striving to survive - causing least possible suffering
This minimalist image works best in large. Ironic eh?
Without commitment, there is no depth.
Another capture from our family trip to taken at the seaside. Where did August go? It was just May and that was sunnier I’m sure!
All of my recent work is available on my Flickr photography stream. Counter intuitively (the only way!) older work is also on my under development site surindersingh.org.
Best in large.
Big Ugly Mouth is the first official release of Henry Rollins spoken word material.
Last week we went to see him at the O2 (which really does look like a big ugly mouth to me) and he was of course, outstanding; nearly three hours of spoken word delivery. Unfortunately I couldn’t take any shots in the venue, the lighting not being up to it; especially from up in the balcony where we were and my batteries decided to give way as well. Let that be a lesson to you kids … I won’t be there when you cross the road. So always use the green cross code - I’m going to assume that you’re clever enough to warp this sufficiently to fit the moral of carrying a camera with run down batteries. If however you don’t get it then you better watch out for that Dave Prowse bloke, he’ll come and get you while wearing his Darth Vader mask! This particular paragraph written at full warp speed and thats my excuse and I’m sticking to it.
However as luck would have it, I was walking past the O2 on the opposite side of the river a few days ago and snapped this. I only had my cheap little P&S (A720 IS) on me but it does a decent enough job.
Which, also leads me to reiterate (hopefully less patrionizingly than it sounds) on the question I get asked more than any other - ie “which camera should I buy?” To which my stock answer remains as per my previous answer. Don’t get hung up on buying expensive camera gear, the above shot was taken with an £80 camera that I try to carry around with me all the time, it’s small and convenient and does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s even more useful if it has fully charged batteries.
Try and concentrate on how to use what you have, capturing interesting images, the composition. Don’t just look, but see. Explore and play, take pictures of what interests you. Then think about how else you could have approached a particular shot. Train your eye. You’ll learn so much more tan just getting a huge big expensive thing that you then never drag out. Oh and look at the work of others. Try and go shooting with others.
Like most things, that aft used phrase, it’s what you do with it that counts; is entirely applicable. So what camera should you buy if you are beginning in photography? Surely you get the point by now? Is that patrionizing enough? 
Best in large.
he has left us alone but shafts of light sometimes grace the corner of our bedrooms
Another capture from my recent photography trip to The Barbican.
Best in large.
Taken at a photo shoot get together, a few weeks ago at the Barbican. I’ve recently become very interested in using square frames and am presenting a lot more work in this format. More examples can be seen on my Flickr photostream. It’s a very intriguing format; probably because we see it in use so infrequently and forces you to consider you composition in a radically different way. And that’s enough pontification for one day.
More of my images from the Barbican can be seen here.
Also, please check out the new group I have created for Sikh photographers on Farcebook. It will be organising regular photographic events, these are not limited to London or the UK. The basic premise to allow Sikh photographers to meet up with others and for us to all learn from each other. People prepared to pose for me in all sorts of strange and weird ways are especially welcome [just semi-kidding] ;p
All levels of experience welcome and fancy camera kit is not a requirement, any type of camera will do. For more details please visit the group page.
Best in large.
This capture also taken on my recent visit to the BBC Proms.
Best in large.
A candid, taken at the beach the other day.
All of my recent work is available on my Flickr photography stream. Counter intuitively (the only way!) older work is also on my under development site surindersingh.org.
Best in large.
Taken on one of my meanders around London’s streets. Spotted this on a wall, just past The Clink Prison Museum; near London Bridge Station.
See also: Kicking against the Pricks; and also We don´t need no educashun
And just because, it makes sense …
Wow! They have Nick Cave Dolls now…
I waaaant ooone
Best in large.
Last week I went to the BBC Proms World Music Awards at the Royal Albert Hall. The lighting was too atrocious for any decent shots and I was high up in a box just under the gallery; making it even more difficult. So I went with shadows and light play. For those interested in such matter this was taken at ISO 1200. The noise turned out pretty good considering the high ISO.
To be honest, I wasn’t blown away by the musical offerings but that could also be due to the setting, as I was so amazed by the structure and design of the hall, finding myself engulfed by it’s sheer majesty - my eyes constantly exploring it’s shape and the shadows cast by the lighting; that I couldn’t concentrate on the music fully. Also add in the the interaction between people, the standing crowds, those that were seated all around or those milling around in the gallery and my eyes doing a constant exploratory dance; all making it difficult to focus on the acts. Mind you if there had been an outstanding act then I’m sure it would have diverted my attention.
This is the first time I had been to The Royal Albert Hall since my graduation ceremony many moons ago and I don’t recall being blown away by it at the time. But time makes you appreciate things that you might not have previously and that was definitely the case here.
