I’ve just had my 55th Birthday! It seems incredulous that I am that old, my birth certificate confirms it however! This year my loved ones gave me a “Black and White” Birthday!!
Way back in 1990 I went to the cinema, it was a very common event. It was one of my “trips” up to the city – I’d have been 21. I saw “Mountains of the Moon” in the Odeon Leicester Square. I still have the ticket somewhere – so if I could find it, I could tell you the day and the seat 🙂 – call me a geek – I don’t care. I remember thinking how brilliant the cinematography was. I thought it was a wonderful film, and still do. Very sadly it seemed to vanish. Eventually I found a copy on Laser Disc – remember those? Years later DVD’s came along and so I set about replacing my favourite films in that format, could I find that film – no, and I looked everywhere. Eventually I found a copy! Unfortunately it was in Virgin Megastore in Disney Market Place in Florida, USA. What’s a film fan to do? I did of course have a good holiday too! All of this is quite mad when Mr Deakins was reasonably a local man! He hails from Torquay, attended Bath Academy of Art, his first job was as a photographer for Beaford Art Centre in Devon, (James Ravillious also worked there as a photographer), and even made photo’s on Bournemouth beach! All within an easy drive of me. He is of course mostly know as a cinematographer, you almost certainly will have seen his work at some point. Skyfall, Bladerunner 2049, Shawshank Redemption and so on.. he’s won two Oscars having been nominated 15 times! This book however is a collection of his black and white photographs made over many years. There are some wonderful images, and I’d be happy to recommend it!
I was also given 2 five packs of Kodak Tr-X in 120 – it’s not that long ago that I tried this film for the first time in 35mm, so now I can enjoy it in 120 too!
I was also lucky to be given “The Art of Black and White Developing” by John Finch. The easiest thing to say is that this is the book I wish I’d been given age 20. If you use film and have a developing tank – I heartily recommend this book. I am going to write more about it soon – so I’ll leave it there for now – I’m off to shoot some 120 – Cheers!
S.H.O.U.T. 
I received a copy of Byways for Christmas last year. It’s a good book. The best photobooks always inspire me to pick up a camera and go make some photographs, and this book didn’t disappoint in that regard.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello!- I’m just the same, “I must get out there and do better!” in my case! Although I think I’ve got to a point in life where I recognise, and give myself permission to think, I have made some good photo’s over the years, perhaps these days a slightly higher “success” rate, although with age comes the realisation that perhaps some of the images I thought were good, maybe weren’t quite as good as I then thought. Then again, other’s I dismissed at the time, I think are more interesting now! Thanks god there was no delete button in the 80’s 🙂 – Cheers Andy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Andy, Couldn’t help but notice the hands hanging out of the train carriage window on the book cover. Takes me back……..you cannot do that now unless you smash a window. Not to be recommended!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Ed! This is quite true – I’m old enough to remember the old diesel that used to go to London, had small windows one could open, compartments, and personal lights one could switch on and off with a small toggle switch. I also remember how dusty the seats were, and how filthy the underground used to be! I also remember the “city gents” coasting along the platform with the door open and jumping off before the train had fully stopped – how things have changed! Andy
LikeLike
A book of B & W photos I would recommend is Locusts by Gusov. Some amusing and some might say profound but thoughtful photos. He recognises what will make a good image when he sees it and snaps it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ed, thanks for the recommendation – I’ll have to look into that one! Cheers Andy
LikeLike
Happy birthday Andy and aren’t you the mucky lad. Yes the photo does take all of us back to a different time… A time where our bodies could still do stuff, and not make strange noises…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Ian! I assume you mean lucky? lol 🙂 Although there was the incident….. Lucky indeed I was/am. Lovely thoughtful presents from lovely thoughtful people, even if I did leave it in the Amazon basket for weeks! 🙂 My life is surrounded by strange noises, sometimes it’s like living in a sound effects studio. It’s always the involuntary ones that cause the most hilarity! – Cheers Andy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lucky, of course. I thought we didn’t mention the other incident…
LikeLiked by 1 person