Juggalos

I've met more oddballs in the last two months than in the last ten years and they all reside in the United States. The outspoken but very hospitable and likable Alex Jones, some alternative fishermen in Oklahoma followed by a collection of machine gun enthusiasts. All odd but a pleasure to meet nonetheless and that was just in one week.

Last week I returned from the USA after shooting an extraordinary bunch of guys from Wisconsin remotely jump some old car/trucks/buses of a huge ramp into a disused quarry. It sounds simple but watching a load of old clunkers being jumped into a heap of twisted metal is a fine way to spend an summers afternoon. Detroit was next on the itinerary. Now, if you think you've seen a run down city think again. In all my travels around the world I have never seen a city as broken as Detroit. Mumbai looks thriving in comparison. I have never seen so much inner city deprivation... anywhere. On the bright side it's possible to buy a house for $100 and if you're looking for some fresh raccoon meat I've got a great contact.

My last shoot before I flew back home was to cover the annual gathering of the Juggalos in Cave in Rock in southern Illinois. Contrary to popular media coverage the majority of the juggalos were a pleasure to meet, especially the ones who gave me beer. In 115 degrees heat a cold beer gains allot of favour with a thirsty photographer.

KGB

KGB prisons in Eastern Europe, altercations withe the Police on the German Autobahn and the funniest youtube clip I have ever seen. Ever.

End of the summer.

It's been another disappointing wet summer with numerous shoots cancelled or postponed due to rain but luckily the weather has still been great around the rest of the world. I took my first trip to Cortona in Tuscany to shoot Jean Yves Thibaudet at the annual Sun festival. I even managed to stay in the a 80 euro a night room which was probably the best hotel room I've ever stayed in with it's own roof top terrace. I have no idea why it was only 80 euros.

My shoot of the year, however, was a 8 day shoot on the PCH in California shooting a couple of motorbikes for a travel story, camping up the coast at Pizmo and Big Sur.

Macau soon, I wonder if I can persuade anyone to send me out there again?

Sudden death

Since last posting things have been hectic with travel to Switzerland, France, Scotland, The Arctic Circle in Norway, South Korea and a road trip that took me across America from LA to Miami squashed into the back of a Cadillac Escalade..... 

The highs of my last three months have included seeing the Northern Lights, watching Sea Eagles feed, spending a night out with Ian Astbury in Vegas, covering The Ballantine's Championship in Jeju Island, Snowboarding for the first time in 10 years, getting drunk in New Orleans and having my palm read by a freak with a tongue tattooed on his chin , and having a holiday in Budapest with Vicki, my wife.

Lows have included getting stuck at Glasgow airport because an inch of snow fell in Bristol, bruising every inch of my body snow boarding after a ten year absence from the sport, being stuck in the back of an overcrowded Cadillac for 6 days being force fed rubbish music, having to turn away Dennis Rodman away from a private drinking session in my Hotel room in Dallas last week because he looked wasted and I wanted to go to sleep and spending far to much time away from my family and far too much time on planes, trains and automobiles. Oh and being told by a psychic that I would die young but it would be okay because there would be no pain...... Thanks mate that's great news, well worth the $20 fee.

Flash Fatigue

I've been using Canon cameras now for 17 years and with my hand on my heart I can genuinely say that I love them, not one (touching wood) have they ever let me down with their super accurate lenses and bodies. But why is it that on nearly every shoot I go on I have flash problems using Canon TTL flashes? I mean I always get the shot I need but something always niggles, usually massive overexposure until one gun is moved a couple of feet then the meters seem to get things right. I can't put my finger on it but for cutting edge lighting solutions from the world leading camera manufacturer they really should be allot better.

What with everything that's going on in the world today with the global financial crisis, George W Bush clearing off to live a life of luxury for "good" service and the newbie Barrack Obama stepping in to probably continue with the, err, extravagant US foreign policy business seems to be coming in as usual. Note the strategic use of highly googled terms there to get more hits.

In the next few weeks I'll have to dig out my thermals as I've shoots in Inverness which is as far north as I've ever been on this beautiful island of ours and a shoot in the Alps. I'll definitely need a hat for that one.

Until then I'll keep working on my new years resolution to try and transfer some of my work to clients that are based a little closer to home.

Frozen in Vicenza

After a week of the last minute filing and cataloging of my receipts, invoices, incoming and outgoings for my accountant to present to the Tax Man I couldn't wait to drive down to Gatwick to fly to Vicenza to shoot Angela Hewitt for BBC Music last week. 

Angela was a pleasure to work with and Vicenza a delight to visit, apart from the minus 6 temperature. I really must check the weather forecast more often when travelling abroad in future. A coat would have been useful.

Off to Dorset tomorrow and then a shoot somewhere in the snowy Alps later in the month. 

Cars in Cardiff

Started off the week with a major camera cleaning session, I have no idea how my kit gets so filthy. 

Shoots have involved a couple of interesting corporate portraits and a good looking Focus ST in a freezing cold Cardiff. 

Now I have to try and get my head around what I have to do about the change in the VAT rate...