Do to some timing issues (ie running late, the thai meal before hand having everything to do with that!) I failed to get any decent shots of the exterior - so I will be returning to explore the whole of the South Ken area in more detail, in particular the Hall and the museums in and around there.
Musically, the most memorable act for me was the Chinese/Mongolian singer Sa Dingding; who has a beautiful voice, so beautiful in fact that I thought her act was rather spoiled by the theatrics and the rather western drumming; which sounded to me more like Doktor Avalanche (The Sisters of Mercy drum machine) and was completely out of place in such a performance. It drowned her voice out and felt inappropriate and over the top and I speak as someone that usually loves such a sound.
I would have preferred to have heard something more traditional, less Western style beats. It wasn’t so much fusion as drum fission.
But there you go - everyone else seemed to enjoy it. So it goes 
[BTW Big thanks to H for the tickets.]
Best in large.
I have’t had a lot of time to post much new work here but I am still posting regular new work on my flickr site. My dedicated photography site surindersingh.org is under development and has some older work on it currently; newer work will appear soon. Select the view option and watch the slide show if you have a flash enabled browser.
Or Farcebook me.
Best in large.
And here’s the full lyrics from Velvet Underground’s I’m Sticking With You, most recently heard on the film Juno.
I’m sticking with you
‘Cos I’m made out of glue
Anything that you might do
I’m gonna do too
You held up a stage coach in the rain
And I’m doing the same
Saw you’re hanging from a tree
And I made believe it was me
I’m sticking with you
‘Cos I’m made out of glue
Anything that you might do
I’m gonna do too
People going to the stratosphere
Soldiers fighting with the cong?
But with you by my side I can do anything
When we swing
We hang past right or wrong
I’ll do anything for you
Anything you want me too
I’ll do anything for you
Oohoh I’m sticking with you
Oohoh I’m sticking with you
Oohoh I’m sticking with you
Best in large.
Another capture from our seaside trip. Much sand and water got thrown around!
Best in large.
First in a new series. Produced directly from one of my photographic captures with the aid of a small amount of digital manipulation.
More at my Flickr site.
Best in large.
From our weekend trip to Minnis Bay on the Kent Coast. This is looking out into the English Channel.
Managed to get some nice shots while there, but most of the time was spent playing with the neices and nephews - who I managed to keep occupied for hours by the simple act of trying to get them to fill their buckets up with washed up shells or paddling in the Channel and then soaking them - kept us all entertained - especially me!
… I see a ship in the harbor
I can and shall obey
But if it wasn’t for your misfortunes
I’d be a heavenly person today …
From Blue Monday by New Order, full lyrics available at: www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/neworder/bluemonday.html
Best in large.
Someone take these dreams away,
That point me to another day,
A duel of personalities,
That stretch all true realities.
Dead Souls by Joy Division
We went to Minnis Bay, on the Kent coast over the weekend. But this is actually from a previous trip to nearby Westcliffe on Sea. Both have spectacular views out over the English Channel.
Best in large.
Thought I’d present this recent capture of St Pauls, looking out from the end of the Tate Modern end of the Millenium bridge; in a postcard style.
For those that are interested, I am still posting regular new work on my flickr site. My dedicated photography site surindersingh.org is beginning to see some progress. Select the view option and watch the slide show if you have a flash enabled browser. More of my work will be appearing there shortly.
Some of these images also appear on my Farcebook albums.
Best in large.
Apologies, what with one thing and another; I haven’t really had the time to do much posting here lately. However here’s one I captured just the other night; part of the London skyline, at dusk.
For those that are interested, I am still posting regular new work on my flickr site and my dedicated photography site surindersingh.org is moving along slowly; like a tortoise, nursing a broken leg; on a go slow.
Best in large.
So I tripped up to the Tate Modern where they currently have a very interesting looking exhibition on called Street and Studio: An urban history of photography.
As it happens I never made it to that as I got side tracked by an exhibition on Street Art.
The image above, is my capture of one of the Street Art paste up images on display on the outside wall of the Tate. It is by the French street artist, JR and immediately grabbed me and I spent quite some time framing and composing this capture; which I eventually ended up taking from the millenium bridge, whilst being jostled by what at times felt like the entire population of London.
The Tate website describes this image thus:
“JR’s paste-up image shows a black man holding what, on first glance, appears to be a gun. On closer inspection it is in fact revealed as a video camera. The deliberately aggressive and confrontational image forces us to reassess our assumptions, both exposing and counteracting negative media sterotypes.”
I’ll be back to catch up on the other exhibition et al another time.
Some examples of my work, in a (dis)similar vein/vain to the above are:
Dead Cities and
“I know you are here to kill me. Shoot, coward! You are only going to kill a man”
Best in large.
