So, several weeks of minimal canvassing in this uber-safe northern mining town seat, a flurry of activity from the anti-fash in the traditional old market towns of Spennymoor and Bishop Auckland, and some things are starting to feel like 1979 all over again.

That badge in the middle was quite a statement to make back then: most people we knew had actually voted Tory. Now, no-one in this social or professional circle has voted rightwards, but it seems we’re getting them anyway. My sympathies go out to everyone who voted Liberal Democrat in order to keep the Tories out.

We are in for a really rough ride whoever has power as the impact of the shenanegans of the financial marketeers, millionnaires & gamblers start to bite.  Simplistically, then, it’ll be good to be able to lay the blame for what’s to come at the doors of this unholy alliance while possibly, just possibly, an ethical and socially responsible alternative can emerge. One that doesn’t advocate 90 day detentions, universal citizen databases and locking up the children of people fleeing for their lives from bombs and torture. One that allows photographers the right to work in peace and values our work and our intellectual property.

Not holding my breath though, are you?

South facing northern window light, prime lens on a white sheet. I like the reflections. Simple.

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Back in 2006, someone was persuaded to give a last-minute place on a degree course to a mature student. It does happen: these days there are at least one, maybe two of us in every class of 30 or more teens. If you’re thinking about doing a photography degree, or an arts foundation course, or maybe you already have a place for this autumn, don’t hesitate, go for it.

Fourteen Tips for Your Interview

1. It’s never too late. Most of these courses are desperate for your money, and they like eager mature students, thinking they add a certain amount of moral levelling to the cohort. Whether we do or not, you can apply right up to the start date, and often after, even up to the end of the first term.

2. Don’t bother about UCCA, that’s largely for school leavers. Although you will have a form to fill in it will be a miniature version, because you’ll do it after you’ve been accepted.

3. Search the University or College course you’re interested in, find the name of the course leader and phone and/or email them directly, asking about a place. Be prepared for a few brief questions over the phone, and have your diary ready and empty. If you’re reading this, you’re probably going to be keen enough to be offered an interview.

4. Prepare thoroughly, as for any job interview. Be knowledgeable about the school’s previous successful students, about the tutors’ own work and interests. Google them if you don’t already know, find their book(s) in the library, look up their exhibitions, form an opinion about their work. You went to their end of year student degree show, yes? Find someone who did and ask about the high and lowlights.

5. Organise your professional website or blog, pushing entries about your shattered love life down in favour of a couple of intelligent reviews of work you’ve seen recently or previews of your own projects. For a fine art foundation course, cinema reviews, crafty ideas and photos of art in progress are all good blog fodder.

6. Get into a darkroom and make some prints from scratch, using basic black & white chemistry. Don’t get all arty, just some work that shows you can process film, you can print using dodge and burn, and that it’s straight and clean.

7. Make a portfolio of your best work, assembled in themes. This doesn’t need to be expensive or fancy. A4 prints in some clear acetate sleeves in a stationary ring binder will be fine for undergraduate interviews. Three or four themes will be enough: a series of landscapes, some portraits, some using indoor ambient light. A strong documentary series is always impressive, so if you haven’t already got one of those, start making one. We’ve heard of people getting onto an MA course with a few 6×4 machine prints in an envelope, but you’d have to be an awfully good talker.

8. If you’ve got a sketchboook, tidy it up and take that too. If you haven’t, it’s definitely about time to start one. These are strange and often rather lovely beasts – more on that in another post.

9. If you are a digital maven make some prints using the best printer you can find, and that’s not usually the one on your desk at home. Use your local pro lab or mail order.

10. Be nervous. It shows you’re keen. And nobody likes a smartypants.

11. If they ask you to go away and do X, go away and do X rather well, then phone them up when you’re ready to show them your magnificent X. It’s a device often used as a filter, to show how committed you are. If they don’t actually like your X, they will still be impressed that you’ve followed their advice, which is a basic requirement anyway.

12. Teaching the same bunch of 19-20 year olds year in, year out can have all kinds of obvious and hidden benefits but after a few years they do all tend to blur into oneness. You, however, are going to stand out whatever you do, so make sure you’re memorable for all the right things and not as a cynical old know-all.

