It Has Been Way Too Long – Here’s To 2014

First I am going to do my best to make time for my blog. I am giving myself 10 minutes to write this and add a few pictures – the less time you have to think the more you will write from the heart. Sometimes it is the same when you are doing a photo shoot you can sometimes capture the character of someone in five minutes.

I see that my previous post was about my A A D exhibition and it was extended until the end of January and I have took down all the images – which are now on the floor in a corner of my studio. The project was fun but putting the exhibition together took a lot out of me and other people – I feel after much soul searching that it was worthwhile . I know I made some new friends and produced some interesting images. Also it is a personal project and it was good for the soul. I am going to continue with the project but first I need to repair the Hasselblad 500 I was using – if anyone can get my viewfinder repaired please get in touch.

So far in 2014 I have photographed and seen some of my favourite bands/artists Adam Green, Obits, and Maximo Park. Also I was super proud to be commissioned to shot Maximo Park for t In The Studio piece which appeared in the NME in January.  had to keep it a secret since I took the pictures at the beginning of December.

Looking ahead it is shaping up to be a great year already looking forward to gigs in the coming week by The Orwells, Toy, Radkey, Drenge and others

I am also continuing with my Instamatic for the People project of instant print pictures. Adam Green as part of my Instamatic for the People project

This is one of my favourite images from my A A D project I love the colours and how relaxed the band were. Despite numerous technical difficulties we managed to get some decent shots. This image was shot in bulb mode with a second curtain flash. With a Hasselblad 500cm

This is one of my favourite images from my A A D project I love the colours and how relaxed the band were. Despite numerous technical difficulties we managed to get some decent shots. This image was shot in bulb mode with a second curtain flash. With a Hasselblad 500cm

 

Looking forward to seeing more Telegram gigs and hearing more recordings. This shot is from The Shacklewell Arms Christmas party - did I tell you we won the pop quiz 0n the night :-)

Looking forward to seeing more Telegram gigs and hearing more recordings. This shot is from The Shacklewell Arms Christmas party – did I tell you we won the pop quiz 0n the night 🙂

 

Adam Green as part of my Instamatic for the People project

                       Adam Green as part of my Instamatic for the People project

My Maximo Pictures in the NME from January 2014
My Maximo Pictures in the NME from January 2014

 

 

New Reward On Kickstarter – Today Is The FInal Day

A big thank you to everyone that came down to my exhibition opening and the gig – I will not forget your support.

As all the images from my exhibition are hanging up in The Cluny ( I will be adding more during the exhibition) – I made a collage of all the images and I am offering this as a print on Kickstarter for just a £10.00 pledge.

The link to the Kickstarter campaign is here  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/davidwala/a-a-d-photography-exhibition

 

 

Without People You Are Nothing

“Without People You Are Nothing” – this quote from Joe Strummer has resonated with me. Although I work alone mainly  in my photography I could not do it without people to photograph or help me.

Tonight is the opening of my A A D exhibition at The Cluny.

At the time of writing I am so busy as I have to finish up preparations for the exhibition  so I  will keep this brief

However I want to thank every band that has taken part there are 28 and counting I will name them all and add a gallery soon.

Thank you to the bands playing tonight So What Robot, Retriever and  The Union Choir – it is an absolute honour that you are playing the gig as part of the opening.

As ever The Cluny have been absolutely fantastic and always helpful and friendly. Paul Burgess has done a magnificent job with the posters . Digitalab have done a fantastic job with the printing on a very short notice. Mark at Art for Art’s sake has done an amazing job framing everything yesterday morning – an absolute star.

Tonight Daniel Robson and Lewis Norvid are doing the DJ duties  – I am super grateful that I do not have to worry about the music I know it will be amazing.  A huge thank you to my wife Jill for her help and editing skills. Thank you to everyone who has helped me and publicised he exhibition. Also check this article out by NE;MM it perfectly describes my project http://nemmonline.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/david-wala-a-d-photography-exhibition.html

David

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Also as well as the people I need to use a camera 🙂

 

The camera that has been used for most of my project

The camera that has been used for most of my project

 

 

This has been used to take every picture in the exhibition

This has been used to take every picture in the exhibition

 

 

Kickstarter Campaign ?

