A Kodak moment ..

I've just read that today's the birthday of George Eastman. Mr Kodak to you and I! He invented basically 'Photography for the masses' and it's him I have to thank for the Kodachrome I took with me when I travelled around the world a few centuries back! Here's an appropriate shot of a taxi in Brazil - a tribute to one of the great Gods of photography! Happy Birthday, George! A definite Kodak moment...

To have and to hold, maybe ..

There was a programme on TV last night called 'Married at first sight'. I didn't watch it, so this blog is only based on what I heard on Breakfast telly this morning, but it seems the concept of the programme is that two people are 'scientifically' matched to suit each other and the programme makers then proceed to marry them off - the couple only ever meeting each other at the moment they marry. Now, as I say, I haven't watched it, so will reserve judgement until I see it on 'Catch-up' but, excuse me, isn't that just taking the p*ss out of the whole concept of marriage? Ok, I can accept that in some cases this might work but, in general, this to me seems almost disgusting. One of the joys of Wedding photography is seeing that moment when two people - IN LOVE - are actually, actually, actually married! It's a joy to behold! To be continued ..

  

Write on time ..

Yesterday I was talking about the years flying by, and it occurred to me later that I'd just booked tickets to see The Tubes .. on their fortieth anniversary tour! Yes, those funky San Francisco rockers are still going strong after all these years, and I can't wait to see them again next month..

Anyway, this shot popped up whilst I was editing a Wedding yesterday. One of 'my brides' being fashionably late for her Wedding in May. Seven minutes is fine. The record so far this year is forty-five minutes late, caused by a broken-down VW camper that was meant to take the poor bride to the chapel! My, how she laughed .. later!

It would have been my Dad's 82nd birthday today. Now there's a time I'd like to get back ..

Punk forever ..

Last Friday evening I was in the bizarre position of being entirely alone! All on my own! Poor Billy No Mates! It was fantastic..

Lesley was working late and three sets of neighbours - on both sides - were away on holiday. There was no-one within .. what? 120 feet of me. So, what did I do? I did what any right-minded 54 year old punk would do in that situation. I opened a beer, hit the record player and cranked the volume up to 11 !..

I started with a bit of The Exploited, and then turned straight to the UK Subs. It was at that moment I remembered I had a DVD of the Subs, so switched the telly on to watch that instead. There's a great moment in the film where Charlie Harper, the band's lead singer, replies to someone in the audience. I couldn't hear what the punter said but Harper's reply was "I don't do that anymore, I'm 40 next year!.."

He's 71 this year, and still gigging! There's hope for me, yet! Punk forever! Yeah ....

 

Four seasons in one day ..

Kicking back after a fantastic weekend of Wedding photography and an air-show! Saturday's shoot was a blast and I think she'd agree if I described Alaina, the bride, as quite a character! I'm sure it's the first time the MOB - Mother of the bride - has taken pity on me and bought me a pint of lager after I've finished shooting! You can check out the shots here! Great to be part of your Big Day, guys..

Then it was on to Sunday and the first Air Show at Barton Airport in 21 years. All was going well until 3pm, when a weather front hit us and that was that! It absolutely poured down! End of show and thousands of soggy, cold people dashing for the exit! What a shame, and to think I'd been complaining about the sunshine on Saturday!..

Air we go again ..

A trip back in time today as I head off to the Manchester Air Show at what used to be known as Barton Airport. It's the first one in years and years but when I was growing up it was an annual fixture that was as regular as clockwork. The aerodrome is at the back of the housing estate on which I grew up and, every May, we'd hike across the fields to watch everything from Concorde to The Red Arrows .. and all for free! Our position meant we were on the other side of the airfield to all the paying customers, so we were right under the flight path of everything that displayed on the day. It was probably very dangerous .. but it was great! Here's a shot of the 1977 poster on my bedroom wall. It was a pound to get in! I'm happily splashing out a whole tenner to go on the 'paying' side this afternoon ..

The Property Market ..

This week I photographed a property for a chap who wants to put it on the market, and it's prompted me to tell you a story that I've been sitting on for a while. Earlier this year I was taken on by a local estate agent to photograph their properties. The pay wasn't great, but I figured on quantity so gave it a shot. All went well for a month or so until the work suddenly dried up. It seems the estate agent didn't really want to pay for great shots of their properties so, instead, decided to offer the option of professional photography to their clients. So guess how many have gone for it....

Go on, guess! Correct! None ...

There are half a million pound houses around here and no-one will pay a few quid to get them shot properly! Yet another area where the man-in-the-street's perception of the value of photography has gone down the pan! There's no market in property for me ..

I sat on the story because you'd only think I'm moaning. Actually, I am! Moaning old sod .. 

