Dark Daze photography blog

GB “people will always desperately seize upon a photograph as some kind of proof of whatever notions they cherished before they had even seen the picture in the first place. So the same document gets constantly re-enlisted by each new viewer as the supposed proof of their desires, however varied they are. The photographs become meticulously constructed instruments of hope. But I think this kind of delusion only works when you accept the image reflexively, without too much contemplation. As someone devoted to the internal mechanics of the process, however, the photographer isn’t afforded that kind of luxury, because the contradictions inherent in the medium quickly become apparent. So in time, as you said, these images that are supposed to be the perfect resolutions of external conditions end up more as mirrors of personal idiosyncrasy.”……
(further on in interview)
UL: “I think you’re right in what you’re saying. It’s also about realizing that you can affect your own situation. You can only make your own decisions based on your own limited knowledge. Even if they’re wrong, they’re your choices.
You’re talking about how in photography we are trying to stop the rush of time and see a subject more perfectly.”

i am beginning to think that maybe, just maybe it aint just about pressing buttons….
in full

and maybe even a little bit of luck and good fortune would be nice right now….

So it appears that my last post didn’t sit to well with some people. In fact two photographers have taken it as some kind of attack on them, their projects or work but theres probabably a dozen other ones out there sat staring at the screen thinking “you twat, why is you cussin my work bruv” so for there benefit I will try and explain a bit, but still feel free to rant in the comments section its all good.

The main point that I was trying to make yesterday still holds true to me, “urban” is done, “council estates” done, “yards” done, or at least in a way we all know and there is a lot of generic stuff out there- though I did point a big fat finger at myself for that too but and it’s a big but, this blog (such a crap word) is meant to be an entertaining read, its opinionated and sometimes hopefully funny and maybe keeps people reading. I mean i even titled it “general opinionated rants that I will later regret” its tongue in cheek kids.

To be honest I never thought that people would be that bothered reading what some photographer has to say tho I am surprised and pleased that people still keep coming back to it. But, and yet again it’s a big but, don’t take it all too seriously its not the definitive point of view on any subject, its jam packed full of exaggeration and hype to make it entertaining, of course its all based on my opinion of events that happen, but I sure as hell wouldn’t swear on it in court- sorry if that disappoints you but there it is. I don’t wanna shatter anyones illusions here but I don’t really spend all my life hanging out with beautiful models, I work very hard on shoots with a lot of people, in pretty uncomfortable locations, with girls that are often cold and tired and maybe hungry, and we work to create some kind of impression that is the complete opposite of that. I don’t really refer to cars as ‘whips’ or women as ‘chicks’ or ‘bitches’ (as in the LA painting blog), anywhere but here on these pages. And look away now cos here is a spoiler, but maybe even Odisie cant whip a girls top up, bra off and slide a chair under them all in one move, like I stated 2 weeks back, again sorry to shatter that one. I am not really some super arrogant, king-of-the-world egotist, (yeah i am) and surprisingly too neither are the Writers that I talk about and photograph, (yeah they are) except when on here and in some of my images. Oh but i do really have a stupid haircut, wear pink shirts and look kinda german- that bit was all true every time.

Its just to make it more entertaining, and it amuses me and a few of my mates I hope. But meet me in the ‘real world’ and I’m a pretty quiet, unassuming, probably a bit geeky, person that is obsessed with photography. I don’t roll up to the ladies, drop the patented DarkDaze chat and have them stripping off for me in minutes, I don’t really go stomp around with my fist in the air proclaiming Heavy Artillery is the best crew in the UK (that’s for everyone else to decide), what I am saying is that this is an artifice. My photography puts a different twist on real events, I use studio lighting, and I compose a shot to only keep in the things that I want to see in the frame to tell that twist better, but it’s the same damn thing with this blog, its writing but with a very skewed and hopefully sometimes entertaining angle on what I think.

Basically if you spend a huge amount of your time crawling under fences, or up rooftops at night, or going out for some dawn patrol photo mission, when everyone else is sleeping off the last nights beers and waking up to the hell of another 9-5 grind, then I have respect for your effort.

If you have spent several years with Writers that are also your mates, documenting their work/painting/lives I would have to be some kind of idiot to knock you for it, unless I have some thinly hidden self loathing coming out of me ( I don’t by the way).

If right now yr fridge has more film than food in it, then I guess your just like me, if you spend hours and hours working on computers, printers or even god damn darkrooms then you have my respect.

If you spend all day sketching and then get all your spare cash together to buy paint, then like I said in an earlier post I admire that, its odd and maybe pointless, but so is this and it sure beats working for Barclays or selling insurance or any of those other dying inside jobs.

