Now will soon be Then ...

Looking into what makes a good story & further, who decides what makes a good story - the Group have been exploring different techniques, such as black & white.  Discussing how we might tell a story using a single image, we set about finding a simple narrative with which to convey a happening or occurrence such as a family routine for example …

Exhibition Flyer

We also explored the reasoning behind which stories are chosen to merit archival for the future ?  Visiting local exhibitions and looking at the work of other Photographers, we enjoyed the prospect of creating an exhibition of images that tell selected random stories, mini insights into the lives of Group Members – how they see the world and what interests and matters to them …

Exhibition Flyer

‘The nights in South Africa are extremely cold, so the babies at the Refilwe Orphanage suffer with cold feet.’

“When I was growing up our estate was criss-crossed with telephone wires and the old wooden telegraph poles became the meeting point or ‘ deleevo’ for games of hide and seek. You didn’t really notice them , they were just there. Know and then you’d see a pair of shoes or boots hanging from the lines and we’d try to do the same ourselves, the trick being to tie the shoes together by their laces and then to throw them with enough momentum that they’d wrap themselves around the lines a few times, securing them from the wind. This photo was taken outside the Static Gallery off Roscoe Street, The idea was that people would come and lash their trabs over purposely erected wires in a tribute to both that council estate sport and the scally obsession with training shoes that has been part of Merseyside culture for the last 30 odd years. I managed to get an old pair of hemp Gazelles over after about 20 attempts. It wasn’t as easy as it appears, even with lots of wires to aim at … or, maybe I’m just getting old !’

“This is my art room, where I find great relaxation and calm. Restoring my different pieces of furniture and seeing the change and transformation, makes me feel a great sense of achievement and contentment.’

“This was taken at a Kite Festival Event on the Wirral. There with family, we all watched as these playful creations just hung in the air. It was my nephew’s chance framing of the sky that triggered the picture, It looked like some fantastic Alien Invasion.’

“It’s always interesting to note the record numbers of the homeless in relation to the waiting list for social housing. Questions obviously arise when looking at abandoned properties such as this ? Weighed against the purpose for which they were built, the pointless waste is counfounded by the loss of what are historically valuable examples of inner city architecture. Perhaps some socially aware up and coming young entrepeneur will come along with his trowel, roll up his sleeves and get stuck in ? Maybe if he’s managed to pay off his student fees that is !’

“Me Dad used to take me to these fountains in the late 70’s. Its strange looking to the past and seeing these futuristic objects, displaced in space and time, against the backdrop of the surrounding office buildings, much like the new Pier Head building today. Harshly contrasting the backdrop of the three graces, adding to, or maybe, taking from the aesthetic and historic appeal of the famous waterfront.”

‘After the session one morning, I got a call from my mate who asked me to come and see something – ‘bring your camera, he said.’ I didn’t see them at first, they just sat there keeping the Queen warm, until some local kids with sticks disturbed them and they moved on.’

“I grew up in Kirkby in the eighties, we would never be inside. We had no internet, interactive games consoles or even computers back then.Social networking involved regularly attempting the various jumps of the River Alt or chipping duckie stones. The champions of our Arena would gain their title by shimmying up the highest lamp post in order to retrieve the bike tyre that had been thrown there. ” “You can’t skin your knees and elbows through armour.“

“I just came across this scene in the Park one day. The Actors seem to be swamped by the crowds. No stage, no barriers … it’s as though they are surrounded, everybody listening in to their conversation.”

“Gates, they twist space. I’ve always been fascinated with doorways. Why they are there ? where they go, who passed through them ? Possible conversations that may have taken place behind them. The older they are the more intrigued I am, I suppose it’s the history they seem to convey. Old rusted padlocks, latches and bolts, rotten frames, decaying wood work, bent and twisted hinges. All of these details contribute to the human traffic that passed through such barriers.Barriers they obviously are, but some have more importance than others.”

“The Pipes, “Pipes of Peace “ ( maybe) I was brought up catholic, School and that. I was made to go to Church every Sunday by my Mum. The Church was at the bottom of our road, I remember she would watch me down the street to make sure I went in ! She never did though ! I can see the beauty in Churches, the colours and the architecture and of course the sound from the Organ pipes. Religion means nothing to me now.’

“This is my garden, my sanctuary, in here there are no problems, no violence, just peace. My only worries are ‘will it rain tonight’ and ‘I hope the squirrel doesn’t dig up my bulbs!’ Everybody should have a sanctuary in their world, a place to be at one with yourself.”

I’ve always enjoyed taking pictures, I like the idea of capturing celebrities. I like to show that they are just people and they have been mostly happy to pose. I like the way photography allows you to capture the way you alone see a particular scene. This fox was found dead in our garden one morning – it just loooked sad … Other people may have seen what you see, but not the same way that you see it.

“This picture shows my Mums Couch, I go down to my mum’s for Sunday dinner and to have a chat. My sister’s are normally down on a Sunday, but this day I was on my own, that’s why there was space to put my bag etc, on the couch !”

“This just looked funny, although usually displaying the various costumes and props specific to sales that season, they just stood naked, as though to shout, ”look at us” – will we only look when they are dressed in ridiculous clothes ? Do we dress up and play the fool, in order to remind ourselves how ridiculous we look and act normally ?”

‘This is Father Tony, a Redemptorist Catholic Priest from South Africa. He has worked for 50 years (this year) in his ministry of training young people to become priests at seminaries that the order have founded. Here he is at home, on a short visit to see family on the Wirral. This image was taken in his mum and dads house at the end of a house mass, with the front room filled to bursting point with brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces.’

“On match days, home and away fans move back and forth down this alleyway. It connects Stanley Park with Anfield Road. find it strange how the atmosphere changes, the place is either full of shuffling and voices or witness to the odd empty crisp bag just passing through.”

Allthough I share where I live with other housemates, I like my own space. This is my DVD collection. I’ve always loved watching films, all types from comedies to horror. I even volunteer at a Cinema in Crosby, it’s great except when cleaning up afterwards !

“Progress, change, call it what you want, but it could be viewed that the removal of a single record shop up some side street, from the local and social psyche, is just as important to the fabric of a places history, as the closure of any Museum.” “Street after street becomes empty, everybody herded toward the Cities third Cathedral. Enticed by students in costume, imitating a previous version of popular culture. The audiovisual stamping of a 1960’s price tag upon a cutting edge set of non denominational shelves.”

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