Champagne Life
Imsticking's Leica D-Lux 4 Blog |
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Friday Night Out + 1
Strange Foreign Beauty
Once I've done my homework I circle the exhibition again. Yes, a lot like a vulture, sweeping in-between other viewers (with little or no exhibition etiquette - them, not me) and this is when I sense which portraits shake my soul. It's remarkable when it happens. The polite part of my mind says "move on so others can view the portrait". The guilt builds up, but "it's not an actual crime" I remind myself, and so the soul shaking continues. My take on the exhibit is interesting, mainly (for me) because some of the portraits I wouldn't post on this blog, never mind hang them in the National Portrait Gallery. Have a gander at the university portrait with the round frame and you'll understand the term "snap shot". Of course I'm sure the explanation that the subject was trying to re-experience his university days must have swayed the judges, but to me it was an instantly forgettable photograph. If only it really was. I circled a third time and then went up to the Victorian section because I enjoy walking around pretending that I own the place, and am nice enough to let the public in to view my private collection. I really could just move in to the gallery and never leave. #OccupyNPG anyone?
Hot Chef
Technicolor
I went to an amazing gig last night. Mr Big having reformed with Paul Gilbert back on guitar and touring on a new album "What if...". I listen to Richie Kotzen too and I think his "Into the Black" album is stand out. If you manage to find his album "Slow", give the song "Gold Digger" a listen too. It's a real heart-felt "fuck you". I'm super glad Paul's back though. Some things were just meant to be. Call it Voodoo, call it mucka lucka honey... ;) Gig in-joke successfully deployed.
So I was waiting in the queue and heard someone ask the guy next to me if he'd heard any Mr Big stuff at all. I thought "what a crazy question". Long story short: There's another band that were named Mr Big, that only old English people have heard of. I know what you're thinking. I live in England, but I'm not that old. Really, I'm not.
We all filter in, and wait for the show to start. ETA 8:15pm, no support act. Perfect. Unless the support act was going to be Van Halen with Eddie actually being able to play the damn thing properly, I wasn't interested. A dream come true, to see Pat Torpey on drums just laying down the law. What a legend, and one of the very few drummers I aspired to being as creative as, more than a decade ago when I used to play.
Mr Gilbert was as funny as ever. His feigning ignorance when described as a phenomenon by Eric was worthy of a. Well let's just say, I've paid money to see professional actors who weren't that good. It reminded me of his guitar lesson videos and the presence / presents joke.
The band are as tight as they ever were. I was truly scarified. They even brought the drills with them! I knew they were never going to play a Racer-X tune but I found myself slipping into a hyper-speed solo trance from time to time. There was even time to say your prayers because the Church of Eric Martin was open for blessing all believers. And it seeems as though Mr Brian May of Queen is a believer. Billy Sheehan on bass was deflintely the crowd favourite when it came to introducing the band. When I see him do his crazy solos with both hands and every single finger tapping away on the fret board, I can't help but think, "somebody buy this guy some Nord gear!". I'm sure Mic Michaeli will hook you up Billy.
If you're actually here for the photography, and you haven't read my blog before, all these images were shot with my Leica D-Lux 4 and processed with Silver Efex Pro. I loved the evening and the images I was seeing on my Leica EV. Might take a few more photos in the coming weeks. Before winter comes and ruins it all again. And a last thank you to the four guys on stage for coming to England to play. It's very much appreciated. Some US bands *cough*Aerosmith*cough* just can't be arsed. Do buy these non-touring band's albums anymore? No. Oh wait, when was the last time they released a decent album? Hrmmm. Speaking of decent albums Mr Big's reunion album "What if..." has at least 4 killer singles if you ask me. How you gonna top an album like "Lean Into It"? Keep trying ;)
Tri-X Film - 12.8mm at f/4, ISO 80, Shutter speed 1/1000 sec
Tri-X Film - 9.3mm at f/4, ISO 80, Shutter speed 1/1000 sec
Trent - 5.1mm at f/2, ISO 80, Shutter speed 1/200 sec
Morten - 9.3mm at f/4, ISO 80, Shutter speed 1/1000 sec
Petra - 5.1mm at f/2, ISO 80, 1/160 sec
Morten - 9.3mm at f/4, ISO 80, Shutter speed 1/1000 sec
Petra - 5.1mm at f/2, ISO 80, 1/160 sec
Trent - 5.1mm at f/2, ISO 80, Shutter speed 1/200 sec
'Central' - 12.8mm at f/2.8, ISO 80, Shutter speed 1/1000 sec
This post goes out to anyone who's ever had a really poor view from a hotel window. I took this photograph above from the top floor of a bus just after we'd crossed south over Waterloo Bridge, London, and I was looking East as I pressed the shutter. Fleeting? Yes. Free, more or less, and I didn't have to wake up to it. Perfect. Unfortunately I will get to see it again. Nevertheless it's quite a site in color, as you can see from the image below. Quite realistic I think. Obviously because on close inspection you'll notice two labourers towards the the foreground of the photograph. One digging a hole, and the other expertly supervising him. No comment on the headline on the Sky advert, me being a McLaren supporter. Which reminds me, McLaren recently teamed up with Specialized to develop a road bike, the Venge, they are calling the fastest bike ever made. We're talking bicycles here. Perhaps they strapped it to roof-racks on the MP4-23 to perform the speed-test.
Leaving Heartbreaker - 5.1mm at f/2, ISO 80, Shutter speed 1/1000 sec
Leaving Heartbreaker - 5.1mm at f/2, ISO 80, Shutter speed 1/1000 sec
Shot around the Notting Hill Gate area of London in the summer of 2010 with a Leica D-Lux 4. The Silver Efex Pro preset can be found at the end of this post.