London.

I ventured into London yesterday with high hopes of getting tons of information which would make everything fall into place. Well that didn’t happen.

A few things on my mind are such:

• Leaving Falmouth. With just under 4 years living there, moving from an incredibly beautiful place that is full of fond memories and easy living has saddened me immensely.
• Having to leave my girlfriend in Falmouth too. Entering a long distance relationship with the girl you love is one thing but having spent nearly every other day with here for over a year will make this difficult for me.
• Stuck at home in bucks, with my parents.. quite bored!
• Not having very much money. Always a problem.

However stressed my mind seems to be at this stage, I still remain very positive. I shudder between thoughts.. should I, shouldn’t I.. what do I really want right now…

Its not a question I can truly answer until I try take the first stab at my dream, entering London to start my photography career. If it doesn’t work at first.. I have always my life ahead to try again.

I am currently searching for a Photo Assistant Job in Editorial/Advertising to work with people mainly. I will settle for hotel/retail/kitchen work meanwhile.

write me a postcard

I am sat here, calming down after clambering up Kimberly park road to reach the house I am currently staying at with my girlfriend, Kayley. Living with someone else is a new thing for me, and the past few months doing so has been interesting to say the least. Its gives both freedom & constriction, in the most optimistic of ways.

There is over 50 blueberries on this plate. I’ve had a couple and they are wonderful little fruits. They sit there having grown for months for our purpose of yummyscrumptiousness.

Kayley has gone to the reading festival this weekend, much to my annoyance due to her descision to go and to go without me was made without me, she deserves this time off to have some fun, and so be it!!

I however am stuck here to whither away a little, some movies I reckon and general relaxing. Inglorious Basterds, now that was a blinder.. such good cinema in my opinion. It was tense and incredibly well written. Hans Lander is probably one of my favorite characters ever. I may go down to see the movie ‘moon’ too If i fancy it.

Next week marks the week I will likely purchase a mac book pro, 17inch. A pricey investment but very much needed as my current laptop has died. A new website will then ensue and hopefully the beginnings or at least to embark a serious effort towards a greater and thoroughly engaging career as a photographer. I will do well, I know it.

it was about then I realised that I am half way through the best years of my life

So I am on here again. In fact the only thing that has inspired me to write a new blog at this certain time is one of two things, firstly my boss and good friend Angela & secondly I suppose I am at one of the crucial points in life.

The incense is burning, I sliced my finger open and the final edit is done. DONE. The final edit being the series of photos for my final major project that has been in development for over a year now.

I will print the photos at www.theprintspace.co.uk because they have very nice paper there, better than my college in fact. Although my college has much cheaper prices, I say there’s no better than to spend a little to hand in a project that is completely rock&roll swank (maybe I should say ‘professionally finished to an exquisite standard).

Whats going on in life since I last wrote? Well I have grown up. Realized things about myself. Been ill. Worked with Zane Lowe. Drunk far too much. I also seem to have got the zombie killing bug.

I am the Events Manager for Falmouth, for Beach Break Live. That’s also pretty sweet. We have sold 110 so far in Falmouth, not too shabby If I don’t say so myself, however we want lots more.. there’s tons of talk about it. If you fancy getting your ticket.. book here @ www.beachbreaklive.com/falmouth.

There are two exhibitions of mine coming up. One in Falmouth & one in London. Watch this space for details. It will be great.

I am looking for assistant work in London. I will be contacting you professional photographers searching for assistants out there ASAP. I am very good, you will want me!! ha ha.

Oh and ‘Long Live The Queen’ by Frank Turner. What a song. What a song.

peace & chipolatas

X

In the realm of totalitarian kitsch.

This Inspires me.

A question is like a knife that slices through the stage backdrop and gives us a look at what lies hidden behind it. – Milan Kundera

Has anyone ever found out the answer to the question ‘why?’? Is it a question? Well I interpret it as one. It could however be a question of undeniably infinite possible answers, thus asking the question ‘Why?’ to the question ‘Why?’ would render some difficulties. This could mean that life is ever evolving, ever changing but utterly pointless as it will happen again. Maybe pessimism but that’s kinda how I grew up.

I found out my dear old grandma has the same mentality as me though. Its the urge to succeed and to the best. To think positive. Well forever have had I had no luck, but always kept the fact that it will be all ok. Though in the last 6 months I’ve not been so confident. Things have changed me, great things have happened, love being one of them. Although I’m confused. So very very confused. To this I question, why?

