My blog
21st February 2010
Sitting down in my living room this morning looking at yet more unsavoury weather falling, accompanied by my Siamese cat Indie, struggling to find a spot between my laptop, as well as also trying to avoid being put out in this weather! I suddenly thought it a good time to take advantage of my inactivity and write a little entry.
I have not uploaded any new images on the site for a while now, I do apologise but I have been heavily wrapped up in the Venice project I started a while back which has taken much of my time. This is coming along nicely, I feel pleased with the image collection I have up to now. I have a little further to go yet, but feel now that I should take a short break and get out again locally as I have a few ideas I would like to try before Spring arrives. I still anticipate finishing the Venice compilation soon, I will then upload scans into a new portfolio on the website and look for a venue to exhibit the prints.
I was contacted recently by the local BBC about a feature on their website which went well and would like to thank journalist Phil Daley, for all his hard work. Hopefully soon there will be an audio slideshow added, I believe the first time they have tried it, which may be interesting……. depending on just how Norfolk I sound!
Please see my latest news item.
Back to photography like I mentioned earlier, I look forward to exposing some more film soon. I have been in my darkroom struggling to keep warm far too long, but the thought of warmer weather and working some infrared film seems a while away at present! I don’t think I can remember such a dull and cold spell of weather lasting as long for many years, but as they say “there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes”, seems a while since I was struggling with temperatures of 45 degrees in Egypt only a few month’s ago.
Just a last couple of things, I am looking forward to attending the opening night of the Medieval Churches of Norwich photographby Exhibition. To be held in the Norwich Forum tomorrow evening the 22nd. I would expect to find a well put together and organised show as usual.
Last but not least, I have left a few images in the illuminated front window of the Norwich Frame workshop on St Benedict’s Street, so if you are passing stop to take a look.
Best wishes
Steve
13 December 09
Well it’s been very stressful during the last few weeks, what with two exhibitions to prepare and organise, two shows in the space of a few weeks is something I will not attempt again, if I can help it!
Anyway since then I have just returned from a trip to Venice for four days photography (which I needed) as a little bit of an unwind.
I just love Venice, historically, architecturally, romantically whichever perspective you approach it from, words fail to describe it's beauty and I’ve yet to meet anyone who’s been there and not fallen under its magical spell. The light always seems so friendly, and simply different from anywhere else, myself I believe it to be something to do with the surrounding water reflected by the lagoon. The key is to visit at the right time of the year. In mid summer the place is busy, hot and hazy, but during December or even better January and February, it’s almost deserted. In the space of four days (you don’t need more than that) I’ve witnessed amazing sunrises, blue skies and sunshine, sea fog, overcast skies and temperatures down to zero.
I would love to know how many miles I cover during the days and evenings out in the alleys and over bridges on my visits, but I know my hips always ache and have a job to get going again early each morning.
Once out though there seems to be a photographic opportunity around every corner, without too much trying. I always base myself on the edge of San Marco in a small hotel I always use, 30 seconds walk from the Square, if it were not for a few surrounding buildings I could throw a stone into the middle of the square from my room window.
I set my mobile phone alarm for 6.00am, as sunrise is around 7.00 during the winter month’s. If you get down and set up in the Piazza San Marco you will get about 40 min’s to work, before the swarms of tourists and traders with their stalls arrive.
After that it is time to head away to the far-flung areas where you get space to breath and a little silence. Taking pictures in Venice is a calming, almost spiritual experience. It’s the safest city I have ever visited even long after dark.
When I’m there I feel myself physically relaxing and slowing down. I don’t work to any specific plan, I just turn up and go with the flow, visiting locations I know and other I’ve never been to before.
Just before I left I was helping out at the frame shop putting the last few images together into frames for the Assembly House exhibition, when I cut a large chunk out of my right thumb on a sheet of glass. This plagued me throughout the whole trip, as I seemed to catch it every time I set up or packed away, it became very sore, but did not get in the way as the place just inspires me to push on!
I think I came back with 7 rolls of 120, early on the last morning I was working some high-speed film in the most amazing light at very high contrast, using dark red filtration and felt something special was materializing.
When I got back to the room I packed away as quick as I could, as time was moving on and had to vacate the room at 11am, but still had a little time to get to breakfast. On returning to the room I emptied all the exposed rolls and placed them in a blackout back to put in the hand luggage, picked up the empty boxes off the bed and threw them in the bin in the room.
First thing in the morning after returning home I started to sort through the film, so as I could start to process it. I knew I had two rolls of high-speed film that I had rated and exposed at 6400iso so I prepared the right quantity of developer. Next I went to the bag to find the two specific roll, but could only find one.
After searching the bag I was carrying that morning and then through the coat I had on, I then realised that the one roll I had looked forward to developing could have gone in the bin back at the hotel room by mistake!
I knew then I had a 50-50 chance that I may have it, as I had one roll but was unsure which it was. I always mark the iso rating I shot the film at for processing info on the roll, but no location.
After processing it turned out not to be the one………….. although it was a very promising set of negatives shot after dark under lamplight the night before. Oh well you win some you lose some and we all do stupid things (probably me more than most) but then no worries that’s life, and gives me an excuse (if I needed one) to make arrangements to return again in February
Since then I have spent time back in the darkroom, to start printing a series of an anticipated 8-10 images that I am really pleased with. Maybe then I will look for a venue to showcase “Three nights in Venicia”.
I will leave you now, but would like to remind you to pop along to the Assembly House in Norwich to take a look at my present exhibition, which is running until 31st of December, that is if you get the time during this special but hectic time of year.
Lastly I would like to wish you a Happy Christmas and a great start to your New Year.
Best wishes
Steve
3rd November 09
Well it’s been a while since I last made an entry about four months when I looked ….. oh dear I do apologise!
I have just returned from Egypt and a cruise on the Nile. Since then I have been rushing about preparing for exhibitions at the Norwich Forum in late November and the Assembly House in December. Well I had a fantastic time but for the temperatures…… 45 degrees at times in and around some of the Temples and the Valley of the Kings close to Luxor.
Like I said since I have been back I have been very busy trying to get things ready to go for the first of two exhibitions before the New Year. In between each I have a photographic trip to Venice booked for mid December. I am especially looking forward to the latter of the two (10th December – 31st at the Norwich - Assembly House) This will be a monochrome infrared only image show, which to my knowledge will be the first staged in Norfolk of pure Norfolk imagery.