One of the inscriptions on the headstone in the middle is a few lines from the Hymn Rock of Ages (Augustus M. Toplady, 1776); they read:
Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the cross I cling;
You can see the inscriptions clearly, if you look at the original size version of this photograph in my flickr photography stream. Parents and a child (aged 1) are buried together in the same grave. I found this in a graveyard while out taking pictures locally. There isn’t really any need to jet off to exotic locations to find interesting photography subject matter. There’s loads all around us. You just have to see, looking is not enough.
In a previous post, Having more possessions won’t make you happy! I made a passing reference to Affluenza, the new book from clinical psychologist Oliver James.
I’ve finally got round to reading it and while a long and meandering read (hello pot, hello kettle), he has some very interesting things to say. The following is from the blurb:
An epidemic of ‘affluenza’ is sweeping through the English-speaking world, an obsessive, envious, keeping-up-with-the-joneses, that makes us twice as prone to depression, anxiety and addictions than people in other developed nations. And now we are infecting the rest of the world with this virulent virus.
At it’s core the book’s basic premise is that to ensure our mental health we can and must pursue our needs rather than our wants.. In part one he describes and explains the virus of affluenza. But the most interesting part was the second in which he presented some potential vaccines, under chapter titles such as Be Beautiful (Not Attractive), Consume What You Need (Not What Advertisers Want You to Want), Meet Your Children’s Needs (Not Those of Little Adults), Enjoy Motherhood (Not Desperate Housewifery/Househusbandry) and Be Authentic (not Sincere), Vivacious (Not Hyperactive) and Playful (Not Game-playing).
There is no way I can sum up any of these or the rest of the book in a short space, so I am just going to recommend that you have a read. However if working excessively long hours and cutting yourself off from proper relationships is something you suffer from you might already be suffering from Affluenza, and if you want more and more and bigger and better, at all costs then you most definitely are.
I was reminded of James’ book when I read the following column by Lynsey Thomas, a homeworker who described herself as I’m a workaholic and it is a strange disease - only my family and friends suffer the consequences and finished off her column with In short, I work, I drink, I sleep; it’s a wonder anyone loves me.
Whether she is suffering from Affluenza or not I don’t know. But either way, it doesn’t sound like a sensible idea to be living such a life, either for her or for her loved ones. However, anyone looking for meaning in their work might want to read the rather interesting article titled: The best way to find meaning at work? Don’t look for it.
Beats me that we even need to be told it, but apparently we do; just what happened to working to live and not living to work? Looks like it’s all messed up as usual and James says in his book, we are all taught to think of ourselves as little economic units (including children from a very early age) so that we can consume. And as a consequence, we neglect our own mental health at our peril. So do something useful for a loved one … worry about their mental health and not what their next glittering purchase is going to be.
And on the subject, well sort of; read the interview with Pamela Paul, talking about the extraordinary commercialisation of parenting. She says: Often it’s just enough to be in the same room with your child and engage with them when they want to be engaged with. Seems to me that the same goes for adults as well.
As usual Guru Ji understood this a long time ago by encouraging the concept of Sangat.
Best in large.
The sight of bridges and balloons,Makes calm canaries irritable.
We sailed away on a winter’s day
With fate as malleable as clay
But ships are fallible, I say
And the nautical, like all things, fades and I
Can recall our caravel:
A little wicker beetle shell
With four fine maste and lateen sails
Its bearings on Cair Paravel
Oh my love
Oh it was a funny little thing
To be the ones to’ve seen
The sight of bridges and balloons
Makes calm canaries irritable
And I caw and claw all afternoon
Catenaries and dirigibles
Brace and buoy the living-room
A loom of metal, warp woof wimble
And a thimblesworth of milky moon
Can touch hearts larger than a thimble
Oh my love
Oh it was a funny little thing
To be the ones to’ve seen
Oh my love
Oh it was a funny little thing
It was a funny funny little thing
Bridges and Balloons by Joanna Newsom. Listen to it in YouTube. Amazing harp playing.
Best in large.
To understand the title, see: Of Sikh grandmothers and video nasties.
From my small collection of street photography. This one taken in Leicester.
Best in large.
When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.
Henri Nouwen
Best in large.
I wandered cloudy as a lone is also available on a black background, in large. Or take it as it comes.
I found the grief
Within my heart
And, through that pain
And, life in parts
There’s a wilderness I know
In that wilderness I grow
A found opportunity
To hunt for time and bounty
In this, my deep valley
The blood seed
Of our majesty
With all four seasons
And their marathon
And, with dark carbonation
I found my
Thirteen years of carrion
From golden locust
To dignity
I praise and burn
To rescue me
To be given opportunity
To hunt for time and bounty
In this, my deep valley
The blood seed
Of our majesty
With all four seasons
And their marathon
And, with dark carbonation
I found my
Thirteen years of carrion
13 years of carrion by Death in June. Hear it on YouTube.
