Filed under: Arts, creativity, photography | Tags: italy, naples, napoli, street photography
Filed under: advertising, Arts, creativity, humour, movies, photography | Tags: 50 for 50, mark gorman
Filed under: Arts, creativity, golf, life, photography, sports, videos | Tags: JP Auclair, LCD soundsystem, Ski video
OK, so I don’t DO ski.
But one can’t help but admire excellence in other fields.
Check out this video then by JP Auclair. It won a bunch of prizes at ski film awards for his LCD Soundsystem video.
The bit I love most is the sparks flying as the skis hit gravel.
Reminds me of driving on the golf course at dusk when the titanium sole plate of the driver catches grit on the Tee.
Filed under: advertising, business, creativity, for sale, humour, jokes, life, photography, swearing | Tags: fail, Japanes department store sale fail
It’s Point of sale from a Japanese Department store.
Filed under: Arts, creativity, humour, movies, photography | Tags: 1.37:1 ratio, Berenice Bejo, feelgood movies, George Valentin, Jean Dujardin, John Goodman, michael Hazanavicius, Peppy Miller, Silnt movies, the artist
It’s been a long wait for this much heralded movie, the notices from Cannes were enthusiastic to say the least and early user reviews on IMDB have anointed it with must see status.
So, I went along today with an open mind and a hope that it justified its early 8.5 rating on our esteemed website. I have to say that it doesn’t but there is much to love in this delightful movie novelty.
First off, this is a novelty. Once you’ve enjoyed its fare you are left wondering “what exactly was the point of making that” because it has no real “agenda”. I saw no political, religious or cultural allegory. What I saw was a lovingly crafted, beautifully photographic, gorgeously scored, excellently acted, arthouse homage.
It’s kind of a big idea but without an idea, instead it’s a film built around executional excellence and in that respect is often near to perfection with some lovely retro cinematography and illusions.
There’s a particularly nice touch when Peppy Miller’s movie opens in a cinema called the Reine (an in joke and nod to the production company that made it, La Petite Reine I suspect).
I didn’t know the story before I saw it and I won’t spoil it for you here because the story is fairly slight and not that big a deal, it’s merely the skeleton for a series of set pieces and fun.
It’s held together principally by the delightful Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), an up and coming “talkies ” star who worships the ground that fallen idol George Valentin (surely a nod to Valentino) played brilliantly by Jean Dujardin walks on. However many scenes are stolen by the delightful Jack Russell terrier who is Valentin’s only constant soulmate throughout the movie.
There are also two good cameos from American actors John Goodman, as the studio magnate, and James Cromwell, who you’ve seen literally hundreds of times without perhaps realising who he is, as Valentin’s loyal manservant.
It’s shot in a, 1.37: 1 ratio that these days, is virtually unseen, but was the format of choice in the 20′s. This, for me added further authenticity, as do the beautiful credits, captions and monochrome photography.
Sound is used cleverly throughout and the final scene had me grinning from ear to ear.
I really liked this oddball movie. No it’s not one of the greatest ever made and I doubt will do much at The Oscars outside of the technical categories but it’s a great hour and a half and an unusual and worthwhile feelgood movie experience.
Filed under: advertising, Arts, books, business, creativity, family, gigs, golf, humour, life, movies, photography, Scotland, stories, theatre, tv, videos, work | Tags: 2011, 2011 in hindsight, best of 2011, gibberish, mark gorman, review iof 2011
2011. That was the year that was.
2011 was rather less fraught than 2010. I didn’t work to such ridiculous extremes, and the year end saw my portfolio change quite considerably compared to 12 months ago. Three big new clients at year end were Maidsafe, Vets2 and Front Page Design, all autumnal starters and all brilliant to work with. My STV contract finally came to an end after three years but its been great and I am very grateful to them for all the work.
Some old troopers still stand by me; 60 Watt, Paligap, The Usability Lab, Corporation Pop, Ampersand and LA Media, with occassional work from a small number of others.
To you all; slainte and have a great 2012.