Finishing touches have now been made to the Forum show with my line up decided and now in to be framed. I have decided on a 50/50 split of old images all re-worked and re-finished and completely new work, so in reality all new unseen work.
I will be present all day on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th November, so I hope to spend time chatting to anyone who can find time to drop by and say hello.
Looking forward to my trip to Venice, in my view the monochrome photographers architectural capital of the world. I am hoping for atmospheric conditions as fog and mist are usually present in the lead up to Christmas, so I have my fingers crossed. I have a few compositions planned far off the beaten tourist track, but just hope for a little decent light.
In recent months I have spent hour upon hour in the darkroom. I’m not complaining in the slightest as like I always preach, print finishing is where the real creativity and skill is to be found and I love every minute, but now with future exhibitions organised and ready I will be glad to get out in the Autumn light and fresh air with a camera.
Well that’s about it for now, other than while I am in exhibition mode I would like to mention the debut exhibition of Katja Becker entitled “Harmonie" at the Assembly House Norwich – running Tuesday 1st Dec 09 – Thursday 31st Dec 09.
Katja has been working with me for a year or so now, her traditional imagery is of a high standard and will be well worth a visit.
Best wishes
Steve
21st June 09
Summer soltice today …….the longest day of the year, good job as I still only managed to get myself out of my slumber at around 8.30, what ever happened to that early bird photographer!
So what’s new since my last post? Well I have signed contracts for an exhibition at the Assembly House – Norwich in the lead up to Christmas 10th Dec through to 24th Dec 09. The exhibition will be entitled “Invisible Light” as it will be an Infrared only show, to my knowledge the first time ever in Norfolk.
I look forward to this, as over the years the medium has become my favourite form of monochrome imagery. I have many new images from around Norfolk, which I am going to keep under wraps until December, many from North West Norfolk, were I have been working intensively in recent months.
Also I have taken on a new long-term project, which has been burning away in the back of my mind for a while now. This is going to take I would estimate around 18 month’s to two years.
My aim is to create a portfolio of images of the Rosary Cemetery – Norwich. I have been fascinated with this place for years now and spend many hours walking the paths and avenues of this magical wilderness of a place.
Many years ago I was inspired by the work of the late photographer John Gay and his dedication to the conservation and love of Highgate Cemetery in London, which culminated in the publication of the book Victorian Valhalla.
As I said I am under no illusion that this project is going to take a while, as I want to capture it over the changing Seasons, and already I seem to be forming a groove in the road between my house and the Cemetery!
I would hope to acquire and print in the next year or so around 18 – 20 images with the “wow factor” which then I will hopefully exhibit somewhere in Norwich, but I will worry about that if and when I get there.
Back to today, well as I said I did not make much of an impression on seeing an early start, but it was very overcast…….. well that’s as good an excuse as any for a photographer isn’t it?
Well in the end things went well as I found myself back at the Rosary setting up for another planned image, which after returning and developing the film found I had just what I made the trip for. And all with only three exposures!
I have been playing with a Pentax 6x7 specialised soft focus lens of late. This lens has proved to be a bit of an enigma to many, but I seemed to have got my head round it now and the results are just stunning, which is achieved by internal highlight flare rather than just plain diffusion.
Lastly after two thirds of a bottle of Etienne Dumont, I decided to jot down this blog listening to the latest Verve album "Forth", so I hope it is legible and I don’t have too thick a head in the morning.
I leave you once more with a little insight of myself at my new home down at the Rosary…….. hopefully I will be able to let you know more in my coming posts.
Best wishes
Steve
4th April 09
Well this is novel only a few weeks since my last entry……… that’s a first.
All the images for the Norwich Forum “4” exhibition are ready to go, I’ve just come away from the framers cap in hand, after agreeing to buy him a bottle of Mouton Rothschild as part payment and a thank you, so I’m hoping to make a few sales :-)
To be honest I am very pleased with the image line up, but with the way things are in the world at present, I’m not to confident of it being lucrative, but if people come along and enjoy our work I feel all the effort will be worthwhile.
We will be in the Forum in the afternoon on Sunday the 5th setting up, so if you want to come along you will no doubt see un-organised chaos in process. Also during the hanging we have a radio broadcast on Radio Norfolk at 3.30pm, which should be good for a laugh.
I hope that the Easter bank holiday weekend will bring in plenty of foot traffic through the Forum, as it will be good to meet and talk imagery to anyone who fancies a chat.
I was out with a camera today in South Norfolk the weather was warm after such a hard winter, I found the solitude very relaxing, which after the last few weeks was a nice change.
The Norwich 12 competition, presentation and weeklong exhibition went well it was great to see all the tremendous buildings supported by Norwich HEART captured very cleverly by so many creative photographers.
On this theme I have just confirmed exhibition dates at the Norwich Assembly House for December 10th – 24th which I am considering making an infrared only exhibition, so I will be doing it all again last thing in the year, but hey it is a while away yet and I will not be committing to anything else this year, so during the Summer I can just enjoy the photography!
Sometimes I like to take a complete break from photography when I feel the ideas have dried up, but at present they seem to be flowing, so I get the old notebook out and jot them down, as I have such an awful memory.
I would like to get away soon somewhere North to the mountains and relax, but as yet I have no concrete plans.
Well lastly it would be good to meet you if your about in Norwich over the Easter break, I will be present all day from Thursday 9th – Sunday 12th so come over and say hello.
If not thanks for reading this and I will try to add something again soon, when I have something a little more interesting to say.
Best wishes
Steve
17th March 09
I have just looked and it was mid January when I last posted an entry, I do apologise no excuse really, other than I have been run off my feet.
I have just finished preparing the last image for the Easter Forum 4 Exhibition that will run from 6th – 12th April at the Forum Norwich. It’s been an awful amount of hard work and organising but I think we (Jon Gibbs, Gareth Hacon, and John Duckett) have come up with something different and with the layout we have planned in the Forum I am now beginning to look forward to it.
Before that I have the overall winning image heading the first Norwich 12 photographic competition in their Exhibition again at the Forum beginning on the Monday 23rd March.
I will be present on the Monday evening and look forward to saying hello to anyone who may come along. On an exhibition theme I have not bothered with putting on a show for a few years now, and then two in the space of a few weeks… … like waiting for a bus!
Also to add to that I am in the process of arranging a further exhibition to be held in the Norwich Assembly House later in the year, as soon as I have concrete dates I will post them on the website. All in all seems like a very busy 2009.