Shocking ..

We had a superb thunderstorm round our way last night. The heatwave - all 8 hours of it - came to an abrupt end and the garden got the watering it so badly needed. I couldn't resist grabbing a few shots - hand-held and very much seat of pants stuff (lightning reactions?) - and shoved one on the Book of Face, only to be asked what camera I used! Doh ...

Anyway, that's not the shocking bit! The shocking bit is that yet another newspaper has decided that photographs don't need to be paid for any more. Last month the Manchester Evening News ran six of my Joy Division photographs without so much as a by-your-leave, and now The Guardian wants to play the same game with a selection of shots from my archive. They got in touch with my picture agency to ask if they could use a few and do a little article. So far so good, except there was no fee involved and the water-mark would be minimal on the shots. Bloody hell, it's no wonder the man in the street doesn't think anything of nicking a photograph when 'so-called' esteemed publications like these don't consider a payment to be in order. What bit of 'professional' photographer do you not understand, dear newspapers? Shocking ..

Two today! ..

Two today! Culcheth Photo Studio has been open for two years exactly!..

Well, what can I say? The honest answer is .. I'm amazed I'm still here! I'll hold my hands up and say it hasn't been quite as busy as I'd have liked, and I've been on the verge of closing down quite a few times. However, it's lovely to have 'a place of my own' and I intend to keep it on as long as is economically viable. I thought two pictures of other 'struggling' brothers - taken on my travels - would be appropriate images for today! Here's to the next two years...

Again, again ..

I've just done something that, as far as I can remember, I have never done before! I've finished reading a book, only to go right back to the beginning and start reading it all over again!..

The book is called 'Skyfaring' by MarkVanhoenacker - a British Airways 'Jumbo Jet' pilot - who, like me, has always loved and been fascinated by aeroplanes since childhood. Their glamour, their excitement, their sexiness and power and .. well, their ability to fly! In the 'old days' there used to be spectator access to the piers at Ringway Airport - as Manchester was called - and I spent many, many a Sunday afternoon getting sunburnt and high on aircrcaft fuel gazing down at those beautiful big birds. Here's a shot from my archive, taken around 1975! I used to be thrilled knowing that a jet taxiing in was, mere hours ago, absolutely miles from where I was standing - on another continent, even - and now here it was, briefly, in Manchester and would soon be in another city, far, far away...

Well, the book is basically 329 pages of that! Of the strangeness and awe of our ability to zip around our world in mere hours. Beautifully written - who else could describe engine fans as "techno petals"? - and fascinating from the first page. Maybe that's why, like a 747 being turned around for a new departure, I just had to start the book all over again..

Reasons to be cheerful ..

Shot a super Wedding on Saturday, with no fuddy-duddy rules on where and when I could take photographs. Imagine missing out on the chance to shoot great shots like this moment of happiness after the vows! ..

My Joy Division exhibition came to a close yesterday, after a good six week run in Macclesfield. I'm really pleased with how it's gone, but kinda sad that it actually has gone, as I've nothing on the horizon now after two great shows this year. Still, it's July on Wednesday, with promises of warmth and sunshine in the forecast, so it's full steam ahead into summer, at last!
Yeee haaaa.......

Buzzin' ..

A particularly Mancunian expression but it sums up nicely how I feel about today's forthcoming Wedding. I think it's going to be Buzzin', our kid! Great couple, fab Manchester venue, good weather (Sh!) and a really laid-back vibe about the whole day. Even the toastmaster has put in a good word for me, telling the bride she's in "good hands" with me as the photographer! All I know is, just like a bee, I'm gonna be really busy this afternoon...

I sound like me Dad ..

Yesterday's stage-diving photograph got me trawling through my old music shots again, where I still have a section marked 'Unknown'! This guitarist, for example. I haven't the foggiest idea who he is or what band he was in. It looks like a great gig, though, doesn't it?..

According to my 1981 diary, between May and June of that year I went to see The Tubes, Split Enz, U2, Modern Eon, Altered Images, Bill Nelson, The Cramps, Pauline Murray, Squeeze and Toyah! Oh, and Victor Blackman too, but he was a Daily Express Press Photographer giving a talk at Manchester University, so that doesn't count! It's no wonder I always say I've lived through the most exciting period of music there's been, and I feel so sorry for the kids growing up today having Adele and Sam Smith forced down their lug 'oles! Where's the 'Get up and Boogy' when those depressos come on the radio? In the mall where I have my studio the radio drones on all day long with Key 103. It's mind-numbing! Piccadilly Radio, as it once was known, used to be one of the most exciting radio stations in the country. Everyone had one of their pink stickers in their bedroom window. But now they're just corporate, and bland, and boring. Anyway, each to their own and I can't really diss a whole generation for its musical taste, and I know I sound like my Dad, but it's just that our music was better. So there!..