Milan Kundera’s literature is top stuff. I will probably either re-read his books for many times I am sure. It helps me understand things better, but still not my own mess. Everything I live for is against most kitsch, but my mind needs to be organised in a very kitsch way. Its only logical right? I know a lot of people don’t think like that though. You could imagine everyone being a jigsaw piece and not fitting in with anyone else. Social groups can be explained this way too. If no one thinks the same, then the same coloured pieces group together and the bigger ones get seen more. The corner pieces are always the aged, wise and successful amongst us.

This is probably a strange melanchonic rant, however It’s myself trying to define my experiences. It is amazing how moods change in an instant.

I listened to Michael Andrews – Goldfish, earlier. Such a haunting song that is on the score to one of my favourite films. Look it up.
This is also worth a watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roj_YQ6kXwU

peace & 3 blind sugar mice x

you can see from my house, we’ll go everywhere!

On a train that has no estimated arrival time at the destination of purpose, is not pleasant feeling. It is because of the major flooding of the railway after Bristol, which is an awful thing. I have connections to make and this is ruining them. If it terminates in Bristol, what am I to do?

Well it didn’t terminate there. In fact I’m now rolling by flooded fields on the way to reading. Literally stop starting. I will read a book called ‘The Unbearable lightness of being’ and it so far it’s really interesting! Its all about how our lives in the bigger picture are meaningless, our actions are irrelevant, this is the lightness. When as people, we feel these actions as a weighty burden, all our decisions in life affect others but mostly ourselves. The psychology involved is infinite and what more, maybe by understanding the concept we can truly free ourselves from mental restraint. Maybe it will give me ideas for photography.

So I am still on the train,  nearly at reading, two hours later. Not good. Should phone the dad. Maybe then I can sleep.

This person is very inspiring to me right now > http://www.markrogers.com.au – I think I might e-mail or better yet, write him a nice formal letter, asking him some questions about the business. He is what I want to be. Someone that creates simply beautiful pictures. I have plenty of other research to get through. I might just look at tons of photographers later this week, print all their stuff off and stick it in a sketchbook.. feed myself ideas.

Life is lunacy but heading towards a relaxing intellectual & photographically stimulating time. Its the Christmas break, so during this time I want to collapse at home by doing virtually nothing for a while. This is because the last time I had no responsibility was well over 6-8 months ago. Now I get the chance again.

I will be able to see all my old friends & new ones, celebrating birthdays & Christmas with the girlfriend, I still can fit time in for my greater purpose… my career, and the slow eradication of stupid procrastination.

Saw Tubelord the other day in Falmouth. Blinding set, although shorter than expected.

I just got a fantastic e-mail today, its that my camera, the long awaited 5D Mark II will be delivered tomorrow. Just the thought makes my mind scream with happiness. Its like buying a new car, or house! Its a toy and a money making device. Lets just hope the latter happens more so. Although that’s all down to me. The first place the photos will be seen will be @ http://www.flickr.com/people/bencatchpole/.

Home is wonderful, its freezing too but is giving me a time to relax. The whole family are out during the days, so it gives me free reign to explore the place.. lie on the floor looking at the frankly boring ceiling, find old belongings in the loft & poke the cat. The worst thing is the recent lack of money. I did not know that a housemate was late in cashing one of my cheques for the bills, thus I have actually gone over my overdraft. Moneywise I am in such an awful state.

Hopefully I can go to birmingham tomoorow, even if my camera is arriving the same day. Things to do, things to buy, my friends to hang out with.

If I don’t get in touch by christmas, make it merry.

remixes & retrospective to all x

the medium is the message

I sit here with my eye lids frequently opening & closing like a boat on the roughest of seas, its simply because of the annotation of paperwork for the great cause, a Friday deadline. Why do I procrastinate!?! Why am I doing this!?! its all read, annotate, write, rehash, drink, eat, facebook, sleep.

Whereas meanwhile I am very content, I have soothers for the throat, a girlfriend, loud music thundering out and of course some Carlsberg at hand. An Italian TV crew contacted me earlier about a program called Transeurope… something about showing student culture abroad.. well I have no time or real desire to be on TV.

Halloween preparation this year was much more fun than the night itself this time round, and that goes for the hype of the new James Bond film before actually seeing it too. Lots of let downs yet still don’t feel bad about it. Its like I seem to be waiting for something big and incredibly satisfying. Its not that I need the loo or have a cake on its way, no. Its the 5D Mark II on order. Its paid for, its on its way.. whenever they release it. When the moment it arrives I will hit another planet… as I have been waiting since my birthday (10th July).

