New Facebook Page - Photography for the Arts!

Due to the arts funding cuts I have made a decision...! As do most, I take great pleasure shooting creative photo assignments and I realised that if there is to be a lack of money for performers, it also means that I will suffer in my own work!

SO I have opened up a new page on Facebook 'Photography for the Arts', which offers members of this page free short publicity images, free short live performance photography, an online web gallery and opportunity to purchase any images for a very fair price!

There is also a discounted Actors Headshot package - ideal for voiceover artists and those that just need a new photo, not a full on photo session!

I can imagine many people are asking "What's in it for you?"
Well! I not only get to continue working in fun shoots, networking with interesting people and producing images that I'm proud to show off. But also, the struggling artists of today are the Beatles/Cohen Brothers of tomorrow and when things pick up financially I will still be there to take more photos! Or I may also just have a fun half hour of photos which is also great! So win win I reckon!

If you'd like to join this page to make the most of these discounted rates, you may do so on this link: Photography for the Arts.

Class war or collateral damage?

So, it has been suggested that Sir Philip Green and his wife Tina are dirty tax dodgers!

Who would have thought it? When some one has a fortune of £4 BILLION surely they can help contribute to the country where they milk consumers and crush small businesses!? You would think! Don't get us wrong Sir.Phil, we appreciate high street prices at Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Miss Selfridge but why should rich fat cats waltz around the UK tax free when we can no longer buy Hobnob biccies?

"Free to those who can afford it: Very expensive to those who can't!"*

They are not alone! According to the BBC, there is an estimated £125bn tax gap in the UK and £25bn of this is owed by wealthy individuals and big businesses! So, er, that is £25bn that we shouldn't be expected to pay! Right?

Unfortunately, we are not friends with Lords, Prime Ministers or bum chums with the elite. And for that failure we are expected to pay their share! Watch the temporary closure of the Oxford Circus branch of Topshop on the BBC NEWS: I love the guy who says "I just want to buy some clothes!!!" : )

But seriously, why should people who owe tax - and who without doubt can afford it - be protected when there are people are losing their jobs, extreme funding cuts and VAT rises!? Everyone is being told it is for the good of the country and to ride it out, but we're taking all the heat! The issue is no one wants to lose money, and this includes the people making the new rules. So we're carrying their costs!

By the way... The Topshop billionaire, was recently made an adviser on cuts by David Cameron. Mmmm... 

UK Uncut staged many protests on Saturday throughout the UK and caused havoc in branches of Vodafone. Boots and Barclays are also a big focus as they are apparently avoiding tax too!!

James Kelly, a UK Uncut spokesman: "Tax avoidance is a big issue and we believe this is the alternative to the cuts the government are making. Philip Green is a well-known tax avoider and today we're bringing our campaign right to the heart of his empire."


Richard Murphy, director of Tax Research UK, said he thought that UK Uncut's actions were justified. "I do think that what they're doing is appropriate, I do think there's a problem. Large businesses are paying a smaller proportion of their income in tax than many individuals and small businesses in the UK and that's unacceptable."


So, Arcadia, Boots, Barclays, Vodafone... All the UK tax dodging billionaires! I would advise that you start saving as we're coming to get ya!!!!

*Withnail and I - Oooh, I love that film!
Quotes taken from the Guardian. Read the full article HERE!

Contrast and Glittttttttter!!!!

This was an interesting shoot as it started out as simply an add-on to another photography session and was decided on only a day or two before! But I ended up being really excited about it... Mainly because there was going to be glitter involved!

There were some lovely moments and Nikki didn't grumble once - despite being in a nightie. Sinead O'Sullivan, the costume designer brought various items to choose from but the skimpiest one just look better!! Sorry Nikki : )

The make-up was designed by Anna Lewandowska who had free reign to do whatever she wanted - as long as it was dramatic and glittery! I love the green on the lids - beeaautiful!

We had a fab window with loads of light and a young model with fantastic bone structure! What could go wrong? Ah... you've guessed it! The glitter!!!

Not only did it not behave as it was required too - a gentle stream of glitter shimmering across the scene - but it also got EVERY where! Every where except in the photos! Infuriating! Thank fully we had covered the whole floor with bin liners and were extremely careful with the hired space - as I knew Simon, who rented us The Invisible Dot, already had reservations about the glitter. I only wish he could have seen me clearing up after, stalking every stray pieces with gaffa tape. I looked like a mad woman!!!

