Fox Talbot and Red 159

A figure of the 19th Century

John Soane was a man who was part of a new wave in England - pushing an enlightenment  agenda  - he was not alone in changing the way we live.

Due to the connection between the Bradford Media  Museum and  London's Science Museum there  seem to be fairly regular  strong Photographic exhibitions in Kensington (like this one about 18 months ago)  , earlier in the week I went along with a companion to check out a show that looked at the work of British pioneer Fox Talbot.

Seems that in these days (start of the 19th Century) the role for a certain type of comfortably well off  gentleman was to pursue a somewhat dilettante existence pursing interests and making discoveries, Fox Talbot was the epitome of this type of moneyed person.

Of course Fox Talbot had help, his assistant (the Dutchman Nicolaas Henneman) who later  went and formed his own business and there were others working in the field too like the Reverend Calvert Jones another 19th Century 'renaissance man'  -as well as being a vicar he was an artist and architectural expert.

Oddly it lacked some science

There were examples of Calvert Jones pictures  that included early panoramas and hand coloured prints.

What was interesting about the exhibition was to see how Fox Talbot used his developments to help him with other pursuits and spread the activity around like minded individuals  - oddly we both felt the exhibition was  a little light on the science.

We're now bombarded with visual images and it's hard to conceive the excitement and the impact of what Fox Talbot in England and the Frenchman Louis Daguerre  'unveiled' in their lifetimes (and of course beyond).

Michael Crick's Boris Versus Dave

Pretty much anything Michael Crick does on TV (and in books for that matter) smacks of engagement- by him at the very least.

The channel 4 programme last night was a clear view on the battle between the two old Etonian Conservatives  at the heart of the EU referendum - to be fair having watched it there seems to be no way that Boris could ever have been anything but BREXIT without undergoing  a fairly spectacular road to Damascus type  turnaround of the 180 degrees variety.

So this is about David's 'Place in History' versus Boris's  Place in number 10 - just over a month now.

Red 159

This isn't hand coloured

But the message is pretty clear

It's all about the ... Timing.. and Red 239

Foyle(s)

Foyles

Psychoanalysis class today was again challenging (more on this later), I'd managed to complete the reading on Lacan and thought I'd got a grip on it (I did at least recognise that this was probably to be disproved).

What we had a the end of the class though was homework, Scott provided a note and also suggested for next week we read as much as we can of Freud's Civilisation and it's Discontents, so I a found a physical book store and bought the book.

The shop was Foyles and I don't think I've visited since it was rebuilt/remodeled, its a nice looking store and great for bibliophiles - managed to get what I want and £10 not too bad - if only I was (quite a bit) younger I think carrying it around on the tube would impress people .

And inside Foyles is nice too

Photography

Then back on Central line from Tottenham Court Road - new station looking good although there seems to be less Paolozzi mosaics around than there should be to my mind.

Here's a thing I took 3, very similar  pictures there  and know which I like best - how about you?

Three bears style - too early?

Too late?

For me - just about right

Which do you like best?

Red 239

Let's fill this shop with red things

Pictures and Selling along with Red 269

On the back of my recent Photo' exhibition  I've had some interesting questions about my exhibition - are the pictures I've sold the ones I expected to ? for example, well yes and no is the non-committal answer.

The last time for these pictures

I've sold some pictures, it's a nice experience but unless you're a natural business-person you can feel some qualms - I know this person, should I make a profit?

Last year a I gave away a couple of my exhibited pictures and there's a real danger that giving something away negates its value for both parties.

How do I feel about charging? Well I've not sold enough to make an overall profit so I'm able to live with myself but actually selling more than one of the same thing moves me into a different territory - as they say a good deal is where both sides feel happy.

A hard working retailer

On Friday I spent a day at the sharp end of retail (in a small specialist retail outlet) - it was an education that's for sure and the profit element was in a way removed - people were mainly happy to buy what was on sale and get the advice for free - this seemed a good example of retail (but hard work).

I guess I can apply the same to my own pictures?

Red 269

Generally window and door frames are black or white not here though..

A red window frame is something of a novelty