If my golf was bad in 2010 it beggared belief in 2011. I gave up my membership at Dundas Park and clearly that did not have a galvanising effect on my game. I was shit awful on both trips of the year and even my winter game has been poor.
We didn’t go away as a family in 2011, for a variety of reasons but I had the holiday (maybe an exaggeration to call it that) of a lifetime in June when Ria and I went to Glastonbury. To say it was memorable would be something of an understatement. There is one abiding memory of it, I have to say…the bogs.
Not good. And this was on day 1
But there were other memorable sights and moments, like this…
Not good. Day 4.
And this…
All good. Day 4.
Which brings me onto my musical highlights of the year.
My best of CD which you can have if you like included these tracks…
In a good year for music my song of the year, without question, was Video Games by Lana Del Rey.
My albums of the year were;
Bad as Me by Tom Waits (overall my favourite record)
Let England Shake by PJ Harvey
You and I by The Pierces
The English Riviera by Metronomy
A creature I don’t know by Laura Marling
50 Words for Snow by Kate Bush
Hotel Shampoo by Gruff Rhyss
Build a Rocket Boys by Elbow who also performed the gig of the year at Glastonbury (closely followed by King Creosote at The Liquid Rooms)
A different Kind of Love by Bombay Bicycle Club
21 by Adele
I did a lot of cinema in 2011…
Here’s what I thought of what I saw in my IMDB profile…
Two ten out of tens and a few nines show that it was also a good year for movies. In retrospect I plump for three as my best of the year
Senna
A Separation and
Drive.
On TV This is England 2008 moved me to tears and was by far the year’s greatest offering. I liked Top Boy too.
I didn’t read a great deal this year but have really enjoyed
The Brothers Sisters by Patrick DeWitt.
The Childrens Hospital by Chris Adrtian.
And Filthy English, The How, Why When and What of Everyday Swearing by Pete Silverton.
But the best read of the year by far was…The Guardian which I grow deeper in love with.
This was a big year of theatre for me. I reckon I saw at least 20 different productions but easily the stand out was Dance Marathon in which Jeana and I and Chris and Liam danced our asses off for five hours before I was told I was relentless by the Producer. We also had amazing nights at The Kings for James Cordon in One Man, Two Guvnors and The Lyceum for both Dunsinane and Age of Arousal.
This year was sadly marked by way too much illness among our friends for me to want to dwell on but Matt, David and Jenny I am thinking of you now.
Also, we lost James King, Joyce Cambell and Fiona Pirie from FCT and Rachel Appolinari at the outrageous age of 19. RIP all of you. xxx
All of the family have blossomed in the past year, thank God, and long may it continue. In particular Amy has shown an almost exponential growth in confidence and skills in many different areas.
2012 is University year for Tom and Ria should they both choose to go down that path.
And so, to 2012. It’s the year I turn 50, Amy 21, Tom and Ria 18 and I aim, with Pete the Meat, to lose at least 50 pounds each before we turn 50 in May. We are raising money to do so and you’ll soon hear of our plans.
Thanks for being my reader once again in 2011. My year end Technorati rating was an all time high closing in on a top 1% of all the blogs in the world rating.
16,000th out of 1.2 million.
Filed under: Arts, creativity, photography, Scotland | Tags: beach hut, dark skies, scottish seaside architecture, scottish weather. Hurricane fucking freezing, sky, the sea, troon, winter
I was in Troon today and in the time it took to take these pictures and a few others I actually thought I was at risk of hypothermia.
Filed under: creativity, family, life, photography, Scotland, stories | Tags: A christmas celebration, chriostmas, Christmas cake, Christmas cards, Christmas dinner, christmas in Scotland, Christmas trifle, How to do Christmas
Filed under: creativity, photography, Scotland | Tags: angels, religion, scottish religion
Originally uploaded by mark gorman.
st giles is a stunning place. the choir is amazing.