Best in large.
Best in large.
Does my bum look big in this? No! I know women who would kill to have this bum
My arm and the full real me.
Navel gazing? Or shoe gazing over at Troutmask retrofit.
Best in large. Also available in gross out colour here.
Alternatively: There will be blood? A light injection or an injection of light? Out of darkness comes light.
What does this picture have to do with the title. The answer to that is not a lot, practically nothing and that´s the point of this article. Though it will be a rather meandering ramble across a number of subjects, touching on obscure and inappropriate references to Sikhs in the media.
The last time I had a similar mini rant, was on the subject of confusing a Sikh man with a Turk, in an episode of Scrubs. This time I shall be picking on Lionel Shriver of We Need to Talk About Kevin fame.
Back in Feb 2008, in an article titled Bloody Awful in the Guardian, Lionel Shriver was describing how movies once considered too violent or sadistic for general release (aka video nasties) were now being made more widely available, because, accordingly to the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification)
…Times shift, attitudes change, and what was then problematic is not problematic now. In today’s current climate we do not consider these films to be a concern.”
Buried away in this article, a little one liner struck me bloodily right between the eyes, in a scene not too far removed from those depicted in said movies.
[Aside: I can not watch horror or gore movies, I find nothing of intrinsic value in them. They are often derivative and designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator - violence and gore. Suspense and storyline (bar some classic exceptions) are relegated in favour of body counts, pints of spilled blood, decapitations, ripped out entrails and worse. And apart from Shaun of the Dead I am unable to sit and watch them with my eyes open. Not too long ago I was ´forced´ to watch something called Saw IV in a cinema and I literally only saw 5 minutes in total of the whole movie. Having my companion describe the endless sadistic torturings on screen was even too much. In my world that movie has been renamed as Unsaw IV. Anyhow …what I did see was crap so by extension so must the whole movie have been! Thats the sort of extrapolation I use when it suits me.
I recently bought the same person a copy of The Book of the Dead: The Complete History of Zombie Cinema, and a quick flick through this was equally disturbing but in some ways strangely fascinating. The photography was especially appealing. Perhaps that was what it was. This is also a good a spot as any to reference the scene in Juno where Juno and would be adopter baby adopter and about to walk out on his wife, Mark, are discussing the goriest films ever made; cue film clips from The Wizard of Gore. Which seemed to back up my view that the only real reason that many of them are made is to try and outdo each other in the gore stakes.
Where was I, oh yeah back to track. So there in the middle of this article was a little one liner:
… Yet a handful of bureaucrats cannot possibly stand in for the multitudes, the 60 million people who span the gamut from Sikh grandmothers to hip media studies students who grew up playing Dark Messiah: Might and Magic on their computers.
And I couldn´t for the life of me work out why she had decided to pick on Sikh grandmothers. Ok, so she was trying to present a spectrum of people who could never be represented by the film censors. But it still struck me as a strange choice. Are Sikh grandmothers more likely to be sitting watching movies that are causing the BBFC hours of head scratching on how they should be classified or is it as I would conjecture (and any Sikh Grandmother who wants to prove me wrong please do so - just don´t make me watch a gore film with you is all I ask) that this is as about as far aware from their everyday watching material as it is possible to be.
Would it have been possible to just mention grandmothers in general? Was there a specific reason that I am unware of? Is there a secret army of Sikh bibian discussing the latest gore movie they have seen or want to see; over a cup of char? Was she being uber representative and PC and instead of bemoaning her I should be congratulating her on inclusiveness. I really don´t know. Either way it was curious and if I ever run into her at a book signing or casually wander past her (in my strange world of coincidences the possibilities of this are not as remote as you might imagine) I shall be sure to stop her and ask for clarification. And she can looked at me in a puzzled way - much the same way I looked when I read the article. We really need to talk about Lionel.
So, as if making a mountain out of that particular molehill wasn´t enough, I´m now going to go do a complete U-turn and moan (only mildly - I don´t really do full out ranting) about the converse scenario. A situation that was crying out to have Sikhs mentioned and was there a mention, of course not. That would have been too easy. And I wouldn´t be writing the rest of this.
To arrive at this particular destination involves a rather large detour so please bear with me. I love exploring both physically and metaphysically. Lunchtimes and spare moments are spent wandering (prefably with a camera to hand) around parks, roads, galleries, museums, book shops, film and music shops. Physical exploration in locating such places and metaphysical exploration as a consequence of where the physical exploration leads you. Often ending in yet more piles of books etc.
