1.1.11 - A new decade begins

So the new decade begins here...I never make resolutions...but I always hope that the world will become a better place and wars poverty and suffering will be a thing of the past. Vast improvements have been made in the last 100 years of course but there is still work to be done! Within minutes of the New Year commencing, a Facebook friend in Egypt posted a video of the aftermath of a bomb that exploded down her street she thought at a mosque. So there is a lot of work to be done and we have to redouble our efforts. Happy New Year!

New Book : Papillon

I have a new book published. I have spent the last three years photographing the stand-up comedy, cabaret, poetry and music scene in South Wales as a project for my Photography Masters degree. I have produced a book of black and white photographs which you can order by emailing me at rhysjones@ntlworld.com. My current intention is to undertake research building on work I have already completed but linking photography and art to the world of neuroscience and in particular to the world of conditions on the autism spectrum. Art and science are interlinked. Autism spectrum conditions have, as typical symptoms, some sort of communication problem or disorder. Photography, as a mysterious art form, can help generate a picture to a clinician of what a subject is trying to say without necessarily any words passing from the subject under review. Art can often be used to analyse what we are thinking and mean to put across and I am researching the use of art and photography as a tool alongside scientific analysis obtained by continuing studies in the field of neuroscience.

Encore une fois - Paris

I'm working in Paris over the week-end until next Monday. Another opportunity to take in the architectural delights of Montparnasse, the quartier where I am staying. On the first Sunday of each month entry to all museums and galleries is completely free so I hope to take advantage of that offer, work permitting! I'm lucky to have this opportunity to travel in a time of economic recession so I'm going to make the most of it!

Le Grand Départ

Always useful to have a signpost, direction board or map when starting out on something new. Sometimes though the end of the journey is unfamiliar but we should still start.

What we say is what we mean ?

.......well mostly but frequently communication differences often arise unintentionally and this is where the use of photography may have a part to play in teasing out what someone is feeling. Photography can also be used to exaggerate the distances that people put between themselves. I came across an interesting project by artist Alicia Eggert called Red Collar Incorporated which she explored some issues of miscommunication and set up a number of experiments with collaborators involving music and dance. A common example in management courses is for each person to take turns communicating a concept to the next person in a circle and see how this is is communicated to each person in turn and what the original concept ends up as when the last person re-communicates to the originator.

Photoshooting

Just completed a photoshoot with a South-Wales based burlesque troupe called The Dollie Mixtures. They put a lot of hard work into their dance routines and really stay authentic to the origins of burlesque with a retro feel and I've tried to interpret that retro feel in the photos I've done for them. They have a web site. All their shows raise a lot of money for different charities. The photoshoot I've just done is for a series of images to go into their 2011 Charity Calendar which will be on sale from their web site. Keep checking back. We had a lot of fun with the photos and I'm sure this will come out in the final product. The photo here was taken on Penarth Beach on an especially sunny day.

Making a list

Had an early night last night, which I needed and managed to get in 12 hours sleep...so I really must have needed it! It was like the sleep of Lethe, named after the Greek god of sleep...the word literally translates to oblivion and forgetfulness. I awoke to the Radio 4 Today programme and he first words I could make out where those of Thought for the Day where the speaker was talking about a list that was made by Kate Greene, a mother of two young boys, who sadly died from cancer. It was a list of 100 items she made for her partner with thoughts she had for him to do with the boys after she was gone. I found it very poignant but a great way to make something positive when everything around must have felt like falling apart. I'm doing a photoshoot this week-end and I've made my own list to try and make everything run as fault free as possible. Kate's list is one that anyone with kids could use to make family life as fulfilled as possible...so I'm glad I heard that thought for the day!