Filed under: life, photography | Tags: angels, christianity, Edinburgh, organs, religion, sacred edinburgh, sundays in church]
I played drums, as I most usually do at mass in South Queensferry. I’m not so anal about my religion that I HAVE to be there every Sunday, but I try.
Anyway, some good rhythms.
Then I headed up to St Giles Cathedral, on the Royal Mile, to see a friend of mine sing in the choir. If you know anything about Scottish history you’ll know that that’s not a Catholic worship place but it is very Christian.
I loved it and can recommend Sunday Service there at 11.30.
An extraordinary choir and an amazing location, set off by this stunning angel…
And a great organ…
Filed under: advertising, business, creativity, humour, motors, photography, Scotland, stories | Tags: edinburgh zoo, edinburgh zoo van, hino van, newhaven communications, r, Rufus Wedderburn
Years ago I was responsible for taking a brief from my then client, Edinburgh Zoo.
They wanted their logo put on the side of their new van.
“That’s surely a bit of a missed opportunity is it not?” I asked.
“Why?” was the response “It’s just a van.”
“No it’s not” was my firm retort. “It’s a poster. And what’s more the media cost of it is free.”
I asked them to leave it with me and not long after I presented them with the idea (created by Rufus Wedderburn, now at Newhaven Communications) of creating a visual gag which made it look as if a Rhino was being transported across Edinburgh and that its horn had burst through the van’s roof.
They bought it. And here she is in all her glory.
It won every ad award going and the citizens (and visitors) of Edinburgh delighted in seeing it every time it passed through the street.
This is my latest attempt to gain recognition in this competition. I took this a few years ago. wakening at my Mum’s house in her spare room after her New Year’s Party. I thought this image was really striking.
Filed under: family, humour, life, photography | Tags: Bamnburgh Castle, cagoul wearing cockend, hot totty, mother and son, the case for the prosecution
When I was a teenager I often wondered why all my mates were doing better, much better, than me at pulling burds.
Exhibit A
Filed under: football, life, photography, Scotland, sports, stories | Tags: homeless world cup, scotland win homeless world cup, scotland win in paris, the Scottish dream
Yesterday Scotland won the Homeless World Cup in Paris.
Again.
64 nations competed.
We beat Mexico 4 – 3 in the final and it was said that our team may not have been the most skilled in the tournament, but we were the most committed.
It’s not like we lead the world in Homelessness.
We beat a nation many multiple times our population.
I suspect it had something to do with money not being a factor or a motivation.
I suspect it brought out our national pride.
I suspect it was a level playing field regardless of national stature or population.
This is an awesome concept and a creation of Scotland (Mel Young conceived it).
The fact that the story made a pictureless 3 x 3 story at the bottom of page 3 in our national paper is a scandal.
Scotland. Wise up.
Filed under: creativity, dad, family, life, photography, stories | Tags: guardian in pictures, the guardian
I entered this shot (not entered for a few weeks and never win anyway).
But it was obvious choice.
I took a bunch of photos of my Dad the weekend after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
He knew, and I did too, because our eyes caught each other (nothing had to be said), that these shots were his valedictory photoshoot; and so it proved to be.
Filed under: Arts, bbc, books, creativity, photography, tv | Tags: BBC, bbc costume drama, BBC Drama, Chris O'Dowd, michel faber, romola garai, the crimson petal and the white
I love Michel Faber’s writing and it’s a toss up between this and Under The Skin for his greatest work. The two could be no more different; Under the Skin is a taught contemporary sci fi horror set in Scotland and this; an 800 page monstrous take on Dickensian Victorian London.
Both are really great books and consequently both run the risk of taking a good pasting when put on screen.
There has been many year’s of talk that TCPATW would be Hollywood-made and for a while rumour had it that Kirsten Dunst was to be the heroine, Sugar. However it fell eventually to the BBC to make this near epic adaptation. I say near epic because big and bold as it was I think it had even greater potential.
The previews did not make great reading; the panel on Newsnight Review, with the honourable exception of Maureen Lipman, annihilated it, so I approached fearing the worst.
I needn’t have worried.
