Bang Bang Photographs’ blog

Although the back end of our summer seems pretty rubbish it still has a great atmosphere to it and the opportunity to get some great moody photos. The summer has been slow for my photography but I did have a great trip to Cornwall and the Eden Project which proved fruitful.

 

 

The summer has been more about the band and getting that up and running. We lost a member at the start of the summer and had a lot of ground to make up by re-recording and programming songs so that we could get it back on target. We have spent a lot of time gearing up for some gigs with our new line up and equipment, which so far seems to be going down very well. We also have our biggest show to come at the Pride festival in Ipswich in Suffolk. It will be the biggest crowd we have ever played to we want to get it right (also get out on stage in front of that many people and not freeze up).        

 

I know autumn is on its way as I am beginning to see more and more lines of geese fly across the lifeless skies we are having at the moment. Autumn is my favourite time of year. It brings a sense of nostalgia to me and a warm homely feeling. It is also my birthday in October and Halloween too!!! I love Halloween, even thought trick or treat and the idea of it being a holiday in the UK has not really caught on, it still seems a special time for me. It is also quite productive musically, stirring emotions ignored while the sun is shining. I also find that the music I listen to also changes with the weather and the seasons. From the summer being party tunes and happy songs to the autumn and winter being folkie, ambient, dreamy and again nostalgic stuff.

 

At this moment in time I am looking out the window of my pokey lab at the grey rainy skies contemplating doing a bit more work. Maybe I should… I have an hour left before I am free to leave and become my pop star alter ego ;)

Ok so I am going to try my hand at blogging properly. As you can see I started this a while a go but never really posted much. I am still not sure what to write about or whether I actually understand the whole thing. I guess maybe the point is you maybe don’t have to get it, just write down what you think or do. One of you will be interested enough to come back and read it again.

 

Right to start with my name is Jamie and I live in the UK. I am 34 (going on 12 sometimes) I am quite spiritual mainly focused on Buddhism. I am also Dyslexic… that is not an excuse (everything comes with spell check these day) but just sometimes it is difficult to express your point in words so sometimes things might not scan so well. I have a very beautiful partner and she is my rock, my daily focus and my regular kick up my arse (thanks angel).

 

So the day job… hmmm it’s in quality control and is NOT my life path…. I focus on the other parts of my life, the bits that very soon will be the day job. I probably won’t talk much about the day job as it’s everything else which is all consuming in my life. Sooooo what it it that makes me tick then? I am a music producer, song writer, DJ, photographer, hill walker and all round lover of life (not the work bit but we have already established that). The music is the biggest thing… I WANNA BE A POP STAR!!!!! ….and will be ;) I love music, specifically electronic based music. I am also sound obsessed too (you know everything in life has a unique sound or rhythm and I love to hear that, but I will blog about that later). I love good uplifting dance, deep ambient, soundscapes and field work, break beat, old school Hip Hop…. ooohh this list could be endless. I am a massive fan of Boards of Canada and Loop Guru, they have been the big inspirations in my life (thank you guys)

 

I guess the photography helps me to put pictures to the sounds…. I love good landscapes, cityscapes, dereliction but my favourite is lives and faces, you know what you look like in your surroundings and what you do and wear. My big inspiration there is the work of Steve McCurry. I think he captured that idea perfectly. It is also handy that I love walking and exploring as it takes me to good shots and new faces and places. I don’t get to do much though as I am working so much on the music.

 

I hope that this time I can continue to keep up this blog and look forward to your comments and feedback on any thoughts pictures or music I may post… life is about exchange… in ideas and knowledge. I hope to learn from this and I also hope to teach (inadvertently) too. I am not about to start preaching just let you know what’s up…

Wow its been a busy two weeks! I have been recording and mixing an EP for my band which is now finished and winging its way to our distributer. Now I am right in the middle of recording, producing and mixing a single!  As such my voxing has taken a bit of a back seat as with my picture tacking! Mind you I will be documenting the recording process for the band. While we have been recording I have also been messing around with a high speed memory card and motor shutter setting to give a stop frame film effect that I can make into video clips. I seems to work quite well! I will try and post the some of that up when I have edited it.

 

This is an amazing track. I have an obsession or fascination with sound which is why I got into music production and song writing. This track has a rich tapestry of sound which drags you further and further in as rhythms and sounds fade in and out of the audio picture. Its clever use of field recordings has me wanting to visit the places just as much as a photo would. Easy listening it ain't but worth a listen it might just change the way you hear everyday sounds. Its by Quiet American on the Label Webbed Hand and the track is called Khulna Station. 

I love this track especially when you are either taking picture / being creative of looking at other peoples pictures. It really helps me immerse myself and become part of the whole experience. The track is called Shelter by the artist Mooma from the album Herd Forming. The whole album is just beautiful and can be found on his website...Mooma.info

I'm not a pro photographer but a very keen beginner, but when the alarm goes off at 5 in the morning and you peel you eye lids open you get to thinking... WHY AM I DOING THIS!

But as the sun starts to rise and with hot chocolate in the flask it all becomes clear. Just to add to the mood I listen to my favourite music start shooting. Some of my favourite inspirations ar the Boards of Canada, Peter Gabriel, Darshen Ambient or even a little bit of 80's New Wave.

This last shot is a bit burnt out but I think it has a bit of the bright light from above feel about it.... or am I being a bit hippie like... LOL.

 

I know this picture isn't technically very good but there is something about I love. I dont know what or why I just do. I guess thats what its all about really ... it doesnt have to be technically perfect so long as you like it!

From time to time I like to travel to the Cotswolds and look at the beautiful houses and sit among them dreaming of owning one. I took this picture of one of my favourites so that I could pin it to my wall as something to aim for. Now where is that pen and paper, I better get writing that number 1 hit record!!!

 

These are the picture I took at the Point of Ayr in Wales. It was the first time we have been which is funny as it is only an hour away. It will definatley be a regular spot to visit though. The weather was good, the beach was clean and the views were great.