I hate lies and that's why I hate you.

Unfortunately this video was the only one I could find and is pretty bad quality, but it's one of my favourite songs.

I need a bigger camera bag

It's been a while since I've used black and white film, but since I have got my Fred Perry commission I decided it was time to go back, and use some trusted HP5. Luckily for me there was none left in stock and I tried some Ilford XP2 which goes through the C41 process and is easily the nicest black and white film I have ever used.

This is a test printed on fibre based paper. This paper is so expensive but is totally worth it when it comes down to the print quality and the tonal range that you get from it. The other reason for this choice of paper is so that I can also try some different toning processes.
Tomorrow I am going to Laybourne Grange with my good friend Tom (check out his blog) to shoot some images for his work and to shoot for my Fred Perry commission. I've been told to take minimal equipment as we might have to make a quick get away from security but I can't possibly travel light when going to such a wonderful place!
My equipment list for tomorrow:

• Tripod
• Bronica
• Canon 30D
• Fuji mini instax
• Polaroid Land Camera
  
• Leica
• Rob Ryan fish eye
• Ilford XP2 120mm
• Fuji Pro 400H 120mm
• Fuji Pro 160S 35mm

I may have to narrow this down as I don't have a bag big enough to fit it all in!

A Few Favourite Images/People

There is a fantastic blog which has recently become active again Them Thangs. Everyone should go and check it out, although I think it is predominantly aimed at men. I can't get enough of the images on there.

Rochester

There is not much I enjoy about living in Chatham, other than the short walk into Rochester. I love the cathedral and the cute shops. An exhibition of inspirational women throughout the ages is currently on in the cathedral. I was surprised to see that Emily Pankhurst was not among the women.

I couldn't avoid a closer inspection of my bearded friend: and my bearded lovely: I discovered the most adorable fabric shop. I can't sew to save my life, I broke sewing machines when I was at school but I am a terrible impulse buyer. I don't think about things before I buy them. However, I think these are cute but I doubt I shall ever have use for them.

Since my love of photography began, I was always adamant that I would never use digital. The SLRs I own were given to me and I've only used them for photographing weddings. I've always thought that in a way, by using digital, I would be cheating. Film was and still is more desirable to me, the quality achieved and the process of loading the film, developing, printing.
The idea of the digital compact to capture snapshots never interested me. I have always used polaroid in that sense, up until this week. On Monday I bought a Canon IXUS



I couldn't be happier with it. It won't replace my love of film and using polaroid but it is great for carrying round with me everyday. Definitely money well spent.

Exhibitions

Last Thursday I went to London to see a lot of exhibitions. Eight exhibitions. A few of them were too pretentious for my liking but one of them was so fantastic, I cannot even put it into words.
Celeste Boursier-Mougenot at the Barbican was a wonderful experience. I wanted to take one of the Zebra Finches home with me. It's on until the 23rd of this month. I recommend that everyone should go and see it.

Are Art Degrees Worth It?

When I first started my BA degree in Contemporary Photographic Practice I was so excited and could not wait to learn new things and be set lots of work. I knew that I wanted to pursue photography as a career, it was all I wanted to do. 'Was' being the most important word.

Now I have only 3 months left of my degree and the only reason I haven't left yet is because I want to teach, and in order to do that I need to have a degree. I now know that any art degree is probably not worth it if you want to get a job in the industry. Potential employers are only interested if you have experience. They do not care about a piece of paper. After the first year of my degree I knew that photography was no longer my desired career path. I knew that I would always make my own work in my spare time but that I really wanted to teach.

Two weeks ago my faith in photography was restored a little, I was contacted (through Flickr of all places) by the man behind the Fred Perry advertising campaigns. He liked what he saw on my Flickr and now I am doing some development photography for the Fred Perry Subculture project. I am being paid to deliver five images by June. Never did I think that I would get an opportunity such as this. It still doesn't seem real. Anyway, my point is this: You don't necessarily need a degree to be able to do what you want. It is almost always down to experience, contacts and of course luck.

My wonderful friend Leah is also doing an art degree. She was contacted through her blog to work at London Fashion Week. It was through luck and the work that we produce in our spare time that we have got these great opportunities.

This post is mainly a dig at art degrees, and I know that many people enjoy them, but my question is this: Are they necessary to pursue your chosen career?