Tell us a bit about your style?
I work predominantly through Collage, whether it be by hand or digitally mainly because I enjoy having the freedom to work with layout and composition without having to commit straight away. It also suits my perfectionist tendencies.

Where did you find the images for the Everything is Beautiful series?
All the images in the series are photos taken by my Grandad in his younger days. He passed them all over to me in a small suitcase and I fell in love with them straight away. Alot of them feature my family, including my Mum as a toddler.

What was the inspiration behind them?
I really love old Black & White photography, and I particularly loved how all the photos were square rather than rectangular. I worked digitally so not to damage the original photographs, and I wanted to inject a sense of life and atmosphere into them. I had the idea to overlay vibrant colours and textures to highlight particular elements of the photograph and the first piece I created (and my favourite) was with the pigeons, I feel it truly captures what this series is all about, how when you start to take notice, everything really is beautiful.

What would be your dream client and / or commission?
I’d love the opportunity to adapt my collage work to a really large scale, maybe a shop window or a big wall mural. I’m also considering putting all of the Everything is Beautiful series together as a book, but at the moment it’s still growing so that’ll have to wait a while.

We love a bit of analogue lomo fun and on the 23rd January the Pop Up will launch hosting workshops (see our sister publication AREA CULTURE GUIDE for Workshop competitions), for first-timers and old school lomographers, along with a host of exciting new product launches.

LAUNCH PARTY INVITATION

On Thursday 26th January from 6pm–9pm come and party to help us celebrate the launch of this fabulous pop up store! DJ, drinks, goody bags and more will be courtesy of Lomography so come along and say hi!

WIN

January’s competition is to win a very cool Lomokino camera; The 35mm Movie Camera that lets you shoot a movie of 144 frames on any 35mm film.

TO ENTER

For a chance to win one of these cameras please email competitionsuk [@] lomography.com with the word FUSED in the subject box. At the end of each month Lomography will randomly pick one entry from that month to win a camera.

However, never fear as everyone’s a winner! You can get 10 piggy points (£10) to spend in the lomography online shop when you sign up for your very own lomohome with this link.

WHAT ARE THE DETAILS

Lomography – come and experience what it’s all about here:
NEW NEW NEW Lomography Pop Up Store Birmingham (Until end April) – 0800 123 400  ext. 56772

By entering this competition you agree to be added to the lomography mailing list. We will not share your data with anyone, or send you any old rubbish, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

What the Hell is Lomography?

The Lomographic Society International is a globally-active organization dedicated to experimental and creative snapshot photography. Boasting over a half-million members across the world, the concept of Lomography encompasses an interactive, vivid, blurred and crazy way of life. Through our constantly expanding selection of innovative cameras & photographic accessories, we promote analogue photography as a creative approach to communicate, absorb, and capture the world. Through the efforts and skill of our Lomographic Society members, we seek to document the incredible planet around us in a never-ending stream of snapshots – literally a global “Lomographic” portrait as seen through the eyes of countless individuals and cultures.

For further information, hi res images, participation as our guest in any of the Lomography workshops, attendance to the launch party and just about anything else you can think of asking…please get in touch and we will do our very best to help.

Check out the other LOMO stores in the UK:
Lomography Gallery Store Soho – 020 7434 1466
Lomography Gallery Store East London – 020 7426 0999
Lomography Gallery Store Manchester – 0161 228 2360

Thanks to Cooler King Hilts for the images.

Featuring a group of contemporary photographers including: Rob Carter, Harry Cory Wright, Rick Giles, Ken Griffiths, Paul Hill, Jane Hilton, Josef Hoflehner, Peter Newman, Sam Pelly, Wim Wenders and David Yarrow the exhibition features works from each artist’s unique and varied perspective of the landscapes and environments which inspire them.

From natural phenomenon to immense urban structures, the photographs featured convey a strong sense of location. Carefully considering their environments, these artists capture an experience of being in a place. Their personal and evocative relationship with the space around them is articulated, revealing atmospheres from wonderment or adventure to solitude and loneliness.

20th January – 17th March, 2012
Eleven, 11 Eccleston Street, London, Sw1w 9lx.

