week I'm shooting everything from a plain old cheque presentation to a Teaching Academy event, from winners of a motorbike competition to a new brochure with Gordon Burns, and next week I've a whole day in a cheese-factory to look forward to! I'm really enjoying stamping my style on the work...