When I am on assignment I always end up seeing things and places that are not part of the story but want to photograph. I always do what my  colleague Peter Beaumont calls “Dawn Patrol”, meaning I get up at dawn or work late at dusk to look for images that sometimes lay outside the confines of the story. Those periods of the day tend to be when I am free from whatever assignment I am doing. In regards to San Pedro Sula, a city I have visited twice, yes it is dangerous but life goes on. It is mostly dangerous for the gangs vying for control of the drug trade. If you don’t inhabit that world your chances of being a victim reduce considerably. If I worried about being a victim of crime I probably couldn’t take photographs. One because I would be too frightened but more importantly if you view people with suspicion how are they ever gonna trust you to inhabit their lives if you don’t trust them.

Every place I have ever worked including London, someone always comes up to me and says “you really shouldn’t be walking around with those cameras showing, you could get mugged.” or something along those lines. The core of everything I do means that I have to walk the streets to make photographs. I want to make photographs of people. If you worry about crime you probably should stick to photographing puppies.

I am doing a workshop on Street Photography for Guardian Masterclass. There is still few places left. I strive to make the workshop thought provoking, a chance to learn valuable skills and a lot of fun.

My thoughts on Street Photography

My response was, “Do you think we like making those kinds of pictures? See the full post @ http://www.cainimages.com/v7/i-dont-like-pictures-of-people-crying/

Yoga and the Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, and fascia that sits at the base of the pelvis and supports the spine, torso and internal organs.

One out of every three to four women experience pelvic floor dysfunction. Are you one of them? Posture, genetics, lifestyle habits, weak musculature, birth, and hormones all relate to the healthy and function of the pelvic floor.

This workshop is for anyone who is experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction (incontinence, bladder, or colon prolapse, weak vaginal walls, pain) or anyone interested in understanding this important part of our anatomy and how it affects our well-being.

Learn anatomy and function. Discuss and practice ways to keep your pelvic floor healthy. Strengthen and stretch these often overused and weak muscles. No yoga experience necessary.

Date: Sunday May 19 Changed to July 13, 2013

Time: 1-4 pm

Cost: $35/$40 walk-in

Location: Shakti Studio

Instructor: Sue Schmitt, E-RYT, has been on her own pelvic floor journey, making her passionate about this topic. She owns Shakti Studio, is an Experienced Yoga Teacher, Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist and an Integrated Health and Fitness Professional.

Trio of young journal makers, Kate, Zoe and Emiline

A group of intrepid women and one man assembled at the GalleriMSF in Roujan to try their hand at making a travel journal.  The term for ‘workshop’ in French is ‘atelier animé‘.  It was indeed an animated day, with laughter, concentration, and not a single needle injury!

We worked with beautiful leather acquired en route to France.  Goat hides came from a dusty Moroccan leather shop in Barcelona,  while a buttery piece of calf leather was donated by a handbag studio in Rome. Canson watercolour paper, hand torn and bound into signatures, offered a versatile surface for those who draw, paint, collage or write.

It is one thing to hand-make a beautiful leather bound travel journal. It is quite another to fill it. To ease the fear of a blank page, I shared strategies for getting started, and offered examples of various painting and drawing styles,  including painting with wine…and espresso. Composition tips rounded out the afternoon seminar.

I always credit Mark Glavina of Phoenix Art Workshop in Steveston, BC for inspiring me to take up the art of plein air painting. If I wasn’t in the south of France, I would be travelling in Bali, Indonesia with Mark and his painting group right now.  Columbia in January 2014 is the next proposed destination. Anyone care to join me?

The gallery’s favourite local chef Debbi presented a beautiful lunch to workshop participants, served in the garden.  In the Languedoc region a glass of rosé is required with meals.  The
orange almond cake was sublime. Recipe available for those who send me an email.

Enjoy this gallery of pics from the workshop. Thank you to everyone who participated, and especially Jessie Jones, for her help and coordination.

Trio of young journal makers

Fine points of paper.

Laughing helps

Gary in production

Needle and thread action

Gallery tables are filled

Emmanuelle punches holes in the spine

Barcelona leather prepped

Glue is setting

Tips on filling a journal

Storytelling with a brush.

Workshop complet!