For sure there are many more worthy causes than my Kickstarter campaign. Deep down I have many reservations about asking people for money to fund my project.  I really do feel uncomfortable about doing it, but I have decided to go ahead and start a Kickstarter campaign. I am not asking for something with nothing in exchange I think the range of rewards are valuable – I promise I am not offering to cook you a meal or go on a date.  Also a big thank you to the people who have kindly supported the project – that means a lot.

I was discussing this with a local musician yesterday and he told me  that some people  do not think twice about asking to use my work for free or just  a credit – actually some people do not even bother asking :-).  I should also add there are many that do ask and support my work – they all know who they are.

The link to my Kickstarter campaign is here  AAD Kickstarter campaign

Here is the video I made

<iframe width=”480″ height=”360″ src=”http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/davidwala/a-a-d-photography-exhibition/widget/video.html&#8221; frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”>

 

This is a personal project and I am doing it just because I enjoy it, and hope other people will too. Also thanks to everyone for taking part in the project without them there would be no project 🙂

More importantly I would like people to come along and enjoy the exhibition and the free gig on 6th November

A A D Project Exhibition At The Clunny In Newcastle Opening 6th November 2013

For nearly two years I have worked on a project called A A D. A project all shot with a medium format analogue ( Hasselblad) camera with the subjects taking the photograph with a cable release. I have a photographed touring and bands from the North East including Howler, Hooded Fang, Art Brut, Charlie Boyer and the Voyeurs.

There will be an opening on Wednesday  from 6:30pm at The Cluny in Newcastle and a free gig featuring So What Robot, Retriever, and an acoustic set by The Union Choir  – please come down. For more information please see the Facebook Event. I also have a Kickstarter campaign with some unique rewards from the exhibition.

A poster for the A A D exhibition at The Cluny in Newcastle

A poster for the A A D exhibition at The Cluny in Newcastle

A A D Exhibition In November

It’s been a long time. I will be having an exhibition of my prints from my personal project called A A D. I have worked on this since last summer and it will be great to see some large size prints on the walls of The Cluny in November and December this year.

Here is a mock-up of a potential poster for the exhibition ( featuring one of the shots of Howler from the project).

 

Howler Poster for A A D Exhibition

Howler Poster for A A D Exhibition

More details of the project can be found on my website – I will be updating with information about the exhibition opening.

 

 

Turning Analogue Into Digital – New Contact Sheets

The portrait project I started last year and have mentioned in earlier posts is starting to take shape.

I have tentatively titled it AAD ( Analogue Analogue Digital) just like on the back of CDs. Analogue for the type of camera, Analogue for the developing process, and Digital for the printing.

Sometimes I wonder why I am doing this on film – but the only answer is that I enjoy shooting with film and still get excited to see the results when the negatives are printed. Also I think that subconsciously the subjects may have more time and interest in film camera rather than with the immediacy and sometimes clinical nature of digital ( although I shoot digitally most of the time).

Here are two of the latest contact sheets:

So What Robot shot with a Mamiya RZ 67 camera with transparency film. These were taken after a more structured shoot in my studio in June 2012 ( I have just got the film processed yesterday – after an admin error…)

So What Robot Newcastle June 2012

So What Robot Newcastle June 2012

 

 

Gallery Circus shot at Think Tank Newcastle before their gig on 22 February. Shot with a Hasselblad 500 on Kodak Portra film

Gallery Circus Newcastle February 2013

Gallery Circus Newcastle February 2013

 

 

A big thank you to all the bands that have taken part so far. More info can be found  on my website in the AAD Gallery

I must say it is good for the soul to be doing this personal project

David

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