Copper Tan Tobacco

First post in far too long (Akiko)

2011-03-23T13:48:00.001-07:00

Film No.4

2011-02-24T05:55:00.001-08:00

Film No.3

2011-02-24T05:54:00.001-08:00

Film No.1

2011-02-19T12:47:00.000-08:00

Film No.1

2011-02-19T02:14:00.000-08:00

Film No.1

2011-02-06T10:31:00.001-08:00

Film No.1

2011-02-06T10:01:00.000-08:00

Film No.1

2011-02-06T05:18:00.000-08:00

I'm working on a series of small film projects at the moment. Essentially character studies & interviews.

I'm letting the subjects speak for themselves, without any direction, through their mannerisms, dialogue and physical expression.

I thought it would be interesting to film and then to capture digital stills [via the Mac & Canon] I wanted to try to capture the pixels on the screen, to give a 'digital' look to the shots. I realized that this way of working goes back to my university days. My final show involved a film (Pre-digital) then running the film through a VCR & widescreen TV, pausing the film manually using, quite literally, the pause button on a remote (very high tech) and then photographing the scenes. By using 2 mediums you have double the footage to manipulate. It created a slightly strange contrast in the above shots, as the images themselves have a fairly '80's look. The idea was that by capturing stills via the computer [from digital film footage] it would bring the images a little more into the present.

The above shots were taken from a film study of Aoife Sefton. There were 6 sections of filming in total.

I think this section of the film evokes Rhianna, lady Gaga and 1980's fashion shoots, but this wasn't the intention.

It was actually a very low key shoot. Neither Aoife nor I had pre-planned the shooting, aside from discussing the current movement toward designers employing film instead of producing live catwalk shows.

Aoife comes alive in the shots, and I think the strength of her character and her dance training show through in the dynamic movement and strong postures and shapes. Her look is a touch Siobhan Fahey..

I had a sense that she would make a great subject as she has a personality that's equal parts performer - she had trained as a ballerina, performed in a band and above all loves to take on characters through costume - and she's part fragile and shy. I felt that her story would be interesting for those reasons. She's also very at ease in her own skin. The interview section of the film is in direct contrast to what you see of her above.

The film will be posted once it's edited.

With thanks to Aoife Sefton.

Screen grab stills from 'Jenny's' Test

2011-01-05T02:03:00.000-08:00

A mini collab & lesson in Twixtor, from Antoine Gauquelin. (Merci)

2011-01-03T15:48:00.000-08:00

2010-12-31T13:45:00.000-08:00

Lo.LA Magazine Logos

2010-12-21T03:54:00.000-08:00

Hall & Partners sponsored Taxi project

2010-12-21T03:44:00.000-08:00

The Beanstalk group. Brand Licensing Agency

2010-12-21T03:37:00.000-08:00

The Beanstalk group

James Turrell @ Gagosian - Best show of the year.

2010-11-25T03:17:00.000-08:00

2010-11-21T05:48:00.000-08:00

Smoking-Drinking resonated

2010-11-15T08:27:00.000-08:00

'Look at the obvious examples of Terry Richardson or Juergen Teller, I feel silly even bringing them up because its so mind numbing.
It assumes people are stupid, and by feeding them mindless snap shot imagery we can all be like the person in the photograph, or are on an equal playing field with the photographer…
the current mindset assumes photography itself is pretentious unless it’s immediately accessible with a point and shoot and a flash.'

Via Ariel's wonderful blog

LA collages - Hall & Partners

2010-11-14T03:36:00.000-08:00

These photographic collages were created for Hall & Partners LA offices to use within the company. They were used across various proposals & inter office projects.

Hall & Partners, Los Angeles - Staff portraits

2010-11-14T03:30:00.001-08:00

2 days in Dallas, TX

2010-11-13T09:24:00.000-08:00

In early October I was flown to Dallas, TX by the New York office of H&P whom I was working for in London & LA. I was commissioned to [photographically] document a 'Trend trek' for one of their major US corporate clients. Over the course of the following 48 hours I shot 10 hour days, across various locations (We looked to new technologies, innovation and customization) edited the days shots, and created a [35 page, 8" by 11" perfect bound] photographic book for the client. The results can be seen above (Please excuse the screen grabs & low res images).