I can´t get enough of them. I don´t mean your average bland nondescript corporate identity behemoth but appealing little indie places, all bejou and compact; where I can get the sorts of films (international and independent) and music I like. Recently I have had a craving for films from the British Silent Cinema, which is undergoing something of a resurrgance of late, to the extent that there are now regular British Silent Cinema festivals. The most recent being in Nottingham in April under the title Rats, Ruffians and Radicals at the Broadway cinema. I happened to be there a few days before the festival and managed to collect a number of nice handouts and postcards of the event, but instead of watching a B&W csilent classic ended up watching No Country for Old Men (somewhat disappointing in my opinion, in the manner that these high profile movies tend to be. Also some plot devices that just did nothing for me. The last time I really enjoyed a big screen/big Hollywood epic was Crouching Tiger. Which truly was a masterpiece and deserved all the awards and back slapping it received.
Incidently the current (June 08) issue of Sight & Sound has an interesting write up on Rats, Ruffians and Radicals. Even more importantly it also has an interesting interview with one of my favourite directors, Werner Herzog.
As luck would have it found a couple of interesting movies at reasonable prices on my meanderings. And one of these days I will actually sit down and watch them.
Book shops, closely followed by shops selling movies are my favourites and if I can find a place that does both then its heaven. I actually know of one such place along Tottenham Court Road. You know the sort of place, books and DVDs piled high from floor to ceiling, real jewels buried away. You have to search for them but when you find them it´s a great feeling. The kind of thing that once you find it you wonder on your luck, want to keep it all to yourself as you have no desire to share it in case you don´t get it back. Things to treasure for ever, not to be discarded without a second glance. Never did you think you would find such an item. They took you long enough to find and brought great pleasure, they have to be worth hanging on to. A metaphor on life perhaps. Or is that mere pseudo scratching at the surface of the metaphysical itch?
On one of my recent jaunts, I came across a book which grabbed me instantly: Adam´s Navel by Michael Sims which was described as a natural and cultural history of the human body. How could that not be interesting. And on first glance it was and remained so.
Instead of adding this to the pile of books that need to be read I plowed straight into this one. The book is divided into a number of parts, which divides the body up into three main sections (top half, middle and bottom half). Each part has a number of chapters dedicated to particular aspects of that sections, for instance the navel makes its appearance in the middle section.
The first chapter on the top part is called The Not-Quite Naked Ape and is basically a history of hair down the ages. And makes for a wide ranging and interesting read, everything from Samson and Delilah to the Rastafarians. Sensible areas to cover and no complaint there. My problem is that there was no mention about Sikhs, not even a passing reference. Plenty of others get brief mentions, but not us. Now considering the importance of hair to Sikhs and how it readily identifies us I was disappointed to see no mention. All the same a fascinating book and I highly recommend it.
Now if only I could swap Lionel Shriver with Michael Adams … then again that would have meant I would not have had the opportunity for this little ramble and you could have saved some of your valuable time as well because after getting to the end of this … you´re bound to be thinking … is that it!
Afraid so. That´s life! Well most of the time. A series of mundane everyday events peppered with some not so mundane events.
And talking of life … if you can please do try and donate blood regularly. In the UK you can find out where via the National Blood Service website. And while you are there ask to opt into their bone marrow program.
NB: I took the above picture when I went to give blood and opt into the bone marrow program. The nurses were bemused but could see no harm in it - in fact they went out of their way and gave me my bag with my pint of blood in it to take shots of and of the tubes and my samples and generally were pretty decent and joined in on the humour and had a good laugh with me about it - wanting to see the shots ;p
Holding a pint of my own (B-) blood was an interesting experience
It was a bit tough to take these shots as I had to use my right hand while leaning over and continuing to pump my left one to keep the blood flowing into the bag. I took my P&S A720 along (could never had done this with my DSLR).
I actually got shots from the point where the nurse inserted the needle into my arm to when she drew it out 10 mins later. Quite a fun afternoon. And those nurses were very cool.
Best in large.
Best in large.
See also Explosions in the sky.
Best in large.
Yesterday, Monday 5th May 2008, me and my brother decided to go and take some shots from a public footpath. To which security for Lafarge decided to take objection to our presence.
Lafarge is one of the largest, if not the largest cement manufacturers in the world. It reached this position by snapping up the company formerly known as Blue Circle who used to own and run a number of cement plants along the Thames.
Most of this is now being run down and is destined to be redeveloped into residential housing and play areas as part of the Thames Gateway development.
The site is still currently in use but has for many years had a public footpath that passes through it. We have used this path before and we have taken pictures from this path before. British law broadly allows members of the public to take pictures from public places, this includes public footpaths. Yesterday (Monday 5th May) we decided to go down there again to capture some shots.
We hadn’t been on site long before a security van pulled up next to us and out jumped one guard who proceeded towards us. The other went to the back of the van and emerged with a security dog and walked towards us. Hmmmm … this could get interesting.
