Another Reason not to Read the Daily Express

"Four hostile newspapers are to be more feared than a thousand Bayonets"
Napoleon Bonaparte

Magnetic Man - Perfect Stranger feat. Katy B

Magnetic Man (the collaboration project of dubstep geniuses Artwork Benga and Skream) really are taking the scene by storm. Look out for the album dropping on October 4th, it's definatly gonna be one to own. There also hitting a lot of festivals this year and as it's a collaboration it's likley to be the only year. I'm catching them at The Big Chill next weekend so look out for dates.

My Work : Leopard Shoot at Photogirls

Tate Modern : Exposed

Went to the Tate yesterday to see the Exposed photography exhibition. I thought it was great although it did feel as if it should be an Anthology book rather than an exhibition, all the sections felt like chapters and the vast amount of different photographers was amazing. As usual with the Tate Modern it was packed and so hard to get a proper look of all the images.

I particularly liked 'The Unseen Photographer' section because the best and most true images are taken naturally without the subject knowing. I was amazed at Heads by Philip-Lorca diCorcia as they were taken from incredibly far away but the quality does not suffer and the photos are great to look at. Also the clever ways of hiding camera's that the Victorians used like in the heel of a shoe or in a cane or even using a fake lens when the real one pointed in another direction.
One set which really caught my eye were by Kohei Yoshiyuki called The Park which are images of lovers and the voyeurs that are watching them.
Some of the landscape surveillance stuff didn't quite take my fancy but altogether a good show. Looking forward to seeing the Tillmans on Friday.

Fever Ray 'When I Grow Up'

Not sure about her other stuff but I really like this song from Fever Ray. It has a sort of Bjork-esq feel and her voice is haunting. Martin de Thurrah as done a great job with the video too, in fact all of Fever Ray's video's have this surreal beauty, they resemble a darker version of David LaChappelle's Photoshoots in moving image form.

So, This is Pretty Messed Up

Two twelve year old girls making music and touring around the US. That's pretty normal in a country of pushy sports mums and Miley Cyrus.
I read about these two twins on the Vice website the other day. They call themselves 'Prussian Blue' and are proud White Nationalist's. Now, i don't believe that anyone at age twelve understands politics let alone know that they believe in extreme views. How can they fully understand what they are getting into?
I'm all for freedom of speech but isn't it just common decency not to set out to offend people. These girls have clearly been groomed by their mother into believing these views and coaxed into parading around singing songs by bands like Skrewdriver with their cute little faces to spread the "Nationalist Cheer".
In the interview i saw in Vice the girls spoke as if they were 25, clearly scripted carefully by a superior and said such appalling things as calling the Holocaust a "myth" and that "there are not enough good-quality white people" which is offencive even to their own race.
As i said i believe that anyone can think what they want but racism and Nationalism is a dangerous and violent thing whatever race it is. Believing that you are superior to any other in my eyes is wrong whether it is because of skin colour, gender, sexuality etc.
I can't wait until these kids grow up and step into the real world, they'll be greeted with a lot of nasty but if they're not too hostile a lot of nice from those they hate.

My Work : First Use of my Flashgun - Bel Air Park

Benga 'Baltimore Clap'

Loving this by Benga. Best enjoyed with a big sub speaker or proper headphones, the bass is niice. Rare to see a video on a dubstep tune and if you do it's usually awful like the one for Woo Boost by Rusko, so this is good to see. So looking forward to seeing Benga, Skream and Artwork as Magnetic Man at the Big Chill this year!

My Work : Figures In a Landscape

These are some photos I took with my manual Canon Ae-1 camera for a 'Figures in a Landscape' task in my Photography GCSE inspired by Elina Brotherus. They are just of a friend on a walk around Brockwell Park. The photos came out with this odd green tint which I still don't know how I got but it does give them a sort of vintage quality that i like. Do wish i could get to the bottom of the green though.

Sally Mann : The Family and The Land

I've been doing work experience at The Photographers Gallery for the past week and the Sally Mann exhibition has been up. Looking at the work everyday hasn't made it any less unique and special to me. Her images are simply beautiful. I have noticed new things everyday and got a deeper look at the photographs than i usually would.
The images presented here do not do the work justice, it is seriously worth seeing the show and watching the documentary about Mann and her work.
Although i can see the root of the controversy with her images of her children, I think that they are just very real, personal accounts of childhood and family life. Who at the ages of 3-7 didn't get awful injuries, pretend to smoke candy and love running free.
The exhibition is on until the 19th September at Gallery and is the last show on there until 2011 due to renovations. So make sure you see it!

GOLD

Going through a gold jewellry phase at the mo. Thats just a fine selection from my jewellry box.
Gold and Brown braclet, Triangular earrings, Shell shaped earrings and Creole style earrings all from Gogo Phillip. I just need to own his whole collection. http://www.gogophilip.com/
Long gold chain from American Apparel Rummage Sale (yes i did brave that ridiculous crowd) £1 down from £35. Bargain!
Pearl and Gold earrings a hand-me-down from my Grandma.
Rings both from Topshop.
Hoop Earrings 99p from Superdrug!!
I've been wearing my chains so much I have chaffing on my neck so I've had to hold back which means I NEED to find a smaller one. The lack of money in my bank isn't helping that but birthday in a week might pay off.

Jeremy Scott for Adidas

Jeremy Scott's collection for Adidas is definatly doing it for me. Im loving the 80's look done in a non 'Kids From Fame' way, instead looking at the Hip Hop styles at the time (which adidas did dominate in the sportswear section, lets not forget Run DMC's red tracksuits and classic trainers). The designs are great with bold prints, colours as well as nicely tailored-its hard to get the shape of an oversized tee right but it has been achieved. The angel wing trainers are just special but shame Jedward had to sport them meaning they are now refered to by certain people as
'Jedward shoes'. Slightly lessens the cool but I am still desprate for them. I love the fact that Scott has still kept the classic Adidas sign present in some designs and the white stripes down the side of the red tracksuit top is a great way to touch on the classic Adidas staples. There are a couple of animal print numbers that I am not a big fan of - bit too scene - but still a fab collection.