Subway Stories

My daily journeys on the Q train have made me even more aware of the street photography gold mine that is the New York Subway system. To use a cliché all human life is here from panhandlers to break-dancers. The often bizarre cultural contrasts, kissing gay couples next to observant Jews reading the Torah, rambunctious …

The Recreation

The relationship between photographic composition and that used in figurative art from previous centuries has often been a tight one. In the case of photographer Tom Hunter, this is particularly true. He has recreated, or perhaps a better expression would be reinterpreted, classic paintings from esteemed masters like Velasquez and Caravaggio to make a comment …

Nice to Meet You

One of the saddest things you can do in life is wonder around a Dog Shelter and watch the appealing eyes of those unwanted animals. Too often ill treatment has led to them being cantankerous aggressive and unsociable meaning the chances of being taken home by anyone is about nil. By the way just in …

Shuggie for Summer

I often associate certain albums with certain seasons. ‘Charlie Parker with Strings’ speaks to me of the Springtime. Brian Eno and Harold Budd’s ‘The Pearl’ says Autumn. But when it comes to summer one album allows leaps out. Shuggie Otis ‘Inspiration Information’ Shuggie Otis is not a name on the tip of most people’s tongues …

Movie Hipster Kits

You can’t beat a bit of playful pop culture. Like Paris based artist Alizee Lafon’s poster series ‘Movie Hipster Kits’ Each poster references a famous film or film icon with a series of simple graphic images. From Don Draper’s Lucky Strike cigarettes to The Dude’s bowling ball.  

Life’s a Blur

One thing that constantly amazes me is the sheer amount of interesting visual art out there that has somehow escaped my attention It seems every month I’m discovering a new well-established figure in photography and art Bill Jacobson fits this mold. He is best known for his beautiful, blurry images of the human form, landscape …

Happiness is Frances Ha

I really, really wanted to hate Frances Ha. It looked so hipster cute that I can barely bring myself to take my seat for the performance. Yet within ten minutes the film was just so charming, warm and funny that I just had to love it instead. The key to that lies in the universally …