great and fine
27/08/08 22:18
my correction, British Cycling had a
budget of over £20,000,000. Wow. Still doesn't stretch to elbow
pads for the bmx'rs though....
Friday was fun. [name drop alert] Met Bradley 'two golds' Wiggins, which was nice. Celebrity brevity - 10 mins shoot (which to be honest is a fair amount of time 1-1) The medals are good and weighty. Had kind of prepared for an elbows out press situation but what a treat. Really good bloke and faster than you. And the person next to you. And everyone else for that matter.
The argy-bargy was on Monday at the press conference near Heathrow. Never been to anything like it. Sat about 3ft from Chris Hoy and Rebecca Adlington whilst being pushed about by press people and trying to remember how to use on-camera flash. You can see the top of my head on the BBC! haha
One off-record titbit I got from the day was that losing the gold was "the best thing that could happen to Shanaze"... Controversial but it kind of makes sense. She's so young and this keeps her hungry for another 4 years at least. Interesting.
On a completely different note - go and listen to Danny Byrd, especially "Weird Science". Right now. Immediately in fact. DC has been championing this guy for ages but finally sat down for a listen this week. I wasn't sat down for long. Awesome awesome awesomness. flash the lights on and off and everything. Love it.
Sandwiched in-between Olympic hype was the McAlls England party. Loads of fun. We stuffed ourselves and then tried to dance - bit risky but no disasters. Eleanor's song with Kate was arguably funnier the second time. So good. Was great seeing everyone again. Felt like the wedding was a week ago but it's almost been a month. Crazy fast (again). The happy couple, Fera, Ben and myself raced off to the Peaks for a quick shoot in their posh get-ups before the party. Full shoot on the G9 baby! Love it even more, such a cool camera. Ben made a fantastic lightstand. Was pretty sure my brolly wouldn't blow over with the 6'5" 'Machine' holding it up. Where did little ben go? watch out 2012... Pics are in the same place - HERE (and thanks also 'stylist Pugh' - you rock)
So that's about it. Spent the last two days non stop in front of this lightbox scanning and removing dust (anybody) but the results are worth it... Check out USA for the novel and portfolio 3 for the York notes. Love the grandangalo. Again. (Moto is out in mags soon. Watch this space)
Happy birthday to little Al tomorrow. You're getting the first print of the SF Golden Gate shots. Because you haven't had enough prints off me as presents in the past!
Take it easy everyone. And go listen to Danny Byrd!
RB
Friday was fun. [name drop alert] Met Bradley 'two golds' Wiggins, which was nice. Celebrity brevity - 10 mins shoot (which to be honest is a fair amount of time 1-1) The medals are good and weighty. Had kind of prepared for an elbows out press situation but what a treat. Really good bloke and faster than you. And the person next to you. And everyone else for that matter.
The argy-bargy was on Monday at the press conference near Heathrow. Never been to anything like it. Sat about 3ft from Chris Hoy and Rebecca Adlington whilst being pushed about by press people and trying to remember how to use on-camera flash. You can see the top of my head on the BBC! haha
One off-record titbit I got from the day was that losing the gold was "the best thing that could happen to Shanaze"... Controversial but it kind of makes sense. She's so young and this keeps her hungry for another 4 years at least. Interesting.
On a completely different note - go and listen to Danny Byrd, especially "Weird Science". Right now. Immediately in fact. DC has been championing this guy for ages but finally sat down for a listen this week. I wasn't sat down for long. Awesome awesome awesomness. flash the lights on and off and everything. Love it.
Sandwiched in-between Olympic hype was the McAlls England party. Loads of fun. We stuffed ourselves and then tried to dance - bit risky but no disasters. Eleanor's song with Kate was arguably funnier the second time. So good. Was great seeing everyone again. Felt like the wedding was a week ago but it's almost been a month. Crazy fast (again). The happy couple, Fera, Ben and myself raced off to the Peaks for a quick shoot in their posh get-ups before the party. Full shoot on the G9 baby! Love it even more, such a cool camera. Ben made a fantastic lightstand. Was pretty sure my brolly wouldn't blow over with the 6'5" 'Machine' holding it up. Where did little ben go? watch out 2012... Pics are in the same place - HERE (and thanks also 'stylist Pugh' - you rock)
So that's about it. Spent the last two days non stop in front of this lightbox scanning and removing dust (anybody) but the results are worth it... Check out USA for the novel and portfolio 3 for the York notes. Love the grandangalo. Again. (Moto is out in mags soon. Watch this space)
Happy birthday to little Al tomorrow. You're getting the first print of the SF Golden Gate shots. Because you haven't had enough prints off me as presents in the past!