We glanced up at them and continued to shoot. The following is the rather (abridged) Kafkaeque dialogue that then took place.
SG: "Can I ask you why you are taking pictures and what you intend to do with them?"
US: "We are amateur photographers. This is our hobby."
SG: "You are not allowed to take photographs here and we are going to have to ask you to leave."
US. "We are on the public footpath and British law allows us to take photographs from here. "
SG: "We know nothing about that. We haven’t been informed. Do you have permission."
US: "Yes we have permission due to the law. "
SG: "Well that maybe the law, but you don’t have permission."
US: "Umm the law is the law. That is what gives us permission."
SG *turning around and pointing at a huge slag heap size mount of coal* - "well we are doing our jobs. We could turn around and that coal could have disappeared."
US; "Umm and just how are we going to take that many tonnes of coal! If you suspect us of doing anything then you should contact the police. In fact we urge you to contact the police."
SG: "You need permission to do this."
US: "No we don’t. As we have pointed out we are on a public footpath."
SG: *Not sure at all sure what to do now as we showed no signs of moving*, Well I am going to have to take your names.
Ok - no problem we gave him our names. He didn’t ask for anything other than that (like contact details!!).
SG: "Ok we are going to go and check into this. Stick to the path."
US: "We have stayed on the path - even where the signing has faded away we have looked for it and stuck to it. Not only that in a couple of places the path has been obstructed and we have gone around as carefully as possible. The path should not be obstructed. Oh and we shall continue to take pictures."
At which point, the climb back into their van and drive off. Hmmm! Was a dog really necessary! Where we were supposed to be intimidated?
Anyhow we continued on and had only progressed a little while further when the van pulled up alongside again and out they jumped again. This time no dog luckily.
SG: "We have been instructed to ask you to stop taking pictures and to ask you to leave the site immediately."
US: "Why?"
SG: "Because you don’t have permission."
US:"WE have already explained."
SG: "We have received orders to ask you to leave the site."
US: "From who? Can we talk to them."
SG: "From central control."
US:" Can you take us to them - we’d like to ask them why"
And off we go to see central control. Who turns out to a single bloke P.
P: "You can’t take pictures. And you have to leave the site."
US: "Why? Under what law?"
P: "We don’t know who you are. You don’t have permission. You could be up to anything."
US: "Actually you do have our names. We have told you what we are doing. And we are on the public footpath."
P: "I have received orders from my manager."
US: "Who is that?"
P: "IB .. the logistics manager."
US: "We have the law and we are on public land. We are operating in an open manner. If you think we are up to something and are in anyway suspicious then you should call the police.
P: "Oh they wont do nothing."
US: *BIG SIGH*
We could see that this was going nowhere,
US: "Ok, we obviously need to speak to these people and sort this out and get this cleared up. Can we have the names of who you have spoken to and also your names."
SG: "We don’t have to give you our names."
US: "We gave you ours! We didn’t have to either. But we had nothing to hide. Ok we are going to go now. But we will be taking this up."
And off we went.
A totally ludicrous state of affairs. We were on a public path. One that was illegally blocked in a number of places. We faced a security guard. We were effectively accused of wanting to take their huge pile of coal. We couldn’t speak to anyone in a position of responsibility.
We shall we taking this up with their publicity people.
Why didn’t they want us taking photographs. We were in a public area.
We were on our bikes and dressed as such. Just us and our cameras round our necks - hardly a life threatening situation that needs a dog to be present.
Who is responsible for the upkeep of that footpath! Someone has some upkeeping to do.
Similar and much worse situations are arising all over the UK. Heres a BBC news report
Oh and for anyone else that wants to pay the site a visit (well worth a look … come on down en mass ;p) then
this is the site lovingly provided via Google Maps.
Oh and if you look on the right hand side, theres a big pile of coal!
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My own adventures on the back of a scooter were not too far removed from the above.
In my few weeks in Punjab, I saw many strange and mind boggling balancing acts on various forms of transport. Two, three, four, a whole family from the youngest to the oldest, babes in arms, all perched precariously on a scooter, seemingly without a care; these were not unusual sights.
I can´t recall if I saw any animals on scooters, but from what I witnessed; I could not have been surprised. I spent ages trying to take captures of such sights; usually as I was whizzing along on four wheels in he opposite direction; with a bit more cover than that the above. These made it hard to take decent shots and I never did perfect my panning technique while trying to lean out of a fast moving car; which was made doubly worse by the fact that my head was constantly jerking backwards and forwards involuntarily and voluntarily not knowing which extraordinary sight I should rest my millisecond gaze on next.
Little did I realize that before I left I would have my own little adventures on the back of a scooter.
