In Vino Veritas

[See this picture at a larger size in the Dead Things section of the gallery]

So, I meant to mention last time about the best comment I've heard about my band. We played in Nottingham some time ago, and afterwards Ellen overheard someone in the pub talking about us: "I didn't stay to see them play - they didn't even look like a band!"

I think that's our new motto.

Anyway, this is a pic from a quick trip to Northwest Wales - I mainly wanted to go in order to visit Portmeirion, about which I'll probably post something later, but also visited some of the old slate mining towns in the hills of Snowdonia. At times it did remind me of some of the old Gold Rush settlements I saw in the US, but a big difference was the extent to which the landscape had been altered - around Blaenau Ffestiniog in particular every hill was covered with shattered slate scree, all directions mined out. Seeing the abandoned slate workings - with workbenches and tools signed by the last people to work there in the 1960s - was very atmospheric and melancholy.

Also had a little time to explore the Llŷn peninsula, which is truly beautiful - just as much so as the much better known Gower in South Wales which I visited a while back. It's one of the bastions of the Welsh language too, which I do love to hear but really have a hard time wrapping my tongue around.

Looking Through

[See this picture at a larger size in the People section of the gallery.]

A couple of bits of news for those of you who might be following my extra-curricular activities - there's been a bit of movement on the long-awaited (by a couple of people at least!) new Stray Light record. It's still a way off, but is at least visible on the horizon now rather than scuttling around in the dark undergrowth...

More immediately, we (or Ellen more specifically) have arranged, and are playing at, a charity gig for Oxfam next month - details on the SL site.

Back on topic - I'm in the process of renewing my relationship with the Art Surgery gallery up in the (what's inevitably prefixed with "Manchester's trendy...") Northern Quarter. So, there'll be lots of my photos available through them shortly with options for canvas prints and unusual framing options.

I'm continuing to do quite well at finding secondhand photo books at the moment - best catch lately is Richard Misrach's Crimes and Splendors, an overview of his fantastic desert pictures from late 70s to mid 90s, quite important work I think, even if I am feeling a bit burnt out the current ubiquity of large-format colour work. Not sure about Misrach's organisation of pictures into 'Cantos' though - I have a low threshold of tolerance for that sort of artistic conceit, plus it makes me think of Ezra Pound going mad in a cage, which I'm not sure is a good thing.

Lay of the Land

[See this picture at a larger size in the Empty Places section of the gallery.]

I've just found a lovely copy of Roger Ballen's book Outland - fascinating, dark stuff. I was already familiar with his more recent work (as in Shadow Chamber) which comprises people and animals in constructed, almost sculptural, environments but Outland covers the more photojournalistic start of his career covering rural South Africa (and stylistically owing quite a bit to Diane Arbus) and then segues into his current mode. This actually makes it all the more disturbing as the line between the real and the staged is really not as clear as you might expect, and equally bizarre on both sides. Recommended, but perhaps not right before bedtime.

In contrast, just got the new Yo La Tengo CD and it's giving me a happy. As is the new series of The Wire - as I may have mentioned before: best TV ever.

Few other bits of foto ephemera: Alec Soth has a blog. The new Shots is just out, featuring Susan, Gordon and others - as good as ever.

I'll be away from home and internetless for a few days starting tomorrow, will be back to catch up with things over the weekend.

EDIT: Just noticed that Gayla agrees with me about The Wire!

Sorry for the digital...

...but thought I'd post a quick snap from this morning, hanging the Kro pictures. Note Matt here demonstrating his masterful left-handed mirror plate technique - well done that man!

Aside from not being very sure about those lights it all went smoothly, and the pictures are available for your Mancunian viewing pleasure as from today.