Underside, York

I have featured the underside of bridges before (here) – this is Bishopsgate Bridge in York again. The patterns created by the structure of different bridges are fascinating and this one is totally different to those in that previous blog post.

Under Bishopsgate Bridge, York

Under Bishopsgate Bridge, York

Under Bishopsgate Bridge, York

Fascinating Patterns

Bishopsgate Bridge, York

Through Bishopsgate Bridge, York

Bishopsgate Bridge, York

Another step along the route of the planned StillWalk in York. This was in February 2012 – the production day was in June and nearly didn’t take place due to bad weather!Bishopsgate Bridge, YorkBishopsgate Bridge, YorkBishopsgate Bridge, YorkBishopsgate Bridge, York

Telling the Story

These are two examples of images I would be unlikely to use – except for one reason. They might form a necessary part of the bigger picture, the image sequence that tells the story of a StillWalk.

An image will tell a story in its own right but as part of a sequence with the intention of taking the viewer from one place to another, both visually and aurally, a StillWalk video needs sometimes to have those joining words or conjunctions that help show progression along the route.

Why would I not use these particular images? There is nothing wrong with the quality of the original images and I have no objection to traffic in an image, particularly in town. However, for some reason the car in this photograph annoys me. Is it because it is the only one or because it is a taxi (no offence to taxi drivers intended)? Maybe it’s because there are no people in the scene?

I like the structure of the shot with the bollards on the left and the wall and railing uprights on the right, the shadow of the balcony on the right and the progression from modern to older architecture on the left. I like the way the spire in the background divides up the sky and the colour is correct for the time of day / year and weather . . . but for some reason I don’t like the car!

All comments are welcome about this.

York

York

I don’t like the crop in the image below. The original needed straightening and in doing so I have lost the point of the weather vane and the chimney which both fitted neatly into the original frame – frustrating.

York

York

York

And here’s one I did earlier! This week’s photos are from a visit to York in the North East of England a year ago. The photos were taken as part of a recce for a possible StillWalk on a subsequent visit.

The weather was beautiful in February but when I returned in June, things were different with the rain falling as it does in Britain, seemingly interminably, and the River Ouse flooded!

It’s a good thing all photos and sound clips are time stamped because although I carried out an initial post-production review soon after my return home last June, I have only recently been able to continue with this process. It’s going to be a couple of weeks before this new StillWalk will be available but in the meantime I’ll be putting these recce photos on the blog – the starting point was Rowntree Park.

Rowntree Park

Rowntree Park

Rowntree Park

Rowntree Park

Welcome Video

At last! Finally there is a Welcome to StillWalks video on this website. So if you would like to know a little more about StillWalks and see some production images, please click the link above and explore the site.

Other pages on the website such as the About page and What Are StillWalks will give you the Story of StillWalks as well as information on me with links to some of my other work as an artist.

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New Photos

Here are some photos from last weekend’s Green Fayre at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea. They can also be seen on Flickr.

All in all the fair went well but I look forward to a weekend off sometime. Not this weekend though as we are off to Hereford tomorrow for a College of Art open day and exhibition – not a bad way to be busy 😉 It’s another place I have never been so I’m looking forward to it – I should probably take my camera!

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Walking with Josef Herman

“Brilliant” “The very best schools project ever!”, Betty Rae Watkins (Josef Herman Art Foundation Cymru).

The “Walking with Josef Herman” DVD, made with Alastair Duncan and StillWalks is to be screened on the BBC Big Screen in Castle Gardens, Swansea next week (see invitation below). The videos produced on the project (see below) are what I would describe as bespoke StillWalks – bespoke because they use voiceovers. These are recordings of the school children reading the poetry they wrote with Emily Hinshelwood as a part of the project following our production day on location in Ystradgynlais. The project was the ninth annual artists’ residency organised by the Josef Herman Art Foundation Cymru and Caron McColl and Lynne Bebb from Swansea Arts in Education, part of Swansea Education Effectiveness Service.

Screening – Castle Gardens, Swansea. Wednesday 19th September, 2012 from 11.00 – 12.00.

JH logo

Herman Walk logos

Josef Herman DVD

Josef Herman DVD

The DVD contains more than videos made with the schools but the videos can be viewed individually below.

Llanfaes Josef Herman Walk – Rainy Day in Ystrad from Alastair Duncan on Vimeo.

Ynysmaerdy Herman Walk 480p from Alastair Duncan on Vimeo.

St Thomas Herman Walk 480p from Alastair Duncan on Vimeo.

Parcyrhun Herman Walk 480p from Alastair Duncan on Vimeo.

Invitation - English

Invitation - Welsh 

Mumbles Promenade and Street Photography

Some people get nervous, uncomfortable, even angry when they see a photographer taking shots in the street or other busy public place. However, as I walked along Mumbles Promenade at the start of the Gower Peninsula the other day, I not only had my camera but also my sound kit with its “dead cat” furry cover on the microphone windshield. It’s the dogs that take exception to this, wondering no doubt, what strange creature it is.

People tend to be more interested and wonder what programme I am making and smile or ask if I am from the BBC. I am not sure that I will be able to get a StillWalk from this impromptu stroll along the promenade but if I need to do a full production day there, I’ll make sure I have the StillWalks logo printed on my T-shirt first.

RODE Blimp Windshield

The interest of dogs in the “Dead Cat” is understandable!

And here on the blog is some of the sound recorded or you can hear these and others on SoundCloud.

Mumbles Promenade-1

Mumbles Promenade-3

Mumbles Promenade and Oystermouth Castle

Mumbles Promenade - the feet have it!

Mumbles Promenade – a popular place for joggers!

Mumbles Promenade

Mumbles Promenade – a popular place for children

Mumbles Promenade

Mumbles Promenade – a popular place for cyclists!

Mumbles Promenade

Mumbles Promenade – a popular place for walking

Mumbles Promenade

Mumbles Promenade – a popular place for walking