One day, sitting in the pind (village); everyone decided that they would like some pizza and before long I set off with my cousin on his scooter to find a pizza place. We decided to head for Jalandar as there were bound to be places there.
Somewhat half heartedly, in an instant I was straddled at the back of the scooter, legged tucked in, arms holding on to him. This was my first time after all - hold on tight I thought. And instantly, the moment we started along GT road, ducking and weaving through the traffic, not knowing what side of the road we should be on half the time, I relaxed and let fate take control. Arms dropped by my side, my head turned smoothly and slowly from side to side. I leaned backwards, rebalanced my legs and told my self I had been born to do this.
The feeling was so exhilarating my head felt like it was in the clouds. Other vehicles and pedestrians seemed to drift lazily past, in a blur. In that instant, I decided that I could do this for the rest of my life, travel the world on a scooter. The wind in my face, my head in the clouds, my heart floating alongside me on its own little scooter. Mentally I settled upon Godspeed You Black Emperor as my accompaniment and reminded myself of their seering guitars and soundscapes, building to a crescendo; never had had there been a more suitable noise for such a trip.
Zipping along GT road, passing through the military quarters, glancing from side to side, not knowing which way to look, this was a fantastic feeling.
However it ended too quickly, I wanted to continue, towards the Himalayas and beyond; I wasn´t interested in pizza. I wanted my camera, a scooter and endless miles of road; when suddenly a Dominos (yes the same ones you get everywhere else) popped out of nowhere and we were off the bike and again I was looking at the stark contrast around me, beggars by the side of the road, on the steps up to the shop, arms outstretched, street kids and here I was about to buy some pizzas from an air conditioned shop. Just when did the ability to buy a pizza become mistaken as progress? Well the answer to that lies in my old unfriend (one I have an uncomfortable time with) globalization. The confusion of needs versus wants, of the have not´s and the have lots.
The point at which, marketing won out again. The point at which we bought into the system hook, line and deep pan pizza base.
And with no clear resolution in mind, we were back on the bike, five veggie pizzas situated between me and my cousin, my arms clasped around them and I was back in the clouds.
We returned via a slightly different route and while passing through the outskirts of Jalandar, we suddenly hit a small hump in the road and unable to see in front of me before I knew it we jolted into the air, kept our balance and landed. In the process; in extreme slow motion I watched the middle pizza of the pile flew out to the side and land in the road. I glanced back over my shoulder and could see it behind us. Shouting at my cousin to pull over, we came to a halt a way down the road.
Handing him the other pizzas, I turned around and there about 100 yards away was the pizza box lying in the middle of the road. And everyone, on their bikes, their three wheelers, cars and trucks, were swerving around it. I ran back up the road, for all the world like an Olympic runner, amazed at how it had not been flattened into the ground yet. Dignity from the other road users - how unusual. Reaching it I scooped it up, turned and headed back down the road. Nary a glance did I receive, maybe this was something they saw everyday and they were all highly experienced in the art (science?) of pizza lying in the road, avoidance techniques
At the bike, I took the other boxes, balanced the escapee on top and off we headed back again.
Only later did did the irony of my dramatic pizza rescue versus my earlier concerns register. What price pizza now oh hypocrite.
However, little did I know that my balancing tricks on the back of a scooter were in a few days going to be outdone in an even more ludicrous adventure. And I shall tell that story shortly.
Previously, in Life is Cheap, I wrote …
There is a lot of talk about increased wealth and undoubtly there is some, it’s easy to spot; especially as those who have it want to ensure that you know they have it but all this talk and chatter about progress is about the markets, materialist goods; it’s all about the middle classes. Being able to get a pizza and a macdonalds is not something to crow about when right outside their front doors people are literally starving to death. Where’s the progress in that?
Read the whole article here
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This Tuk from the Shabad by Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gauree on Ang 322
jy kru ghih ipAwrVy quDu n Cofw mUil ]
jae kar gehehi piaararrae thudhh n shhoddaa mool ||
Take my hand, O my Beloved; I shall never forsake You.
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This Shabad is by Bhagat Naam Dev Ji in Raag Basant on Ang 1196
loB lhir Aiq nIJr bwjY ]
lobh lehar ath neejhar baajai ||
The tidal waves of greed constantly assault me.
kwieAw fUbY kysvw ]1]
kaaeiaa ddoobai kaesavaa ||1||
My body is drowning, O Lord. ||1||
sMswru smuMdy qwir guoibMdy ]
sa(n)saar samu(n)dhae thaar guobi(n)dhae ||
Please carry me across the world-ocean, O Lord of the Universe.
qwir lY bwp bITulw ]1] rhwau ]
thaar lai baap beet(h)ulaa ||1|| rehaao ||
Carry me across, O Beloved Father. ||1||Pause||
Ainl byVw hau Kyiv n swkau ]
anil baerraa ho khaev n saako ||
I cannot steer my ship in this storm.
