MOUSTASHIE: April 2015

Thursday, 30 April 2015

The First Coloured Photographs

The ethereal images were taken on the beach at Lulworth Cove, Dorset, when Malcolm was 42

THE FIRST COLOURED PHOTOGRAPHS

Just before I went to bed last night, I had a quick flick on the Daily Mail Online for the gazillionth time that day (I'm not even going to lie and say I'm not addicted to it, because that wouldn't be true in the slightest) and I'm rather glad I did because as sometimes happens with the Daily Mail Online, you occasionally come across articles that are actually rather good with this being one of them. The article was all about an English electrical engineer and photographer named Mervyn O'Gorman, who is reputed to heave taken some of the first ever coloured photographs back in 1913 using a special process called Autochrome, which involves using glass plates covered in potato starch grains to add different coloured dyes to photographs. Mervyn's subject matter was his beautiful daughter Christina who he photographed at various locations around the stunning, tranquil Lulworth Cove, Dorset, wearing different kinds of red clothing to compliment the hue of her spiralling strawberry blonde hair. By using additional photography techniques such as a long exposure, large aperture and narrow depth of field, Mervyn created a series of dreamlike, nostalgic, romantic, and ever so gorgeous photographs that wouldn't look a drop out of place amongst the similar photography styles favoured by modern day photographers both amateur and professional. Mervyn was a pioneer of his time, a man sparkling with a flurry of creative ideas, beautiful visions, an electrical impulse to push the boundaries and explore the realms of photography further than had ever been done before, to see where they might lead.

I adore these photographs because they're so timeless, so innocent, so magical and infused with the most gorgeous gentle colour palette. They celebrate natural beauty and perfectly capture days gone by through Mervyn O'Gorman's intuitive, sharp and unique creative eye, and I thought it would be ever so rude of me not to share these wonderful photos with you too.

-If you would like to see these photographs on display, they are currently being exhibited at the National Media Museum in Bradford and you can find out more information here. All photographs belong to Mervyn O'Gorman-

The delicately-coloured images are on display at the National Media Museum in Bradford

The delicately-coloured images are on display at the National Media Museum in Bradford

Mervyn was known as an early pioneer of colour photography and often used the autochrome process, which involved using glass plates covered in potato starches grains to filter pictures with dye

Christina is seen sitting on the Dorset beach with friends in the 102-yr-old images

Christina's life remains a mystery as there are no recorded detail of the then-teen's life

A collection of pictures of Christina O'Gorman posing for her father, electrical engineer and photographer Mervyn O'Gorman, back in 1913 have been revealed as some of the earliest colour photographs ever taken

The strawberry-blonde teenager wore red, probably at the request of her father as the vibrant colour captured particularly well via the autochrome process

Tuesday, 28 April 2015

NY Through The Lens

New York City - Sunsets

We stood there,

your hand in mine,

as the skyscrapers

dotted the horizon

like nervous heartbeats

syncopated in time

to the city’s nervous

energy.

And as the sun caressed

our faces

with its warmth,

our hearts

skipped together

over the buildings

towards the horizon

infinite and full

of life.

—

♥

These are some of the hundreds of photos featured in my New York photography book released in stores everywhere worldwide recently.

Info about the book (including many photos, sample pages, and info about my history and style of photography):

NY Through The Lens: A New York Coffee Table Book

—

View: My New York City photography portfolio, Cameras and Gear I Use, My Travel Blog, On G+,email me, or ask for help.

NY THROUGH THE LENS

Back in June 2012 (almost three years ago now, where has the time gone!) I was lucky enough to go to the mesmerising, electric, beautiful city of dreams that is New York City with my family for a week, and ever since then I've been absolutely, unashamedly, completely and utterly enamoured with it. I've never been anywhere like it before and I doubt I'll ever experience anything quite like it again. It's so hard to put into words just how magical New York is, with the magic being something so gloriously intoxicating that once you feel it pulsing through your veins you can never quiet be the same person again. Experiencing a city like New York changes you, inspires you, influences you, showing you what life can and could be like. Showing you that worlds such as the one existing there, where everything and anything at all is possible, where everyone feeds their all into the heart of the city, keeping it pumping and sustaining the electric hum of life, where life is seized by both hands and lived to the fullest, really do exist. I just love it all, every single part of it, which is why when I discovered the absolutely wonderful, amazing, brilliant blog 'NY Through the Lens' owned by the lovely Vivienne Gucwa, I subsequently fell just a little bit in love with that too. If you have a soft spot for New York City, especially googling pictures of it and subsequently pining away for hours at a time, longing to be there amongst it all, then you'll 1) adore Vivienne's blog and 2) some of those images you've been pining over are very likely to have been artfully shot by Vivienne herself.

