6 shots of Istanbul
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366 photos in 2012 or the 365 project as it’s otherwise known
For the whole of 2012 I took a photo everyday. Lots of people have done this in the past with no doubt far more skill, interesting lives, etc. The results were mixed but on the whole I enjoyed it greatly and it got me into the habit of taking my camera everywhere. I recommend it.
For 2013 I’m going to keep up this project and also take a roll of film every month. Primarily I’ll be using a Canon eos 5, a nice camera, with a 50mm lens.
Daisuke Yokota – back yard
Takeshi Terauchi: a Japanese guitar hero
In Japan, when the Ventures toured in the 60s they influenced a whole generation of kids to pick up guitars and form instrumental groups. Takeshi Terauchi is one of the big names of the 60s japanese Eleki Boom. Terry, as he’s known, plays a Mosrite electric guitar and his style is frenetic and hip, mixing American and Japanese influences. His bands included, Takeshi Terauchi & The Blue Jeans, and Takeshi Terauchi & The Bunnys.
White Stripes eat your heart out
There seems to be an infinite amounts of albums which are seemingly impossible to get hold of outside of Japan. I’ve yet to see any live Takeshi footage. However, the records I have got hold of are brilliant. How come I never heard of this guy before this year? Who knows, but thankfully, due to the internet, I’ve heard him now.
another video
Some more links
Brooklyn Industries: a stylish alternative camera bag
For some reason I feel compelled to carry half my life around with me in a bag when I go to work. I normally have a reading book, notepad, pens and pencils, food for the day, a camera and various other whimsies. The camera’s a recent addition, an olympus e-p2, and after bashing it a few times I thought I might need some protection for it. I looked at Domke, Billingham and also Ona bags. All fantastic, but either too expensive or not ideal for everyday use.
Instead, I bought a camera insert bag and put it inside a normal bag. The insert I wanted was by Ona but they’re not that easy to get in the UK. I ended up with a cheap one off eBay. It’s big enough for a rangefinder style camera and a couple of small lenses, which for me, is more than enough. You also get a few velcro dividers to split it up how you like. For the bag, I first started using my old Manhattan courier but recently dragged myself into the modern day with a Brooklyn Industries waxed messenger bag. That’s the beauty of the insert, you can just switch it around.
Daido Moriyama Printing Show at the Tate Modern
Today was the Daido Moriyama Printing Show at Tate Modern and I thankfully was able to get a ticket. The idea is based on the book Another Country in New York, where Moriyama rented a shop, photocopier, and a silk screen press, and would assemble a copy of the book, in front of you, while you waited. Every copy of the book was different. What an amazing idea. 
This printing show was a chance to create your own signed, limited edition book, called MENU. There were 60 double images on the wall and each person could select 20 double images and then choose between a choice of two silk screen covers, silver or blue. The book was assembled while you wait, signed by Moriyama and handed over. 
I love books in general, not just photo books, and I’m a huge fan of Moriyama, so this event was particularly thrilling. I think the process of choosing and ordering the images gave a very different experience and it was a wonderful way to interact with the work. The photo book is so important to Moriyama’s work and this certainly beat just looking at books through a piece of glass.
While I was considering my own book Moriyama was also choosing images for his own personal copy. I looked over his shoulder and read a few of his choices. All colour images. I settled on mainly black and white, a mixture of Daido’s obsessions, lips, legs, shop fronts. That sort of thing. When choosing the book I didn’t quite understand the way it would be ordered as I was a bit hungover. When I handed over the ticket I mooched around looking at the images. There were a lot of cameras in there, as you would expect. When my number was called I walked over as Dadio Moriyama signed the book and passed it on. I said “thank you,” and he replied, “thank you.”
The exhibition is also a must see. His image making is relentlessly brilliant and it’s also interesting seeing the seminal books, bye bye photography for example, laid out on walls. It gives the work a bit of a different feel and it’s nice to look at these works in a different way. Anyway, I’m sure I’ll make a couple of trips to see this as it’s not something that we get too often. Also, there’s work at the Michael Hoppen Gallery (I think they’re his UK gallery.)
Final note. The bookshop is packed with loads of Moriyama books. Form the Record series to Magazine work, to the recent reprint series and they’re also doing two silk screen prints, £225 each, signed.