Well at last the weather seems to be getting a little warmer, I have not long been back from my photographic trip to Prague, which was a total success (fell in love with the place) even if it was a tad frosty. I have started to print some of the negatives I came back with and if you have not noticed I have posted a couple on the site.
Today I have been out exposing a little infrared film and have just finished developing the celluloid, which seem to have gone very well. I take great pleasure from this medium, it’s only my opinion, but I believe it to be the strongest and most dramatic form of photographic art, if you are a photographer and have not tried it give it a shot. It can be frustrating, but persevere as the rewards are waiting!
On this theme I am thinking of running a few traditional monochrome workshops over the summer out in the field so to speak.
These will be covering - hand held metering for optimum exposure using monochrome film, correct use of monochrome filtration and later in the year when the sun is a little higher Infrared imagery, plus a few more tips, advise and ideas to help you along with our great mutual pastime.
If you are interested in coming along email me and I will get back to you with more details. I look forward to these workshops, as I enjoy helping others to gain the confidence to try something a little daring and slightly different, as this is what will set you apart from others over time!
Well I seem to have waffled on for long enough now. Please come along and say hello at the Forum Easter Exhibition as some of my latest work will be on display ………….. so pay me a visit it will be good to meet you, I will be there all day on the 9th 10th 11th and 12th of April.
Best wishes, Steve
12th January 09
Firstly Happy New year to everyone, I hope you all enjoyed a relaxing break from the rigours of modern day Life!
I have lots to talk about since last adding an entry to the blog, I must apologise once again for my lack of effort.
Well what’s has been happening since my last entry, inbetween trips to Leeds University picking up and dropping off my son, I have been named overall winner in the inaugural Norwich 12 competition to capture the special essence of Norwich’s most important buildings. More info can be found at http://www.norwich12.co.uk/
This will run on for a while leading up to a public exhibition at The Forum from 23 to 28 March 2009 and images will be produced as postcards for public sale. More information can be found at the above web address in early 2009.
I have just finished sorting a trip to Prague for the end of February and later a trip to Egypt in Late October, I think I shall experience a great contrast in temperatures but look forward to both trips.
I have not been as active in the darkroom as I would have liked in recent weeks but it has been so cold, the thought of having my arms up to my elbows in cold water and chemicals put me off a tad, but I feel ready to get printing again after a little break now. Although I do believe a short break can rekindle your appetite and creativity.
I have been out and about with a camera though and have been sorting through and prioritising negatives ready for finishing, so hopefully I sould have a few new images appearing on the website in the near future. In the last week or so I have spent a few days working in the grounds of Holkham Estate in the cold weather, which I found very enjoyable even if I did suffer what seemed like a little frostbite.
Changing the subject I was asked to contribute to the Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust – HEART Newsletter Q&A’s which I was happy to undertake when I have more info about the next publication I will add it to the latest news on the website.
In the mean time I also recommend a visit to their website at http://www.heritagecity.org as they are a charitable company set up to act as an umbrella organisation for all the fantastic and often unknown heritage on offer in Norwich.
Well again I wish you all a very happy New Year and look forward to adding something here again soon.
Best wishes, Steve
7th October 2008
Once again I apologise for my continued lack of work in the blog dept!
Is it October already, oh well at last my favourite season is upon us once again.
I plan to start the autumn in Snowdonia………..so my favourite Season in one of, if not my favourite U.K location (other than Norfolk of course).
I plan to leave for the mountains on Saturday 11th accompanied by “K” (Katja Becker) if I have not mentioned before a very talented young German fine art photographer & print finisher.
I plan to take K to many of the stunning hidden away places I have discovered over many visits to North Wales over the years. It will be good as K works in the same format as myself & has this great bubbly wit and eye for the “something different”. Also being a traditional monochrome printer she pre-visualizes a scene much as I do, so the banter and conversation should be interesting!
I enjoy the opportunity to work in an area contrasting completely to my home County of Norfolk. I always try to head away for the last few weeks of October as the holiday season is all but finished, & the light is superb in the last throws before the clocks change once more.
On the higher ground I find myself drawn a lot of the time to the beautiful fast moving streams & mountain run-offs.
At this time of the year the leaves are starting to depart from their branches, after turning a beautiful pale yellow, making for wonderful highlights shining against dark foreboding rocks.
I have just acquired a very high quality close focus lens & have a feeling that it is going to find itself well worked recording detail, while I am knee deep in a few mountain streams in the next week or two.
We will be situated on a working farm, which may be interesting, I am sure I may have a few lines to add about it in my next blog, after returning from the local watering hole each evening..........this photography thing can be such a bind :-)
Well I will be off until next time, again sorry for letting it go for so long without making an entry.
Best Wishes to you all
Steve
11th July 08
Firstly I would like to apologise for the lack of input in the blog department since May, no excuses offered other than I have been very busy with one thing and another.
Well since I last made an entry the Jurassic Coast trip to Dorset has been and gone. To be honest the weather was glorious pure blue skies everyday (not a monochrome photographers best wish) but for everyone else a real treat.
Although the light conditions were not as I would have wished for I did manage one image that was worth the trip alone.
This came very early one morning around 5.45 at the base of Swyre Head looking back towards the stunning & fearsome Bat’s Head. I had intended to go down onto the beach at Durdle Door, but the sky was beginning to brew up toward the south and so pulled me along the top of the cliffs toward Swyre Head. I quickly set up a camera & tripod, which I had managed to hump what seemed like miles as the drama in the sky was beginning to get overpowering!
The fruits of all the effort can be seen in the new additions portfolio and later will be transferred to beyond Norfolk.
Since returning I have been working on a few new ideas I have had, but I find this time of the year hard to obtain anything that I feel really satisfied with (roll on the Autumn)……….. I know, wishing my life away sad aye!
To end with I thought that I should mention that I have two images representing Norfolk, that have just been published in the U.K’s Best 101 Landscape locations in the Photography Monthly magazine, just out on the shelves in the August 2008 edition. This is well worth a look as there are some amazing images.
Once again Best Wishes to you all
Steve
11th May 08
Hello once again,
Sorry it’s been so long since my last entry but I have been very busy rushing about Norfolk putting into practice a few ideas I had, working mainly with infrared during this present good spell of weather, also putting the finishing touches to a photographic trip to Dorset’s Jurassic Coast.
