National Portrait Gallery

Headed along to the National Portrait Gallery to see the 'Beatles to Bowie' photo exhibition.   It was 11 quid!   So, we never went in to that, but just had a look at the rest of the exhibition.

There was loads of paintings in the permanent exhibition which are worth having a look round.   Some of the more modern ones were really great!   But again, the main reason to head to the portrait gallery was to see the photography.   There is a great free exhibition on at the moment, the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize.  

This selection of photos really redefined the portrait for me.   I've always thought of portraits as either quite a formal style of photography or more of a controlled style in a studio.   Most of the portraits were as much about the sitter as about their environments that they inhabit.  

This is a much more interesting style for me and something that I may have to try out.   It means that I might have to start playing with flashes and reflectors but I'll have to figure out how to use these things but keep my kit small.

World Press Photo

I went to see the World Press Photo exhibition at Royal Exhibition Hall in London.

Most of the photos on show were part of photo essays from the major world events of the last year.   This display of the photo essays really made the exhibition.   Sometimes a photo needs to be part of a collection for its meaning to really shine through.  

I was amazed at the quality and have come away thinking that photo essays are the way forward.   Your photos really need to be linked with either a visual style, similar subject matter or actually creating a story arc for the photos.

This exhibition also shows the distinct lack of good coverage of world events by British news organisations.   As news programmes become more commercial, it seems that real news is disappearing and in its place is the sound-bite.   This exhibition shows how powerful the display of real news can be.   I think that the media needs to support the ongoing efforts of the photojournalist and get back to real reporting.

Tactical Nuclear Penguin

So, 'what is Tactical Nuclear Penguin?', I hear you say. Well, its the worlds strongest beer!
And 'what is your interest in this beer other than for consumation purposes?' This beer is brewed in my home Town Fraserburgh!

If you don't know, I live in Guildford now but for many years of my life, I lived in Fraserburgh. Its a wee town in the North East tip of Scotland which, up to now been famous for its massive Heroin problems.

The strongest beer in the world being brewed there is a actually a positive thing for the town. If you want some, I think you can contact Brewdog, the makes of this potent substance. I love the brand and looking forward to maybe trying some at Christmas! Its also made by another James Watt, which is cool. Its a bit expensive at either £35 or £250 but you never know.

Cheers!