Yorkie does the Isle of Wight.

♪ Currently listening to: Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash ♪

Can't quite believe i nearly missed out blogging this story! 

After my 4 month uni stint in Bristol i kept in contact with a few people who are currently still living in Briz, one of which is the wonderful Mr Sam Dargan, born and bred in Sheffield, Yorkshire. Who during freshers, nicely - along with Welshy (aka Matt from Pembrokeshire, Wales) - adapted the 'where you come from' name Yorkie.

Given that Yorkie/Sam/Dargy is still a penny scrimping student who by day is a hardworking business studies student, and william hill employee and by night is a raging student alcoholic, most of our conversations are normally when Mr Dargan is innebriated. On the night of the 20th May, I myself had had a fair bit to drink, as had he, and at some point between the hours of midnight at 4am we together over the phone booked Yorkie a £59 return ticket to the sunny Isle of Wight.. a few hours later both waking up with a raging hangover and little recognition of what had happened the night before and only when i checked my email account did it become apparrent that Yorkie was in fact going to work that saturday and then driving down to the island to get a boat at midnight (because of course being drunk when booking the ticket, we couldn't have opted for a sensible time it HAD to be in the middle of the night.) So armed with only himself, a bright orange Fiat Punto and his iPhone for a satnav yorkie made it to the isle of wight at approximately 2am on the early hours of sunday morning. After a few cups of tea, chocolate digestives and a chin wag, I gave up my bed for young sam to rest his weary and no doubt still hungover head and i kipped out on the sofa.

The next day we had a brief trip to see the sights of the island before heading to Ventnor Jazz On The Meadow along with my friends Kim (designated driver) and Steph. Once we arrived we saw a few other island friends before settling down in the sunshine with a few blankets and a few pints of cider to enjoy the jazz infused sets of some nice bands including The Shutes, Born In A Barn and DJ yoda. 

The next day mr Dargan and I took his trusty fiat punto out of the woods to see some animals at a local wildlife park on the island, before having dinner with a few friends after which sam drove to get the ferry off the isle of wight and took the long drive through the night back to bristol in time for one of his first year exams the next day at 9am!

Sam and I

From left to right: John, Sam, James and Steph (looking happy...)

Keepin' it rural... post car MOT.

♪ currently listening to :  Blindsided by Bon Iver ♪

So here it is, ladies and gentlemen I present to you the hermit'esque photography, all taken within walking distance of my humble abode!

Just a few from the selection I like to call 'Life through the eyes of a 20 year old freshwater bay hermit.'

Keepin' it rural...

♪ currently listening to  The ghost of corporate future by Regina Spektor ♪

So as i said many moons ago it feels (BLOGGING IS PAINFUL WHEN LEFT FOR SO LONG!!) here are a few shots i took of my local area. . . . that is the beautiful freshwater bay and surrounding west wight area on the wondeful Isle of Wight!

The following images were taken just before my car failed its MOT, i like to think of it as the final supper of photography before my hermit like state took over my life! Anyhow.. enjoy..

'Shute'ing

♪ Currently listening to: Skinny Love by Bon Iver ♪
 
So i figured as i'd already been chatting about the shutes i'd carry on along the same lines and publish a quick post about the press shot work i have been doing with them lately. Check it outttt...

These are just a few snaps taken in Mike Champs's back garden. Keeping it rural.

Just a little sneak peek...



Whilst having a butchers online at the latest shutes articles etc i stumbled upon this little gem on NME's website regarding the shutes new single 'silk screen shots' and a nice little photo was included taken by yours truly. Pretty stoked to say the least!!!

I was lying on the ground, waiting for the stars to make a sound....

♪ Currently listening to 12:51 by The Strokes ♪

I have recently been working with new up and coming band The Shutes from the Isle of Wight, consisting of band members Michael Champion (Lead singer and guitarist), Rob Potter (Bassist) and Chris Jones (Drummer)

The next few shots are from a shoot i did at Northcourt Manor in Bonchurch on the Isle of Wight with The Shutes.

The photographs are behind the scenes shots from the video the guys were making for their new single Noah's Ark which has since been released on itunes. 

And after weeks of wating with bated breath...here is the finished product in all its glory!

Check out The Shutes facebook or myspace or alternatively you can download Noahs Ark from iTunes for just 79p (!!!) here.

Over n' out!

If i'm dreaming, please don't wake me...

♪ Currently Listening to: Everything by The Guy Page Trio ♪

Very late, as most of these posts are going to be! The next set of images were taken on 29th March, I was invited up to a gig at Cafe 1001 on Brick Lane in London witht The Guy Page trio.

An awesome band listed as Ambient/Indie/Lyrical on myspace, consisting of three members, Guy Page (lead singer and guitarist) Tom Farren (bassist) and Chris Jones (drummer).

After a cup of tea at Tom's we climbed into Guys overpacked Audi estate, Guy driving, Tom in the front and Chris and Me squished in the back sharing the third seat with a bass drum.

After a ferry and a long drive to the big smoke, we arrived at Cafe 1001. A trendy bar with an outside bbq style cafe, a bar with lounge seating upstairs and a nice big venue room at the back. Being the first to arrive they were able to soundcheck almost immediately and we were able to get out and have some food provided by the venue before having a mosey around brick lane. Including Rough Trade. After spending a while listening to some music and checking out the merchandise avaiable we went on a hunt for a wetherspoons for a few drinks before heading back to the venue to see the gig.

I was able to meet my cousin Hannah at the venue along with Milli - a fellow islander - and their friends from southbank uni. Later on in the evening, my friend Steph and her friend Dan showed up having been in London for a long weekend break. 

All in all a rad evening, seeing some familiar faces, listening to some cool music and after a more comfortable journey back with a guitar on our laps and an amp between my legs we arrived back on the Island.

Hannah (far right) and Milli (second in from the left) with their friends from southbank university at Cafe 1001.

Guy packing the car ready for the london trip.

Soundchecking at Cafe 1001.

Soundchecking the kit.

Tom playing during the Guy Page Trio set

Dan and Steph at Cafe 1001

Check out The Guy Page Trio's facebook here. Or their myspace here for some nice tunes.

Over n' out!

Sweet disposition, never too soon, oh reckless abandon, like no one's, watching you..

♪ Currently listening to: Islands by The XX ♪

Ok so after trying to sort through the images on my external hardrive into date order, my complete lack of organisation has led me to decide to simply create posts for the photos i want to include on this blog, describe a little about who what where when and start from today to post the photographs i take from now on in date order and hopefully get my organisational skills back on top form.

Today is is June 21st 2011, Sweet Disposition by Temper Trap has just come on my spotify. It should be associated with sunny days, drinks on the beach, wine on clifftops and being in the sea. Instead as i look out of my window i am met with a dismal dreary day typically associated with the great british summer.

We can always hope for sun!