[Deep Breath]

I’m 40 this year; in a few week’s time in fact.

And, until now, I wasn’t sure ‘getting to 40′ was something to celebrate — or how to do it; but just today I got an idea as to how I can record it that will reflect brilliantly where I am now; and my passions.

I’d like to commission a photograph from everyone I know.

I’d like you to take/make a single photographic image — of whatever you think I’d like to have an image of and send it to me.

The image can be of anything — write me a note, sketch or doodle, photograph yourself or something (anything) you think will excite, intrigue or amuse me. I don’t mind if your skills aren;‘t great or if it’s on a camera phone (or whatever), I care that you thought a little about it, and that you created this work just for me.

I will then take all the submitted images and collate them into a book (just for me) that will be my momento of my 40th. If you include a message with the image I’ll make sure that, and your name, goes in the book.

You can add it to the facebook page, email it —  or post it (please ask for my postal address in a private message!)

I will be celebrating my birthday (28th March) with family around the ‘big day’ and then having a more proper party a little later in the year (my March is already busy enough!)

Please do this — it will mean a lot to me

Thanks!

This post is a cry for help — 21 years ago I reacted to the album by creating a book containing linked imagery to my rendition of the words found on the album.

I’m now returning to this work and expanding it — which, for me, has to include collaboration.

So, if you do remember the album and want to submit a word, a sentence or an essay relating — or a photo, sketch or doodle then please get in touch

I’m going to create a post now where I’m very self-indulgent — and talk about my activities over the last year and how they impacted upon me. I’m aware this isn’t the best way to blog — and certainly won’t change anything in others. But it may help me exorcise some demons, so — here goes.

As I travelled through the year I didn’t really realise that I was going through a series of ups and downs. This is a public message so I’m not going to detail all my complaints of the year we’re about to leave but, if nothing else, I learnt a lot about what I like, what I’m like and, most importantly, that I was involved in a few things that I no longer had the time, energy or interest in. I also realise, very much, that I was spreading myself too thin in several areas.

Exposure Leeds has continued to grow and change into something more mature. I think it’s fair to say that a few of the projects we hoped to progress and haven’t grown at the rate we’d like — but it is a small voluntary organisation with limited funds and resources. The fact we have achieved over 35 events throughout the year, exhibitions, a publication and our conference weekend is testament to it’s importance.

I enjoyed a second year at the 3 Harbours Arts Festival — especially in creating the Photospace — a photographer’s only exhibition within the festival — and in launching the festival’s new website. I’m hoping to again take an active role in 2012; and maybe (just maybe) I’ll not vex my main contact, Yvonne, quite as much! (“Sorry!”)

Out of this and other activities has come a turning point in my own photography. I enjoyed displaying imagery from the previous festival at this year’s 3 Harbours — and got a good reaction to it. However, part of me thought I wasn’t developing much — but I took time to turn some of the activities I’ve taken part in into collections of images. And I’m happy to say that I truly think I’m making headway and that I’m establishing something of a direction for myself. I’m under no illusions that I’m now at the top of my game — but I can see a direction and places to head in the coming year. I’m afraid this means more publications and a lot more of me talking about my own work. I hope that’s ok…

This will include my 2011 zine project — all my photowalks turned into short A5 documents showing the journeys I took, the Broxburn Bings documentation, my visit to Sam Burns Scrapyard and, of most impact, the imagery I brought back from my Louisville experience.

In addition to my main photography I’ve also developed my portraiture — with gains here also. Two interesting projects published, shown as part of a London exhibition and access to a studio space has all helped to develop and enhance my existing skills. A big thanks to Louise for the continued use of her lighting kit and to East Street Arts for use of the spaces – and to all my subjects for their time and input.

The absolute highlight for the year has to be the photography exchange I conducted with Michael Brohm — but which I couldn’t have achieved in such an amazing way without the support of so many people too many to name them all, but I have to mention Alex Lawler, Sylvia Bruton, Kris Kimel, Michael’s family, Mick and Gill – as well as the support of the organisations involved (International Relations at Leeds City Council, the Sister Cities of Louisville and Exposure Leeds colleagues). There are too many other people to thank right now — but I’m hoping to start emailing many of you in the new year.