The Dorset trip is happening in around three weeks, most of the trip has been meticulously planned, as I want to spend a few days on the Kimmeridge ledges and around St Alban’s Head. Hopefully my next blog will include a little about the trip, that is if I don’t miss judge the tide on the ledges at Kimmeridge and come to a horrible watery end :-)
I have some very promising negatives waiting to be finished in recent weeks, but feel a little unable to shut myself away in the dark while the weather is so fine.
Trouble is I always seem to get drawn into the dark as I just can’t keep myself from what I believe is my home and the Sharp end of my photography, where it all matters and happens the darkroom!
To finish with I have been working on an idea with a friend of mine also a local Norfolk photographer on running some Traditional photographic workshops. At the present we are thinking of starting these in the Autumn, so if you would be interested in joining us all drop me a line and I will be hopefully be able to give you a little more info on what we intend to be covering and where.
Oh well I will be off for now, take care and I look forward to adding a little more in a week or two.
8th April 08
Hello,
Well I have had a very interesting few weeks sorting out my arrangement with my colleagues at the Norwich frame workshop in Norwich as if you had noticed in the latest news item my imagery will be very soon exclusive to them in the Norfolk area. I am as I have said pleased with this arrangement as it is going to allow me to spend an awful lot more time being creative rather than dashing all over the place. As always prints will still be available direct through the website.
Right now on to something a lot more interesting……. I have just decided after meeting a very talented young German fine art photographer Katja Becker, to let her shadow and work with me on occasion in the future.
She has only been living in the area a short time but has a very good knowledge of traditional darkroom processes, which she has self-taught herself amazingly to quite a high standard, and a stunning eye for the “something different” so I can see her being more than a big help to me :-)
So with this in view and her complete passion for the traditional side to photography (a very refreshing contrast to most young photographers today in this digital age) I have decided to let her work with me periodically in the time to come, that is until she gets fed up with my constant moaning about everything from finding somewhere to leave the vehicle to our ever changing weather, and the fact that I’m getting tired of humping all the equipment on my own.
I did not make this decision without a lot of thought, but after consideration and the thought of a little company after years and years of working in complete solitude, I thought it might make a nice change, also the fact I think I may benefit from her very bright and sharp mind.
I wish “K” all the best, as it is my intension to help her become a big force on the photographic scene in the area in period to come!
Well it’s about time to sign of again for now, as we are up at 5am tomorrow as the forecast is good and we have a few ideas to put into practice.
2nd March 08
Hello again,
I have not stopped since last sitting down to do this, as without being aware my son entered a literary competition “should the Holocaust be a mandatory taught subject at school”
About four weeks before he was supposed to fly, he announced that he had won the Government sponsored trip to Poland to visit Auschwitz concentration & Berkenau death camps.
He had no passport but after a lot of grief we got that sorted, and then an early morning drop off 4.30am at Luton Airport. Fortunately I did not have to make the pick up trip, but we waited up for him to get back, then after a long day and just drifting off we were treated to an earthquake!
Anyway the photography, I have been experimenting with an old-fashioned bellows camera and an up-tight tilt-shift lens. This has been great fun as I have now gone a step further by combining it with infrared imagery. Playing with the lens it’s giving me a wonderful pin sharp sweet spot of focus and zany controlled blurring. I am starting to acquire stunning visual effects, every photographer looking for an edge should have a set-up like this :-)
I am hoping as the year goes on and I get a little more daring to start showing some of my labours.
Well I shall sign out again for a week or so, but going back to my son Alex’s trip he managed to persuade my wife to lend him her digital camera. I spent hours looking at his images including some short video clips, one of which shows their moments walking through one of the appalling gas chambers. It portrayed a bunch of teenagers in complete silence, a fitting depiction of such a horrific but educational experience for such young minds!
After a little manipulation, I have put a few of his images online below.
Steve
16th February 08
Hello,
Last Thursday evening Nicky and I met up with a good friend and ex work colleague of mine, Mick and his wife Kathy to go along for a personal tour of Surrey House the magnificent heart of Norwich Union which opened in 1907.
I had been before and since have become good friends with Sheree Leeds, Norwich Union archivist, a truly inspirational and educated person.
We turned up at around 6.30pm in complete disarray all looking in different directions and sending security staff searching, but eventually came together and made our way through all the military like security to be sat down in the most magnificent canteen backing on to Surrey House under a new but beautifully stunning roof adjoining the old and new architecture.
After around 45mins sat chatting and catching up while being mothered and entertained by Sheree we made our way through into the marble halls of Surrey House.
Now I don’t know if any of you have been inside this magnificent building but I knew what a dramatic first impression was waiting! This building is a marvel and of course was the inspiration of without doubt the most important and influential local architect, in my opinion, George Skipper. If you are familiar with my site you will find a few images portraying architecture given to us by this great man.
After three hours, which seemed like the blink of the eye the tour ends in the boardroom of Norwich Union Surrey House, to be honest a very heavily intimidating; no expense spared but awe-inspiring room. I sat at the head of the boardroom table and imagined what it must have been like to be summoned to address the directors of this immensely powerful company, a situation that must have been very difficult to deal with!
I would like to thank Sheree and Norwich Union for their wonderful hospitality, but above all George Skipper for his wonderful creation that is Surrey House.
Steve
3rd February 2008
Hello All,
I have just had a rush of blood to the head, as this blog is an idea that I have had for a while now so here goes……… Well Christmas has come and all but been forgotten, halleluiah I can hear you saying.
Well to be frank I have been very lazy photographically since recovering from a few too many drinks and musty early morning heads over the festive period.......as you do :-)
Anyway this morning I thought I had better get stimulated and so have been checking on a few new image locations I have in mind, deciding how I shall go about certain tasks (sun & shadow orientation etc) secretly hoping I will still be able to lie in bed that little bit longer until first light, so as to get that important caffeine boost before I head out! Also looking through my film stocks, to find I have plenty (so no excuses there) :-(
To be truthful I am planning lots in the coming months including a trip to North Yorkshire as an invited guest of a good customer of mine.
So to be honest I feel very motivated after a few non-photographic distractions in my life in recent month’s.
How am I doing??? all in all I hope you like this little incite into my life, as I plan to keep it going for a while at least, so any encouragement from you would be much appreciated as I thrive on support and promise to reply to anyone who can be bothered to interact!
Well I must go now, as I have to find my earplugs as my wife is dragging me to the University of East Anglia to see the American band - 30 seconds to Mars.