LA Story II

2010-11-13T08:32:00.000-08:00

After 3 months living in LA (August - November) I have a silly ammount of photographs. I also have them scattered across another blog, my Facebook page and various other online locations. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to curate or to order & caption them all accurately. However, I've gathered them up from their various locations, and what you see here is the result of 3 months in one place. (In no particular order i'm afraid.)

LA story I

2010-11-13T08:02:00.000-08:00

Kill city S/S '2011 Look book

2010-10-20T09:29:00.001-07:00

Shot these the first weekend that I got into LA, 3 months ago.
My sisters first full line for Kill City, my pictures.

Echo Park

2010-08-11T11:54:00.000-07:00

Al X Vans

2010-07-29T15:55:00.001-07:00

Origin

2010-06-16T05:47:00.000-07:00

Recent trip to Joshua tree.

It's crazy when you find old shots that mirror your current shots.

Will post my versions as soon as I get a spare sec.

2010-06-11T08:30:00.000-07:00

Arturo

2010-06-09T12:59:00.001-07:00

Arturo's a character. He's from Lithuania. He's helping the [younger] builders work on our roof.
He spent 3 hours bringing cement through the house this way.
I made him a coffee "Very very strong, 2 sugars"
His outfit was the best.

Royal College of Art, Summer show

2010-06-06T07:38:00.001-07:00

Managed to catch the final day of the RCA summer show.
There was something appealing in all of the above, however, the star of the show [for me] was Soon-Hak Kwon's photography
http://soonhak.com/
Finally someone who see's exactly what I see in all things white. My new nemesis?

Push move.

2010-06-05T13:23:00.000-07:00

Mikey's Magic: http://vimeo.com/10968933

Saturday night's for tracing

2010-06-05T13:06:00.000-07:00

Prototypes of the book

2010-05-31T12:59:00.001-07:00

Amidst a crazy whirlwind trip to Portland I managed to stop by Publication studio HQ, to meet with Matthew, and to collect 2 prototypes of my book.

Matthew is a lovely chap & the space/work they create is very inspiring.

I see only great things for them & I am thrilled to have worked with them.

Matthew is due to pass through London, for a talk at the ICA later in the summer (Details to follow)

Regrettably I missed Patricia in my rather brief and hurried time there, but send big thanks to both her and Matthew.

Pendleton meets Barbour

2010-05-31T11:08:00.000-07:00

Sam's Birthday Picnic, Highbury fields.

Perception

2010-05-26T00:36:00.000-07:00

Once dull environments can suddenly become colourful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPpMWaSPt-s

Book package.

2010-05-07T12:37:00.000-07:00

Copies of the book.

Mailed out today & winging their way to Portland, Oregon....Finally

55 pages

2010-05-05T15:24:00.000-07:00

The book is finally finished.
Now to send it off to Publication studio, PDX, for collection May 19th.

2010-05-05T03:11:00.003-07:00

Little Venice

2010-05-05T03:11:00.001-07:00

Pick me up, contemporary Graphic Art fair

2010-04-29T01:27:00.000-07:00

My friend Kate took me to the Pick me up opening night at Somerset house last night.
It was a really great, young, show.
Rob Ryan had decamped his entire print studio to the Embankment, and was working with his assistants in the centre of one of the rooms. They named it 'Ryan town'
Managed to bag a few unique goodies, fresh off the press, which will make great gifts for my mates on the West coast I'm sure.
Check out the show if you can, it's worth a trip down to the river
& 'Publish & be damned' will be collaborating over the coming weekend.

Frew

2010-04-28T14:05:00.001-07:00

My friend Nick is rather brilliant.

Look at his magic

This is Shawnee

2010-04-25T14:17:00.000-07:00

Some quick Apt. Snaps.
There's a story in her name.
I hope to work with Shawnee soon.

Melody Blacklock

2010-04-25T01:44:00.000-07:00

It's amazing to watch Mel work.
The ultimate professional.
Mel has a true passion for what she does & she does it very very well.
(P.s. We shot this, somewhat impromptu, in a busy coffee shop yesterday morning.)

Amy.

2010-04-25T00:07:00.000-07:00

Old Notting Hill shots.

Nina & Lola

2010-04-21T13:09:00.000-07:00

Shot for my wonderful friend Nina on Sunday.
I had the pleasure of working with 2 of my favourite models too - Saskia & Pip.
It was a really good team.
Nina's magic.

2010-04-21T13:08:00.000-07:00

Out-takes. Sunday shoot

2010-04-19T13:54:00.000-07:00

The team on Sunday's shoot

2010-04-19T01:20:00.001-07:00

Summer's coming...