The media, now I really hate it. The whole thing, although the irony is that we rely on it, and every medium that is governed by it. Even this blog is part of the system. Although its this system that I see more and more of in my studies, is the bad guy. The one that seems to have caused such a disposable culture by creating distractions to satisfy the lesser intelligence of the global issues. I’d think I should just get over it and go for a walk.

Red Geko is coming together, and theres plans for something bigger in the pipeline. A night made to be an equal or better the locally famed logic sense. An alternative night of huge proportion.

Please let Obama win & be safe. If not, well.. welcome to another 4 years of capatalist hell.

I find this cold weather very annoying and must get a hat, or some new clothes but haven’t the money for that. Although love walking out to the spar in the morning, when theres a little mist and some sun.. very fresh & feels like you could be miles away and sleep forever. Cornwall. Please come visit!

Guillemots are playing later this month. It will be incredible.. suggest everyone gets a ticket.. the show takes on an interesting format which will be Future Shorts setting up a cinema screen to show short films with Guillemots providing an improvised live soundtrack as the first part of the show followed by a full Guillemots performance as the second part of the show. Gonna be ace!!

Its Fireworks night tomorrow, I have no plans as yet. Any ideas?

bpc

x

the celebrity & imminent debauchery

The Celebrity…

…an invention?

Perhaps born from the curious yet lazy minds of the last few generations. It doesn’t mean there weren’t figures in society from the days long gone whom were more prolific than someone working class, but this fixation on something so unnecessary seems absurd.

Then again, it could be a long lived search for talent and greatness. A model to project a sense of idolization and perfecting human kind. But theres too many people that try without skill. Surely having a gift would be enough to amaze bewilder or charm the minds of the future.

Yes I have been thinking a lot today considering upcoming earlier than usual deadlines. This blog will surely help the development of my dissertation.

This weekend is one where I go along and help dozens of new students move in and get to pimp out the street team and really just get to meet people & have a good time. Freshers then follows. 3rd & probably last time around in this university. It shall be a good one.

Today is the day before tomorrow which is the day where I get paid. Woop. So I can go ahead and pre-order the 5D Mark II. Look at this > http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=2086

Falmouth. Watch out for the Red Geko Nights.

bpc x

No results found for Yum. Did you mean Bum?

Lately, i’ve been paid actual physical money (thats not actually physically in my possession yet) for taking a couple of new international students into town for fish & chips, a little exploration of falmouth and a trip to the MA shows, equipped with the finest champagne they could afford. This was remarkably exciting too, seens as this allowed me to actually meet new people once again.. something that I get really into. Only to be topped off by meeting someone for tea, twice which was awesome & then almost getting hit by road vehicles due to my lack of sleep leading to sober swaying by the side of the road. Its a wonder I haven’t been hailed in by the minimal amount of authorities around these parts.

The end of the world? hah.. stupid relgious or naive bigots. Science, its thumbs up matierial, looking forward to more news from the LHC.

I bought a paper, a newspaper. I sat there next to the beach having a read when I came across one of the most beautiful photographs. It really lies in the vein of what I want to acheive. I do hope they announce the camera I want soon! http://www.canon.com/moon/en/index.html

Master & Commander, another thing I got paid to do. To watch that film. I however was so tired, certain parts of the movie were missing. I fell asleep at points, my head was definitely in the nodding dog style getup. It seemed a great movie, if a little long, but because I dream.. I started using my life and random surreal theatrical dreams to intertwine it with the plot of the movie. One scene had maximus himself Russell Crowe whacked in the face and I remember myself walking on set and calling him a careless drunk for falling over some wood & that when he went to the galapagos islands he should have stolen a komodo dragon &  cook it at my place with the accompanment of my own housemates! I swear to you my version was more exciting.

The Falmouth Regatta is here. Every ten years these huge Tall Ships arrive in the harbour and the whole town celebrates! Its insane how alive it is. Last night having a pint of the special Tall Ships Skinners Ale, I was witness to several random people sitting in the bar bursting into traditional shanty song. Fantastic, when can this happen anywhere else. In town today, bought a part of my pirate costume for freshers this year and decided to go towards the docks. Encountering a troop of sea men (ahaha), they paraded towards the docks, to which I followed and discovered some of the most exciting and beautiful things. These ships were immense and to the backdrop of falmouth harbour, it felt so fitting. Although with the huge tanker nearby, it worries me that modern design doesn’t particulary has the knack for aesthetics.