Tout Suite! ..

The other evening I went to the inaugural meeting of a local networking group. Met some very nice people and learnt a few new things. Such as, I'm not getting involved enough with my social media! Oh Sh*t! Nope, it seems Flickr, Twitter, Google+, Tumbler, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and my blogs are not enough! I now need to be on Periscope and I need to be on HootSuite to organise everything! Bleedin' hell...

Anyway, like a mug, I immediately signed up for a trial with HootSuite and now all I get is bloody emails from them telling me I've not posted anything recently and can they suggest some 'content' for me to post?! No, you bloody well can't! I've got enough things to write about, thank you very much, and I don't need a machine in .. er, wherever it is .. to tell me what to write about. Actually, it's just dawned on me that people who say this kind of thing is great to help you organise yourself .. aren't very organised!..

Or am I missing something?...

Calm down, calm down ..

After my blog/rant yesterday I'm pleased to report that things have calmed down a bit after Saturday's Wedding - although I have yet to speak to the vicar involved - and I've had a lovely message from the bride..

"Thanks Martin O'Neill for the most entertaining wedding photo session ever! The family thought you were great! Can't wait to see everything, thanks so much for all your time and efforts. X" 
So that's alright, isn't it?..

I had a great PR portrait shoot up in Blackburn yesterday. "There's one of the guys.." said the PR lady "Whose hair is a little bit wild. Can you somehow subtly get him to calm it down?.."

Folks, all is calm ...


 

 

No Pictures .. !

No Pictures! That's what the vicar said as I started to shoot Saturday's Wedding! "Can the photographer stop taking photographs now, please!" she called - from the altar! - as I was a mere eight frames into the day..

Well, I'm sorry Rev, but what the bloody hell did you think I was there for? Man, I was so annoyed! I had to spend the entire Wedding ceremony sitting at the back of the church as a whole stream of fantastic memories sailed by me - unshot! Now ok, she let me pose the couple at the altar afterwards but that just wasn't the same. It wasn't the reality of a couple's Wedding Day. The 'real' moments had gone ..

Now, I know the church is the vicar's domain, and I've always been one to respect the wishes of the clergy - or the registrar, for that matter - but come on, play the game! It's a Wedding and we both have a job to do. I've never met any officiator of a Wedding that's banned me from taking any photographs at all and I think it's unfair not only to me, but to the bride and groom, who now have no photographs to remind them of their special time up at the altar..

The thing is, I've never had any problems photographing at this church but it seems it was this vicar's first Wedding there. However, nowadays, everyone expects to be photographed during the Wedding ceremony so if word gets out that photography's now a no-go at this place I think this new vicar might need to have a rethink on her shooting policy quite soon!..

Rant over ..

My Dad ..

This is me and my Dad having a pint at Manchester Airport, about 22 years ago. It's Father's Day here in the UK and, although it's now six years since he died, I think about my Dad all the time. It makes me happy to know we had a great relationship and, much as I hate these schmaltzy, blatantly commercial 'days', they do actually give people a chance, if you're not as close as we were, to dare to say 'I love you'..

Actually, I mostly used to say he was an 'Old Fart' but, in the close language of Father and son, that means the same thing!..


 

Flamin' June! ..

Sweltering heat, blazing sunshine and blue, blue sky. Just three of the things missing this morning as I prepare for today's Wedding! However, I'm hoping that I might start a tradition whereby, if I complain about grey skies and drizzle in a morning, I'll be overwhelmed by sun and heat in the afternoon. I can only hope! Flamin' June ..

Not my cup of tea ..

There I was, sipping my coffee and wondering about today's blog when I kinda started to focus - ho ho - on the mug in my hand. Bloody hell, I thought, how long have I had that? Hot-Shot Photographer, it says, and look .. it's got a camera on it with two rolls of film! How appropriate after Tuesday's blog.
Quick, call the Antiques Roadshow ..

I'm off to Southport today to check out a hotel where I'll be shooting a Wedding in August. This'll be the first time I've ever photographed a bride for the second time! Tricia's first Wedding was way back in the nineties but I guess things have moved on and it's time for her to do it again with another guy. Obviously, I approach every Wedding I shoot from the viewpoint of 'You've found The One' but I have to hold my hands up and say that, in this day and age, it might be a little bit pretentious to maintain that marriage is forever. Sometimes it's true that that first partner just isn't your cup of tea .. 

Pr, Weddings .. and churches!