Work for so many of us has been a challenge this year. I have enjoyed those I’ve had to address at Words&Pictures but, after almost four years in internal communications I’m looking forward to a return to a digital agency, to marketing communications and to city centre working — ‘let’s lunch’?

Away from work we now have an extra member to the extended family — my niece, Nesta, who was born in November. I really enjoyed celebrating the first birthday of my other brother’s son, Eddie — not to mention the first of Alex, the sone of one of our friends. I’ve still no yearning to have kids of my own; but I can see the appeal at least now! Si and I also enjoyed our summer trip to Poland, especially of getitng to see our friend’s home city and being privileged to photograph the wedding of a lovely couple we first met a couple of Christmas’ ago. I’m sure Si would want to wish you both the very best in your first full year as a married couple!

I’ll omit any real aspirations for 2012 – as I think these can wait for now.

I must take this chance thank my support network — the people who keep me going, help me redirect, ensure I’m sustained or simply listen to me complain about the things I’m not pleased with. To family, friends and colleagues — you all help and I really appreciate it. Just because I know I’d be upset if I don’t mention them — I really have to flag up (in no order) Anne, Lloyd, Sara, Imran and my parents. I know a lot more plates would have dropped (or been frisbied against the way) without your input.

I’ve also made a lot of new friends — or developed existing friendships in the last year. A nod and a wink  to you all!

Without a doubt I have to highlight my partner, Simon, for putting up with all I put him through — including the many trips away, short and long alike and the hours spent in my office or away from home tending to my many projects. You are a total star x.

So, that’s it – a brief look back at a challenging and yet very positive and progressive year at the same time.

I’d like to finish by wishing everyone I know a 2012 filled with moments of accomplishment and joy — that you can enjoy when they happen — and challenges that you have the skills and experience to overcome to your benefit. I look forward to sharing some of them with you.

See you all in 2012!

I’m not harking back to some glory days of yore; but a basic fact — in the mid to late twentieth century UK society was more involved — people voluntarily worked together (often through necessity) to get things done.

Yes, knowing about your neighbour may have been due to the lack of other things to distract and less readily available transport (or cash for fuel) combined with a need to know who is around you to avoid ‘the hun’ and ‘the reds’ (under beds or elsewhere); and taking part in community social activity may again have been down to a lack available alternatives and funds. And I somehow doubt that everyone didn’t magically get along with each other.

However the change in society, combined with affluence has led us to a situation where we have become super dependent on the state. And the state, in it’s own turn has been happy to create a situation where we become ever more dependent.

Fear stories of evil doers, combined with potential to harm ourselves and other such horrors – readily lapped up by us in our ivory towers from a media we support*

The big problem now is – how we get involved in our communities. We don’t know our neighbours, never mind those in the wider neighbourhood. For the most part we work at times when those in local government and supporting quangos who may help us to create new civic societies do.

There are many people who do have incredibly busy lives already — those with families or developing skills on top of having a job — but there are also large numbers of people who spend a large part of their life enjoying themselves — in ways they choose to do so.

Are there that many of us who couldn’t put aside an hour here or there to take up the challenge and take some control of that which is beyond our own home’s boundaries? Can we not change the way we have become and get involved, take part and contribute directly to our society – instead of using our tax payments as an excuse to distance ourselves from those we live amongst?

This also involves a big change in attitudes and habits — at least as big as the need to get fit; thought oddly these two things could easily be combined — eat healthier as part of a voluntary weight watching group or community fitness schemes are two ideas that immediately spring to mind (and avoid us paying mega-corps money on something that may only partially scratch our itches).

I’m not claiming this is easy — or an answer to all ills (it certainly won’t solve the state of public finances) but it’s looking like we have 3 choices — to fight among ourselves (like the French), to sit at home and hope for the best (like the 90s recession — and only ok as long as you still have a home) or, as a nation, we could find a way to take charge a bit more — instead of constantly making it someone else’s problem.

*Few people accept this responsibility and prefer to whine – but it’s a LOT easier to ditch your supplier of news and comment than it is to change your MP. If you’re not happy with what you’re being peddled then why not stop?