qyrw pwru n pwieAw bITulw ]2]
thaeraa paar n paaeiaa beet(h)ulaa ||2||
I cannot find the other shore, O Beloved Lord. ||2||
hohu dieAwlu siqguru myil qU mo kau ]
hohu dhaeiaal sathigur mael thoo mo ko ||
Please be merciful, and unite me with the True Guru;
pwir auqwry kysvw ]3]
paar outhaarae kaesavaa ||3||
carry me across, O Lord. ||3||
nwmw khY hau qir BI n jwnau ]
naamaa kehai ho thar bhee n jaano ||
Says Naam Dayv, I do not know how to swim.
mo kau bwh dyih bwh dyih bITulw ]4]2]
mo ko baah dhaehi baah dhaehi beet(h)ulaa ||4||2||
Give me Your Arm, give me Your Arm, O Beloved Lord. ||4||2||
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iehu qnu DrqI bIju krmw kro sill Awpwau swirMgpwxI ]
eihu than dhharathee beej karamaa karo salil aapaao saari(n)gapaanee ||
Make this body the field, and plant the seed of good actions. Water it with the Name of the Lord, who holds all the world in His Hands.
This Tuk from the Shabad by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Siree Raag on Ang 23
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rwju mwlu jobnu sBu CWv ]
raaj maal joban sabh shhaa(n)v ||
Power, wealth and youth are all just shadows,
This Tuk from the Shabad by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Raag Malaar on Ang 1256
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Round and round she goes
where she stop
…. nobody knows
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There’s a crack in everything(?) - it’s how the light gets in.
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Camera obscura - Etymology: New Latin, literally, dark chamber
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Didn´t New Model Army had a catchy little chorus encompassing the V word. Why yes they did!
Guy in the middle (to the left) gives a considered opinion to the amateurish disinformation that was swallowed up passively and regurgitated as the second cousin, three times removed of investigative journalism on File on Four. Hook, line and sinkered!
NB: This pic originally one of a selection of pics on the front cover of Des Pardes, 15th Feb 2008; in relation to an entirely different news report. For some reason my eye was immediately drawn to this little pic! Curious that!
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This Tuk from the Shabad is by Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Soohee on Ang 738
idRsit nwhI ry pyKq AMDy ]
dhrisatt naahee rae paekhath a(n)dhhae ||
You do not see with your eyes - you are so blind!
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This Tuk from the Shabad is by Guru Tegh Bahaadur Ji in Raag Jaithsree on Ang 703
mn ry swcw gho ibcwrw ]
man rae saachaa geho bichaaraa ||
O mind, embrace true contemplation.
This is one of the works I had on display at the British Sikhs event.
I will be sharing more work from the exhibition in future posts.
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This is one of the works I had on display at the British Sikhs event.
I will be sharing more work from the exhibition in future posts.
Dilruba and tabla, Guru Nanak Komal Sangeet Academy; as taken at the British Sikhs event.
The Hukamnama today (8th Jan 2008) from Sri Darbar Sahib, Sri Amritsar:
This Shabad is by Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Soohee on Ang 739:
soohee mehalaa 5 ||
sookh mehal jaa kae ooch dhuaarae ||
thaa mehi vaasehi bhagath piaarae ||1||
sehaj kathhaa prabh kee ath meet(h)ee ||
viralai kaahoo naethrahu ddeet(h)ee ||1|| rehaao ||
theh geeth naadh akhaarae sa(n)gaa ||
oohaa sa(n)th karehi har ra(n)gaa ||2||
theh maran n jeevan sog n harakhaa ||
saach naam kee a(n)mrith varakhaa ||3||
guhaj kathhaa eih gur thae jaanee ||
naanak bolai har har baanee ||4||6||12||
Soohee, Fifth Mehla:
His Mansions are so comfortable, and His gates are so lofty.
Within them, His beloved devotees dwell. ||1||
The Natural Speech of God is so very sweet.
How rare is that person, who sees it with his eyes. ||1||Pause||
There, in the arena of the congregation, the divine music of the Naad, the sound current, is sung.
There, the Saints celebrate with their Lord. ||2||
Neither birth nor death is there, neither pain nor pleasure.
The Ambrosial Nectar of the True Name rains down there. ||3||
From the Guru, I have come to know the mystery of this speech.
Nanak speaks the Bani of the Lord, Har, Har. ||4||6||12||
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I have previously posted this shot in B&W - it has been available in colour on my Flickr account but not here. We decided to go with the colour version for exhibition at the British Sikhs event.
I will be sharing more work that was on display in future posts. Some of it is even (shock horror!) colour!
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Taken at the British Sikhs event.
