*

I'm not sure this blog is filling the purpose i had in mind when i started it. There are increasingly less photos being posted and more diary entry type posts. I'll be the first to admit that PaperThin has been a bit quiet but i've had a few new ideas recently and feel some motivation creeping back into me. So if you'll keep reading i'll keep writing (And hopefully post more photos)

And to finish, Top 5 things i've learnt in the last 48 hours:

*Everyone in the world does drugs...i mean we're all addicted to something aren't we?
*You shouldn't do bad shit to your own family.
*Family Guy season 4 is the best yet.
*I have too much hair. (Not talking Bon Jovi long just annoyingly wayward)
*Summers on the way, cause my hayfever is starting to play up.

Boys will be boys

Its the first time in a while i've had chance to update...on tuesday Katherine and I signed for a flat in Headingley. Its a big step but one that feels right and i have no doubts about it. Then wednesday after work we met Pete and somehow get ourselves involved in a pub quiz. Surprising we didn't win but it was fun none the less.
As thursday turned out to be pretty dry i met Mark at route two for some riding. Didn't really ride full blast, mainly just catching up cause it'd been ages since i last saw him. Today i put my new bars on my bike (Beringer Lt's, wide as fuck) and me and Rob tried to ride but got blagged by gypos at route two.
So thats all and i didn't even take any photos.

This isn't it

Morning walk
Originally uploaded by Paper Thin.

I printed a few things at Silvertone today, including this half frame shot.

There's only so much you can do without modern firearms

I'm 22 years old today. I'm ipod equipped again and have a brand new pair of red slip-offs!

Yesterday i handed in my notice at work too.

I'm gonna do sweet fuck all for the rest of the day.

Bye.

I am prepared for wonderful things to happen

My life has been so eventful recently its left me with less than no time to tell the internet world about it. Events such as taking just one single photo in the last 2 weeks, the incredible journey from Hyde park to work and back at least half a dozen times a week and writing a short Broadway musical are only the start. Truthfully though safari keeps being a jerk off and not letting me access the site.
I think i'm shooting some photos at my first wedding this weekend, going for the candid black and white portrait shit, mainly cause my family are a nightmare to try and organise. Leave that one to the professional.
I actually have left the house recently to go take in some movies. "Crazy" and "The Squid and The Whale". Crazy was very good, +10 points for being in french and having subtitles. My favourite by far was The squid and the whale, it had Jeff Bridges in and was produced by Wes Anderson (Life Aquatic etc..) The humour was right up my street, very dry and sarcastic. It also contains an amazing beard, a really young kid swearing really fucking harshly and its set in New York.
It probably won't be as long before the next update. Probably.

Feels like yesterday

Lambrini Jam_2
Originally uploaded by Paper Thin.

Last years Lambrini Jam was a blast hopefully this years won't be bad either.

I've been getting pretty into this website www.fecalface.com They all look like cool people, do cool stuff and of course they live (mostly) in San Francisco. Also i've been trying to come up with a few projects or themes to take photos on but not had that lightening bolt of inspiration yet.

A little one

Its been a pretty cool day today. Had lunch at Slips Deli, took a walk in the park and spent the whole day with Katherine. Didn't take any photos though. I've got work for the next two days, hopefully my bike will be up and running by then too and i can get out and enjoy more of the sunshine thats been making an appearance.

My bad luck is getting worse

Unfortunately my run of misfortune continues. First of all my ipod has more or less died. I've tried everything i know...been on the website...trawled the help forums but no success. I even went to the Apple shop in Leeds but as soon as they realised i didn't buy it from them, they clamed up. In fact i almost satisfied my lastest urge to punch someone but stopped short. While in town i bought the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs record on vinyl in an effort to make the journey less of a waste.
Seeing how the weather had been so nice i decided to have a quick solo riding session down at route 2 this afternoon. Just when i thought it couldn't get any worse i had one of the most surprising incidents that can happen on a bmx...my chain snapped just as i started to pedal hard. Basically i ended up in a heap on top of my bike totally unaware of what had happened but with amazing pains brewing in both my legs. All of which has left me with some kind of permanent dead right leg and a left knee thats swollen up so it ressembles a tennis ball.
I don't know what can happen next except a long day at work to look forward to tomorrow.