Take it easy everyone. And go listen to Danny Byrd!
RB
NW8 9AY
21/08/08 23:51
Just a quick note - the McAll pics are
HERE - go see.
Two days ago when I wrote that tome below I thought my week was winding down and I could get on with the mountain of crap on my desk. Hate desk jobs so actually I'm glad for distractions. Anywaaaay - in a nutshell, I ended up at Abbey Road studios yesterday evening to document the recording of some radio identities and have a tinkle on the ivories of probably one of the most famous pianos in the world. Fantastic experience - what a privilege (even if my tinkling doesn't even stretch to 'chopsticks'. Would love to play an instrument but like most people, I don't want to put in the time to learn!) We all had a beer, listened to Beatles stories and marveled at what those walls must have heard over the years. Elgar conducted the Royal Symphony Orchestra playing 'Land of Hope and Glory' in 1931 in studio 1. I got goosebumps watching a video of it, whilst sat in studio 1. Radiohead, Oasis, The Beatles, Star Wars and on and on and on. Amazing place full of history. Very cool gig. (Still prefer the Stones but sshhhhhhhhhh.....)
(Outside the cafe!)
And today I met the Bionic Woman. So there you go - hopefully this non stop week won't stop.
Catch up soon. Send me a hello if you're around - or even if you're not.
RB
Two days ago when I wrote that tome below I thought my week was winding down and I could get on with the mountain of crap on my desk. Hate desk jobs so actually I'm glad for distractions. Anywaaaay - in a nutshell, I ended up at Abbey Road studios yesterday evening to document the recording of some radio identities and have a tinkle on the ivories of probably one of the most famous pianos in the world. Fantastic experience - what a privilege (even if my tinkling doesn't even stretch to 'chopsticks'. Would love to play an instrument but like most people, I don't want to put in the time to learn!) We all had a beer, listened to Beatles stories and marveled at what those walls must have heard over the years. Elgar conducted the Royal Symphony Orchestra playing 'Land of Hope and Glory' in 1931 in studio 1. I got goosebumps watching a video of it, whilst sat in studio 1. Radiohead, Oasis, The Beatles, Star Wars and on and on and on. Amazing place full of history. Very cool gig. (Still prefer the Stones but sshhhhhhhhhh.....)
(Outside the cafe!)
And today I met the Bionic Woman. So there you go - hopefully this non stop week won't stop.
Catch up soon. Send me a hello if you're around - or even if you're not.
RB
Bony chest and all the rest
19/08/08 10:30
Don't want to make you green eyed or
owt, but our holiday just gone was amazing. Proper amazing.
First things first though - McAll wedding photos are HERE.
Fera & I went to America for Lewis & Vanessa's wedding. Which was ace. We arrived in Dallas and were met by Vanessa and her brother Jeremy. Straight to Freebirds burrito house - the girl behind the counter exclaimed in Feras direction "Gee I wish I had an accent" in the strongest Texan drawl we'd heard so far. "You do love, you're just in the wrong place to use it". She smiled. The next week was spent at the Batts house in Longview. So much fun - we played horseshoes, ate a ton of BBQ and tex/mex food, marveled at the MASSIVE trucks people use just to nip to the shops, looked at guns in a supermarket, drove Jeremy's harley round the block and whooped the whole way round! He, Lewis and I hired more harleys and with the girls Fera, Vanessa & Yvette, on the backs, we drove for two and a half hours, swam in a lake for 10 mins and drove then two and a half hours back to the shop. All in 43 degree heat. (Heritage soft tail please, I loved it) We went to a big water park and rode a static wave - or at least tried to. We drank 'route 44's' at Sonic, ate at Schlotzskys, played croquet, swam in an alligator infested lake (I figured croquet balances out the alligator swimming), and played more horseshoes. The wedding was great. Very honored to be there. The photos are great - as was arriving by Harley (thanks again Jeremy), the ceremony, speeches, the swing band, the vintage Ford wedding car & the BBQ meal. And the after party was ace too. Thanks to everyone we met there - the nicest group of people you could ever want.