Image credits:

Jane Hilton: Mustang Interior, Nevada Desert, 2008, C-Type hand print, 23 x 28 in / 58.5 x 71 cm, Edition of 10

Wim Wenders: The Black Car, Havana, 1998, Lightjet print, 41 x 95 ½  x 2 in / 103.5 x 242.2 x 5 cm, Edition 6 plus 2 artist proofs

A deep-bedded sense of occasion is prevalent throughout the vast majority of Myer’s work making for remarkable results. With his most noteworthy collection produced while Myers was in tenure as the Senior Lecturer in Fine Art at Stourbridge College in 1969, he received wide acclaim for his batch of work entitled Middle England, a series of portraits of people known to him and taken in locations near to his residence at the time. Middle England was noted for its presentation of the human specimen as self-conscious yet seemingly at home all at the same time.

Myers’ work moved on in the 70’s to the exploration of ‘boring’ landscapes within Stourbridge. Making a concerted effort to reject the prominent ‘value added’ approach to photography that was fashionable at the time, his work depicted landscapes devoid of humanity; an urban space with no narrative or hidden story making for a refreshingly simple yet poignant group of shots.

Through capturing the ordinary in flat light and the use of a deadpan style, Myer challenges the idea of what is considered ‘devoid’ and embraces the generic, creating stunning pictures that tell the story of mundane Britain in breathtaking silence.

Until 5th February 2012

Words: Lee Hall
Image Credits:
Santa Claus at Tesco’s (1972). Photograph from the series Middle England. John Myers. Courtesy the artist.
Television No 3 (1973). John Myers. Courtesy the artist.

Cabbagetown

Looking for a Victorian adventure in the heart of Toronto? A great family spot, pick-nick location or bike ride destination. I could spend hours looking each and every home in Cabbagetown which is unique in its own way. Plus the getting to pet a goat is always awesome!

Little Italy

Little Italy, sometimes referred to as College Street West, is a district in Toronto, known for its numerous Italian Canadian restaurants and businesses. There’s also a significant Latin American and Portuguese community in the area.

The district is centered around a restaurant/bar/shopping strip along College Street, the heart of which is the intersection of College and Grace Streets and the adjacent residential area, but spreading out between Bathurst Street and Dufferin Street.

BMO Field Toronto FC Stadium

Not a soccer club (or football as it’s called in most of the world) known for being one of the best in the world – you could say the fans are! “All for One” is the fan’s slogan and the team spit there is amazing. Most of us don’t go to see the team win, just to enjoy each others company, some good weather and huge pints of beer. You’ll have a blast, trust me.

Best Place to meet other Lomographers

Best Place to meet other Lomographyers is right here at the Lomography Gallery Store Toronto!

We are always throwing parties with live music, holding works shops, and every Thursday the space turns into a hang out with a different activity every time! Our next party / live show is a Canada Day After Party with Buck 65!

Where to get great shots

The Toronto Islands are a chain of small islands in the city of Toronto, Canada. They are located in Lake Ontario just offshore from the city centre. After a quick 15 minute fairy ride from Queens Quay and Bay we had already landed on Wards Island which is one of several comprising the largest urban car-free community in North America, though some service vehicles are permitted. Recreational bicyclists are accommodated on the ferries, and bicycles, quadracycles, and canoes can be rented on the islands as well.

WHAT TO SEE

The Lomo team recommend checking out these next big events in the City:
Gay Pride (June 14th – July 3rd)
International Indian Film Festival (1st time in North America June 23-25)
Caribana Toronto 2011 (July 14- Aug12)
Toronto Film Festival (Sep 8th – 18th)

With thanks to Jane Collison of Lomography Canada for compiling this information.

Check out their very lovely store and don’t forget to hang out at their Thursday night events!