But at the end of the day what is just my opinion, certainly shouldn’t affect your attitude to your own work.

I still think Alex Fakso killed the yards, and like Gary said last night his work is the bible, but if you wanna go shoot it don’t listen to what I think. I even included a link to a photographer at the end of the last entry who I think is dope, has good ideas and some killer shots, hes also a mate of mine, (only over the internet so far) but he also has pictures of writers in yards right there on the bloody site i recommended. Go look if you dont believe me.

I couldn’t take a Gary Winogrand picture if I spent the next 2 weeks trying, but I like the quote i added, it makes a bit of sense to me, though I sure as hell don’t shoot like that, but again its an illusion anyway, his super heavily edited books are dope, and one of my favourite things ever, but the dude pretty much lost his already obsessed mind and had thousands of unexposed rolls of film when he died, I don’t suppose all those shots were bangers. So maybe don’t get all het up about this stuff, and if you think it was some mad attack then read it again, now lets all go back to watching youporn and I will go see how all the hot models draped over my sofa are doing……

Generic photography shots.com

What’s with the whack photography sites that are kicking around out there at the minute.

Every snapper and his dog are slowing down the internet by posting up new sites and why do they all look the same, I am not holding mine up as the definitive site at all, its too big and rambling and blah blah but at least it’s a bit different.

It’s just at the minute every city or ‘urban’ photographer has.

1. Some writers creeping about in a trainyard. Sodium lighting required.
2. A writer climbing over a fence preferably shot from long wide angle, or close up thru the razor wire.
3. A writer at the top of some ladder, ubiquitous urban landscape behind, preferably shot in the early morning, with the photographer on rooftop.
4. Writer hiding behind some kind of big metal box with a train in the background, choice of early dawn lighting or sodium, but long exposure to get some motion blur.
5. Writer on a covered walkway over a motorway or tracks.
6. Writer in funny mask, ideally sticking V’s up at camera. Its important to note that this is the only time the Writer can acknowledge the presence of the photographer; all other images must suggest a ‘quiet lonely enterprise’.
7. Writer in bandanna shot holding can or paint covered hands close to lens.

Interior shots.

1. Most of these shots are to be in gritty black and white, mainly shot on digital but ideally processed to look like film.
2. (point two has been edited after it caused some offense)
3. Shot of ‘yoot’ skinning up on a droopy sofa, or bunning a zoot. Extra marks if there are some cans on the floor, or a cup of tea in the hand. Even more if you get motion blur on one of the figures.
4. Again no acknowledgement of photographer unless swearing.
5. Shot of tower block lifts, even if you have to leave your car at the station, get two trains and a bus, just to find a tower block. Optional person stood next to lift door, either young and in hoody or old and with shopping bag.
6. Living room in tower block with close up shot of ashtray, TV or hand with jewellery

Street and exterior shots (these shots must be colour- with some fill-in flash)

1 Shot of kids stood next to street sign with name of their road on it. Kids should be in grey trackies and one holding BMX or Football. Try and make this look as informal as possible even though it’s set up. Shoot on an overcast day. Try and finds kids that look a bit deprived but have a small sense of optimism for the future.
2 Kid with shaved head, big puffy jacket, preferably in summer, with a dog on a lead. Not any old dog but some kind of pit-bull, staffie or variant on the theme. Gold chain mandatory for dog owner. Shoot on a wide angle, low to the ground to increase feel of intimidation. Bang up the colours a bit too.
3 Some random crew shot, posed next to a brick wall, kinda menacing look, especially if these are your mates.
4 Night shots should really get a section of its own, but take as many urban street corners as you can, ideally where two different light sources meet. An empty stairwell going up out of shot is perfect as well. An abandoned trolley shot works well. Ideal time very early dawn, light smattering of rain would help. If you can then throw in a homeless person a nice wide shot is ace, but if you’re really daring get in close and get them to scream into the camera. It shows that you can really relate to people even if you paid them with beer.

Of course this only really applies to urban photography module one, for module two go to East London and shoot lots of club shots, use a basic Polaroid or side mounted flash, make sure the images are pointedly lacking content. I know everyone can’t be Larry Clark, Gavin Watson or even Glen E Friedman but why are we all running down the same road right now. Get some new ideas, try and shoot something new, if you have seen the shot before don’t take it.

“Photography is about finding out what can happen in the frame. When you put four edges around some facts, you change those facts.” Garry Winogrand

oh and feel free to add abuse and link this to my versions of all the above if you want, its all fine with me.

oh and on a flip side check this dudes shots l’il pete, fao2 L’il Pete he manages to do some new shit, plus his climbing up buildings and shooting in the dead of night in bristol is just crazy fresh, and a new take on parkour style tricking proper dedicated stuff.