Hey-o! Last weekend me and my dad went to West Bromwich to see their huge St George's Day Parade - which me missed by trying to drive to the end and avoid walking but got detoured and really rather lost. But that's okay, it was still a nice day with my papa. We both took our cameras and each got some good shots, so here are mine...


I call this "Man With Red Face Looks At White Horses"- I like this hint of the colours in St George's flag.


And of course it isn't a St George - patron saint of England - parade without Scotsmen (and women) in kilts playing bagpipes...



As I was trying to get a shot of the mass of people marching away from us up the hill (as you can see below) This guy walked right in my shot but I still kind of like it, I think his patriotic outfit helps.



When we managed to re-join the parade (as they were coming to the finishing point) dad spotted this guy sat on the wall taking photos... so he got his photo taken too.


Remember those horses? They looked beautiful. And even the flowers were in on the red and white...

I was really glad it was such a beautiful day to wander around a town I don;t think I've ever been to before - although if I have I'm SO unfamiliar with. It made the day more enjoyable despite spending maybe too much of it in the car wondering where the heck I am.



Then we spent some time in the park which was littered with bad entertainment, but interesting people to photograph...

Including this guy on a homemade war spitfire, just shilling with his mate and er... world renowned photographer Martin Parr having his lunch.



Waiting for my English mate in my English fashion...



I found it odd how there's little fuss over St George's day in England and people are much more excited about St Patrick's day, but the sense of patriotism here was powerful and I somewhat admired people for being so proud to be English.



Even some of the dogs were kitted out in red and white. I think the dogs were my favourite part, especially Rocky and Pippa the extremely fluffy huskies.


THEY'RE SO FLUFFY I'M GONNA DIE!!



There were also a parade of bikers at the front of the march - which me missed in full action - but while they were chilling out, displaying their motorbikes I enjoyed looking at all their cool-ness.

Again I feel lost for words this week, I say time and time again how I feel better when I have pictures to present to the world (and here is a rough edit from a shoot I literally just did for my next uni project) because I have something to say when I have images to explain and they have stories attached to them.

And then I thought how I also feel pretty lost for words generally recently... I realise I feel a bit numb to the world and at a loss for cares. I'm enjoying caring less, it's something I've always wanted to do since I was young. Which sounds totally bizarre for a kid to want - to want to care less. I've always been a caring person and I still care but about a lot less than I used to, if I shouldn't be caring about things I have no control over, then I stop caring about it and let it happen.

I've locked myself away in my own little universe and keep very few close by - even then I'm still most open with my blog, with myself just typing alone. And I  acknowledge that's probably not best to shut some people off or think about people without following through and dropping them a message and most of all ignoring the mess that is politics. But I'm blissfully ignorant and I'm okay with that.

Feeling "numb" is something I - and perhaps many others - associate with feeling sad or depression, but I'm not necessarily sad, just a bit much of nothing in particular. This might well be something I look into for my current photographic project, which I think I've mentioned is a book, wherein I'm using experimental photography to represent grief... How it makes me feel, how I live with it and bringing awareness to it - much like the Prince's have done recently by talking about Heads Together and their internal struggles after their dear old mom passed away. I'm not royalty but I can hashtag relate.

It's okay to feel numb sometimes I think, more so when you talk to people about it or have some from of release like I do by blogging. But when emotions come around, good or bad, let them in and feel them from head to toe and express them, through writing, art or speech. Take care :)

Hey-o good people and a merry Saturday to you! It's sunny here, it has been for a few days and I am  LOVING it! I am mostly in a good mood, I always am when it's sunny but I have added reasons to be. My last uni project received a First (essentially an A, in case you don't know) which I don't want to brag about but I am very proud of, but it means they're keeping a hold onto my submission to double check the grade is correct, so I can't post my pictures from said project yet as I don't have the memory stick - argh! Nevertheless the next - and final project of first year - has been launched and we have to make a photobook which I'm very excited for.

