TRINCK!!

We should always be drunk. That is be-all and end-all, the only choice there is. To no longer feel the horrible burden of time, which racks your shoulders and bows you downwards to the earth, you must make yourself ceaselessly drunk.

But drunk on what? wine, poetry, virtue - whichever you prefer;

only get drunk.

And if from time to time, whether on a palace stair or in the green grass of a ditch, or in the gloomy loneliness of your room, you waken with your drunkenness wearing off or already gone, then ask the wind and the waves, the stars or the birds or the clock, whatever is fleeting, whatever moans or spins or sings or speaks, ask them what time of day it is; then wind and wave and star and bird and clock will answer you: 'it is time to get drunk! so as never to be the martyred slaves of time, get drunk without respite, with wine or poetry or virtue, whichever you prefer.' Charles Baudelaire [1864]

The Man, the myth, the one man blues powerhouse!!

http://www.myspace.com/johncramptonmusic

Musicians that never "made it" in the sense of being famous enough to fund their kids to buy them a two inch, bag compartment dwelling fashion dog and crystalized iphone covers, or get spotted leaving a dingy, back street brothel struggling to high heavens to find their way home after snorting copious amounts of who knows what, off the body of whoever, may be forgiven for portraying the illusion that such musicians have decided to just sit at home, or hang around bars telling tales about a time when things were different, and kids don't understand music these days and bla bla bla cough and a splutter, listen to this me old mukka. Well...... John Crampton is a very different breed of a man. If indeed he is human? a man that doesn't crave spotlight, nor gaze into the eyes of onlookers and bask in his glorious skills, or wait around to receive praise and mindless chit chat. No no no, this man is an unforgiving guitar shredding, foot stomping, hand clapping, deep voice singing warrior. The energy when he is beating down upon that steel guitar leaves one to think he pours red bull over his breakfast cereal. Whilst i would like to draw mass attention to the high energy of this blues guitar player I also have to put my foot on the brakes... because his songs really do sing to you, to the heart, to that button that says, its great to smile, everything will be just fine, times might be hard, but they have been hard before and will be for some time in the future, tonight is about purity, tonight is about tequila blues, tonight is about realizing that somebody is flying the flag for honest, hard working music that we all relate to, bourbon scotch, gin vodka, when you see this guy, he will have his hold on ya. Those that have witnessed the skills need no further explanation. Those that haven't !! you have some homework to do. . . .

Personal favourites:

Micklepage Stomp

Tequila blues

people make people better people

magicians continued....

Performers & The mesmerist......

My previous blog featured both Pianists that occupy their time from monday to friday playing vintage piano sets at The Mesmerist. Both vary in style, in character, personality and in terms of what they want to achieve with themselves. It is the start of a collection of images comprising all the performers and musicians that have graced The Mesmerist in Brighton, left their stamp on the venue, and even had people muttering the words 'I was there to see that'. It is with my unique film approach I have attempted to deliver a unique set of images. using both black and white film and color positive. Without repeating myself too much in use of the word unique, I will simply say that the events and people In all the portraits on this blog I have been fortunate to photograph, have this quality in abundance and it is within the surrounds of a place that embodies this notion that they were aptly photographed in action. Every Tuesday sees a group of up and coming magicians some of which hail from the only magic shop I currently know of in Brighton. I needn't tell people how good these guys are but simply urge forth a visit with an open mind and a keen set of eyes.

looking deeper inside....

Tom Arthur
Jacapo Gambini Rossano
Red-Air
Jacapo Gambini Rossano

snap, can I see it? I think I was blinking!! or at least if I wasn't it certainly won't be my best photograph!! sound familiar? every digital snappers nightmare, whether your spotting a moment in the street, at a birthday party, or a friend. Everybody seems to have the modern view that an image that eliminates imperfections is a perfect depiction of themselves, or seen as the most beautiful they can look, how they want to be seen, their face toward the world, the rough exterior they present to onlookers at moments they feel watched, scrutinized, thrown into the judgement system of society.

The choice of going back to film photography is not something new, but it does renew a sense that from the moment you click the shutter, there are elements of wonder, of chance, a taste that you may of captured the true depiction of somebody, their eyes, the gesture they use, without pretense, in its upmost organic form, an image people can refer to with honesty to say, i remember that, it was natural, at the time i thought i looked fat, never really saw in my eyes what i felt within my mind. an image that stands the test of time. Over these months I have photographed friends, musicians, performers, musicians and work colleagues.