We’ve teamed up with some top notch teachers and schools and are bringing them to Birmingham. Focusing on developing skills that support the actor whether they’re a seasoned pro, student, returning to the industry or new like a chicklet. We all know there’s a big pool of actors in the Midlands so what better way to keep the juices flowing than a workshop without the cross country train fare…..Please note: Theatre Exchange is run by volunteers, professional actors, writers and directors….we’ve kept the cost as low as possible whilst keeping the quality high. Hope to see you at one of these launch workshops! ……here goes…

The Actors Temple Meisner Week

Tutor: Gary Condes
Dates: 15th – 19th July 2013
Times: 10am – 4pm each day

Who are the Actors Temple? Browse theirwebsite or watch this.

This week long course introduces you to Sandford Meisners ‘Repetition Exercise’. It’s a simple device that gets your attention off yourself, out of your head and onto the other actor.  This week is for those who want to learn how to live truthfully on stage and screen. You will be confronted by the things that ‘get in the way’ of your ability to relate honestly to yourself and to others. During the second part of the week we will move on to improvisation and what Meisner termed ’The Reality of Doing’. Want to know more about the tutor? Click here!

London has been the home of The Actors Temple for nearly a decade, it’s a place where “students are free to be themselves’ (The Stage, June 2011). 

This course costs: £275 (full)
Equity members: £260
Early bird booking (before 31st May): £255
Recommend a friend and you both pay £250

Book now

HERE is the instruction pictorial. Awesome!

I’ve also been delivering work for upcoming shows, for those of you nowhere near London. I’m really pleased to have work at the Bowie Gallery in Hay on Wye. Bowie also have a stand at the Festival, where I hope all the literary types will like the texts on the pots. Hay’s a fantastic town – I was amazed how many interesting art and craft galleries there were there as well as the bookshops, market and castle.

You pencil your outline onto the wood. After a short explanation about why we would be using English Lime because it is pale in colour which shows definition, is soft and has a straight/close grain so easier to carve; we had the necessary health and safety brief. Not really a surprise when we’re using extremely sharp chisels! It takes a while to get used to how much pressure you need to use to make a cut in the wood rather than across your fingers. You need to have a go yourself to really appreciate how small an impression you make in the wood if you are too tentative – you could be whittling away at the wood for weeks! Then with Peter’s expert guidance you get hands on with the chisels and your carving journey is underway.

There is a sense of calm and concentration and before you know it the scrummy lunch has arrived. There are tales told and contented munching going on until a drift back to the work benches. Everyone is keen to continue. Under Peter’s peripheral vision everyone’s progress seems to flow nicely and there he is when you aren’t sure if you’ve gone deep enough or made the right shape.

By the end of the day you have your own piece of pride and joy – I’ll be surprised if you are not addicted enough to want to come on the more advanced course by Peter Berry where you learn how to carve a spirit log head.

Here’s what happened with Peter on Sunday 12 May with the more advanced carvers when there was a definite aura around. We are not sure which folk character figure the spirit is based upon but it could have been the musician Ronnie Wood. The traditional methods began with planning the carving. It helped to have the design to follow.

There’s a big difference between a skilled person demonstrating how to do carving and actually creating a carved item yourself. How much pressure to apply seems to come with practice or brute force, maybe? And here you go from work in progress to the finished article!

The next course planned is dry stone walling on Saturday 8^th June from 10.30 – 4.30. At a bargain price of £20 which includes a light lunch, contact Gayle Mill to book your place before they all go. Email: samantha.jennings@gaylemill.org.uk

Le lundi 27 mai 2013, de 15h à 20h, nous aurons le plaisir d’accueillir Fernando Devoto, Zsolt K. Horváth, Marcin Napiorkowski, Geneviève Zubrzycki.

15h : Geneviève Zubrzycki (University of Michigan), « Jewish Past, Polish Future : The Present Reconfiguration of Polish National Identity through Jewishness ».

16h : Marcin Napiorkowski (Université de Varsovie), « ‘The Modernists’ vs. ‘The Traditionalists’. Public Uses of History and Memory in the Recent Political debate in Poland ».

Modératrice : Morgane Labbé (Cenj-Ehess)

17h : pause

17h15 : Fernando Devoto (Universidad de Buenos Aires), « Regards du Sud. Les usages publics du passé dans les temps populistes. Le cas argentin ».

18h15 : Zsolt K. Horváth (Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest), « Pour une politique de la mémoire : la mobilisation des ‘lieux communs’ historiques dans l’arène politique en Hongrie ».

Modérateur : Alain Cotterau (Cems-Ehess)

Le séminaire aura lieu à l’Ehess (190, avenue de France, 75013) dans la salle 3, RdC.