2010-04-17T15:02:00.000-07:00

2010-04-16T15:14:00.001-07:00

2010-04-16T15:11:00.002-07:00

Snowflake Aloe

2010-04-16T15:11:00.001-07:00

2010-04-16T15:10:00.000-07:00

& into the weekend

2010-04-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

2010-04-11T04:53:00.001-07:00

2010-04-11T04:52:00.000-07:00

The talented Mr.Johnson

2010-04-10T16:50:00.000-07:00

2010-04-08T23:56:00.001-07:00

2010-04-06T15:54:00.001-07:00

Rock, Cornwall

2010-04-06T15:54:00.000-07:00

2010-04-06T15:53:00.000-07:00

2010-04-06T14:18:00.001-07:00

Contact III

2010-04-06T12:01:00.000-07:00

The Olympus Trip

2010-04-06T12:00:00.001-07:00

2010-04-06T11:59:00.002-07:00

Shoreditch House

2010-04-06T11:59:00.001-07:00

2010-04-06T11:58:00.000-07:00

2010-04-06T11:03:00.003-07:00

Haverstock Hill - The trip

2010-04-06T11:03:00.001-07:00

2010-04-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

Soho story - The Olympus Trip

2010-04-06T11:01:00.000-07:00

Contacts II

2010-03-31T03:06:00.000-07:00

£1 Store disposable cameras (2 x 12 400 ASA)

2010-03-31T03:02:00.000-07:00

The Grove

2010-03-31T03:01:00.000-07:00

2010-03-28T09:59:00.001-07:00

Old Dairy (poor quality phone picture)

2010-03-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

Shoreditch house, poolside

2010-03-27T15:05:00.002-07:00

Wonderland is closed

2010-03-27T15:05:00.001-07:00

Roast Beef & Free Internet

2010-03-27T15:01:00.000-07:00

Sleeping it off in St.Giles

2010-03-27T15:00:00.002-07:00

Stacey St.

2010-03-27T15:00:00.001-07:00

More Phoenix

2010-03-27T14:57:00.001-07:00

Man v Nature

2010-03-26T00:15:00.001-07:00

A Miraculous tale

2010-03-25T23:57:00.000-07:00

My friend Cassie made this magical little film.

&
in perfect Cassie fashion,
she just won the 'Best non-European short film' award for it
at The European independent film festival.
.
It's very much her & it's really rather beautiful.
Take a look...

http://vimeo.com/10433084

& an interview with Cass here

http://shootingpeople.org/bensblog/2010/03/cassandra-lee-hamilton/

2010-03-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

I found this interview really inspiring.

Spike Jonze interviews Ryan McGinley, for Opening Ceremony

Phoenix community gardens

2010-03-24T14:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.thephoenixgarden.ik.com/home.ikml

(Inspired by a friend of mine)

General Monroe

2010-03-24T14:14:00.002-07:00

Check the 'kerchief

Olymipa

2010-03-24T14:14:00.001-07:00

Found on a park bench in Hampstead.
A great find.

The Boogaloo

2010-03-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

Strummer

2010-03-24T14:12:00.000-07:00

2010-03-21T07:07:00.000-07:00

Rainy Savile row Wednesday

2010-03-20T17:19:00.002-07:00

Can you see it?

2010-03-20T17:19:00.001-07:00

2010-03-20T17:17:00.000-07:00

Feel like going home

2010-03-20T16:44:00.000-07:00

He calls me to the ocean
 Takes me wandering through the street
 A restless imagination
 But for now, I want my feet on the ground
 'Cause I feel like going home

 I can float above the ceiling
 I like drifting through the air
 I tend to lose my concentration
 But right now the clouds don't appeal to me
 I feel like going home...


YLT - 'Feel like going home'

£1 store disposable camera

2010-03-16T15:08:00.000-07:00

Contacts

2010-03-16T15:07:00.002-07:00

Lomo LC-A

2010-03-16T15:07:00.001-07:00

Studio

2010-03-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

Duncan recording some tracks for Muffy's band.
Snuff were pretty legendary on the UK Punk scene back in the day.
(I realised that I have been watching Duncan play since I was 13 years old.)

Stockwell Sunday

2010-03-09T02:25:00.000-08:00

Yashica

2010-03-05T03:18:00.001-08:00