Look at this cheery chap!

Falmouth Tallship Regatta 2008

These next few weeks are crucial to me & Metallica’s new album is mentally riveting, I will be seeing mecury prize winnders ‘Elbow’ instead of going to porn night & have reignited a love for sushi.

Ah how I feel an air of content & mystery surround me here, love it.

Oh & props to Russell Brand for telling the American MTV generation that Barack Obama is good for the world, too right. Also, nice one Matt Damon for calling Sarah Palin’s involvement is like a bad disney story.
Houmous for all!

bloody nettles & australia

Not sure about you, but some people can be so cantankerous. Thankfully I don’t care after a while, it only wastes time. I’d rather get on with it and live you know, to the fullest. Been booking bands or at least talking with promoters and what not. I am waiting on a bar manager to get back from the US so I can start making negotiations.. as this year coming is going to be brilliant, and hopefully so am I.

There is a few Australian related things that have gone on lately. firstly, I am drinking castlemaine. Secondly someone rang me up yesterday from Australia but got the wrong number. fancy that? Thirdly, well my friend rob is leaving this coming week for Australia, for a whole year. Good for him I say, but sucks.. he is my work comrade & friend. This leaves me alone for most of the remaining summer, as two other workmates are on holiday. However, movies, work and dissertation will keep me company.

I started reading a book on feminism this morning because I thought it’d be a right laugh! but in the end it just starts to bore me. Culture is to postmodern for idealism. However, I need to understand it to bring out my true opinion, cause that’s what the third year is about. Question structuralism, or at least my approach to it. Hey.. gotta look into a french guy called Lecann? or something.

Who eats nettle soup!!?! I hear its great soup, but I assure you collecting the tit’s sure is an annoying & painful experience.. I stung m’face!!! how nettlesome (excusing the pun) maybe perhaps people eat it because they hate being stung so much in that nefarious revenge sort of way.

Just got a postcard in the post. Actually its a Sunday, I lie. I got it the other day. Its from Spain, my family went there.. photo looks typical but does give me that desire of being there. it looks like a sunny version of Falmouth with more palm trees. Don’t get me wrong, we have had some really nice days.

AHA. SUNDAY. must buy the paper & hit up Gylly beach. There’s a cool barmaid & it gives me time to chill out before or after the gym while reading. Its the sorta thing I want to do when I get out of uni.. you know.. drink espresso in the early hours while flicking through some contemporary something or other. While chatting to randoms.. then as I get older I will sit there longer, eat creme eggs and fire elastic bands.. man what a life plan.

I read the other day Quentin Tarantino said this one thing I agree with. Here’s a quote from somewhere that doesn’t matter… “For our younger audience, take heed of this advice: High School is only required if you don’t have a better idea of what to do with your life.  Like for instance, say you want to go to jail and then live at your mom’s house well into your forties?  That counts as a plan. Class dismissed.”

How badass.

one of those man nights again

Not that they are all that bad, its been one of those nights were a bunch of ‘guy’ friends flock over to mine to watch a movie (HANCOCK), play some games.. drink ourselves stupid and bitch about everything we think of, including each other but mainly work. Hah. I actually enjoy these nights. Tonight there was supposed to be some girls but these things sometimes never go to plan, although having about 5 people in my room is certainly different from the norm during the summer.

Here, take a look at my new shoes!!! they so cool

Supra Tuf Red/Black Skytops

These I got recently because my other ones are falling apart and when working I can treat myself.

Here is my prize from that independent newspaper compo! Nifty!

Canon IXUS 85 IS - My New Lil Baby

Its gonna help me out for all those nights out and lack of SLR events, a good 10mp is better than my current DSLR

So I had a meeting today with some clubs/pubs of the fal and talked with them and FXU sabbs about future events. Freshers is gonna be the best in years. It also seems that my confidence will skyrocket cause im gonna use my anger and passion to get my message across, no matter how many people I agigtate. fed up of little italian cocky kids being self rightous around my presence also. Though they leave soon, so life will balance out, but in a way I will miss one thing about them being here.

Two days off, how nice. I will read a book, print and post some documents and possibly e-mail/phone some clients. Its gonna be productive and I will start it by having a coffee and reading a paper. Is there really any other way? some would say sleep, yes and I’d agree, but I can do that. In time. TIMESHEETS IN SOON. I need to write some people letters.. seriously.. will be fun. Sign upto wordpress and give me your address on here or facebook.