Is flatland 'extreme' in any sense of the word?

demo001
Originally uploaded by Paper Thin.

b


Yesterday Phil Dolan and Jason Forde from London did a Bmx flatland demo outside the Royal Armouries in Leeds, MC'ed by Vince aka Mr Mouth. The floor on which they had to ride was shocking but the riding was amazing. I've never been so inspired to ride but wouldn't you know it after all the beautiful weather its raining today.
Using my girls digital camera i shot loads and have uploaded 20 on to my flickr account.

Landlords are more evil than accountants

Its been two weeks of crazyness since my last post.
Last week one of my Grandmas passed away. Life has been completely upside down since and i'm still not sure i'm back to normal yet.
Moving in has had its fair share of problems including the bank paying my rent twice, landlords lying to us every time we talk with them, some of the flat being incredibly dirty when we moved in and being threatened with legal action because the previous tenents decided not to pay their bills. Most of that thankfully has been resolved and we've even been promised that the painter is starting work tomorrow.
As some of you may understand i haven't felt like taking many photos recently. I had a portfolio review at Pavilion in Leeds and got some positive advice. As soon as i get a paycheck coming in on a regular basis i'm planning on setting up a temp darkroom in our tiny bathroom to see if i can get some prints produced.
There will be some more photos soon.
Probably.

As the flashes blinded us in the photobooth

Ok then, i've only got a couple more days of home based internet access left and then i'll probably be reliant on the library in Headingley. At the moment i'm up to my ears in half-packed cardboard boxes and lists scrawled on every bit of available paper. I'm not taking all my stuff with me, seeing how we'll be living locally, my old room is being used as storage for a lot of crap that has been decided as not important enough to carry up six flights of stairs. However i still have more than i thought i would and combined with Katherines stuff its gonna be a tight squeeze in our flat.
This blog will still be updated, maybe even more regularly than recently. LIving with the internet means it gets used more than i realise. All i actually need it for is to access emails and one or two other sites but i always spend hours on the computer at a time. Its about time i started living in the real world! Like i stated previously there is a website in the pipeline but don't hold your breath. A lot of images i take will find their way on to flickr, even if some people think its slightly unprofessional to put them up. I prefer to think of it as a 'warts and all' view of my work. I'm a modest person but consider myself pretty good with a camera, sometimes it takes a lot of duff ones to get a gud'un so why not show everything and let the audience decide?
In the last couple of days i've visited a couple of exhibitions. Some of the images have been great but again i've seen some shocking artist's statements that have ruined a series/piece of work. It seems like the next generation of photographers would rather explain their work in words than let the images talk for themselves.
Last night Katherine, Vicky, her brother and me went to see Death Cab for Cutie play at Leeds Uni. The show was awesome and they sounded great but its a complete sweatbox in that joint. It almost detraacts from the music because you get that uncomfortable its hard to concentrate.
After finishing a SnappySnaps earlier in the month, i still haven't found a new job. I'm trying to put in some effort so maybe i could earn some money thru photography. The best case scenario would be a few comissions a year with a quiet part-time job so i still have a regular income.
This is the last update before we move on saturday so if anyone fancies lending a hand it'll be much appreciated.

Payphones & Haircuts

A website is in the pipeline.

Who will join me?

So i've had an idea. I'm going to start a new organisation and it will be called "The Lonely Arts Club"
It basically stems from a lot of the time when i'm involved in creative activities i'm usually alone but often have moments where i'd love there to be someone else doing the same thing who i could bounce ideas off etc. I'm sure there are others who feel the same way. Members would be invited to a weekly meet up, most likely in a coffee serving establisment, where everyone can meet and greet and arrange collaberations, one to one times and basically get to know a few more people who think the same way.
Reading this back it sounds like some hermit artist swinger group!
My reason for all this is Katherine is still down at home and i've been making flyers and creating a few bits and pieces all afternoon and all i've wanted to do i show her what i've been doing and shit.

Peep Show

Peep Show
Originally uploaded by Paper Thin.

My girls' gone back down south for a few days, so i'm left living the life of a misunderstood/solo/tortured artist. Tonight i've cut out thirty prints that i'm making into flyers and am about to try and finish them off with some text. I'm also up for some experimentation so gonna try a few portraits and try to push a colour film. The portraits i'm going for are quite personal and are of a close family member, they might remain secret but if they ever become public it'll be here first.
The Black Dogs book launch was very interesting last week, cheap drink and bring your own food. Alongside some pretty experimental music from girls in their knickers and capes! Then on the friday night we went to Vicky's degree show. It was a reflection on where photography is going recently, Vicky's were the only black and white prints in the exhibition and most of the colour work was digital. Another little thing that came to my attention was a few of the artists statements detracted value of the work. Its hard to explain but most of them explained the work too much. I've always been a fan of knowing what the photographer was thinking when taking the shots but i guess if the idea isn't that great in the first place then deconstructing it isn't going to do any favours.
I thought i had a lot to write but i'm struggling. I've been listening to too much Bright Eyes recently, music best described as 'death bed theme tunes' good just a bit sad.

:(

Its been a bit of a sad day today. It was summed up by something that happened this morning. A couple of months ago the son of a local farmer commited suicide. A few times since then a black and white border collie dog has turned up at our house, as happened this morning. Jess (name of the dog) was John's and since his death it walks around local farms looking for him. This morning it just laid at our front door and although its a beautiful dog, you can see the saddness in its eyes. I haven't been able to get it out of my mind all day.

I've got a book launch and an exhibition to see in the next couple of days so hopefully i'll keep myself busy.

I take photos with myself in to prove I still exist

Me
Originally uploaded by Paper Thin.

I'm finally taking photographs again, not very interesting ones but still.

I've got a couple of projects starting but everythings mainly just coating up to when i move out of my parental home at the end of the month.

Last day

It was my last day of work ...for a while. The last six months have deffo taught me a few things but when you take the rough with the smooth it wasn't that bad. I mean at least nobody got killed.
So with all this new found free time i'll be sure to take lots and lots of photographs, i promise.

*

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.