Ok, that's the Mexican Ambassador shot - Hmm, I'm sure there's a better way of phrasing that! - and I'm onto other things this fine summer's day. Actually, I'm supposed to be photographing a church for its website but the weather's not looking as fine or summery as you'd want on your web pages, so that might get postponed until tomorrow..

I got a great Wedding booking last night. One phone conversation after dinner and a confirmed booking by 8.30pm! Now that's how it should be done! Some people take such a long time to decide on their photographer. I mean, I understand it's a big decision but some couples, like last night's, just go with their gut feeling and get the job done rapido! So, it's off to the Imperial War Museum North next summer. Can't wait ..

Old!

I'm old! It's official!..

I've received a message on the Book of Face from a young lady who is, she tells me, just starting out in photography and would love to meet me. Well, how flattering! What a nice message, I thought. I wonder what she wants to talk about, I thought. Joy Division? Wedding photography? Nope, she just wants to meet someone who's shot on film! Oh, boil up the Horlicks and pass me my zimmer frame, why don't ya!..

Of course, with age comes experience and I shall throw all mine at today's PR job - a visit to Manchester by the Ambassador of Mexico, no less! I told you the job involved a big-wig! Apparently I have to address him as 'Your Excellency', so I'm dying to see what he's excellent at! I might come back with a great shot of him juggling chihuahuas, or eating 17 Ferrero Rocher in one go, or... 
Forgive me, didn't mean to sound cynical ..
It's my age!

I remain, your servant ..

This shot's from another set of images I've been sorting this morning and I don't know why it came back to me, but I couldn't help laughing at something I overheard at a recent Wedding. "Mummy.." said a rather hungry young lady as she sat down at a Wedding reception "When will the servants be coming to our table?" Oh yes, you get a better class of people when I shoot Weddings!!...

Another busy week ahead, with a great mixture of PR, portraits, a Wedding and .. some website shots for a local church. The PR shoot's rather interesting. Bit of a big-wig! I'll tell you about it tomorrow. I just hope he doesn't bring any servants!!...

Itchy!..

Chickenpox! That's what's scuppered me today!
A good old dose of the contagious scratchies! Not me, of course, but apparently some of the youngsters involved in the christening I was supposed to photograph this afternoon. Rather than risk further infection, Mum has sadly decided to pull the plug on the event so, like the man here in my travel shot from Kenya, it looks like a lazy Sunday afternoon for me. Spot on ..

Guidance needed ..

A very nice lady came into the studio a week back to get some new portraits shot, and one of her changes of outfit was a Guides uniform. She's just been to pick up her images and told me that today she was awarded the OBE for services to Guiding in the Queen's Birthday Honours! So that's why she wanted some photographs in 'Guide garb'!  Well done Sue, and thanks so much for choosing my studio for your publicity shots...

It's a shame more youngsters aren't into the Scouts and Guides, as I was reminded this week when I caught a train into Manchester. This young oik didn't see the slightest thing wrong with putting his feet up onto the seat. I'd have got my a*rse kicked for doing that when I grew up! More discipline, that's what we need. Bring back parental slapping! Bring back National Service! Get Sue on the case! It's time these kids were brung up proper ...

Landscape v People ..

Back from a quick break in the Cotswolds. Walking, hills, sheep, ye olde pubs .. all that sort of thing! Had a great time although my shots will confirm I ain't no landscape photographer. Well, that's 'cos I ain't interested in being a landscape photographer, and I've never really seen another photographer's landscape photo that's made me feel like .. wow!..

So, I stuck to what I do and took photographs like this one. It's quite amusing, actually. There I am, in front of an 800 year old church - rooks squawking on the gargoyles, steeple clock clanking out the half-hour as it's done for God knows how long (Well, he would, wouldn't he!) .. and I see three bins lined up next to three tombstones! Picture! Ha ..

Anyway, I've seen enough grass to last me now, so it's studio head back on today and a heap of print orders to get out before I shoot another family portrait tomorrow morning and a christening on Sunday.
Landscape v people? People, every time!..

It was a breeze ...

Yesterday's Wedding was a breeze! Actually, it felt more like Gale Force 9 all day long!! My, how it blew and, of course, how it whizzed the clouds across the sun. One minute it was gloomy and grey, the next we were in blazing sunshine! Not complaining, of course .. it gave me some great photographs!..

This one, for example! A picture with a tale. Melissa and Graham did their early courting on this bench in the middle of Lymm, as it was within view of Mel's Mum's front-room window, and she didn't want her daughter disappearing out of her sight. We blew back there and photographed the couple on their Wedding Day. What a great idea! Have a look at a few more shots here ..

And now, I'm off to read the papers ...

On your marks ..