Best Wishes to you all
Steve
steve.denby@virgin.net
Sitting down in my living room this morning looking at yet more unsavoury weather falling, accompanied by my Siamese cat Indie, struggling to find a spot between my laptop, as well as also trying to avoid being put out in this weather! I suddenly thought it a good time to take advantage of my inactivity and write a little entry.
I have not uploaded any new images on the site for a while now, I do apologise but I have been heavily wrapped up in the Venice project I started a while back which has taken much of my time. This is coming along nicely, I feel pleased with the image collection I have up to now. I have a little further to go yet, but feel now that I should take a short break and get out again locally as I have a few ideas I would like to try before Spring arrives. I still anticipate finishing the Venice compilation soon, I will then upload scans into a new portfolio on the website and look for a venue to exhibit the prints.
I was contacted recently by the local BBC about a feature on their website which went well and would like to thank journalist Phil Daley, for all his hard work. Hopefully soon there will be an audio slideshow added, I believe the first time they have tried it, which may be interesting……. depending on just how Norfolk I sound!
Please see my latest news item.
Back to photography like I mentioned earlier, I look forward to exposing some more film soon. I have been in my darkroom struggling to keep warm far too long, but the thought of warmer weather and working some infrared film seems a while away at present! I don’t think I can remember such a dull and cold spell of weather lasting as long for many years, but as they say “there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes”, seems a while since I was struggling with temperatures of 45 degrees in Egypt only a few month’s ago.
Just a last couple of things, I am looking forward to attending the opening night of the Medieval Churches of Norwich photographby Exhibition. To be held in the Norwich Forum tomorrow evening the 22nd. I would expect to find a well put together and organised show as usual.
Last but not least, I have left a few images in the illuminated front window of the Norwich Frame workshop on St Benedict’s Street, so if you are passing stop to take a look.
Best wishes
Steve
13 December 09
Well it’s been very stressful during the last few weeks, what with two exhibitions to prepare and organise, two shows in the space of a few weeks is something I will not attempt again, if I can help it!
Anyway since then I have just returned from a trip to Venice for four days photography (which I needed) as a little bit of an unwind.
I just love Venice, historically, architecturally, romantically whichever perspective you approach it from, words fail to describe it's beauty and I’ve yet to meet anyone who’s been there and not fallen under its magical spell. The light always seems so friendly, and simply different from anywhere else, myself I believe it to be something to do with the surrounding water reflected by the lagoon. The key is to visit at the right time of the year. In mid summer the place is busy, hot and hazy, but during December or even better January and February, it’s almost deserted. In the space of four days (you don’t need more than that) I’ve witnessed amazing sunrises, blue skies and sunshine, sea fog, overcast skies and temperatures down to zero.
I would love to know how many miles I cover during the days and evenings out in the alleys and over bridges on my visits, but I know my hips always ache and have a job to get going again early each morning.
Once out though there seems to be a photographic opportunity around every corner, without too much trying. I always base myself on the edge of San Marco in a small hotel I always use, 30 seconds walk from the Square, if it were not for a few surrounding buildings I could throw a stone into the middle of the square from my room window.
I set my mobile phone alarm for 6.00am, as sunrise is around 7.00 during the winter month’s. If you get down and set up in the Piazza San Marco you will get about 40 min’s to work, before the swarms of tourists and traders with their stalls arrive.
After that it is time to head away to the far-flung areas where you get space to breath and a little silence. Taking pictures in Venice is a calming, almost spiritual experience. It’s the safest city I have ever visited even long after dark.
When I’m there I feel myself physically relaxing and slowing down. I don’t work to any specific plan, I just turn up and go with the flow, visiting locations I know and other I’ve never been to before.
Just before I left I was helping out at the frame shop putting the last few images together into frames for the Assembly House exhibition, when I cut a large chunk out of my right thumb on a sheet of glass. This plagued me throughout the whole trip, as I seemed to catch it every time I set up or packed away, it became very sore, but did not get in the way as the place just inspires me to push on!
I think I came back with 7 rolls of 120, early on the last morning I was working some high-speed film in the most amazing light at very high contrast, using dark red filtration and felt something special was materializing.
When I got back to the room I packed away as quick as I could, as time was moving on and had to vacate the room at 11am, but still had a little time to get to breakfast. On returning to the room I emptied all the exposed rolls and placed them in a blackout back to put in the hand luggage, picked up the empty boxes off the bed and threw them in the bin in the room.
First thing in the morning after returning home I started to sort through the film, so as I could start to process it. I knew I had two rolls of high-speed film that I had rated and exposed at 6400iso so I prepared the right quantity of developer. Next I went to the bag to find the two specific roll, but could only find one.
After searching the bag I was carrying that morning and then through the coat I had on, I then realised that the one roll I had looked forward to developing could have gone in the bin back at the hotel room by mistake!
I knew then I had a 50-50 chance that I may have it, as I had one roll but was unsure which it was. I always mark the iso rating I shot the film at for processing info on the roll, but no location.
After processing it turned out not to be the one………….. although it was a very promising set of negatives shot after dark under lamplight the night before. Oh well you win some you lose some and we all do stupid things (probably me more than most) but then no worries that’s life, and gives me an excuse (if I needed one) to make arrangements to return again in February
Since then I have spent time back in the darkroom, to start printing a series of an anticipated 8-10 images that I am really pleased with. Maybe then I will look for a venue to showcase “Three nights in Venicia”.
I will leave you now, but would like to remind you to pop along to the Assembly House in Norwich to take a look at my present exhibition, which is running until 31st of December, that is if you get the time during this special but hectic time of year.
Lastly I would like to wish you a Happy Christmas and a great start to your New Year.
Best wishes
Steve
3rd November 09
Well it’s been a while since I last made an entry about four months when I looked ….. oh dear I do apologise!
I have just returned from Egypt and a cruise on the Nile. Since then I have been rushing about preparing for exhibitions at the Norwich Forum in late November and the Assembly House in December. Well I had a fantastic time but for the temperatures…… 45 degrees at times in and around some of the Temples and the Valley of the Kings close to Luxor.
Like I said since I have been back I have been very busy trying to get things ready to go for the first of two exhibitions before the New Year. In between each I have a photographic trip to Venice booked for mid December. I am especially looking forward to the latter of the two (10th December – 31st at the Norwich - Assembly House) This will be a monochrome infrared only image show, which to my knowledge will be the first staged in Norfolk of pure Norfolk imagery.