But I had learnt a lesson that day: I can happily work with animals and children... but never again glitter!

Bootiful Bernard! (And other timely celeb deaths)

Turkey tycoon, Bernard Matthews, passed away on Thursday at a grand age of 80! Despite disapproving tutting from Jamie Oliver, critic from animal rights activists and his farm suffering from the bird flu epidemic that never was... I always LIKED Bernard Matthews! May be simply because he reminded me of my childhood! 

But, the fact that he died on Thanksgiving is so bizzare!!! And hasn't really been mentioned - I thought the press would jump all over it! I searched the news all day waiting for the 'gotcha' article to tell us all it was a Daily Mash spoof! For the man who made a living from turkey to die on the day that's celebrated by a big fat turkey was almost too much for me to believe!

I then started wondering what other known personalities had also died in a way connected to their signature 'piece'! So after a little research, here is a review of what I found out... 

In 1673 the French actor and playwright,  Molière, died after being suffering a violent coughing fit, while playing the main role in his play Le Malade imaginaire (The Hypochondriac/The Imaginary Invalid).

Isadora Duncan -  the famous dancer known for her love of scarves that also featured in her work - was a passenger in a car in 1927 when the scarf she was wearing became tangled in one of the car’s wheels and strangled her .

The creator of "Organic Farming and Gardening", Jerome Irving Rodale was known as the 'founding father' of the organic food movement. While discussing the benefits of organic foods he dropped dead in his chair part way through an interview on the "Dick Cavett Show" in January 1971 at the age of 72. Just before his death, Rodale boasted in the interview "I'm going to live to be 100 unless I'm run down by a sugar-crazed taxi driver...".

Author of the best selling "Complete Book of Running," Jim Fixx - who started the jogging craze of the 1970s - died of a massive coronary whilst out jogging. 

In 1987 actress, Elizabeth Hartman fell to her death from a fifth floor window in a bizarre reflection of a character in her staring 1966 movie "The Group."

A very special mention however goes to the sad case in 2009 of Kim Sa-rang, a 3-month-old baby girl. Although not a celebrity like the others mentioned beforehand, I feel her death has a great significance to our times. She died from malnutrition after both her parents spent hours each day in an internet cafe raising a virtual child on an online game.

The danger of adults reading children's books...

Would recommend you watch this fab sketch on YouTube!*

Wee Miss Bea sketch: 'Harry Potter and the Sexy Hellos'

A local produce - wig models own.

*No Harry's were actually hurt in the making of this sketch show.

Thee youth of thee morrow!

Yesterday I had an hour to spare so treated myself to a coffee - a sit-in one! Recession? What recession! Make mine a sit-in with ginger stem muffin!

While sipping away I overheard a young french couple, hugging, kissing and muttering sweet nothings to eachother. It was only half an hour later that I picked up on the word 'Bitch' and 'Buses' and 'Furry'!?!? Within seconds their speech became clearer and I began to understand the jist of what they were saying!

"I have the ability to understand other languages! Amazing! I am like John Travolta in that film where he had a brain tumour that increased his brain capacity..." These were my first thoughts...

Infact the couple were simply young, trendy and with a good grip on the latest lingo. I instantly felt every second of my thirty years!

But for all of us shaking our heads disapprovingly and tutting "Why can't they speak properly" I wonder if we sound as alien as the young cool-cats* can to us? As language constantly evolves, this may be simply the next, accelerated step-up! Could our 'correct' pronunciation sounds as correct to them as a 16th century Lord would to us!?

Next time, I think I'll listen a little harder as I may pick up a few tips! (Although I was certain they wanted to steal my laptop so I stuffed my muffin down and ran away...)

"Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people."

William Butler Yeats

"Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood."

William Penn

*Yes, I know by using this term I am definitely NOT cool!

BREAKING NEWS: Royal Wedding!!!!!

As if we couldn't all see that one coming! How boring!

I thought he was dating Kate Beckinsale!
Here's a shot earlier today capturing the excitement at the press launch!

 

In other news: 

Posh Spice is rich and skinny, Rooney is rich and ugly and Michael Jackson 

has never been richer!

The start...

I have many of self-indulgent thoughts, ideas and opinions but do not seem to have significant contact to share them all. So created a blog so that you may never miss out! Generous, eh? I have been a bit rubbish today though and need to get on with proper work (as I decided that going back to sleep would be the best plan this morning...)