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Free Drinks and a Vague Promise
Stop Always Going to Openings: Openings have long been the laziest way to consume art in Berlin. Free entry, a drink, and the vague promise of seeing something – even though they’re often so crowded you barely see anything at all. It has been a few years since I last went to a Grand Opening, a Vernissage, or anything even close to the Premiere of something lauded in advance, or fashionable. Music, art, fashion, installations, whatever one cares to call them, they are the bane of many, but the life blood of those in need of a quick, free finger-food and drink fix and, above all, in need of being…
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Glancing Back at a Vanishing World.
It was reputedly Socrates who complained that the youth of his day were rude, uneducated and had no respect for their elders, although he was probably not the first to do so. The so-called youth of his times wanted change, more for themselves but without the responsibility, less stress and pressure to perform or succeed, and recognition of themselves as individuals. There is little difference today, with the up and coming generations moving for change to suit their own values and, as they see it, to fit better into a changing world. And they are not wrong, many of us were the same when we were young. The difference now…
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Criticism In Photography: A Reckoning
It is that time of year, and has been for over a month, when we look back over what has happened, in photography, on television, in politics, world-wide. A rash of programmes come out on the various visual media telling us what we should consider to be the great, the moving, the memorable from the previous twelve months, attempting to shape our minds and influence our memories. Amidst all the bright fanfares and commercial shouting, a few smaller entities voice their opinions, often about the work of others, sometimes with a critical eye on their own production. Rather than letting myself be influenced by those many critics who have opinions…
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The Heavy Weight of Inspiration
“Where” every artist, writer, creator is asked, “do you find your inspiration? What is it in your surroundings, in your home, your friends, your contacts, the world in general, that moves you to create whatever it is that you create? What is it”, they seem to be saying, “that you can see, that inspires you to greatness, which I cannot see?” As if any artist, regardless of their used medium, were able to give a quick How To on successful creativity. As some might say: you either have it, or you have it not. You have either learned how to see and how to evaluate, or you have not. And…
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It’s Not Always What You Can See
I took the header photograph to this post back in June 2024, at a time when I was more active with my camera, travelling to many cities across the country, and making great plans for the future. Not, I hasten to add, my first great plans for the future, merely the latest ones. In the past I have written books, short stories, magazine articles and other papers for publication. I have acted on the theatre stage, and been in one or two minor films over which it is best to be quiet. I have invested in real estate, in art, in literature, in antique photography. The next great plan for…