On a cheerier note everyone should go to www.assblasters.org and read what Brian Tunney has to say. He's definitely one guy one's got his head screwed on right.

The joy of work

The Evens_9
Originally uploaded by Paper Thin.

I scanned my negatives to cd at work today. I've uploaded quite a few to Flickr but i can't wait to hand print some of them.
I also got a new record player today. Its an automatic so at the press of a button it does it all for you, which makes a change from me sprinting to stop and swap sides every 5 minutes.

While the Kat's away the mouse will play

Today i managed to visit Silvertone and finally get the roll from The Evens gig developed as well as the two rolls i shot in Dublin. Hopefully next week i'll get the chance to print some.
As the title suggests Katherine is away for a few days in Brighton with her good friend Lisa. Naturally i'm jealous as hell because i'm at work for the next two days. I've had some mixed fortune in the past few days. First of all my record player broke, i took it back to Argos where the woman behind the counter said i could only get a refund in Argos vouchers but she made a mistake and i ended up walking away with cash. I had also bought a pair of jeans on ebay but when they arrived they were extreme sniper's nightmare size. Basically the label said 32" waist but when i measured them it was barely 30". I casually mentioned this to the seller and got a rude and ignorant reply. Looks like i'll be selling them on myself.
It was only the possible threat of negative feedback that stopped me launching my own attack. Thats my excuse and i'm sticking to it. Sometimes i feel like i'm too nice or don't speak up enough when i should but some random on ebay may not be the best place to start. I wouldn't mind punching someone soon, i'd even take a few myself for the effort. This is not an open invitation to any meathead for a fight by the way.

What you saying?

I could get used to the quiet life if i was allowed. All i've done this weekend is chill out. I've been riding a couple of times but just solo and mostly just messing around, been on a bit of a drive today but thats all. I suppose it makes for pretty boring reading but i just write this, i rarely bother to read it much.

Titles are over-rated

"What happened to your dreams and aspirations blood? Now the highlight of your day is masterbation blood"

I'm not the world's biggest hip hop fan but do yourself a favour and listen to Plan B 'Missing Links'. It still surprises me when i find new music that i love. In the day and age of the Ipod sometimes it feels like you have all the music thats been made. It still gives me hope.

For the past few days i've been fucking sick as a dog. The bad shit started to happen on thursday morning when i got up for work and dropped my phone in the toilet. This was followed by a day of hard work feeling like shit. On friday i called in sick and went to see the doctor but all she did was make me give a piss sample and told me there is no cure for the flu! It never really got any better..aches, shakes, a crazy fever and bad cough and sore throat.
All which has left me sat here in two jumpers and a coat as well as two room heaters but still i'm cold.

Finally finished the roll in my Pen EE, a couple will be posted when i feel up to scanning.

Why do i chase when all i want is near?

Some colour shots from Dublin are up on my Flickr page for your viewing pleasure.

Airport
Originally uploaded by Paper Thin.

Films currently in cameras:
1 35mm colour in OM10
1 35mm colour in Pen EE

Films awaiting dev:
1 35mm Tmax 400 (uprated to 1600) from The Evens show
2 120 Tmax 400 from Dublin taken on Holga

Bubblin' in Dublin

The week in Dublin came to an end last night with a traditionally delayed RyanAir flight. Its felt amazing to have a week off. We spent our days walking around all the different areas of the city centre and our nights at a show or at a restaurant.
Henry Rollins was exactly how i thought he would be. Just hearing him speak was motivation. He's had some crazy experiences like traveling solo across Russia just because he had a free week and becoming a terrorist suspect in Australia for reading a book. Redneck Manifesto were intense to say the least. Their set lasted almost two hours and they ran through all the best songs from all albums.
One thing about Irish crowds were the amount they drank. It seemed like no-one ever sat still for more than two minutes. Plus with the smoking ban there was a constant stream of smokers coming to and from the door. I had one pint of the black stuff in a quiet pub but didn't really fancy another.
Got through a few rolls of film ofcourse and should be some posted later in the week.
Also while i was away got a bargain of a half frame camera from ebay so as soon as i put a film thru it i'll report back.