Time to hot-foot it down to South Cheshire for today's Wedding. The distances between the house and the ceremony are so much that I need to get to shoot the bridal preparations good and early in order to - as they say - get me to the church on time! I reckon that, by the time I've shot the first dance, it'll be a good twelve hour day today! Can't wait!..

Bloomin' lovely ..

What a great way to name your Wedding Tables. I've seen a lot of fantastic ideas for table plans over the years - football teams, Star Wars characters, places a couple have been in their lives - but I thought choosing a whole selection of spring flowers to name your tables was such a sweet and simple way of doing things. Click on the shot to see it larger. I wonder how tomorrow's Wedding couple will name their tables..  

Bloomin' news on the Joy Division front, too. Prints from Hooky's gig are now available to purchase online - for a limited period until December 31st of this year. Go to 'So this is Permanence' to get your orders in! Myself and a young guy called Ant Mulryan have a selection of shots up for grabs with a percentage of the proceeds going to the Epilepsy Society and The Churches Conservation Trust. We do like to do our bit, ya know..

Spread the good word ..

I did something yesterday that I haven't done for a long, long time. I took a photograph for the Manchester Evening News! Ok, it was only a self-portrait but it is for publication so that counts, doesn't it? The paper's doing a piece on my Joy Division exhibition at Charles Roe House and so, rather than have them schlepp a photographer down to Macclesfield, I volunteered to do the shots myself. It only took 378 attempts!..

There's other good news on the Joy Division front. The shots I took at Peter Hook's 'So this is Permanence' gig last month are going on Limited Edition sale. It's been agreed that the three photographers who covered the gig can now offer a selection of prints for sale until December 31st. I've edited my work down to around 20 images - I say around as I'm awaiting final approval - but, once I get the nod, I'll get that link up and running all over those other kinds of media!
Gotta spread the word, eh?..

Just showing my age ..

I awoke this morning to hear of the sad and premature death of poor old former Liberal leader Charles Kennedy. Fifty-five, people are saying, so young! Old. Premature. Young. Don't we have such defined views on age? I photographed a .. here we go .. young (21!) lady in the studio recently who warned me not to photograph "her wrinkles" and, any other day of the week, we'd complain that, at 55, we're 'getting on a bit' but should that person pop it then all we hear is that they were 'too young' to die. I know, it's all comparative and I'm rambling on a bit but I'd already got an 'age' niggle in my head before I even heard the sad news this morning ..

Cake smashes! That's what was bothering me. This (American) idea of sitting a one-year old child in front of a birthday cake and encouraging it to smash the sh*t out of it, all in the name of 'cute' photographs. If you'd read yesterday's blog you may have sensed my unease at the thought of having to shoot a cake-smash that afternoon, but I just can't believe we'd encourage a child to do such wilful damage to anything! Capturing a child if it did cheekily pinch a bit of cake is one thing, but making them do it is a different matter altogether! As it was, yesterday's little baby wouldn't go near the cake. Thankfully, he couldn't grasp the concept that we all wanted him to trash a perfectly good cake and so the shots simply show him sitting by the side of it with a little (added!) icing on his face.

However - and I can hear you all now - I am running a photographic studio and the customer is always right so forgive me going on so. I think I'm just showing my age ..

Getting Smashed ..

Today's all about getting smashed! Not me, you understand .. just a cake! Yes, I have another of those bizarre photo-shoots called a Cake Smash to do! Basically, put a one year old kid in front of a birthday and let the little rascal do its worst! Makes a mess! Makes really cute photographs! What's not to like .. eh? ..

Actually, today's shoot is but a mere warm-up, as I'm shooting a kids' party later in the week with at least 15 six year olds attending! A bulk order of paracetomol has already been ordered from Amazon! Other shoots include a portrait session with a new Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester .. and a Wedding! Must remember not to ask the bride to smash the cake!..

Forget-Me-Not ...

It occured to me yesterday that the lovely little blue flowers surrounding Ian Curtis' headstone are Forget-Me-Nots. Isn't that incredible? In a shot taken on the 35th anniversary of his death he's surrounded by Forget-Me-Nots!
How appropriate!..

There were a couple of other nice little Joy Division touches yesterday, too. I popped back to Macclesfield to put up some of my prints from Hooky's recent 'So this is Permanence' gig at Christ Church and, as soon as I got on the train, I plugged in my ipod and hit Play. First song that came on? Joy Division's 'Twenty four hours'. First line of that song? 'So this is Permanence'...! Eeeek....!

Second thing? A rather frail-looking old lady walked into the gallery as I was up the ladder hanging prints. She must be lost, I thought to myself but, no, she asked where the Ian Curtis exhibition was and Julie, the exhibitions organiser, led her into the room showing my pictures. Turns out the lady was Ian Curtis' primary school teacher and taught him when he was nine years old! How fantastic!..
Her abiding memory of him? "Very quiet and very clever"..