The, at times, over tricksy focus pulling in the camera work was a bit heavy handed but this was overcome on balance because otherwise it was excellent (moody, creepy, almost surreal in places and beautifully emphasised by a particularly odd (in a good way) score written by newcomer Cristobal Tapai de Veer).
The set and costumes are astounding and the acting of the entire cast, but Particularly Chris O’Dowd (the IT team) and Romola Garai were of BAFTA winning standards, and had to be to pull it off.
In particular O’Dowd’s tortured portrayal of sappy rich boy William Rackham is magnificent. It’s as if he can’t decide how to play the role, but that’s just how Faber wrote it. In the end he comes across as merely a weak sap who is only in it for himself. Perhaps he cannot help it as we frequently see when he is led astray by his particularly vulgar “friends”.
Romola Garai, by contrast, is nailed to the tracks in the conviction of her character, as the upwardly mobile Sugar; pulling herself out of the stench thanks to the interest of Rackham who gradually exalts her social profile in a London where status was everything (and boy did she have status in the underworld, starting off as the top prostitute in London). Her gritty but sometimes tender performance is the beating heart of the book and this ultimately excellent adaptation.
It’s still on iplayer but I’d wait for the DVD and splash out.
For me it would play out better as an epic four hour movie rather than a four part TV series.
Wonderful. Bring on the BAFTAs. (And the Emmys).
Filed under: Arts, creativity, photography, Scotland | Tags: fireworks, guardian in pictures entry, guardian photos, guardian readers' photos, pictures, rainbow, the guardian
I put in this shot of fireworks at the Bank of Scotland Festival Fireworks last year because it looks so elemental”.
I was gonna put in this shot but reckon there will be a lot of that stuff going in that features the weather.
Filed under: creativity, humour, jokes, life, photography | Tags: Di, Kate and Wills, princess di, princess diana, Princess diana memorial, princess diana reptile house, Royal, royal family, The royal wedding
Perhaps Kate will one day reach this height of fame.
(I am grateful to Phil Morley for capturing this moving shrine for a wider audience than its lowly status currently ensures.)
Very moving...
Filed under: Arts, creativity, humour, jokes, life, photography, Scotland | Tags: art grafitti, duncan of Jordanstone, grafitti, peeing, pish, urinate
I went for a slash when I was at the Duncan of Jordanston Open Day a couple of years ago and saw this fantastic graffiti in the loo.
Filed under: creativity, family, humour, life, photography, Scotland | Tags: beach, dancer, Edinburgh, gibberish, guardian in pictures, mark gorman, pictures, south queensferry, the guardian, weston super mare
One of these days I might get a mention.
This week I had two options.
This one is “Flash” Ken who I met on a beach in Weston Super Mare and is the one I entered…
…and this is one which I spotted in South Queensferry at the fair a fair few years ago; or rather the camera spotted it in a flash.
Filed under: Arts, creativity, humour, jokes, life, photography | Tags: guardian in pictures competition, guardian photo competition
I considered putting this one in, but decided against it.
I also thought this might catch the judges’ eyes. The danger of cutting one’s own hair!
Filed under: advertising, business, creativity, humour, jokes, life, photography | Tags: liz and peter duthie wdding, reception, wedding, wedding day, wedding hat, wedding reception
This was the most drunken wedding in history. We were at a free bar (as was the best man) for about 4 hours before we sat down to dinner.
The best man was so pissed that he lost all of his speech notes. Which was just as well as he could barely speak.
Wondrous.
Anyway, this wedding hat wasn’t too great on Jeana, looking back…
But it was even worse on Broony…
And “Tiger Townsley” clearly wasn’t too impressed when I had a shot.
Easy Tiger
Filed under: advertising, Arts, creativity, family, photography | Tags: athena, athena hunk, athena man, athena poster, babies, baby, man and baby
Well, this is my version of it…
Filed under: Arts, creativity, family, photography | Tags: folk, happy holidays, holidays, mark gorman
Filed under: Arts, family, photography | Tags: child picture fail, fail, portrait fail