Vivienne is a New York native originally from Queens and now living in Manhattan. The story behind her blog is so, so inspiring, with Vivienne originally buying a camera to document the beautiful imagery of New York City, that she would discover whilst taking walks to both explore the city and combat stress. Vivienne then set up a blog, 'NY Through the Lens', to post her photography and share her vision of New York City with the world. Despite being new to photography and subsequently teaching herself everything she needed to know, she quickly amassed over 70,000 followers with her audience now approximating 2,5 million viewers who like me adore her work to an infinite degree. Off the success of her truly brilliant blog, Vivienne has also managed to release a book that documents all her gorgeous photography of New York, as well as travel the world (which she documents on her companion blog Traveling Lens) and turn her passion, talent and love for photography into a hugely successful career, which she absolutely more than deserves. I adore 'NY Through The Lens' because not only does it celebrate, capture and embrace the beauty, magic, electricity and heart of New York City, from the most recognised areas to the wonderful unknown secrets, but also it shares all those things with the rest of the world, transporting that magic worldwide and allowing us non NYC natives to also share that magic, that vision and almost be a part of it all too. So thank you Vivienne, so, so much, for enlightening our worlds with your stunning photography.

http://nythroughthelens.com/

-All photos belong to Vivienne Gucwa and can be found on her gorgeous blog, which I strongly urge you to visit! :) -

New York City - Rain at Night

When I first started delving into photography, one of the earliest conundrums I remember reading about involved the debate between technical perfection and artistic license. It always struck me as an odd topic, particularly since I have always approached my photography as a means to express emotion and mood rather than a way to highlight technical prowess.

It’s difficult to say that there is one right way to approach art since all art is subjective. It’s important though to figure out what you are trying to express. Are you trying to express a…continue reading here…

—

This is my weekly blog post to PDN’s Emerging Photographer’s Blog.

—-

Enjoy!

—-

View large: “New York City - Rain and Wet Sidewalks” in my photography portfolio here, Gear List, Travel Blog, email me, or ask for help.

Coney Island beach at sunset with the Wonder Wheel and the Cyclone. Brooklyn, New York City.

Coney Island is the site of my favorite New York City beach. The Rockaways in Queens have become popular over the last few years and while I have fond memories of the Rockaways (since I grew up in Queens) Coney Island tugs at my heart in the best way possible. There is nothing like standing on the old pier that juts out into the Atlantic ocean while watching the waves crash onto the shore as the lights on the Wonder Wheel and the Cyclone twinkle in the distance like a tiny city of candles.

When I was much younger, I moved to New Mexico for a year and a half. I was in high school at the time and many fellow students would ask me what it was like to live so close to the ocean and I could never quite explain what it was like at the time. I was always at a loss for words. It was what I grew up with and it was hard for me to imagine life without access to the ocean.

Years later, it’s still hard to fully put into words what it is like: breathing in salty ocean air, viewing the night sky while listening to waves, the feel of cool sand on bare feet, jumping through the ocean with wild abandon.

I think I keep taking photos in an attempt to further explain what the ocean means to me. Isn’t that why we write, take photos, paint, dance, create music and engage in a variety of other artistic pursuits? It’s to put into form those feelings and experiences that remain otherwise formless.

—

View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page
—

Buy “Coney Island Beach at Sunset - Brooklyn - New York City” Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

New York City sunset over the Brooklyn Bridge and New York City skyline.

—

Summer is a kiss

from the sun

that lingers

on the city’s lips:

a whisper of a

season.

