Tonight I was reading one of my free publications, and without going into too much detail, I was reading an article on the negative impact of lowcost goods in the market place and how the injection of lowcost can affect the sustainability of the high quality companies and their associated products.

Interestingly and maybe ironically we now find ourselves in a period of financial depression, and whilst in the retail market place this will have a huge impact and overall the countries re-session will kick in full flow next year, I don't think it will be a bad thing if we all start opening up the purse strings and spending a little. Being over cautious is a human condition, and we only have ourselves to blame for the state we are in. Ok there are bigger powers out there controlling the downward turn, but between us we have the ability to go out, and make our choices / spend a little on the better quality goods and less imports from the far east, and turn this thing around. So without spouting off for too long, buy local, for me that will be British, and maybe just maybe, each little bit we push forward will help keep a few jobs, and maintain the "high quality" products we now demand, as consumers, photographers, parents.....

Tonights' shot was well random, but there, if you know what I mean.... I couldn't resist a little snap!....csj

Well according to my good friend Craig, I've only posted four times since April, and I don't have an excuse to be honest. Its been an emotional year, for all sorts of reasons, but I am feeling better about the idea of picking up my camera again. Without going into too much about what happened, the studio left me cold, and photographically speaking "unemotional", and whilst I would have loved it to have worked, it unfortunately didn't head in the right direction, so I stand by my decision to pull out, and in a way I am glad now, but it did leave a dead spot for me for a while.

Anyway enough of that, its 4 months ago, and its time to move on...

Thanks to those of you that have nagged at me to polish the lenses and get back out there.

Tonights' post is from this weeks trip to the little known Wookey Hole, and whilst I could have posted one of several shots from within the caves, it was the surrounding buildings and decor that held most of my attention, for whilst it was definately catering for the tourist market, it just seemed a little lost, with its Plastic Dinosaurs and Clown parephenalia during a midweek visit. Anyway I guess its progress, and commercialism, but its a shame that it somewhat over shadows the amazing caves, that look a little worn out and tired from having 2000 people a day (average) trip through them....

Its nice to be back, but will take me a while to get some image stocks in the can.

I need to speak to Johno this week, its been too long again, infact it must be nearly 4 years since we saw each other. I guess we contact each other each christmas but thats about it.

I could use a chat and find out how his photography is going.

The last time he was down we shot a bunch of coastline shots, and took his littlen on the Steam Train at Corfe.

I bet Struan's not so little anymore.

How time flies....This was another quick chance frame amongst a bunch of others shot on my Nikon (at the time) and altho it had a hellishly slow shutter, it had a good optical range and functions.

Johno was always a stickler for everything film, and the last time we spoke he was into colour calibration, Lyson inks, film scanning and archival paper..... lets see what he's upto now.

Bournemouth Beach, a favourite amongst dog walkers.

Went out this morning and liked what I saw, we found a nice niche, I think, will fill you in more once we are up and running, but the concept seems pretty solid, and I hope it will work.

Amazing what a cup of coffee some fresh air and an open opportunity may bring.

Having said that the lens got wet today, no worries tho, and hey I'm not a fair whether photographer anyway.

Was quiet out today, apart from the sea bound nutters, who love the blowey weather, and choppy sea with rolling waves.

A good day tho.....

Oh and Fin is nearly overhis cold, and apparently (altho I havent seen it yet) he's got his first tooth!!!.....finally.

Kefalonia, quite a dark time!, personally speaking, but I was on a much needed break away in the sun, and found an opportunity to get the old seeing eye active again.

Not many shots came from this time away, but none the less a few were worth keeping.

As always let me know what you think, and leave me some comments, it only takes a few seconds.

csj

Shot in a car-park in Perth WA, somewhere near a Koala sanctuary, and opposite a coffee shop. Not a lot to say on this one other than that it was a cliche waiting to be snapped, very shiny irresistable in someways, and what with it being a bright, warm, Australian summers day, I could not resist.

If you have anything to comment then feel free, but this one for me was a pretty obvious cliche.

I studied photography after I left school, which actually took me to my dads' place of birth, WARE.

I went to the local Art College and studied photography under the masterful tutiledge of Paul Bennett and Malcolm Kemp, they certainly molded our skills at the time.

Rightly or wrongly, we all became quite structured and routine in our photographic approach, something I was to later realise was maybe a bit to restricting. Anyway enough on that......

It was being in and around the old market town of Ware that I had opportunity and time to take a few shots, which until now I havent really done anything with.

Let me know as always what you think.