Finishing touches have now been made to the Forum show with my line up decided and now in to be framed. I have decided on a 50/50 split of old images all re-worked and re-finished and completely new work, so in reality all new unseen work.
I will be present all day on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th November, so I hope to spend time chatting to anyone who can find time to drop by and say hello.
Looking forward to my trip to Venice, in my view the monochrome photographers architectural capital of the world. I am hoping for atmospheric conditions as fog and mist are usually present in the lead up to Christmas, so I have my fingers crossed. I have a few compositions planned far off the beaten tourist track, but just hope for a little decent light.
In recent months I have spent hour upon hour in the darkroom. I’m not complaining in the slightest as like I always preach, print finishing is where the real creativity and skill is to be found and I love every minute, but now with future exhibitions organised and ready I will be glad to get out in the Autumn light and fresh air with a camera.
Well that’s about it for now, other than while I am in exhibition mode I would like to mention the debut exhibition of Katja Becker entitled “Harmonie" at the Assembly House Norwich – running Tuesday 1st Dec 09 – Thursday 31st Dec 09.
Katja has been working with me for a year or so now, her traditional imagery is of a high standard and will be well worth a visit.
Best wishes
Steve
21st June 09
Summer soltice today …….the longest day of the year, good job as I still only managed to get myself out of my slumber at around 8.30, what ever happened to that early bird photographer!
So what’s new since my last post? Well I have signed contracts for an exhibition at the Assembly House – Norwich in the lead up to Christmas 10th Dec through to 24th Dec 09. The exhibition will be entitled “Invisible Light” as it will be an Infrared only show, to my knowledge the first time ever in Norfolk.
I look forward to this, as over the years the medium has become my favourite form of monochrome imagery. I have many new images from around Norfolk, which I am going to keep under wraps until December, many from North West Norfolk, were I have been working intensively in recent months.
Also I have taken on a new long-term project, which has been burning away in the back of my mind for a while now. This is going to take I would estimate around 18 month’s to two years.
My aim is to create a portfolio of images of the Rosary Cemetery – Norwich. I have been fascinated with this place for years now and spend many hours walking the paths and avenues of this magical wilderness of a place.
Many years ago I was inspired by the work of the late photographer John Gay and his dedication to the conservation and love of Highgate Cemetery in London, which culminated in the publication of the book Victorian Valhalla.
As I said I am under no illusion that this project is going to take a while, as I want to capture it over the changing Seasons, and already I seem to be forming a groove in the road between my house and the Cemetery!
I would hope to acquire and print in the next year or so around 18 – 20 images with the “wow factor” which then I will hopefully exhibit somewhere in Norwich, but I will worry about that if and when I get there.
Back to today, well as I said I did not make much of an impression on seeing an early start, but it was very overcast…….. well that’s as good an excuse as any for a photographer isn’t it?
Well in the end things went well as I found myself back at the Rosary setting up for another planned image, which after returning and developing the film found I had just what I made the trip for. And all with only three exposures!
I have been playing with a Pentax 6x7 specialised soft focus lens of late. This lens has proved to be a bit of an enigma to many, but I seemed to have got my head round it now and the results are just stunning, which is achieved by internal highlight flare rather than just plain diffusion.
Lastly after two thirds of a bottle of Etienne Dumont, I decided to jot down this blog listening to the latest Verve album "Forth", so I hope it is legible and I don’t have too thick a head in the morning.
I leave you once more with a little insight of myself at my new home down at the Rosary…….. hopefully I will be able to let you know more in my coming posts.
Best wishes
Steve
4th April 09
Well this is novel only a few weeks since my last entry……… that’s a first.
All the images for the Norwich Forum “4” exhibition are ready to go, I’ve just come away from the framers cap in hand, after agreeing to buy him a bottle of Mouton Rothschild as part payment and a thank you, so I’m hoping to make a few sales :-)
To be honest I am very pleased with the image line up, but with the way things are in the world at present, I’m not to confident of it being lucrative, but if people come along and enjoy our work I feel all the effort will be worthwhile.
We will be in the Forum in the afternoon on Sunday the 5th setting up, so if you want to come along you will no doubt see un-organised chaos in process. Also during the hanging we have a radio broadcast on Radio Norfolk at 3.30pm, which should be good for a laugh.
I hope that the Easter bank holiday weekend will bring in plenty of foot traffic through the Forum, as it will be good to meet and talk imagery to anyone who fancies a chat.
I was out with a camera today in South Norfolk the weather was warm after such a hard winter, I found the solitude very relaxing, which after the last few weeks was a nice change.
The Norwich 12 competition, presentation and weeklong exhibition went well it was great to see all the tremendous buildings supported by Norwich HEART captured very cleverly by so many creative photographers.
On this theme I have just confirmed exhibition dates at the Norwich Assembly House for December 10th – 24th which I am considering making an infrared only exhibition, so I will be doing it all again last thing in the year, but hey it is a while away yet and I will not be committing to anything else this year, so during the Summer I can just enjoy the photography!
Sometimes I like to take a complete break from photography when I feel the ideas have dried up, but at present they seem to be flowing, so I get the old notebook out and jot them down, as I have such an awful memory.
I would like to get away soon somewhere North to the mountains and relax, but as yet I have no concrete plans.
Well lastly it would be good to meet you if your about in Norwich over the Easter break, I will be present all day from Thursday 9th – Sunday 12th so come over and say hello.
If not thanks for reading this and I will try to add something again soon, when I have something a little more interesting to say.
Best wishes
Steve
17th March 09
I have just looked and it was mid January when I last posted an entry, I do apologise no excuse really, other than I have been run off my feet.
I have just finished preparing the last image for the Easter Forum 4 Exhibition that will run from 6th – 12th April at the Forum Norwich. It’s been an awful amount of hard work and organising but I think we (Jon Gibbs, Gareth Hacon, and John Duckett) have come up with something different and with the layout we have planned in the Forum I am now beginning to look forward to it.
Before that I have the overall winning image heading the first Norwich 12 photographic competition in their Exhibition again at the Forum beginning on the Monday 23rd March.
I will be present on the Monday evening and look forward to saying hello to anyone who may come along. On an exhibition theme I have not bothered with putting on a show for a few years now, and then two in the space of a few weeks… … like waiting for a bus!
Also to add to that I am in the process of arranging a further exhibition to be held in the Norwich Assembly House later in the year, as soon as I have concrete dates I will post them on the website. All in all seems like a very busy 2009.