Now I didn't ask, but she volunteered her age. She said she was 78, so we're talking probably 48 years since she last saw Ian. She hasn't forgotten!..

Hooky & Peely and the passage of time ..

Back to Macc today to put up a selection of shots from last Monday's Peter Hook gig. They'll compliment the Bowdon Vale photographs perfectly, and it's lovely to be able to span 36 years of a guy's career in the space of a few photographs. I hope the shots will please the many fans who weren't able to get tickets to the event..

Thirty six years ago the Radio One DJ John Peel was in his prime and, to my delight, I've just found out that there are entire shows of his available to download. As I sit here now I'm listening to a show from 1980, replete with weird music, wacky music and superb music ..  all interspersed with Peely's droll observations and introductions. Takes me right back! When I worked for the Warrington Guardian I was invariably still busy in the darkroom until 11 and 12 at night, so would always listen to John's shows as I printed my photographs. I find it delicious that I can, once again, work on my photographs as I listen to John Peel. A great way to pass the time ..

What time do you call this? ..

I photographed a Wedding once involving a bride who was so meticulous about everything going to plan that she had a big list of timings printed up on the back of her kitchen door..

Along the lines of : 10.47 - Start make-up. 11.14 - Photographer arrives (I was early, of course!) 12.12 - Get into dress...  that kind of thing! Anyway, she was really late to her Wedding. The make-up artist dropped red lipstick down the front of the bride's dress and the panic that ensued ensured she was never going to get to the church on time. You can't plan that kind of thing into your timings..

Similarly, you can't factor in a VW Campervan that breaks down en route to the bride's house. That's what happened on Friday and poor old Sue was 45 minutes late for her Wedding!! It had a knock effect all afternoon, as you can imagine, and my task wasn't made any easier by the fact that, as the guests all came out of the church, it began to drizzle in a most insistent way. I managed to get a group shot of all the guests and then ... phwit! .. they were gone! Everyone bar Sue's parents scarpered off to the reception meaning most of the shots on the list Sue had provided went by the board. Check out here what I did manage to shoot ..

Anyway, just take that into account all you brides to be. Be chilled about your Big Day. What will happen will happen and it'll all add to the memories afterwards..

You must be the bride ..

Well it's raining, so it must be time to photograph another Wedding! If you don't live in England then I can't tell you how bad the weather has been this May. It's cold and wet and 'orrible! Brr...

Anyway, off to a lovely chapel under the flight path of Manchester Airport this afternoon to shoot the Wedding of a couple I haven't yet met! It's quite unusual these days for me not to have a meeting with a couple before I photograph their Big Day but, for whatever reason, it just hasn't happened this time. Never mind, I'm sure I'll be able to spot the Bride and Groom when I get there!..

Laters ..

Will the real Mick Middles please stand up ..

What's better than a night out with Mick Middles? A night out with two of the buggers..

That's what I had last night when I went to see the Joy Division play 'New Dawn Fades' at Bury Met. I went with my erstwhile mucker Mick, who's described as the 'quite brilliant writer' when he actually features in the play as a young journo interviewing Joy Division at the start of the 80s. I wonder what the audience would have felt if they knew the 'real' Mick Middles was in da house. (Don't answer that!) The actor Sean, who plays him, is pictured on the right, just to avoid confusion, ho ho ..

It's a great play though, with warmth, wit, wisdom and a well-handled ending and I'd advise any JD fan to catch it if it ever does the rounds again..

Seeing it at the Met added a certain extra poignancy to the evening, as that was the actual stage Joy Division played on on the night of the infamous 'riot' when Ian was too ill to sing. Adding that to the feelings I had on Monday, being in the actual church he used to attend, rounded off a really rather good celebration of his short and spectacular life. And now my life must turn towards 'other stuff' ..

Weddings, for example .. as I have my next one tomorrow afternoon. More memories to capture..

Capturing memories! Ah! One last thing, then. The shots I took at Hooky's gig on Monday are now online. I chiselled 150 shots together as a good illustration of the night and they've had 487 views since they went live yesterday afternoon. I've had lovely complimentary messages from as far away as Lima, Peru! Even Mick Middles likes' em .. 

Stop press .. here's Mick's interview with the band!

So that was Permanence..

Blimey! It's all over!..

The gig has gone and the only things that remain are the images. Ironic that the show was called 'So this is Permanence'! (Ok, I know they made a CD of the gig but let me have my moment!) ..

What an incredible event. Peter Hook sang every single one of Joy Division's songs in 3 hours 15 minutes to a mere 470-odd lucky people in an audience in an old church! It was really poignant to hear the songs live, especially with Hooky's voice even often sounding like Ian Curtis.
Spine-tingling .. 