Date: May 18, 2013
Venue: NaiLab, Bishop Magua Building 4th Floor
Location: opposite Uchumi Ngong Road
Entry: Kshs 500 (inclusive of reading material)

The all day workshop will be facilitated at NaiLab (Bishop Magua Bldg) by IP Checkin, Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law
- CiPIT and Kenya Copyright Board
- KeCOBO

About
This workshop will cover more than Copyright, Infringement, Protecting your IP, Agreements, Rights and the different ways you can make a living off your Intellectual Property.

with the proud support of Creatives Garage, BAKE, POWO, Craft Afrika, PAWA254 and Arterial Network.

Keep coming back for more tips and soon I promise I will post vids to explain some of the above and more.

I am always here for help and of course to book my services where for portraits, weddings or workshops. I am also free for commissions et al.

See you all soon and keep shooting. Keep them questions coming.

Rose and jasmine perfume collection

Rose and jasmine perfume collection, 2

Ania in the middle of a fascinating lecture

Parfum d’Empire, I just couldn’t resist

With Ania after the perfume lecture was over

Perfume strips from the workshop

The workshop started with a lecture given by Ania, a worker of Quality Missala perfume boutique and also a chemical technology graduate. She told us some fascinating things about roses and jasmine. Like the fact that only three species of rose are being used in perfumery: Damascus rose (Rosa damascena), Rose alba and Rosa centifolia, which has 100 petals. She also taught us that in different parts of the world rose oils are used for different perfumes. Did you know that that in the East rose is a masculine perfume ingredient while in the West it’s primarily used in women fragrances. Nowadays these two trends are mixed, we’re citizens of the World, aren’t we?

As she was speaking about all this interesting stuff the essential oils were roaming from hands to hands around the room. To my surprise they smelled quite different. Damascus rose oil had a slightly citrus and green vibe with a lot of freshness. Attar of the same rose had a tea-like aroma and was much lighter to my nose. I couldn’t smell anything at first whiff. The differences probably come from the method of obtaining. Oils, or actually absolutes are obtained using solvent extraction or carbon dioxide extraction. Attars are obtained through simple distillation. To obtain 1 kilogram of rose oil you need 3,5 tons of flowers which are picked by hand and at dawn.

Then it was time for the jasmine. In perfumery two species are used nowadays, these are Jasminum grandifolium (Royal jasmine) and Jasminum Sambac (Sambac jasmine). Again the essential oils started to travel around the room. To my nose the oil from Royal jasmine smelled quite animalic and heavily indolic, Sambac jasmine essence was much more pleasant as it had a fruity-floral scent. Jasmine loves sunlight and temperature varying from 15 to 18*C. Its flowers bloom in the evening and have to be collected early in the morning when their buds are still folded and it’s still cool.

You can’t allow the sun to dry the petals and cause all aroma-chemicals to evaporate. The smell of jasmine is influenced by around 100 compounds. Jasmine flowers give an oil called concrete which can be turned into an absolute. Enfleurage is a historical method of absolute production, it was developed in Grasse. The main idea of enfleurage was to let the flowers transfer all their smell into the fat spread on a glass plate. Infused fat was later dissolved in alcohol and cooled down to -55*C to separate the fat. Nowadays the process is replaced by solvent extraction. To obtain 100 grams of concrete you need 100 kilograms of flowers. From 1 hectare plantation you can produce 3 kilograms of concrete or 0,5 ml of essential oil – that is 12 drops.

At the workshop we tried 20 different perfumes, one half with a dominant rose note and the other half with jasmine as a main player. There were also a couple of fragrances that contained both jasmine and rose accords. I had a great time and am looking forward to another workshop!

Since 18 May 1977, museums around the world held International Museum Day (IMD) to increase public awareness of museums. Free admission to Museums on this day. The special about IMD in Singapore this year is that Museums entrance will be free to Citizens and PRs from 18 May 2013 onwards.

18 May is still an open house day and its free entrance for everybody, Citizens or Non-Citizens.

Free admissions will be officially launched on 18 May 2013, in conjunction with NHB’s Children’s Season 2013, as well as International Museum Day, in the following National Museums and Heritage Institutions:

(Note: Do bring along your Identification Card for verification purpose.)

Link from: National Heritage Board

I’ve a story about another instructor who used the same word “boring”, but in a different context. Last year, I found myself attending a very popular Basic Photography Workshop. I went to the class & the instructor asked if anyone had already attended other photography classes. A few of us raised our hands. We were asked individually what these classes were. When it was my turn, I picked up my notebook and started reading the titles & dates of workshops I had attended that year. I was on my 9th and wasn’t through with my list when he exclaimed “What are you doing in my class!? This is a Basic class! You’ll find my class boring!” He seemed irritated & alarmed that I was there. I can only imagine what he has gone through to come-up with a statement like that. Is the world so filled with arrogant folk that this teacher was already harassed ab initio?

