Printing The Gravesend Journal with Mixam
One of the upsides of the digital revolution is that almost anyone can print their small-run book.
Here, I talk about my experience using Mixam. I also take a brief look at some of the alternatives.
Bespoke Journals: Blurb & Mixam Compared (updated)
A comparison of print-on-demand bespoke softcover journals from Blurb Books and Mixam. An outline of the costs, the quality and how they compare. Part of my series about printing your work for photographers.
Newspaper Movie: Official Secrets
During the build-up to the Iraq war, the US and UK were desperate to get approval for the proposed invasion from the UN, but some of the non-permanent members of the Security Council were reluctant, to say the least. The NSA requested the assistance of GCHQ in getting information on diplomats representing those countries that could be used to ‘encourage’ them to tow the line.
Newspaper Movie: Citizenfour
Citizenfour is a 2014 documentary film directed by Laura Poitras, concerning Edward Snowden and the NSA spying scandal.
The film centres around Poitras and Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald. It shows the incredible bravery of, 29-year old, Snowden who leaves a long-term relationship, his family, his job and his country, knowing he can never return.
Journal #2: New York
Following my Berlin Journal, in the series ‘Cities I love but can’t visit,’ I bring you, New York. As before, this is the Blurb 6” x 9” Trade Book using their Standard paper with a Softcover.
Newspaper Movie: The Insider
I admit I'm stretching the definition of 'Newspaper Movie' by including The Insider.
However, it's a great film, and The New York Times does play a pivotal role in the story, so it's not entirely fallacious. The Insider has been on my list to watch for a while, and with the recent sad death of Christopher Plumber, it seemed fitting to take a look; I'm glad I did.
Newspaper Movie: All the President's Men
It's a classic. With the possible exception of Citizen Kane probably the best-known film on my list.
You've probably seen it, but trust me it warrants another look, and if you've never watched it you're in for a treat.
Newspaper Movie: Absence of Malice
Michael Gallagher (Paul Newman) finds himself a front-page story in the local newspaper the Miami Standard.
The federal prosecutor suspects Gallagher knows who killed a local Union official. He leaks to Megan Carter (Sally Field) that he's investigating Gallagher for the crime, hoping Gallagher will reveal the real killer to clear his name.
Newspaper Movie: The Post
In 1967, Robert McNamara, the US Secretary of Defense, formed the Vietnam Study Task Force to write an "encyclopedic history of the Vietnam War". This report, commonly known as the Pentagon Papers, detailed the systematic lying by US administrations to the American people, starting with Eisenhower, through JFK and Johnson to Nixon.
Set four-years later, The Post portrays the true story of The Washington Post publishing the Pentagon Papers.
Newspaper Movie: State of Play
Yes, Russell Crowe's Cal McCaffrey neatly fits the stereotype of the middle-aged, grouchy, grizzled reporter, but this a stereotype for a reason. If we're honest McCaffrey is just the sort of reporter we love to love, and Russell Crowe does it well, very well.
Newspaper Movie: Spotlight
The film starts in 2001 with the arrival of Martin 'Marty' Baron, the new Editor of The Globe. The film hints that the paper had previously reported on the sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests, but hadn’t followed it up as Baron would have expected. Not having grown up in the shadow of the Catholic Church, the new editor lacks the reverence that holds back the native Bostonians and he prompts the Spotlight team to investigate further.
Newspaper Movie: Page One: Inside The New York Times
Andrew Rossi’s documentary focuses on the Media Desk at The New York Times. Shot in 2010 it covers, amongst other stories, the Wikileaks publication of the Afgan war logs. The standout star for me is David Carr, who steals every scene he’s in. Carr is irascible, smart and at times, very funny. In fact, just how I want my New York journalist to be.
Newspaper Movie: Kill the Messenger
Kill the Messenger is the true story of Gary Webb, an investigative journalist working for the San Jose Mercury News. Webb was passed court papers implicating the CIA in supplying arms to the Contra rebels in Nicaragua.
What is true, however, is it makes a great movie. I rode the highs and lows. Watch it and let me know what you think?
Making a Bespoke Journal (with Blurb)
One of the habits I’ve been trying to form during lockdown is to write more frequently in my Journal. My other lockdown preoccupation has been trying to print more of my work. So the opportunity to combine the two and make my own Journal was just too good to pass up.
AG23
'What is AG23?' I hear you ask. AG23 is a collaboration between Dan Milnor of Blurb Books and Rick Elder of Beyond Clothing. They describe it as a project "to promote understanding through dialogue and art".
In a world that feels more divided than at any time that I can remember anything that promotes understanding can only be a good thing.
Magcloud Digest: a review
I wrote, in what seems like a previous life, about having become disillusioned with Instagram as a platform for sharing long-form work and how I'd started to look for alternatives.
How to show your work - a review
Today is day five, I think (I've already lost track), of our social distancing here in the UK. When we emerge from under the shadow of this lockdown, it will be a massive challenge for some creatives to restart their careers. It probably doesn't take me to tell you to make the most of this time, and be as prepared as possible.
Fujifilm x-series JPEG files
Having read recently read Kevin Mullins' article detailing how he set the custom film profiles on his Fujifilm X-series cameras I was keen to give it a go on my new Fuji XT1. Although I've been shooting with my X100s for some time it's mainly been in RAW.
Testing Orwo N74+
I posted before a sample of Orwo N74+ developed using Kodak HC-110, the sample below was developed using Rodinal diluted at 1+50.
Testing a new film: Orwo N74+
This is a shot of Robin Hood Gardens in East London, it's a test from my first roll of Orwo N74+. Orwo film manufactured by FilmoTec GmbH based in the former East Germany. The company in various forms has been making the film, mainly for the motion picture industry, since 1910.