And its light

imprints itself

onto the city’s heart

forever.

—

This is a view of the Brooklyn Bridge and the New York City skyline of Lower Manhattan in the Financial District taken with the Sony NEX-6 during a beautiful summer sunset. The buildings in the foreground belong to Dumbo, Brooklyn.

—-

View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page

—

View “Brooklyn Bridge and New York City Skyline - Summer Sunset” in my photography portfolio here, email me, or ask for help.

New York City - Autumn - Central Park - Lake

—

Autumn is the kiss that summer lingers a little longer for;

a warm whisper caressing winter’s ear.

And as the trees arch their arms towards the earth,

heavy with summer’s promises,

winter’s grey sky looks on

in envy.

—More Central Park autumn views: Looking for more autumn beauty? Here is a post for the 2014 fall season showing more of Central Park’s autumn landscapes with expanded information about when the leaves change (they have started to change!), when peak autumn occurs, and more:

New York Autumn - Central Park’s Most Beautiful Autumn Views

—

Information about my New York City photography book which is releasing in stores and online in the autumn of 2014 (including where to order it):

NY Through The Lens: A New York Coffee Table Book

—-

View: “New York Autumn - Central Park Fall Foliage at The Lake” Prints here, My Travel Blog, On G+, email me, or ask for help.

New York City - Brooklyn - Bushwick - Night

Dancing with the shapes

on the walls,

the night’s music

wraps itself

around the day’s memory

as Bushwick

dreams another

night away.

——-

*taken with my Sony A7S.

——-

Information about my New York City photography book which is releasing in stores and online in the autumn of 2014 (including where to order it):

NY Through The Lens: A New York Coffee Table Book

——

View: My photography portfolio, My Travel Blog, On G+,email me, or ask for help.

New York City - Snow - Central Park

Covered by a blanket of snow,

the earth stopped spinning.

All was silenced

except for the muffled

heartbeat of the city

falling in love with

winter

one snowflake

at a time.

—

This is an alternative edit of one of the hundreds of photos featured in my New York photography book which released in stores everywhere worldwide on November 24th. Info about the book (including many photos, sample pages, and info about my history and style of photography):

NY Through The Lens: A New York Coffee Table Book

—-

View: “Central Park Winter - Snow at Bow Bridge - New York City” Prints here, Cameras and Gear I Use, My Travel Blog, On G+, email me, or ask for help.

New York City skyline and the Roosevelt Island tram

The Roosevelt Island Tram has been taking commuters from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island since the 1970s. It was completely renovated and modernized in 2010. Its highest point is 250 feet up in the air and it travels alongside the Queensboro Bridge above the East River.

I have always referred to it lovingly as the slow amusement park ride in the middle of New York City. The views of midtown Manhattan’s skyscrapers as the tram car moves up and over the changing cityscape are absolutely breathtaking.

It’s the closest I can get to my childhood dreams of soaring above and through the city like Batman.

—

View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page

—

View “New York City Skyscrapers and the Roosevelt Island Tram at Dusk” in my photography portfolio here, email me, or ask for help.

Chrysler Building, Tudor City, and the New York City skyline

—

This has always been one of my favorite views of the Chrysler Building. This particular image was taken with the Sony A77 while on a boat in the East River. The buildings in front of the Chrysler Building are the buildings of Tudor City.

Tudor City has a rather interesting history. Before it was Tudor City, it was known as Goat Hill due to the large amounts of goats that roamed the area in the 1800s. In the mid 19th century, the area was known as Corcoran’s Roost, named after the founder Jimmy Corcoran. Violent crime and waterfront piracy dominated the area during the 19th century. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that Tudor City took shape when a real estate developer decided to impose his vision of an urban paradise on the area. Its name is a bit of a misnomer since the architecture that dominates Tudor City is mostly neo-Gothic.

The area has also been used quite a bit in different films throughout the years such as: The Godfather Part III, Scarface,The Peacemaker, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2,Spider-Man 3, Splash, Taxi Driver, and The Bourne Ultimatum.

—

View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page

—

View “Chrysler Building and New York City Skyline” in my photography portfolio here, email me, or ask for help.