Well at last the weather seems to be getting a little warmer, I have not long been back from my photographic trip to Prague, which was a total success (fell in love with the place) even if it was a tad frosty. I have started to print some of the negatives I came back with and if you have not noticed I have posted a couple on the site.
Today I have been out exposing a little infrared film and have just finished developing the celluloid, which seem to have gone very well. I take great pleasure from this medium, it’s only my opinion, but I believe it to be the strongest and most dramatic form of photographic art, if you are a photographer and have not tried it give it a shot. It can be frustrating, but persevere as the rewards are waiting!
On this theme I am thinking of running a few traditional monochrome workshops over the summer out in the field so to speak.
These will be covering - hand held metering for optimum exposure using monochrome film, correct use of monochrome filtration and later in the year when the sun is a little higher Infrared imagery, plus a few more tips, advise and ideas to help you along with our great mutual pastime.
If you are interested in coming along email me and I will get back to you with more details. I look forward to these workshops, as I enjoy helping others to gain the confidence to try something a little daring and slightly different, as this is what will set you apart from others over time!
Well I seem to have waffled on for long enough now. Please come along and say hello at the Forum Easter Exhibition as some of my latest work will be on display ………….. so pay me a visit it will be good to meet you, I will be there all day on the 9th 10th 11th and 12th of April.
Best wishes, Steve
12th January 09
Firstly Happy New year to everyone, I hope you all enjoyed a relaxing break from the rigours of modern day Life!
I have lots to talk about since last adding an entry to the blog, I must apologise once again for my lack of effort.
Well what’s has been happening since my last entry, inbetween trips to Leeds University picking up and dropping off my son, I have been named overall winner in the inaugural Norwich 12 competition to capture the special essence of Norwich’s most important buildings. More info can be found at http://www.norwich12.co.uk/
This will run on for a while leading up to a public exhibition at The Forum from 23 to 28 March 2009 and images will be produced as postcards for public sale. More information can be found at the above web address in early 2009.
I have just finished sorting a trip to Prague for the end of February and later a trip to Egypt in Late October, I think I shall experience a great contrast in temperatures but look forward to both trips.
I have not been as active in the darkroom as I would have liked in recent weeks but it has been so cold, the thought of having my arms up to my elbows in cold water and chemicals put me off a tad, but I feel ready to get printing again after a little break now. Although I do believe a short break can rekindle your appetite and creativity.
I have been out and about with a camera though and have been sorting through and prioritising negatives ready for finishing, so hopefully I sould have a few new images appearing on the website in the near future. In the last week or so I have spent a few days working in the grounds of Holkham Estate in the cold weather, which I found very enjoyable even if I did suffer what seemed like a little frostbite.
Changing the subject I was asked to contribute to the Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust – HEART Newsletter Q&A’s which I was happy to undertake when I have more info about the next publication I will add it to the latest news on the website.
In the mean time I also recommend a visit to their website at http://www.heritagecity.org as they are a charitable company set up to act as an umbrella organisation for all the fantastic and often unknown heritage on offer in Norwich.
Well again I wish you all a very happy New Year and look forward to adding something here again soon.
Best wishes, Steve
7th October 2008
Once again I apologise for my continued lack of work in the blog dept!
Is it October already, oh well at last my favourite season is upon us once again.
I plan to start the autumn in Snowdonia………..so my favourite Season in one of, if not my favourite U.K location (other than Norfolk of course).
I plan to leave for the mountains on Saturday 11th accompanied by “K” (Katja Becker) if I have not mentioned before a very talented young German fine art photographer & print finisher.
I plan to take K to many of the stunning hidden away places I have discovered over many visits to North Wales over the years. It will be good as K works in the same format as myself & has this great bubbly wit and eye for the “something different”. Also being a traditional monochrome printer she pre-visualizes a scene much as I do, so the banter and conversation should be interesting!
I enjoy the opportunity to work in an area contrasting completely to my home County of Norfolk. I always try to head away for the last few weeks of October as the holiday season is all but finished, & the light is superb in the last throws before the clocks change once more.
On the higher ground I find myself drawn a lot of the time to the beautiful fast moving streams & mountain run-offs.
At this time of the year the leaves are starting to depart from their branches, after turning a beautiful pale yellow, making for wonderful highlights shining against dark foreboding rocks.
I have just acquired a very high quality close focus lens & have a feeling that it is going to find itself well worked recording detail, while I am knee deep in a few mountain streams in the next week or two.
We will be situated on a working farm, which may be interesting, I am sure I may have a few lines to add about it in my next blog, after returning from the local watering hole each evening..........this photography thing can be such a bind :-)
Well I will be off until next time, again sorry for letting it go for so long without making an entry.
Best Wishes to you all
Steve
11th July 08
Firstly I would like to apologise for the lack of input in the blog department since May, no excuses offered other than I have been very busy with one thing and another.
Well since I last made an entry the Jurassic Coast trip to Dorset has been and gone. To be honest the weather was glorious pure blue skies everyday (not a monochrome photographers best wish) but for everyone else a real treat.
Although the light conditions were not as I would have wished for I did manage one image that was worth the trip alone.
This came very early one morning around 5.45 at the base of Swyre Head looking back towards the stunning & fearsome Bat’s Head. I had intended to go down onto the beach at Durdle Door, but the sky was beginning to brew up toward the south and so pulled me along the top of the cliffs toward Swyre Head. I quickly set up a camera & tripod, which I had managed to hump what seemed like miles as the drama in the sky was beginning to get overpowering!
The fruits of all the effort can be seen in the new additions portfolio and later will be transferred to beyond Norfolk.
Since returning I have been working on a few new ideas I have had, but I find this time of the year hard to obtain anything that I feel really satisfied with (roll on the Autumn)……….. I know, wishing my life away sad aye!
To end with I thought that I should mention that I have two images representing Norfolk, that have just been published in the U.K’s Best 101 Landscape locations in the Photography Monthly magazine, just out on the shelves in the August 2008 edition. This is well worth a look as there are some amazing images.
Once again Best Wishes to you all
Steve
11th May 08
Hello once again,
Sorry it’s been so long since my last entry but I have been very busy rushing about Norfolk putting into practice a few ideas I had, working mainly with infrared during this present good spell of weather, also putting the finishing touches to a photographic trip to Dorset’s Jurassic Coast.