For my part I shot over 1000 frames and have just finished narrowing them down to a delicious 150 images which I've now added to my Flickr site. The key for me was to try to replicate some of the shots I took of Joy Division in 1979.

I think I succeeded ..

Man! It's almost hard to go back to 'normal' life again! Even tonight there's more Joy Division 'stuff' to do as I'm going to see the play 'New Dawn Fades' at Bury Met, where the band were famously involved in a riot in 1980! ..

Tomorrow, I'll get back to normal tomorrow ..

Love tore him apart ..

The clock-tower on the skyline is the church where it will all happen today. Every single one of Joy Division's songs will be performed at Christ Church in Macclesfield to celebrate the life of Ian Curtis, the band's lead singer, who committed suicide exactly 35 years ago today..

Peter Hook, the band's former bass player, has taken up the challenge of playing something like 48 songs over the space of almost four hours as a way to mark the occasion and to raise money for charity. I wish him well! (You can listen to him talking about it on Radio 4 this morning .. go to I hr 47 mins) For my part, I will be documenting the day and trying to replicate some of the shots I took of 'Hooky' at the Bowdon Vale gig over 36 years ago! Visitors from all over the world will be converging on Ian's home town of Macclesfield today, and I'm going to cover as much as I can of the event - from what I'm sure will be large numbers visiting Ian's memorial stone in the cemetery to Kevin Cummins' talk about his iconic shots of the band and, of course, the massive gig this evening at the church. I'm then going to create a Flickr album for everyone to view the work and, if anyone wants to download images, I'm going to donate 50% of the fee to the charities..

What a poignant day .. 

What Joy! ..

Well, it's all getting very exciting around here!..

The next few days are the 'Big Ones' as far as Joy Division is concerned, with two Open Days for my exhibition before Monday night's .. Big Gig!

If you're not aware of it, May 18th will be the 35th anniversary of the death of Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis, and Peter Hook - aka, as you can see, my bezzy mate Hooky - the former bassist of the band will, with his new group The Light, play every Joy Division song at a gig for charity in a Macclesfield church. I'm one of only four or five photographers being allowed to shoot the gig and it's been arranged for me to shoot a few frames from backstage to replicate a couple of shots I took when I photographed the band in 1979..

Those shots are up at Charles Roe House in Macc until June 28th and this Sunday and Monday there'll be Open Afternoons for fans who'll be flocking into the town for the event. I've already had one long and very pleasant chat with - and arranged to meet - a guy who's coming over from Denver, Colorado just for the gig!..

Oh, and don't let me forget I've got a Wedding to shoot on Saturday, too! What joy ..

Silly old Mayor ..

One of my PR jobs for next week has had the time changed because the local Mayor has decided he'd like to attend. Amusingly, once the new time was confirmed, I then received another email from the PR company involved. Attached was a leaflet explaining the protocol for .. addressing the Mayor! Now I'm all for people being helpful but I couldn't resist replying to the young lady who'd sent me the info. "You do know.." I politely posited "That I've been photographing Mayors since 1977!!.."

Actually, it would have been useful if she'd been able to send me the stuff way back when, as this shot of me in 1979 reminded me of one of my earliest newspaper memories. No more than a week or two into my press photography career I was hauled into the editor's office as there'd been a complaint made against me. The Mayor of Trafford  - the one before this dapper chap - had objected to me asking if he'd wear a Manchester United scarf. I wouldn't mind, but the shot was of him collecting for charity outside Old Trafford! You can guess how I wanted to address him, after that!..

News Update..

I'm using someone else's picture on my blog today, but it's a picture of my pictures, so that's ok! Some of my archive work 'Made in Eccles' is having another little trip out, this time to the Art and Craft House in Monton, Eccles. It's part of the 'Celebrating Eccles' Festival but, as I was at a funeral, the lady at the gallery did the hanging for me. That's why it's her photo! I wasn't being lazy or anything ...

A couple of amusing memories from Saturday's Wedding. At one point in the ceremony the bride's Grandma - a sprightly 80 odd year old - boomed out 'Is she getting married?' to the lady sitting next to her but, best of all, the vicar asked the bride if she would take the hand of Paul in marriage. Paul was the Best Man!..

I must tell you about a 'tie-in' with a rather large local business. You may or may not have heard of Bent's, but it's supposed to be the biggest Garden Centre in Europe, and they've just begun to promote my studio as part of their Customer Benefits Club. Members get 10% off a shoot and 10% off all finished products on production of their card. I just hope I can handle the rush!!...

Big smiles ..