The day after we saw where JFK was shot from (and where he wasn't...) and had another burrito. Chipotle is the place for sure - go there. Said goodbye to the Lonestar crew and headed to San Francisco for part 2 of our holls. Il Padroni Dan looked after us so well. We had proper orange juice from the garden every day and lots of sunshine. We borrowed the merc and flew down Santa Cruz, 17 mile drive, Carmel, Big Sur, Pizmo and into Santa Barbara in a day. After about 20 miles on Big Sur we ran out of exclamations and sat silent staring at the view for the rest of the ride. Such a great thing to see. The next day we burnt through LA and met up with Matt who I haven't been in touch with for 10 years. We all met up on the beach and went straight to San Onofre for a surf. Was super trippy sitting out back in the Pacific with an old friend from before almost everything. 10 years ago when I last went to stay I had dads old pentax 50mm and was just starting out on this path with photos. I'd never surfed before and couldn't drive. Along with about a million other things, it's been a pretty major decade for me, and I'm sure for Matt too. So we sat in the sun (hot enough for just boardies - another first), caught a few waves (I caught a few, Matt caught a LOT - and when I say 'I caught' I really mean ' I got worked over') and got up to speed. Fera chilled on the beach - felt a bit bad for leaving her alone but as Matt said, there are worse places to leave a girlfriend for a couple of hours on her own. I think she'll tell you, she enjoyed the peace. After we met up with Maaneli and the Ela family and went to a crazy Japanese restaurant where they cook the food in front of you and make you catch egg fried rice with your mouth. Good beers and great banter.
We made our way back up the coast, hung out in Santa Barbara, had my first ever French toast, saw Kelly Slaters World Champ winning boards and ribbed Maaneli for winding him up on the phone one time. Dan drove us round San Fran and witnessed first hand Feras shopping frenzy. She could get more done the less time you gave her and if you could plug her into some kind of generator, she could power a small city for a week. Mad busy. Lombard St was driven, as were the bridges and chinatown. There are lots of old motorbikes in SF by the way - not ancient, but at least as old as mine. Beach Blanket Babylon was experienced as a supremely last minute treat. Have a look at the link - very funny and just a tiny bit camp...
A couple more fun filled days and we were back In Catford HQ feeling like the world was still spinning. Could have been the jet-lag though. I didn't mean to go on but it was one of those holidays which was that bit bigger. Was also the longest holiday we've ever taken so that probably helps. In Texas and in California we met the most generous people - generous with their time, space, company and everything else. We saw and did loads and really made the most of every minute. Thanks again to everyone there. The photos (and there are a LOT - beware -) are HERE
So London is on it. Been really busy since Thursday! Got my man skillz' up, decorating Richard Bradburys new house. This guy took one of the few photos I saw whilst at Uni that I really remember and now I finally got to meet him. Another weird moment. (Pink lady on a static cycle... have a look. You'll laugh too). On monday I chatted bikes and tried to be a lot more 'Shoreditch' than I am with James 'Polo' Purssell. What a sport.
You have to admit, it's a good look. (Exhibition sport at the 1908 olympics I think) Throw in some flesh tunnels, some ink, a real mustache, a cardigan and a chain lock and I'm there.
Met Plastic Little today with Tom Oxley. They're great fun and the tunes are brill - if a little blue. Go listen.
Well done to those olympic people. £4,000,000 goes a long way in British cycling. So fast. Oh and sprinting was described today as human drag racing. haha. We're up in Sheff at the weekend so be in touch if you're around for a boogie and a bike ride.
Big love 'all y'all'. Been a brill August.
RB
First things first though - McAll wedding photos are HERE.
