Rob Birrell’s Photography Blog

Photo Copyright Joakim Eskildsen

I visited Joakim Eskilden’s exhibition, “The Roma Journeys” on Friday at the Side Gallery in Newcastle.

Between 2000 and 2006 Joakim Eskildsen travelled in seven different countries photographing the life of the Roma and the conditions they face. The journeys, in India, Romania, Russia, Hungary, Greece, Finland and France, came about as a result of chance, coincidence and personal contact, rather than any process of meticulous planning. What the journeys open up on is somewhere and something beyond nations.

It was the first colour photography exhibition that I have seen at the Side but I was completely overwhelmed by both the quality of the photography and the printing. The exhibition runs until 14th June 2008 and I would heartily recommend it. Whether or not you can make it the book of the project is an excellent buy (The Roma Journeys by Joakim Eskildsen and Cia Lungile Rinne).

At my recent GLEAM showcase one photograph seemed to be universally popular. I called it “In the Cheap Seats”. Its a group of interesting old characters sitting at the back row of the Middelton in Teesdale cattle market.

Brenda Burrell suggested that if I had anymore photographs from this day that it would make an interesting series. Well here is the result of me revisting the images. Click on the image above to see the series in its entirety.

I had the pleasure of working with Ali Zaidi while on the GLEAM Programme. Ali is an internet entrepreneur from Middlesborough with fingers in many pies. One of his successful creations is Bollywood Chat. Having realised that he didn’t have much to exhibit at the GLEAM showcase we hastily organised a photoshoot.

I must say that I was very happy with the results even if it was threatening to look like the Dating Ali showcase. We must try and get some other models next time we do a photoshoot.

Firstly, I have to apologise, its been a bit quiet on the old blog for a while now. I’ve been pretty busy with one thing and another namely organising an exhibition of my work for the GLEAM Showcase 2008. I didn’t advertise it here lest it became some sort of rave. Anyway, if you didn’t make it along click through on the image to see a representation of what I exhibitied.

The showcase was the culmination of a 6 month programme run by GLEAM. The programme aims to help creative graduate entrepreneurs (like me) through the early stages of the startup of their businesses. 18 other businesses and myself took over a disused warehouse, 51 Lime Street in Newcastle’s Ouseburn Valley and converted it into an exhibiton and performance space for 9 hours of Thursday 1st May, 2008. All in all it was a great success and great fun was had by all.

There has been a lot of talk in the Photographic Press recently about harrasment of photographers by the Police and other individuals purporting to uphold the laws of the land.

So what are our rights as photographers and what exactly can we photograph? I confess to being more than a little confused myself. Suffice to say, almost invariably we ARE allowed to take photographs! There is some very sound advice here www.sirimo.co.uk/ukpr.php from Simon Moran and Linda Macpherson. And for some specifics about taking photographs around UK rail stations checkout the British Transport Police’s guidance here http://www.btp.police.uk/passengers/advice_and_information/rail_enthusiasts.aspx .

For details of your rights in the USA checkout this link http://photojojo.com/content/tips/legal-rights-of-photographers/. If you scroll to the bottom of that page there are further links to some guidance for photographers in Canada and Australia.

Paul Alexander Knox (www.om-shantiphotography.co.uk) is having an exhibition at

The Decisive Moment Gallery, Blanche Pease Annexe, The Arts Centre, Vane Terrace, Darlington, DL3 7AX

from 29th March to 24th May 2008.

Its a quirky venue but having seen Paul’s previous work I’m sure that it will be well worth a visit. Good luck to him!

I’d like to welcome you to my photography blog. I intend it to be a place where I can debate, inform and generally sound-off about photography and specifically stuff that interests me. While I am a practising professional I am still constantly learning, experimenting and exploring new avenues for work and pleasure.