My 'Wedding Season' is now up and running again proper, and it's great to be back at the coalface of creative, quick-thinking photography. Saturday's Wedding was a blast. You can have a look at it here. Could you get a happier looking couple than Adele and Nick? They had a ball! I was at Rookery Hall, near Nantwich in Cheshire, and thank God the weather played ball or I'd have been unable to use any of the beautiful landscape and backdrop for my photographs. Actually, after Saturday's Blog about bad weather, I think my smile was just as wide.

It certainly was after I was 'photo-bombed' by the cheeky little flower girl..

You have to laugh ..

It's freezing cold, blowing a gale and raining on and off. The ground is soaked, the skies are grey and .. I'm off to Rookery Hall to shoot a Wedding!  Never mind, the show must go on. It'll buck up later, and all those other clichés ..
Still, you have to laugh!..

PS: It's half an hour since I wrote today's blog. The sun is out, and blue sky is beginning to dominate. I'll be complaining soon that's it's too bright for my photography! Then I'll definitely have to laugh ..

The Winds of Change ..

As their Big Day approaches, a lot of 'my brides' tell me they've consulted the Long-Range Weather Forecast to find out what the weather will be doing on the afternoon of their Wedding. I smile and nod my head and make reassuring 'Hmmm' sounds as they try to convince me of sunshine or a light breeze or - heaven help us - a pea-souper .. and then I tell them that a forecast is just a guess! It's a possibility and a might-be and, even with all the technology in the world, it's always going to be just what 'they' think! When I open the church door at the end of the Wedding ceremony - I tell them - that's my weather forecast!..

After today's election results it shows you the political know-alls were only guessing, as well .. 

Fate ..

I thought this would make a suitable blog shot on the day of the General Election in the UK 'cos, after weeks and weeks of long, drawn-out, bloody boring canvassing, the big day is finally here and we - the people - can have our say at last..

The sign - pointing towards the town of Fate, Texas - is one of the shots in a show I'm part of in Eccles. I'm showing 'It's a Sign' at the Eccles Community Art Gallery for the next couple of weeks. As you know, tomorrow sees the opening of my Joy Division exhibition in Macclesfield and then - believe it or not - I'm nipping over to Eccles to put up yet another exhibition as part of the 'Celebrating Eccles' festival. If you didn't get to see my shots of the town when they were up at The People's History Museum then this is another chance to catch them! They'll be at the Art and Craft House in Monton..

Now all I need is a sign that says 'Put your feet up, Martin' - or is that tempting fate?..

Dream on ..

The sun dropped below the horizon and the warm, tropical waves lapped around his ankles as he paddled, without a care in the world, across the long, golden beach - heading for the ever-so hospitable bar and that first cold beer of the evening...

Or, I spent all day putting up my new Joy Division exhibition in a cold and rainy Macclesfield yesterday and now I'm off to shoot a PR job in not-quite-so-tropical Cheetham Hill in Manchester! More brolly than parasol, I'm afraid but, hey ho, we can all have daydreams..

 

10 years - 25 years - 35 years!

My Joy Division photographs are going on display in Macclesfield this week to mark the 35th anniversary of the death of lead singer Ian Curtis. It was only as I was checking through all the work this morning that another date dawned on me. It's exactly ten years ago to the day that the photographs went on display for the very first time in a show I'd wanted to stage to mark the 25th anniversary of his passing. Until then none of this work had been seen .. by anyone! - and I'd decided I wanted to do something on such an important anniversary. I'd hoped to stage the show in the actual Youth Club in which the band performed but, after much searching, came to the conclusion that it didn't exist any more. The nearest venue with space available - at a time nearest to the anniversary - was Hale Library, and they actually only had a five-day slot for me to exhibit. In the end that went down to four days as the library was used as a Polling Booth on the Thursday!
Bloody elections!..

The work that's going up at Charles Roe House is the original set of prints and frames from that first Hale Library exhibition. I hope you can get down to see it ..    

Stories ..

A writer who's just had a play performed on Radio 4 was in touch this week asking to see more of my work. Apparently she's hoping to get 'inspiration' for new stories from the characters in my photographs. At the same time, this photograph from my archive popped up on a Facebook 'Eccles' page, and a stream of posts began to flow following its appearance. The thing is, the comments weren't about the cheeky chappy in the shot - rather, they were about the graffiti in the background. The word ROGUE had been sprayed or chalked onto the concrete that forms part of the multi-story car-park and, for me, it works simply as a humorous 'label' for the man, who seems to be smokin' a fag in sheer defiance of everyone around him. It turns out that this word apparently appeared all over Eccles, and it was written by a glue-sniffing young lad who, it seems, sadly subsequently fell/jumped to his death during one last graffiti session! Jeepers! Who needs to make up stories?...