But I’m so bloody happy right now! I’ve just come back from Sixpiece — a one day only exhibition of images submitted from the mass photo shoot at Kirkstall Festival. 33 photographers submitted images to what will probably become the start of an amazing archive images recording the festival and it was amazingly curated by  Rachel Barker and Lauren Pissochet and supported by Ken Stratford (along with both East Street Arts and Kirkstall Valley Community Association).

Some days (well most of them) I’m too busy dealing with the future to enjoy what’s happened — and the last 18 months have been an absolute blast. Exposure Leeds has been amazing and the fact that we’re now moving this to a structure that will hopefully allow it to flourish but what has been amazing is how this little social enterprise has allowed me to flourish.

This probably isn’t such a deal to others but tonight I walked up to an MP and introduced myself; and he turned around and congratulated me on all I had achieved. I doubt he really knows anything much about Exposure Leeds — and he probably says the same to loads of people he meets. But, I introduced myself to an MP!

My little bit of world has changed shape so much lately and I can’t help but be proud of all that the group of amazing individuals that is Exposure Leeds has managed to do. As the group moves from loose form into a properly constituted entity and starts to set in place elements that will ensure future stability and continuity I hope to review the first year and a half — but one thing is for sure; when I look back at what we’ve achieved I’m always amazed at how we’ve done so much, made so many good links and given a wonderful energy to so many people.

And for those of you out there who are part of it — every last one of Exposure Leeds’ members is a true star in my eyes!

Hopefully this will limit waste in supplying social activities and not do too much harm to those who need the help most however is society ready for the supersizing?

After years of the diminishment of mutuals and charities; of less natural volunteering — people used to do things to help their community out without this being organised. Now it seems to require an army of support.

My personal thought is that we need to promote altruism and this needs to come from society as a whole, here are some suggestions:

• Freeing parents and carers up to volunteer
• Employers to give every employee a day’s paid volunteering
• Bosses to be given a reward or recognition for mentoring
• National service for the jobless young
• Day release for teenage employees
• Volunteering accepted as a natural part of unemployment
• Pre-retirement volunteering introductions
• Tax breaks to professionals for providing services to the voluntary sector
• Some form of GiftAid for voluntary work — allowing charitable bodies to claim some tax from those who volunteer for the organisation.

However biggest of all — we need new ideas to demonstrate that taking part in society isn’t about purely being some selfless saint character. Taking part in voluntary activity is good for you — it teaches new skills, opens up new experiences, broadens social circles and gives a huge ‘up’.

How is it so difficult to get this across to people? My feeling is that for so long the populus have been told to think that it’s government’s job to supply these sorts of services — I, for one, would prefer society as a whole to take a firmer control of itself.

People do have time to volunteer and take part in their communities — it’s just about freeing up time. I suspect most people are able to do this, given the support of their family, friends and neighbours. It’s also about exposing people to those opportunities that appeal and effectively reward them.

However I’ve got a newfound vigour to this — brought on primarily by being interviewed last night by Caterina for her PhD on social networks and migrating these to the real world (my description of her work — must check what this actually is!).

What was a real eye-opener to me was how little I understand about what I do — and poor Caterina seemed to receive a significant ‘brain dump’ of where all these crazy ideas I have come from, take root and get to fruition. I think by the end we were talking about event planning based on ‘horizon clouds’… go figure!

So — as I am not in a position to blog about my day job I think I’ll try and document a little about how and why my activities around Leeds group on Flickr, Exposure Leeds and Photocamp came about — and where I like think they’re heading.

But the big question is… how long til I really offend someone?

Well, the first of those is the great first networking evening for PhotoNN; held on Thurs 16th at the Design Innovation Centre in Leeds. I think this group has the potential to go far and hope to become involved myself, once the fun of Photocamp Leeds {2008} has died down.

The second of my great nights was earlier on — when I enjoyed a great evening with a bunch of bloggers at WordPress UK North. As I keep saying to anyone who bothers to listen; there’s a lack of networking opportunities for those with a commercial eye to working in micro organisations for the ‘digital’ sector. This is another group I hope to get involved with in the future.

Because of these two events I’m going to press on and try to establish ‘Under Construction’. The concept is that this becomes a virtual network with occasional real world outings for companies working primarily in consulting roles in the digital and creative industries having less than four employees. The premise: to share ideas on how to best do business. If you are interested in this type of thing, head over to the web space.