Edinburgh Fringe Mirrored

At almost every turn there is another eye catching splendid image created and lost.  The phrenetic paths we follow in our idiosyncratic ways form so many chance occurrences.  Within the framework of the world we live we all weave our threads into a wonderful expression.  Just now and again moments otherwise lost are recorded.  At times when I see an opportunity and release the shutter of the camera I feel sure the blink of the reflex inside the camera has taken the image that I saw forming and that the resulting photographic image will be worthy of sharing. 

In the depths of a reflection the world as we see it altered.  Often the reflection brings a startling change in luminance and of course a reflection is a mirrored image.  The power produced in an altered image is that of giving us new perspectives.  Even a fleeting glance of a reflection brings a fresh focus on a subject.  When a single lens camera is used to record reflections the photographer gets a peculiar view of the reflection through the camera.  The single lens offers a different image from our usual world of vision.  This new vision has a rigidly fixed focus.  The intensity of the luminance through the lens and having the eye being trained on a reflective surface through the exclusion of the ambient lighting by the camera gives a view to the photographer that is only partially recorded in any photographic exposures.

In this series of images I saw a reflection and through the single lens of the camera I encountered several images created by depth of field and telescopic isolation.  The moving people have moved on including me and yet an ephemeral collection of markers of light remain.  When read by electronic devices the code created can be seen as a lasting record of that day.  The production of straight sided technical records of light can still encompass several visual keys to unlock in the viewer an element of the atmosphere present at the moment the photograph was taken.  Reflected in these images is the day as I saw it and the place as I felt it.

The 3 images published form a snapshot of the moment

Edinburgh Fringe Mirrored

www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/9607172126/

Royal Mile in reflection

www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/9607172126/

Edinburgh Looking Brass Triptych

www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/9607170208/

Photographs ©2013 PHH Sykes

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/sets/72157634803223764/

www.phhsykes.co.uk

phhsykes@googlemail.com

F8 Collective at the West End Fair St Johns Edinburgh

The West End Fair Just off Lothian Road in St John’s Church offers a myriad of stalls with many crafts and designs to catch the eye and to attract you towards a purchase, or two.  The F8 Collective stall was in my sights as I have been to photographic events with several of the photographers that form the group.  It was good to see their work exhibited for sale in such a great setting.  The whole of St. John’s Church both inside and outside is buzzing throughout the Edinburgh Festival.  There is performance and exhibition space here as well as the craft fair.  The church remains open as the festival events are housed in extensions and in the grounds.

The picture I have taken of the cards that I bought was created with plenty of grain to illustrate the work of Audrey Brown and Caroline McDermott whilst not copying their productions in high resolution.  I hope that the quality and versatility of the work of the Collective is evident in the pictures I have loaded of their stall.  As a photographer I am always happy to see how other photographers view the world.  In the F8 Collective I can see some excellent style and great techniques bringing out the individual expression of each photographer.  Unfortunately my brief review does not give you much time to catch the photographers at the stall as they are there now until 25 August 2013.  I look forward to further F8 Collective productions.

The F8 Collective

https://www.facebook.com/pages/F8-Collective/594074647275959

St. John’s Church Edinburgh

www.stjohns-edinburgh.org.uk

Photographs ©2013 PHH Sykes

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/sets/72157634803223764/

www.phhsykes.co.uk

phhsykes@googlemail.com

The Greatest Liar in All the World

A darkly funny sequel to the story of Pinocchio: the carnival is breathing its last breath and with it so is The Liar.  Tired of his lies, he hijacks the performance at gunpoint to tell the real story of his infamous origins.  The panicked cast of freaks and misfits do their best to lead the audience on a journey from his conception to the love and loss of the beautiful blue haired girl.  Filled with live music, puppetry, physical theatre and clowning, The Liar twists and tweaks reality in this raucous cautionary tale.

The cast for this production make for some splendid photo opportunities.  Their superb outfits and makeup set them apart from several displays from the fringe.  There is an air of strangeness keeping these characters active on the High Street.  With the aid of August sun shine and fill in flash the intense attitudes of the actors offer compelling viewing.

www.familiadelanoche.com

Photographs ©2013 PHH Sykes

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/sets/72157634803223764/

www.phhsykes.co.uk

phhsykes@googlemail.com

Chris Stokes Tells it Like it Possibly Could Potentially Might Be

This lady with a leaflet certainly knows how to pose on cobbles!  Her lightning fast moves from gentle banter stance to action paused pose were stunning.  Her fantastic antics are worth the ticket price!  The High Street in Edinburgh throughout August plays host to great performances and wonderful scenes and some of these are there just to advertise the shows.

Honesty is a virtue and widely perceived to be the best policy. So why do so many people seem to use it as an excuse to be rude? Tired of being told it like it is? Chris Stokes from Dave's One Night Stand and Radio 4 tells you how it possibly could potentially might be, he thinks.

Chris Stokes is a stand-up comedian and star of his second solo show, ‘Chris Stokes Tells it Like it Possibly Could Potentially Might Be’, appearing at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. He has appeared on Dave’s One Night Stand and Radio 4, and is the winner of Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival’s Best Show 2012.

19.00 11-25 August 2013

Pleasance Courtyard Venue 33

0131 556 6550

Photographs ©2013 PHH Sykes

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/sets/72157634803223764/

www.phhsykes.co.uk

phhsykes@googlemail.com