Early Sunday morning on Orchard Street. Lower East Side. New York City.

On cold city mornings, birds pepper the bone-white sky with movement.

And through the haze left over by clouds caught in the scuffle between autumn and winter, the wind rushes through the streets like the ghosts of yesterday’s thoughts.

—

View this photo larger and on black on my Google Plus page

—

Buy “Sunday Morning on Orchard Street - Lower East Side - New York City” Posters and Prints here, email me, or ask for help.

Sunday, 26 April 2015

The Interchange #4

THE INTERCHANGE #4

Another Sunday another radio show! Today's show was quite possibly one of my favourites, especially in terms of the new music I played. By searching the depths of Noisetrade as per usual, I somehow managed to salvage some really, really, really good music by some absolutely wonderful and super talented new or lesser known artists including Courtney Barnett, Highly Suspect, Gregory Alan Isakov, Gill Landry and St Paul & The Broken Bones (who may or may not have received a highly enthusiastic, capitalised tweet...). Like always I also played some crackers from more well known artists like the Foos, Fleetwood Mac, Carole King and Oasis, and all the wonderful music cumulated together lead to me being unable to resist having a good old singalong in the privacy of the Fuse FM studio. Top it all off with the fact it was sunny and warm outside, and that I've had a rather wonderful weekend save for the pesky cough I've somehow acquired in the midst of the glorious weather, and I'm having sausages for dinner tonight *woop woop* and it all made for a really fab show that had me remembering just how much I love being on the radio. Tis awesome, really awesome, and with that here is today's playlist for you to enjoy....

fusefm.co.uk

GILL LANDRY

Just Like You

COURTNEY BARNETT

Pedestrian At Best

GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV

Big Black Car

HIGHLY SUSPECT

Lost

ST PAUL AND THE BROKEN BONES

Lost

CIRCA WAVES

Stuck In My Teeth

ANDREW COMBS

Foolin'

-THE INTERCHANGE-

FOO FIGHTERS

Back & Forth

NEW RADICALS

You Get What You Give

FLEETWOOD MAC

I Don't Want To Know

FAITH NO MORE

From Out of Nowhere

CAROLE KING

You've Got A Friend

OASIS

She's Electric

Friday, 24 April 2015

Vogue Covers

VOGUE COVERS

On Wednesday I did what I always do on Wednesdays up here in Manchester and made my way up to Central Library in the sunshine, to take a browse at the books on offer (of which there are sooooo many to choose from). I stopped going to the library back home because the librarians there seemed to just hate teenagers, but as someone who loves books to a ridiculous amount and constantly feels the need to be reading something, and without breaking the bank too, the library is essentially my spiritual home. So naturally when my friend suggested we join up at the library in Manchester back in February, I jumped at the chance and like I said before it's something of a weekly ritual for me because I just love reading new things, gaining new information, exploring my literary horizons so to speak.

Now on this particular visit I happened to wander around the art and design section, and what should catch my eye but a book entitled 'Vogue Covers; On fashion's front page', edited by Robin Derrick and Robin Muir. I picked it up out of curiosity and am so, so, so happy I did because it's literally a bible of some sorts, filled from cover to cover with all these gorgeous, beautiful, inspiring images that have graced Vogue magazine over the decades. The covers range from the sublime art deco-esque illustrations of the 20's and 30's right through to all these iconic photographs from the 60's through to the 00's of truly stunning fashion icons, like Kate Moss, Jean Shrimpton, Naomi Campbell and Twiggy. Every page is a source of mesmerising artistic inspiration and I'm love with every image I come across. It's also so interesting to see how fashion has evolved over the years, intertwining itself with the trends, technologies and influences available to keep on the forefront of modern times. What constituted as 'high fashion' back in the early 1900's, and how it was conveyed through the media, is so different to what high fashion is perceived as nowadays, and despite how much I love the fashion industry I've grown up with for the most part, it does make me long nostalgically for the fashion industry that existed almost a century ago. So to celebrate the old, the new and everything between, here are some of my favourite covers from the book....

http://www.vogue.co.uk/

-All photos belong to Vogue/ Conde Nast and are linked to their original source-