A Deep Hole

Last weekend Hipster Dufus insisted on heading over to the 9/11 memorial. There's a museum there so I was in. It was a beautiful sunny day which of course meant that it was incredibly cold. I was not happy to be confronted with passport security. I mean all of it, plastic trays, x-ray scanners and taking off the shoes and coats etc. Not cool (I understand why, but not cool). However when we arrived inside we realized that the museum is not opened yet and there's really no sign as to when it will be open. With only the memorial to take in i thought i'd be disappointed but actually I really liked it. It's a really calming space, the running water/waterfall adding to the tranquility of the space. And I love that they didn't put anything on top of the original site. I think it's quite poignant that where the buildings stood now fall into an abyss (you can't see the bottom from any angle).

To ge these photos I used the trusty Hipstamatic App. Everyone should have this trusty little app, which operates to some degree like a real camera. You can select different films or lenses and you're more or less guaranteed a fantastic shot. I used this app to take all my honeymoon photos because I didn't want to worry about bad, uninteresting pictures. It's amazing what you can do with it too if you know how to use the lense/film. Just take a look at their new magazine Snap. All the photos in this free e-zine are taken using the app. Get creating guys.

Ghost

So I've not been very good at this whole keeping in contact with everyone via the blog recently. It has been really cold here making going out and holding a camera with my bare hands rather intolerable. I also just don't want to go out, preferring the comfort of my overly heated apartment to the cold streets. But I shouldn't make excuses, I've been rubbish. It's funny though as I found that I really missed it. Not only as a project but also because some of you do actually read it. Right?

I've been trying to use my left over Polaroid film as I've found that when it stays in the camera it doesn't work. And here is the proof. I've been thinking about the plight of the photographer, forever relegated to the back and never being part of the scene so I thought I'd try a selfie. And the result is this ghost-like image. Kinda like my presence on the blog. Ah see what I did there?!?!?

Best Shots

Old man & shadows: First attempt at street photography. Playing with shadows on a sunny day at the same time.

Playing in the shadows

It's so cold here at the moment, that it makes going out to explore incredibly difficult. The only good thing about winter here is the sunshine. I have to say that I'll take this cold over the gloomy overcast days of London any day. Resisting the urge to crawl into a ball to hibernate for the season is hard enough. But if you feel like no matter how wrapped up you are, the wind and rain will bitch-slap you in the face and their cousin humidity will seep into your clothing penetrating your bones. It all just starts to feels a little desperate. Don't get me wrong all this beautiful sunshine comes at a price, it's bitterly cold. Kissed by the ice queen herself cold. To go out is to have a plan, an end point preferably indoors with a tea/coffee at the end of it.

Needless to say that I'm currently suffering from inspiration for photography as I alway want to be indoors. I have however tried to use the sunshine to my benefit by experimenting with light. All the lovely professional photographers I know have always told me that learning to control light and how it affects your photos is very important. So here are my attempts, from the shadows on the buildings to the  shadows in my home.

From my 2012 to your 2013

While most of you are out having a great time and drinking yourselves silly I have yet to start my celebration. Weirdly (for me at least as it's my first time) I'm still in the ends of 2012 while everyone I know has started the new year. So this year has been very interesting, with lots of change and lot's to reflect on. While I ponder on how to put this to you, and also a better time to write it to you (you're probably all drunk by now) I leave you instead with this awesome video of the Empire State Building. You know I'm obsessed with it's constant changing colours but tonight they pulled out all the stops!

Punchdrunk in NYC

I know some of you have had the pleasure of going to a Punchdrunk production, so you'll understand my excitement when I found out they were coming to New York. This company specializes in unconventional theatre. Mainly, they take away the format of an audience in chairs and you are encouraged to step into the play. How does that work? They usually take over vast buildings and turn each corner into a set which you can explore. You're allowed to look in cupboards, check in drawers and sit at tables. Your role as viewer is distinguished by the use of a white mask. This play called 'Sleep No More' was loosely based on Macbeth, transported centuries later to a hotel (and it's surrounding areas) and told through a film noir narrative. We were greeted at the hotel lobby complete with a bar and sexily clad waitresses in 40s attire. On the stage next to the piano was a suited man drooling sexily into the mic letting us know that it was nearly time to finish our drinks and head to our rooms. Once inside the adventure begins. All I can say was that the sets were breathtaking! We were taken from dark forest, to churchyard, to graveyard as well as inside the exquisite hotel complete with ballroom.

Then you have two options, explore the rooms at your own pace ignoring people as they pass. Stay in your chosen room and wait to see who comes in. Or find a character that intrigues you and follow them on their journey. We were completely distracted following anyone that crossed our path. The temptation of finding out where they were headed to was too much to pass up. The most frustrating thing is thinking of all the places that you missed. And this is exactly how we felt when we were all ushered in for the last act of the play only to see new characters that we hadn't met on our travels. I just want to go back and give it another go. I wonder what I'll encounter this time.