The truth is that I’d attended quite a bit of workshops last year. 2012 wasn’t the 1st time I’d attended a photography workshop either. The 1st time – I was in grade 3. As part of the requirements of the AGS (Ateneo Grade School), all students were required to join a club. Since my mother had gifted me with a 110 film camera earlier that year – I joined the Camera Club. Now I’ve not been doing photography straight since that time. Finances were a major hindrance to doing it often or regularly. In short, I shot pictures when I had money to buy film, and had them printed whenever I could afford to have them developed. Sometimes I’d have several used rolls of film that remained undeveloped for a long time. Eventually I got a 35mm prosumer camera, then later – an SLR. In 2005 I turned digital and purchased my 1st point & shoot camera. That was an important time. I began taking photos with more frequency since it cost me nothing to take photos or view them via my computer.  No more buying of film rolls and no more cost of development. It was only early last year that I even purchased my 1st DSLR! Prior to that, I’d only been borrowing one.

So why that many workshops? I decided at one point that I was going to go to UPOU and get a degree in Multimedia Studies. This was early 2010. It took a while for it to happen. In the interim, I started to prepare – especially for photography, which I have always liked. I set aside a bit of funds for equipment, but spent a considerable amount on lessons. Workshop after workshop. Private instruction as well. The camera I bought was a Nikon D5100. I could’ve chosen something more expensive… but as the saying in the vernacular goes “Wala sa pana yan, nasa Indyan” (Its not in the bow, its in the Indian). So I invested in educating the “Indyan”. Me.

I also do martial arts. Now while that statement may seem tangential, this was my reply to the teacher who asked me why I was in his class: “I do martial arts. In martial arts, I learned many things. Some of the most important things are: One – different teachers emphasize different things. Two – my worst enemy is my own ego. Three – the most powerful thing you will ever learn is – the Basics. Therefore, your class is the best place for me to be in.”

Now, to my new teacher Al Librero – it would be hubris on my part to think that my photographs are part of what you consider “pro-level” and I don’t assume that. However, my point is that I don’t see any reason why anyone should think that your class is boring. In fact,  it has been very educational. I’ve learned quite a bit already. The “enthusiastic participation” of your class is testament to the good way you are handling the class. Also, you are the only instructor I’ve ever heard of using “Emphasis” as part of Design Principles. I poured through my notes from all the seminars/workshops/one-on-one lessons I’d taken. Nothing. I went through my collection of books & didn’t find it. Google finally led me to something to post about. I was so thrilled to encounter something so new and valuable! Its a pity you replied to my post prematurely while I was still editing it. While I found several online sources, here’s the best: Roxie Mitchell, Elements & Principles of Design – Emphasis or Focal Point. Thank you for showing me the door. It was interesting to explore what was inside the room.

Once again – Different teachers emphasize different things. In such a short time, you’ve already proven that you have your own emphasis.

Oh, is the MMS 173 class going to be the last time that I attend a Basic Class? No. Am I bored? No way. Is your class inspiring me to work harder on my photography? You bet.

Reblogged from themakinghouse:

On Saturday Rhea Clements came over to host a drop in session with me as part of Voluntary Arts Week.  What initially started as a one day drop in session to make a few pom pom flowers has transformed in to extreme pom pom making!

Read all about it on Rhea's Blog

http://rheaclements.wordpress.com/2013/05/14/extreme-pom-pom-making-at-the-making-house-part-1/

We're looking forward to Rhea's return on Friday to turn the yarn strands in to lots of fluffy flowers and then can't wait to show you the end result!

Read more… 56 more words

With phonics and writing students got to build CVC words a write a sentence using the words they built.  Students also practiced writing short vowel words on workmats with dry erase markers as well match pictures with the written word.

Let’s not forget my computer center which is definitely the classroom favorite.  I paid for a classroom subscription to starfall.com, and they have TONS of activities that include reading comprehension, phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, and even math for K-1!

On Tuesday, a second workshop was held for around 30 employers at the offices of Sparke Helmore in Sydney as part of the Australian Network on Disability Pre-Conference program. Again, the feedback was excellent.

On Wednesday, Mark, Helen and I attended the AND Conference at the Hilton. We felt truly spoiled – the environment, the catering, the program were all fantastic, as was the networking.

Now we are finalising our preparations for next week’s programs in Melbourne and Perth. Time is running out but you can still register – go to the relevant page for more  information.