13. Be prepared for a few personal questions about how you are going to pay for the course, because it is expensive. Most photography degree courses require you to have your own equipment, and they sell film and paper and printing but it’s always to make them a bit of profit. If you’re retired and/or on a low income, it’s doable but they will want to know that you can complete. There might be bursaries. Ask about them after you have been offered the place, or ask their student services department.

14. When you get an offer, you don’t have to accept. You will spend 2, 3 or 4 years of your precious mid-life with no spare money, no social life, and you will lose friends and neglect your family. Your photography might improve far more if you spend a year with 52 rolls of HP5 and a Leica M6. If you’ve always wanted to spend a year with a M6, now might be the time to do it.

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This video of Philip Toledano’s workspace from Hetherington reminded me to take some newer pictures of my own working space, since it is always so interesting to see how other people work. Anyone like to show me theirs? This next one’s Lomas down the Ouseburn in Newcastle.

And a superbly minimalist approach from Volker Gerling to print sales in the form of flip books from cinema-attendant trays, most likely found over at the Mrs Deane blog. So that would be two or possibly three more to add to your RSS Reader, if they’re not already there.

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“How is that even remotely possible? The medium certainly looks alive, well and, if anything, overpopulated. There are hordes of photographers out there, working with back-to-basics pinhole cameras and pixeled images measured in gigabytes, with street photography taken by cell phones and massive photo “shoots” whose crews, complexity and expense resemble those of movie sets.”

Read on. Via Murdoch

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For the lovely people who are waiting to see these, not least the bric-a-brac dealer from Tynemouth market who gave me the dresses, the artist who painted the background, and all the models. The prints will be at least another couple of weeks, although if you want copies of these digital ones, just let me know, or feel free to download them yourself if they’re just for the net.

But I’d wait for the real deal, if I were you.

There’s vaguely something of the Joel Peter Witkin about these (without the stomach stitching and the grime) which isn’t surprising, since I’ve been looking at his photographs rather a lot, especially the Raft of George Bush.Similar Posts:

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None Found

Some days, everything seems to go just right, and Thursday was one of those idyllic days. I’d found a fab new (to me) theatrical outfitters, Bazaar, in Green Terrace, whose proprietor was happy to loan me an elderly Watership Down head he’d made for some extravagant production. This is one photo that won’t make the final edit, but I love it. Bet everyone can guess which photograph we were parodying, hmm?

We used a pair of Esprits, one with a softbox, and the other reflected off a silver umbrella for some bright highlights and a little more control. We did a few Bailey-style high grunge, soft focus, low key ones too, with just one reflected Esprit, against a dark background.

The pictures are for Sophie’s modelling book, and after some experience now with a variety of models, I know the industry will appreciate her adaptability, patience and gentle good humour: she made it all such a pleasure. There are a few we’ll share with the world once we’ve decided on a final cut. I can’t wait.

And rather unexpectedly, that’s two modelling portfolio shoots in as many weeks. I like doing these. Will have to see if I have the necessary endurance for the requisite retouching everyone seems to want. Both MF cameras are out of action this week, but the next model shoot will definitely be on film.Similar Posts:

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Is it The Baltic or just Baltic? This photo was taken when The Baltic prohibited photography, after I was evicted for carrying a Holga. No, really. I’m wondering how much of their commitment to local photography and photographers has really changed for the better? Answers in the comments, please.

And it’s been another tricky week, one way or another. Some of the photos from the Lachapelle roomset project have been developed now. Mixed results, really. More to come from Colourworld on Friday, so more news then. It’s more than stressful putting on a big production number like that, even with such capable and enthusiatic colleagues, and lots of help. Do I ever want to do it again, I wonder?Similar Posts:

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One thing you don’t quite anticipate about this photography degree, is the possibility of doing things you’d never imagine in your wildest dreams, as the cliche goes. It’s a work in progress, but this is where we are with the roomset so far. Tired and inarticulate, so please forgive the overused hyperbole, but this work is awesome.

As an incidental, this will also reopen the debate about graffiti among the young artist/photographers on the course. It’ll be really interesting to hear their opinions.

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