I'm probably addicted to fruit cake

Last night i met Ian Mackaye. I shook his hand (twice) and mumbled a few words. I've respected and looked up to him for a while, he was everything i thought he would be, i guess you could call him one of my hero's.
To cut a long story short me and Katherine went to see The Evens play in Leeds last night. The show was in a church and we were all sat on the pews with the band at the front. It was an amazing performance and atmosphere. It made a change to be sat down and not have to worry about being crushed by a drunk crowd or have some meathead blow smoke in your face but the intensity of the music meant everyone was still buzzing at the end.

I'm off to Dublin on Monday for a few days. While we're over there i'm off to see Henry Rollins and then to end the week me and Katherine are off to see Redneck Manifesto, which should be a cracking night. There won't be any updates for a week or so but expect plenty of snaps when i come back.

Oversmith

Oversmith
Originally uploaded by Paper Thin.

Proof if any is needed that camo pants should not be worn because you never know when some idiot will have his camera with him.

Did you know that.....

Did you know that.....
Originally uploaded by Paper Thin.

One of the shots i got on a stroll around Dean Clough Mills a couple of weeks ago. Click to see more.

Cut self not

The gig on saturday was amazing. The second support band came on and the these were the first words the singer said,
"Hey, we're Murder by Death from Indiana and we sing songs about the devil, drinking whiskey and cowboys."
At which point they're already won me over, they're set was over too fast and full of energy.
After that it was Against Me. It got very crammed near the front and the stage diving started from the first song. They didn't play as much from they're lastest album as i'd expected but it was one amazing song after another. I almost lost my voice from singing along and ofcourse got a stiff neck from all the head nodding!

Against Me!_1
Originally uploaded by Paper Thin.

As predicted i finished the roll in my T5 and this is one of my favourite shots on it. This one was taken in a coffee shop in Windsor when we were escaping the cold. Click the image to see others and a few more from the gig too.

Coffeeshop
Originally uploaded by Paper Thin.

Your not saying anything we haven't heard before...

Seeing how its the Against Me! gig tomorrow i'm listening to 'Searching for a former clarity' almost on full volume, that is when my speakers make up their mind to work.
Its a pretty routine friday night, which over the past few weeks involves sitting infront of a computer at home, alone, listening to music to avoid television and feeling completely wrecked after work. I swear if i did nine hours manual labour i'd be less tired it must be the act of forcing myself to be nice to customers that wears me down. I complain but there are advantages...i still have something to do with photography and i get to see other peoples photographs, which most of the time are shit but i deffo get my fair share of "interesting" shots.
I wish i enjoyed going out at night more. Maybe i over did it a little back in the day. A lot of times when i'm out it just seems like the only thing going on is everyone trying to out-do each other with stories of shitness. I'm as guilty as the next when i have a drink. The latter being pretty rare these days. I'm not gonna label myself as straight edge cause i'm sick of having to have a name or fit into a catorgrey just because you have a certain opinion. Plus tomorrow night you get £1 bottle at the gig and i'll be drinking it...might as well but it'll probably be my only drink of the night.
Its a weird time at the moment, kinda like i'm losing touch. Everyone's busy living their own life and time is flying. I don't activately fight the situation either..mix tiredness and laziness together and not much is gonna happen.

This kinda isn't the reason i started writing one of these blogs, so if anyone looking at this is wondering where the photography's at...click the photos and it links to my Flickr Page which is wall to wall imagery.
And on that note hopefully i'll finish the roll in my T5 at the gig and get the roll of slide film i have dev'ed next week, so i'll have some fresh shit to post.

Downside Whip (Thingy)

Downside Whip (Thingy)
Originally uploaded by Paper Thin.

Well what a day. Spent most of the day at Silvertone where i produced this print for the Sandy Carson photography competition and a few others for my portfolio. Having a stint in the darkroom made me realise i'd become a little rusty but i was flying again after an hour. I can't thank Ian enough really and anyone reading this that needs some quality prints knocking out should check out the link on the right hand side of this page.
Tomorrow is Katherine's and mine one year anniversary. Doesn't time fly...only feels like yesterday i was single and out on the town every night.