LOCACIÓN: Sea Island, Georgia
MODELOS: Karen Rampersad y Sarah Pirkyl
VESTIDO: Myra Callan “Foliosa”
Velvet Robe and Jessica Fontaine “Bella” y Ivy and Aster “Sweet Pea”
ARETAS: Construct Jewelry
PELO & MAQUILLAJE: Erin Skipley & Claudia Mejerle
FLORES: Amy Osaba
PROP & FASHION STYLIST: Ginny Branch
DISEÑO DEL SET: Krista Janos/Blue-Eyed Yonder
CALIGRAFÍA: Maybelle Calligraphy

LOCACIÓN: Sea Island, Georgia
MODELO: Karen Rampersad
VESTIDO: Myra Callan “Foliosa”
Velvet Robe and Jessica Fontaine “Bella”
ARETAS: Construct Jewelry
PELO & MAQUILLAJE: Erin Skipley & Claudia Mejerle
FLORES: Amy Osaba
PROP & FASHION STYLIST: Ginny Branch
DISEÑO DEL SET: Krista Janos/Blue-Eyed Yonder
CALIGRAFÍA: Maybelle Calligraphy

LOCACIÓN: Sea Island, Georgia
MODELO: Jessica Miller
VESTIDO: Ivy and Aster “Secret Garden”
PELO & MAQUILLAJE: Erin Skipley & Claudia Mejerle
FLORES: Amy Osaba
PROP & FASHION STYLIST: Ginny Branch
DISEÑO DEL SET: Krista Janos/Blue-Eyed Yonder
CALIGRAFÍA: Maybelle Calligraphy

Although I’m a bit of novice when it comes to some of the machines in there whenever I want to use something I’ve never been on before the techs are happy for me to get on it. I’m not sure if they’re like that for everyone but I like to think it’s because I’m upfront about it. “Hey, I’d like to use the [paste in sharp, spiky, spinny thing]. I’ve not used it before. Can you show me how not to kill myself please”. This tactic has worked a treat for me every time.

Hadn’t used an angle grinder before until last week. I’ve had a pile of old climbing gear kicking about in the cupboard that I saved from the skip when the Old Boys (bosses at wall) were clearing out the basement to start renovation work that’s going on. I’ve always wanted to do something with it and since I’ve started making more stuff I decided to finally do something with it.

So I chopped them up. Sparks everywhere! I found this to be a bit controversial amongst a few climber friends. All peace has returned after I explained they were all rusted. I know, I know – their structural integrity may not be affected that much but really, trad climbing is gripping at the best of times without the added spice of questionable gear. Instead of being kept in my wardrobe or in a skip they’ll now make people smile when the see them swinging from Wee Peaks bags.

If anyone has old, retired gear (slings, nuts, cams, ropes, ANYTHING) they would like to donate to Wee Peaks please get in touch with me. It would be hugely appreciated and as thanks will give you discount on any Wee Peaks item. Or if you are particularly attached to something or like the colour whatever, I’ll happily make it into something. I’ve sewn some retro slings together in the past to make a cracking camera case. Must get photos of that. It is ace.

Now I’ve started working on the lathe. I always knew I’d enjoy this. I’ve been sharpening tools, peeling off curls of material and getting covered in dust. So far I’ve only worked with this strange, hard foam material as a practice go. When I finally get onto wood it is going to be way more difficult and strenuous but good to get a fell of the movements and tools.

I went to Brodies Timber to pick up wood yesterday. Great day out with my pal, Eilidh, in Dunkeld. Those of you who are climbers will maybe know Dunkeld is a popular local crag for us East Coasters. Yesterday saw no rocks, just timber and a great wee lunch on the banks of the Tay. Got a great plank of cherry wood for my Design Speck project and a ‘lump’ of elm for giggles.

Today I was in the workshop for a bit trying to prep the wood by planing it down to glue layers together (they didn’t have a piece the right dimensions for me to use one piece). Quite time consuming but it’s the only way. More gluing tomorrow. Hopefully Monday will see the blocks getting a bit rounder so you’ll have to come back to see photos of how it goes. For now, let yourself be entertained by my pretty wild job of clamping it together. Looks like some sort of odd contemporary art…

and more reservedly, my piece of elm

there was a private viewing next door for unit x. I went to go see what was going

on there. They were exhibiting, installations, slide show, zine and projections.

Its looked really good, i liked the fact they projected there slide on the t-shirts they used for the paint fight.

They handed out free copies of there zine and free wine. it was a really nice environment to be in.

I love the patch work and samples, very graphic and textured.

They zine looked really good.