Fera & I went to America for Lewis & Vanessa's wedding. Which was ace. We arrived in Dallas and were met by Vanessa and her brother Jeremy. Straight to Freebirds burrito house - the girl behind the counter exclaimed in Feras direction "Gee I wish I had an accent" in the strongest Texan drawl we'd heard so far. "You do love, you're just in the wrong place to use it". She smiled. The next week was spent at the Batts house in Longview. So much fun - we played horseshoes, ate a ton of BBQ and tex/mex food, marveled at the MASSIVE trucks people use just to nip to the shops, looked at guns in a supermarket, drove Jeremy's harley round the block and whooped the whole way round! He, Lewis and I hired more harleys and with the girls Fera, Vanessa & Yvette, on the backs, we drove for two and a half hours, swam in a lake for 10 mins and drove then two and a half hours back to the shop. All in 43 degree heat. (Heritage soft tail please, I loved it) We went to a big water park and rode a static wave - or at least tried to. We drank 'route 44's' at Sonic, ate at Schlotzskys, played croquet, swam in an alligator infested lake (I figured croquet balances out the alligator swimming), and played more horseshoes. The wedding was great. Very honored to be there. The photos are great - as was arriving by Harley (thanks again Jeremy), the ceremony, speeches, the swing band, the vintage Ford wedding car & the BBQ meal. And the after party was ace too. Thanks to everyone we met there - the nicest group of people you could ever want.
The day after we saw where JFK was shot from (and where he wasn't...) and had another burrito. Chipotle is the place for sure - go there. Said goodbye to the Lonestar crew and headed to San Francisco for part 2 of our holls. Il Padroni Dan looked after us so well. We had proper orange juice from the garden every day and lots of sunshine. We borrowed the merc and flew down Santa Cruz, 17 mile drive, Carmel, Big Sur, Pizmo and into Santa Barbara in a day. After about 20 miles on Big Sur we ran out of exclamations and sat silent staring at the view for the rest of the ride. Such a great thing to see. The next day we burnt through LA and met up with Matt who I haven't been in touch with for 10 years. We all met up on the beach and went straight to San Onofre for a surf. Was super trippy sitting out back in the Pacific with an old friend from before almost everything. 10 years ago when I last went to stay I had dads old pentax 50mm and was just starting out on this path with photos. I'd never surfed before and couldn't drive. Along with about a million other things, it's been a pretty major decade for me, and I'm sure for Matt too. So we sat in the sun (hot enough for just boardies - another first), caught a few waves (I caught a few, Matt caught a LOT - and when I say 'I caught' I really mean ' I got worked over') and got up to speed. Fera chilled on the beach - felt a bit bad for leaving her alone but as Matt said, there are worse places to leave a girlfriend for a couple of hours on her own. I think she'll tell you, she enjoyed the peace. After we met up with Maaneli and the Ela family and went to a crazy Japanese restaurant where they cook the food in front of you and make you catch egg fried rice with your mouth. Good beers and great banter.
We made our way back up the coast, hung out in Santa Barbara, had my first ever French toast, saw Kelly Slaters World Champ winning boards and ribbed Maaneli for winding him up on the phone one time. Dan drove us round San Fran and witnessed first hand Feras shopping frenzy. She could get more done the less time you gave her and if you could plug her into some kind of generator, she could power a small city for a week. Mad busy. Lombard St was driven, as were the bridges and chinatown. There are lots of old motorbikes in SF by the way - not ancient, but at least as old as mine. Beach Blanket Babylon was experienced as a supremely last minute treat. Have a look at the link - very funny and just a tiny bit camp...
A couple more fun filled days and we were back In Catford HQ feeling like the world was still spinning. Could have been the jet-lag though. I didn't mean to go on but it was one of those holidays which was that bit bigger. Was also the longest holiday we've ever taken so that probably helps. In Texas and in California we met the most generous people - generous with their time, space, company and everything else. We saw and did loads and really made the most of every minute. Thanks again to everyone there. The photos (and there are a LOT - beware -) are HERE
So London is on it. Been really busy since Thursday! Got my man skillz' up, decorating Richard Bradburys new house. This guy took one of the few photos I saw whilst at Uni that I really remember and now I finally got to meet him. Another weird moment. (Pink lady on a static cycle... have a look. You'll laugh too). On monday I chatted bikes and tried to be a lot more 'Shoreditch' than I am with James 'Polo' Purssell. What a sport.
You have to admit, it's a good look. (Exhibition sport at the 1908 olympics I think) Throw in some flesh tunnels, some ink, a real mustache, a cardigan and a chain lock and I'm there.
Met Plastic Little today with Tom Oxley. They're great fun and the tunes are brill - if a little blue. Go listen.
Well done to those olympic people. £4,000,000 goes a long way in British cycling. So fast. Oh and sprinting was described today as human drag racing. haha. We're up in Sheff at the weekend so be in touch if you're around for a boogie and a bike ride.
Big love 'all y'all'. Been a brill August.
RB