Wednesday 8 February 2012

Adolescence

Todays theme is Adolescence.   My son was hanging about watching me set up my studio equipment, and asked if he could have his photo taken.  He is a few weeks shy of being a teenager, and has the spots to prove it, so I thought he would fit my theme perfectly. 

Adolescence
Originally uploaded by Rob Johnstone
Those of you who regularly follow my blog (russian search engines, and insurance claim website mainly) may have noticed a more staged approach to my photography of late.  In the post Christmas/New year slump I decided I needed to kickstart my photography aspirations.  My vehicle for this revival is the dreaded 365 day project.  A 365 day project is one where you take one photograph each day and exhibit it for all to see.  Some people love these projects, and see it as a framework to help them improve their photography whilst having an inbuilt timeline to benchmark their progress by.  Others hate them claiming they stifle creativity, and all you end up with is piles of images of fey looking teenage girls in floaty dresses staring wistfully at imaginary vampire lovers.  I'm going to sit on the fence on whether they are a good or bad thing for the art world, but for me it is a useful tool for gripping hold of my sanity.  Rather than doing self portraits, which is a popular theme (and to be honest I don't look that good in a floaty frock), I downloaded a list of 365 themes.  The results of my efforts are posted on flickr.  I have owned a mish mash of studio strobes for a few years but have never really put them to much use.  This project had given me the impetus to get them out, and put them to work.  I also recently treated myself to a backdrop stand and a couple of backdrop curtains.  I have been fortunate to have room to use this equipment for a while as we are without furniture for the moment.  This is why yesterday I decided Charles Dickens, our resident skeleton, would get a birthday surprise for his 200th anniversary.  I felt he was a big fan on 1960's call girls and so we decided to do a shoot reminiscant of the famous Christine Keeler photo, by Lewis Morley.  It's not going to bring down any govenments but it was fun.  I had a photoshoot planned with a friend who wanted to get some shots of his tattoos,  and to see if we could do some album cover style images.  He is a singer in a local band, and would dearly love to live the rockstar lifestyle.  I was completely happy to oblige, as my usual supply of models (my family) as a bit tired of me begging them to pose!!  A great time was had by all, and hopefully some good shots taken.  Watch this space!

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Tuesday 7 February 2012

skeletal


skeletal
Originally uploaded by Rob Johnstone

Todays theme is 'Skeletal'.  Inspired by Lewis Morley's photo of Christine Keeler. Lack of  Arne Jacobsen model 3107 chair and also lack of Christine Keeler lookeylikey make it a poor copy.  I had a good photo session with Charlie.  He is a fair model, however he does have some limitations.  He does get a bit stiff in the joints, and consequently found it tricky to emulate Christine Keelers pose exactly. 

 


 

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Monday 6 February 2012

Abandoned

Yes it has snowed in the UK, and a good thing too.  Without the blanket of white, wet stuff I might have missed this abandoned sofa.  There is sat in the woods, never again to play host to a family of bottoms as their owners wriggled delightedly at the Saturday night

Abandoned
Originally uploaded by Rob Johnstone
  wonder that are Ant and Dec.  Never again would amorous teenagers canoodle in front of a late night horror!  No now it is left to the elements to destroy slowly, and for the occasional squirrel to bury its nuts in.  How sad! 

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Rest In Peace


Rest In Peace
Originally uploaded by Rob Johnstone

This theme was "Rest in Peace". Not being in a very imaginative mood I headed to the local boneyard. To my delight I found that buried in our village are the mortal remain of one Benjamin Franklin! I just had to snap his gravestone. Now before you get over excited this is not the grave of The First American, one of the founding fathers of the modern day USA. No this one died roughly 92 years later, but I expect to his family and friends he was just as important. Rest in Peace Ben. History may not have recorded much about you, but in London Colney you are a legend!


 

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Thursday 2 February 2012

Box


Box
Originally uploaded by Rob Johnstone
Yesterdays theme (done today, oops) is Box. There is a pair of socks in the box, but no clocks, locks, cocks or even a fox. This box used to be our bread bin, but now it is redundant. I might reuse it when I put together my new studio to hide stuff in (Starbars most likely)

Reading Material


Reading Material
Originally uploaded by Rob Johnstone
Todays theme is Reading Material. I decided to feature my Kindle, as it's more modern than a paper book, and I love it. I also featured my first novella, Man Eating Pies. Might as well blow my own trumpet even if the book is a pile of poop! Please don't look it up to buy it, as this would bugger up my tax!

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Wednesday 1 February 2012

Rusty


Rusty
Originally uploaded by Rob Johnstone
Todays theme is "Rusty". This hunk of iron was haning around our garden. For a background I used my body, and perhaps I should have called this image "Rusty Nuts"!