That’s it!

As I had the day to myself pretty much, I’ve ended up totally redoing the blog. I got inspired by all the recent online activity going on within Birmingham’s online community. Maybe I’ve gone too far but it’s satisfied the geek in me for a while. Now I should really spend some time taking some photos…

Wondering how this latest internet gizmo might benefit my blog, an update on what i’m doing on Saturday! woohoo! but I think some potential is slowly creeping in.

You can stream live from your mobile too www.bambuser.com

One of the online networky type things i’ve been following of late is Twitter. Basically, a mini blogging tool that can be updated via the web or mobile phone and users can keep up to date with anyone they wish to follow. I’m keen to explore how this tool can benefit the projects i’m starting to get involved with so as an experiment, I’ll be “tweeting” the events at Tuesday Night Live @ Soundbar, Birmingham, inbetween taking photos. I’ll try to convey the activities of the night, get some feedback from the bands and punters and generally provide a running commentary..Hopefully, we’ll get a few people who are interested, keeping track of the night as it unfolds and posting a few questions to the bands etc.
Twitter won’t be the best method of conveying the live music atmosphere, of course, already looking at some of the live mobile phone streaming services out there such as bambuser or qik, but that’s for another day.

Earlier this month, Polaroid anounced that it is to discontinue production of the instant film that became popular the world over. As a user of film, and the old anolgue ways of photography, I found the news disappointing for a number of reasons. Firstly, Polaroid is an iconic product, one that I have recognised as I grew up in the 70’s & 80’s along with Coca Cola and 99’s. I reckon there is a good chance that many families have a few polaroids stashed in their old photo collections and thinking a little into the future, it will be a shame that this unique and fun format will no longer be part of that journey.

( “Afterlife”, “Go 45″ Polaroids by Stuart Parker, Copyright 2007)

Secondly, since digital took over the photography industry, film has taken a substantial blow. Some say it won’t be long before there will be no more film developers and others argue that the analogue methods will always be popular within photography circles.
I love working with film and the thought of not being able to insert a roll of my fave film into a 35mm camera (Agfa CT precisa 100 slide film should anybody have any ;)), really does make my heart sink. I hear that Fujifilm might be looking to take the Polaroid format on in the future and I just hope that film producers do see that there is a market for film, and right now, Polaroids, for a long time to come.

www.savepolaroid.com

I wanted to explain a little about these type of images you may have seen scattered about my portfolio. Back in May 2006, I chanced upon an image which made me look at photography in a different way (alas it is no longer online to show you). The pic I found on Flickr, was a square format shot of a dump truck - nothing special there but the way that this dump truck was shot, really appealed to me. It looked old but new, it had a charm about it in the way the blurry edges somehow made it look romantic. This was a technique I needed to get involved with.

(left - Tabatha, Gwydir Street Party, Oxford 2006)
(Right - Self Portrait, 2006) all images copyright Stuart Parker Photography

The guy who took that picture, Paul Pennell, Originally from Wales but moved to Oz sometime ago, had set up a fledgling group dedicated to this “Through The Viewfinder” technique. After some investigation, the technique “clicked” for me and a new obsession was born. You can find out more about the technique here (Russ Morris’s TTV tutorial) . Delving further into the scene, I realised that one photographer in particular had taken the TTV bull by the horns and was producing some startling work. Known only as Mr.E, this photographer had laid the path for myself and Paul to experiment with the technique and before too long, we were all TTV loopy, discussing our techniques and of course gaining a lot of interest from the photography world. Since then, the TTV technique has become amazingly popular with more and more photographers, both amateur and pro, falling for it’s charm. There’s even a book published and plans for a second one in the pipeline. The technique is not groundbreaking, other photographers had stumbles on the technique over the years, but Mr E really harnessed the technique and I consider him the Pioneer of the modern TTV technique.
As always, if we only had more time, then i’d spend that time doing more TTV photography, I hope that more of my clients see the beauty of the technique and express an interest in working with me to create some unique, modern (yet retro!) imagery!