It comes to no surprise that I love books and although it's been a long while since I've read some beloved fiction, my thoughts about books remain the same... I like to make books feel read. That sounds bizarre but I do. I like to crack the spine, fold the corner of the page rather than use a bookmark and now I've begun underlining parts that really resonate with me, as you can see above.

Some of you a probably launching your blog reading devices across the room right now thinking that's sacrilege, but books were made to be read - so read them rather than protecting them and handling with care just because it's a book. I do have exceptions of course, like if it's a photobook or a library book - in which case they are adorned with colourful tabs stuck to the best pages. And when buying a book - I got two semi-educational ones very recently - I always pick out the one in best condition. Contradicting myself? No, I accept books get battered in bags and such (even though I am sad at the first mark) but I like to make my own "book bruises", because it's my book after all and the marks on it are mine and tell the story of where I've taken it to be read, as well as the actual story inside.

I have books from school complete with highlights and annotations inside. I have books with rippled pages where the rain has soaked through. I have books littered with tabs to mark my favourite pictures to revisit later when I need a dose of inspiration. I have books with bent spines and scuffed up covers. I have books with creased corners. I have books in boxes and on shelves and in bags ready to read when I get bored enough out and about. I have books with tea stains when I've partnered a good read with a cup of tea. But I also have books in perfect neat condition.

I never feel like I read enough and I'm always wanting more books when I ran out of shelf space years ago. But books make me happy, they're a welcome distraction from the world, and more often now my collection is growing from just fiction novels, an interesting addition to how I live in the world with all it's factual insight. And because I love them so much, I make sure to make the most of the book and read it thoroughly; cracking the spine so I can hold it easier, folding the corners of the pages to not let a bookmark slip out anyway - or break when I fiddle with it while reading - and marking the sentences the author has written so beautifully.

I encourage you to do this with your books too. It was a slow process for me to get up to this point of making these "book bruises", I used to use (and collect) bookmarks religiously and never ever crack the spine no matter what. Even now I only write on the pages in pencil but I expect it's only a matter of time before I whip out a pen to read with. Perhaps begin like I did with sticky tabs and pencils galore, or even with a book you don't mind about so much - an old one or second hand so your marks aren't so strikingly out of place. And try not to mourn when it gets boshed in your bag and accept these "book bruises" as your own.

Good afternoon you lovely people, I hope your March was enjoyable. Mine has been mostly enjoyable, and I will show you why...


Week one and I went to the bi-monthly camera club meet up after hanging around town after uni and having a pizza for dinner with Evie C which was fun. The meet involved a tour of The Coffin Works (where the Tip Top Team reside now) by Cornelius - go over and grab a tour from him here, you will honestly love it! It was quite an interactive tour with a show of how these RIP plates above were made back a day and a look around all the nooks and crannies of the factory that have been kept. Let me know if you'd like to see my images from this day, but certainly go and visit for yourself because the people are so nice and it was very enjoyable.



Week three and I managed to pull off my own studio shoot with a couple friends - who said how they loved every minute - I was stressed and frantically trying to get plenty of looks in, changing the lighting arrangement and all in only two hours. To say it was intense wouldn't be a lie, but I sure did get LOTS of great shots that I'm very pleased with. If you want to see them head over to my instagram ;) This was the last look and it was SO GOOD but one of the staff members came in and told me to wrap up so we didn't get many shots but it was still a very successful solo shoot.

The next day I had my first exhibition with a few classmates which was also a great success! There was an amazing turn out that filled the room, I didn't take my camera as I already had a portfolio and frame to carry but I wish I had so I could capture the exhibition. I do expect it won't be the last though, so I'll be sure to get snaps next time!


Week four and it was work work work to get everything finished in time for my deadline. Including having to take time off to go to the Photography show and spend some time with my Dad for his birthday. but nevertheless I managed it and am anxiously waiting for the results! And missing my dear memory stick, I actually feel a bit lost without it, especially as we have to begin working on the next project.