disturb media

Signs, Gentlemen, please.

12.12.11 Greg Danford

Earlier this year I started to formalise a photographic collection that I've been interested in for a while.

It's basically a collection of signage depicting humans, although there are a few that have forced their way through the net for inclusion due to their beautiful form...

Beautiful in my eyes, anyway. The main thing that interests me with these kinds of signs is the fact that, in the main, we regard them purely for their function rather than their form.

Although something outstandingly different will doubtless get our attention for its artistic adventure, we pretty much accept bog-standard executions for these often important pieces of design. And I'm guessing it's no coincidence that this is what you'd expect to find on a standard-bog door.

Sometimes the detail can be extremely curious, bewildering or unintentionally amusing. If I were designing or commissioning signage that, in some instances, may remain in place for decades and be viewed by millions, I'd put it through a little more rigorous development.

I've so far photographed in excess of 60 signs that have got my attention across Europe and the collection is building, slowly but surely. A few of my favourites are pictured here. There's also a slideshow. The full set is on Flickr.

When I get to 100 pieces, I plan to produce a printed piece for the office. Check back next year.

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Er - don't put things in bins if you have a long arm?

I went to Mars on holiday

21.10.11 Jace Turner

For the second year running I went to Lanzarote on holiday. This time I took my 5D mark II and a rental car out because looks like Mars. Lanzarote was born out of volcanic eruptions about 35 million years ago, emerging after the breakup of the African and the American continental plates. The greatest recorded of eruptions occurred between 1730 and 1736. The land scape is scattered with volcanic rock and is like nowhere else I have ever been.

The sense you get when walking away from the road is strange. To be honest its scary and feels pretty dangerous. Unless its a town or comercial area (they seam to make wine in parts of the country) there are no paths. In some places not even flat ground, just sharp vocalic rock.

I can't really describe the strange feeling I had when walking away from the road taking some of these photos. The closest sensation I felt was when I was swimming in the sea, when you know you've got a certain distance from the coast and you shouldn't go any further. When there are no cars on the road its deadly silent, in some places only the noise of large clumps volcanic rock scraping against each other under your feet. Its feels like Mars, you feel very alone.

Hopefully the photos give you an idea of what its like. I would highly recommend going and getting a nice little villa separated from a holiday complex. Also a hire car and just drive, head in any direction and you will find something amazing.

I'm sure I will go back again. Hopefully someone can find a client to pay for a shoot out there.

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White Donkey for Sale

15.09.11 Kay Bekele

Matthew Sawyer was listed as Guardian's Artist of the week so I popped in to the Rokeby Gallery to check out 'White Donkey for Sale'. This ongoing series titled 'Documentary Works' includes text, painting, drawing and some rather weird sculpture.

The highlight of the exhibition for me were the quirky bits of text which contextualised his photographs. I laughed out loud at the ping pong ball which he posted anonymously through a strangers letterbox. He had written five words on the ball which summed up his 33rd year - one of those words was Ukulele.

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Vivian Maier - 1950's Street Photographer

07.09.11 Kay Bekele

Online this week, I came across the work of Vivian Maier. This incredibly talented and unknown amateur photographer was a nanny who spent her free time taking pictures in and around New York and Chicago for a hobby.

Her black and white photographs insightfully capture life in urban America, candidly recording some of the most interesting characteristics and idiosyncrasies of the 1950’s and 60’s.

Like many others I found her unique and authentic style of street photography poignant and captivating - but although clearly gifted Vivian Maier never publicised her work.

Her pictures were discovered at a local thrift auction in 2007 by John Maloof who has since archived and catalogued Maier’s work for the enjoyment of others. www.vivianmaier.com

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Standard Definition Animals

06.09.11 Greg Danford

I'm certainly no creationist BUT a recent trip to Alligator Bay got me thinking...

The animals that seem to have been on the planet the longest appear to have been created at a lower definition than the newer 'HD animals'. Like a lot of processes that we've seen evolve over a lot shorter timeline, they start off very rough, blocky and obvious then become a lot more subtle and refined as technology moves forward.

I'm thinking about things like the Printing Process, Textiles, TV screens and Arcade Games - to name but a few.

For those who are used to playing games on an PSP, picking up a Gameboy instantly gives the individual a feeling that it's a device from an earlier age. This was the same feeling that I (used to seeing humans, cats, dogs, horses etc) got when presented with an environment full of reptiles - these must have been created in a time where animals were made from a more basic kit of parts.

Although the modern day 'HD animals', as I'd like to call them, have an undoubted refinement to them, the original 'SD' ones have a low-resolution charm. As does the Gameboy ;)

[photos taken on Canon EOS 500D]

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