Backpack Dilemmassssss

decision one.

I am a total sucker for editorials. I was going through the Monster Children photo issue over the weekend. Then this one shot of a Burton camera backpack caught my eye. Which has indirectly prompted me to think about investing in a camera backpack (the thought has been with me subconsciously for a while now since my days of assisting)
It feels way more sensible to get a bag with proper compartments rather than lugging gear around in 2 soft cases in my skateboard backpacks.

More importantly it will just be a hell a lot easy to travel with all my gear without trying to travel lightly.
It will be nice to have all my lens rather than my light ones, which is what I tend to do.
So it is time for me to put on my thinking cap and see which one feels more comfortable.

I like the idea of the Burton bag, because most people don't know what I have in the bag.
Whereas with the Lowepro bag, most photographers that I have assisted for owns one because it can basically fit their life into it and it is very comfy and large. You kind of lose the mystery though with Lowepro, everyone knows you are a photog when you rock one of those and I am not sure how I feel about that....

decisions decisions...

decision two.

This should be a pretty killer gig!

I was meant to see Ghostwood play last Friday but my state of health was not doing me any favours.
They just got back from the UK and I am keen to see what they have been up to.
Anyway what is better than having a show where you can see 2 bands that you are excited about?!

The Lost Valentinos will be playing at the Oxford Art Factory on the 1st Aug. Don't miss out - get yo tix HERE!
It should be a hell of a fun show with a good crowd.
I can't wait to hear the album when it drops.... hopefully I can get a copy before I hit the road.
My ears will need so much love to remind me of home and I can't wait to get some new sounds while I am in NYC too yesss!

Some old photos (you may or may not have seen) from the beach road hotel when I saw the Lost Valentinos and Ghostwood, both great bands to watch live.

How I miss thy health

WOW this photo is amazing and it feels like my chest at the moment.
It really hurts.
I haven't felt this bad in months and I haven't even been partying like a reckless teenager.
Deep down I knew I have been working like a mad man for months now and my body had been given me all kinds of shitty signs and I ought to listen to it once in a while and take a break.
My original plans of taking a week off did not actually happen as I had imagined. I just wanted to chill and skate...catch up on my many purchased zines and get some new books and draw a little you know?

So the weekend before last... right after I had checked out Black and Blue and dinner at Shakey's then I headed to the MJ party at Drummond's where I had sensibly left early trying to give my body a break. I was in bed by 12, I was sure I was ready to have a big weekend after that good night's rest.
I woke up on Saturday feeling woozy and before i knew it I had been in bed for 4 days and took the rest of the week off work.

Today I felt like my inbox just virtually attacked me..... how does one receive so many emails?!
I love not getting work emails, it is just blissful and missing out work is just painful to my eyes and my wallet bleergh.
Cough I beg you to leave me soon. x

So this is partly the reason I haven't been able to blog as much lately.
I really ought to try to catch up.
Stay in touch soon.

Ed Templeton via ESPN

I haven't been on Monster Children in ages but they sent out an email notifying me the photo issue will be released tomorrow @the MC Gallery so I jumped onto their site and had a play. From digging through the old posts, I discovered this lovely feature on Ed Templeton by ESPN. I had already read quite a lot about Ed and his art career. His books are pretty nice, they look like a home made zine in layout but the pages are printed on decent quality paper stock and binded properly so the aesthetic of a skate journal still resonates through his words and imagery. And of course Aaron Rose is also interviewed by ESPN and talks about Ed's journey into the fine art world from being a young pro to his reputation as an artist today. 

If you like skating and art culture, jump on to the ESPN page and listen to what Ed and his friends have to say about how he got to where he is today. It is thoroughly enjoyable. 

2-3-4D amazing works by Daniel Arsham

"Corner Knot" 2008: EPS, plaster, paint, joint compound: 18 x 64 x 20 in

Daniel Arsham's work is just really wonderful.

.... it is simply a visual delight.

Thinking about Suburbia

Suburbia by Bronek Kozka

I always enjoy a good piece of interview.

I stumbled across this interview with the Australian Photographer, Bronek Kozka.

His photos remind me of Gregory Crewdson's work, which is probably why I was so drawn to read more about him to begin with. 

His Suburbia series is really stunning and definitely shows a lot of experience using constant light to set his shots up. If you enjoy reading about how a photographer thinks and works, you can read the interview Here.

Does this look like....

Daryl Banks is a Canadian Photographer.

The Crinoline flowers series caught my eye, it really reminds me of Guy Bourdin's early product work but I suppose it is everywhere these days and it will continue to evolve for many years to come.

Daryl's folio is pretty sweet, I like how his work is presented and it makes me want to get a new website even more now....