If you go down to London Bridge today...

Had a very interesting week staying with the boyfriend, as his birthday came up and he's done basically EVERYTHING in his twenty eight years... so I booked The London Bridge Experience in the morning last minute... (Some interviews I had planned for Mixmag were cancelled the evening before...)


Now, the initial tour with the history of London Bridge is really good with great actors that really set the scene, and kinda freak you out as they're so into it. They're also really funny, kinda Bill bailey style... Nick and I couldn't stop laughing. Our team leader was a twelve year old in a fleece (!) that wasn't scared of ANYTHING. I was a bit annoyed at this because I was so freaked out it was unreal, screaming at everything. However, he has ruined his own fun because what was the point of him being there?! Along with quite a few people who answered the actors with "er... I don't speak English..."


Then they take you to The London Tombs... which you shouldn't do if you have a heart condition or asthma, but Nick decided to forgo his asthmatic condition to join in (as his isn't very serious anyway...) Apparently the tour works wonders for bringing on labour if you're pregnant and overdue... but bear in mind your kid will be born into evil!


This is honestly the scariest thing I've ever done in my life, I don't cope well with being scared (I will easily not sleep for days) with my worst film being "The Ring". I don't really want to spoil it for anyone but if you are anything like me, and could really do without placing yourself in that actual situation... you will love it! Because the adrenaline is amazing, saving me time and money on expensive/dangerous thrill seeking activities like sky diving... seriously, you have to go! Book the early/late bird deal on Ticketmaster and pay 11 quid each. Lovely. Although you walk out onto the streets of London at 12pm and feel like you're in 28 Days Later... every carton dropped by a delivery man made me jump out of my skin, so much so that I had to go sit by the river to chill out. No images sadly, as they are forbidden! But ultimately this is good because you need to go experience the sights, sounds and smells...

My work in the Oxo Tower & street art

Last week I visited the Oxo Tower on the Southbank to see an exhibition of Fashion Promotion third years' work... I did some photography for Blane Chapman's final portfolio, and also his final project which was a publication called Alt.

Also spotted some work by the very talented Laura Crouch which I shot months ago... excuse the plastic glare! Plastic + lights + camera = chaos!

Also exciting this week, I was given a print by the amazing David Walker, his work is a must-see. Beautiful portraits of women in constructed with spray paint, no brushes! I helped out with the artwork capture for David's release of new prints through Squarity, which have been created into some of the best digital artwork prints I've seen. (I don't recommend flattening one out with sunbed cream, candles and water bottles, though!)

Very proud of my 1/50 edition! It's going straight up on the wall as soon as I can get a frame.

Also, if you're around Brighton then check out this show...

Ryan Callanan (AKA RYCA)

17 JUNE 2011 — 10 JULY 2011

At the Ink_d gallery Brighton

A major solo show, focusing on his new work under his full name. I think it shows the more serious side of his work! Very excited for the private view! Check out his website here.

I wanna see your Peacock!

Last night we went to see my total idol, Katy Perry herself... not the usual sort of "gig" I guess but whatevs, I loved it! There's something about watching acts like her and Usher (a few weeks ago), the production and actual show are amazing. But BF was having none of it, and proclaimed Katy Perry needs to put on a show whereas The Vaccines can hold their own with their songs. Which may be true for them, but it is a totally different ball game I think.

The first thing we noticed at the venue was the smell in the air, not the usual gig one of sweat and beers, but of kinda cherry candyfloss. Makes sense since a limited run of her album were released with a candyfloss scent! Never experienced this at a gig or "concert" before but it really gave it an edge... well as edgy as candyfloss smell can get!

I love her singing and music anyway but I absolutely loved the fact she did a medley of other artists songs (Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Willow Smith and JAY Z - Big Pimpin'... so legendary) and changed her outfits and the theme of the set more times than I can even remember.

The laser show during ET was out of this world (boom) and the mass gingerbread man dancers at the end were hilarious... I am definitely in love with this woman.

She did at least four outfit changes during "Hot n Cold", some of them just walking through a metre wide curtain... I really don't understand how she managed it! But every single one was amazing, especially the Peacock and the glitter cape. I also couldn't believe she was only at Hammersmith Apollo with a show like that, but I think the production ensured next time she will be at the o2 or something!

Interviews, Venison & Soap Vases

Lovely hipster view from the train...

As usual, the event I am writing about was a few weeks ago because I am slightly behind at the moment! Maybe it was even last week... I don't know, I've lost track of the concept of time!

Basically, Blane Chapman over at Chav in Skinny Jeans was conducting an interview with the crazily multi-talented Ollie Olanipekun, and I popped along for the day to photograph it and generally hang out/eat Mcdonalds/meet up with Georgie. 

I spotted a lovely t-shirt shop with the nerdiest photography t-shirts, might have to pop back and get one! Hasselblad please!

The interview took place at The Old Blue Last, and when I told my Dad about this on the phone, he was going on about how in the old days it was good and how his Girlfriend used to hang out there a lot. Apparently there was a guy who used to play piano there... so that's interesting... my only experience of it was extremely wasted, but I noticed how lovely it was in the daytime this time around! I took some photos of the surroundings:

Massive gap in the floor... standard!

During the actual interview bit, I was dotting around trying to get the best images possible with a 50mm fixed lens (feeling a bit like the worst paparazzo ever/an unrelenting stalker), totally got in some guys way and then he ended up moving to the other side of the pub... I think the images came out very well regardless! To hear/see the actual interview of Ollie's exploits of a very successful guy moving from Coventry to London, you're gonna have to wait until Blane decides to publish it!

My fave portrait!

We then met Georgie and took ourselves over to McDonalds like the classy people we are, then met my old friend Elliot at the gallery Haunch of Venison, where he is working.

Georgie excited to see art!

George and me

Blane pondering art and/or life

You will be SHOCKED when I tell you that all of those figures (aside from the painting obviously) were made of SOAP. I kid you not. The Korean artist Meekyoung Shin has recreated sculptures and classical Chinese porcelain. In soap. It's all about dislocation and translation, heightened by some vases being presented on the crates they are shipped over in, clearly marked "Korea". 

I will leave you on this massive photo-essay of a post with a lovely picture of some typical East London graffiti that made me smile.

THEM YOUTH

A great new band discovered on the grapevine, their new single Toothache (free to download here) is a fresh new take on indie, away from all the kooks-style mellow guitars and whiney singing, more like a chilled Kasabian with a dance edge. Very much my sort of thing! Can see big things for them, especially after their UK tour and playing KOKO in November. Can't wait to catch them live and review it! Also worth a listen is the moody "white light passenger" which I have just fallen in love with! Definitely one for fans of Massive Attack, it weirdly manages to be unsettling and calming at the same time.....

Catch them at:

Sept 30th Buffalo Bar London

Oct 13th Dublin Castle London

Oct 31st Whistle Binkies Edinburgh

Nov 1st Tunnels Aberdeen

Nov 2nd Nice N Sleazy Glasgow

Nov 4th Night & Day Manchester

Nov 5th Bowery Sheffield

Nov 6th Flapper Birmingham

Nov 11th Haymakers Cambridge

Nov 13th This Feeling London

Nov 19th KOKO Club NME London

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london streetstyle