The Dorset trip is happening in around three weeks, most of the trip has been meticulously planned, as I want to spend a few days on the Kimmeridge ledges and around St Alban’s Head. Hopefully my next blog will include a little about the trip, that is if I don’t miss judge the tide on the ledges at Kimmeridge and come to a horrible watery end :-)
I have some very promising negatives waiting to be finished in recent weeks, but feel a little unable to shut myself away in the dark while the weather is so fine.
Trouble is I always seem to get drawn into the dark as I just can’t keep myself from what I believe is my home and the Sharp end of my photography, where it all matters and happens the darkroom!
To finish with I have been working on an idea with a friend of mine also a local Norfolk photographer on running some Traditional photographic workshops. At the present we are thinking of starting these in the Autumn, so if you would be interested in joining us all drop me a line and I will be hopefully be able to give you a little more info on what we intend to be covering and where.
Oh well I will be off for now, take care and I look forward to adding a little more in a week or two.
8th April 08
Hello,
Well I have had a very interesting few weeks sorting out my arrangement with my colleagues at the Norwich frame workshop in Norwich as if you had noticed in the latest news item my imagery will be very soon exclusive to them in the Norfolk area. I am as I have said pleased with this arrangement as it is going to allow me to spend an awful lot more time being creative rather than dashing all over the place. As always prints will still be available direct through the website.
Right now on to something a lot more interesting……. I have just decided after meeting a very talented young German fine art photographer Katja Becker, to let her shadow and work with me on occasion in the future.
She has only been living in the area a short time but has a very good knowledge of traditional darkroom processes, which she has self-taught herself amazingly to quite a high standard, and a stunning eye for the “something different” so I can see her being more than a big help to me :-)
So with this in view and her complete passion for the traditional side to photography (a very refreshing contrast to most young photographers today in this digital age) I have decided to let her work with me periodically in the time to come, that is until she gets fed up with my constant moaning about everything from finding somewhere to leave the vehicle to our ever changing weather, and the fact that I’m getting tired of humping all the equipment on my own.
I did not make this decision without a lot of thought, but after consideration and the thought of a little company after years and years of working in complete solitude, I thought it might make a nice change, also the fact I think I may benefit from her very bright and sharp mind.
I wish “K” all the best, as it is my intension to help her become a big force on the photographic scene in the area in period to come!
Well it’s about time to sign of again for now, as we are up at 5am tomorrow as the forecast is good and we have a few ideas to put into practice.
2nd March 08
Hello again,
I have not stopped since last sitting down to do this, as without being aware my son entered a literary competition “should the Holocaust be a mandatory taught subject at school”
About four weeks before he was supposed to fly, he announced that he had won the Government sponsored trip to Poland to visit Auschwitz concentration & Berkenau death camps.
He had no passport but after a lot of grief we got that sorted, and then an early morning drop off 4.30am at Luton Airport. Fortunately I did not have to make the pick up trip, but we waited up for him to get back, then after a long day and just drifting off we were treated to an earthquake!
Anyway the photography, I have been experimenting with an old-fashioned bellows camera and an up-tight tilt-shift lens. This has been great fun as I have now gone a step further by combining it with infrared imagery. Playing with the lens it’s giving me a wonderful pin sharp sweet spot of focus and zany controlled blurring. I am starting to acquire stunning visual effects, every photographer looking for an edge should have a set-up like this :-)
I am hoping as the year goes on and I get a little more daring to start showing some of my labours.
Well I shall sign out again for a week or so, but going back to my son Alex’s trip he managed to persuade my wife to lend him her digital camera. I spent hours looking at his images including some short video clips, one of which shows their moments walking through one of the appalling gas chambers. It portrayed a bunch of teenagers in complete silence, a fitting depiction of such a horrific but educational experience for such young minds!
After a little manipulation, I have put a few of his images online below.
Steve
16th February 08
Hello,
Last Thursday evening Nicky and I met up with a good friend and ex work colleague of mine, Mick and his wife Kathy to go along for a personal tour of Surrey House the magnificent heart of Norwich Union which opened in 1907.
I had been before and since have become good friends with Sheree Leeds, Norwich Union archivist, a truly inspirational and educated person.
We turned up at around 6.30pm in complete disarray all looking in different directions and sending security staff searching, but eventually came together and made our way through all the military like security to be sat down in the most magnificent canteen backing on to Surrey House under a new but beautifully stunning roof adjoining the old and new architecture.
After around 45mins sat chatting and catching up while being mothered and entertained by Sheree we made our way through into the marble halls of Surrey House.
Now I don’t know if any of you have been inside this magnificent building but I knew what a dramatic first impression was waiting! This building is a marvel and of course was the inspiration of without doubt the most important and influential local architect, in my opinion, George Skipper. If you are familiar with my site you will find a few images portraying architecture given to us by this great man.
After three hours, which seemed like the blink of the eye the tour ends in the boardroom of Norwich Union Surrey House, to be honest a very heavily intimidating; no expense spared but awe-inspiring room. I sat at the head of the boardroom table and imagined what it must have been like to be summoned to address the directors of this immensely powerful company, a situation that must have been very difficult to deal with!
I would like to thank Sheree and Norwich Union for their wonderful hospitality, but above all George Skipper for his wonderful creation that is Surrey House.
Steve
3rd February 2008
Hello All,
I have just had a rush of blood to the head, as this blog is an idea that I have had for a while now so here goes……… Well Christmas has come and all but been forgotten, halleluiah I can hear you saying.
Well to be frank I have been very lazy photographically since recovering from a few too many drinks and musty early morning heads over the festive period.......as you do :-)
Anyway this morning I thought I had better get stimulated and so have been checking on a few new image locations I have in mind, deciding how I shall go about certain tasks (sun & shadow orientation etc) secretly hoping I will still be able to lie in bed that little bit longer until first light, so as to get that important caffeine boost before I head out! Also looking through my film stocks, to find I have plenty (so no excuses there) :-(
To be truthful I am planning lots in the coming months including a trip to North Yorkshire as an invited guest of a good customer of mine.
So to be honest I feel very motivated after a few non-photographic distractions in my life in recent month’s.
How am I doing??? all in all I hope you like this little incite into my life, as I plan to keep it going for a while at least, so any encouragement from you would be much appreciated as I thrive on support and promise to reply to anyone who can be bothered to interact!
Well I must go now, as I have to find my earplugs as my wife is dragging me to the University of East Anglia to see the American band - 30 seconds to Mars.
Best Wishes to you all
Steve
steve.denby@virgin.net