Lomography Gallery Store Toronto
536 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 2B5

Describe your usual – (if there is such a thing – or the closest to it) – day in Toronto
Typically, on a day when I know I’ll be shooting street fashion, I’ll roll out of bed by around 9am, have some toast and OJ, quickly check email and surf the web. I’ll leave my home in the suburbs before noon and make the hour-long trek downtown by public transit, armed with my Nikon, a voice recorder, and a fistful of business cards.
Once downtown, I’ll usually check out a few of the more happening areas of the city, style-wise (Yorkville, Kensington Market, and Queen Street West are my favourite spots). If there’s nobody interesting about, I’ll occasionally wander off the beaten path until I find someone that catches my eye. If I’m not having much luck, I’ll grab a slice of pizza after a few hours and get recharged, or maybe pop into a bookstore for a short break. When the going is good and I’m photographing a lot of people, I may skip lunch altogether.
By the time 6 or 7 o’clock rolls around, I’m pretty exhausted from all the picture-taking, walking, standing around, giving directions to random people, and dealing with panhandlers and solicitors, so I’ll call it a day at that point. Head home, have a bite, review and edit the pictures, again check email and web, pass out in my bed by 1am or 2am.

Tell us about what you do: My name’s Theo and I…..
My name is Theo, 36 (turning 37 in late June), and I was born and raised in Toronto. I earn my living as a warehouse worker, but I also do street fashion photography in my spare time. I’ve spent many hundreds of hours standing at intersections and roaming the streets with my camera, all because I love to photograph people with awesome style.

You captured some very cool fashionista’s what kind of style do you admire?
I admire any style that looks like the person put some thought into how he/she is dressed. I can appreciate a variety of styles, be it punk, bohemian, goth, urban, casual, formal, etc. I like people who stand out from the crowd.

What makes you choose a person to photograph and include on your site?
If I think someone looks cool, I’ll include them. If they look like they might not know what a street fashion blog is, I’ll probably steer clear. Also, everyday people are far more interesting to me than the celebrities or “fashion elite” you see on certain other street fashion blogs, so that’s what I try to focus on.

How would you sum up Toronto style?
Torontonians, in general, are not overly concerned with style. Toronto has a lot of uniquely stylish people, but many of us are probably more focused on wearing clothes that are going to keep us warm and comfortable, rather than what’s going to get us featured on a street fashion blog.

Favourite places to…

Take a picture: The Distillery District. Historic section of town that mixes 1800’s architecture and modern-day design, its fusion of old and new makes it the best spot to spend the day snapping photos.

Go for food: Zet’s. A 24-hour family restaurant located near the airport – they’ve got an all-day breakfast menu that makes me salivate every time I think about it. Watching planes take off while you eat is also pretty cool.

Meet with friends: The Crooked Cue. Great because I can shoot pool and have a few pints while chewing the fat with my buddies. They’ve also got an awesome platter full of tasty pub food.

Show off to visitors: Kensington Market. A bohemian neighbourhood that’s Toronto’s mecca for vintage and second-hand clothing, with shops, cafes, and a smorgasbord of interesting characters that give it a unique identity.

Get drinks / cocktails: Gate 403 Bar & Grill. Their cocktails are sublime, and the live jazz music makes for an extremely relaxing atmosphere.

See an exhibition: Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). Enormous, teeming with great art, with a recent re-design that’s beautified it to the point where I often find myself hanging around until they kick me out.

Go shopping: Yorkdale Mall. With more than 240 stores, I can always find something new to add to my wardrobe, CD collection, or book shelf. Plus, it’s just a 20-minute bus ride from my house.

Find the best fashion kids for your blog: Intersection of Queen West & Spadina.  Bursting with creative people from all walks of life, this is the go-to place for finding the coolest-looking individuals in the city.

http://styleinvasion.ca
http://styleinvasion.com

Beginning at the Victoria you’ll get the chance to grab a drink and meet everyone else who is taking part. You’ll then find out about the wonderful world of Lomography and see their array of super-cool cameras. If you don’t know what Lomography is or have never used one of their quirky film (yes, film) cameras, don’t worry; Lomo-virgins are more than welcome and the team will be giving out the best tips and tricks to get some awesome experimental shots.

Everyone gets a camera to borrow for the afternoon (so you don’t even need your own kit) and some film. Then it’s time to hit the streets, going on a LomoWalk around town, and capturing previously unexplored angles of Birmingham. You’ll be joined by the Lomographers ibiza-hippie and littlemisslove, so you can be assured that you’ll get the very best expertise and push your photography to new levels, as well as having a good old time! Tickets must be booked in advance.

COMPETITION

We have a 2 x free spaces and a lovely Lomo camera to give away to a lucky Fused online reader and their friend.

To enter just tell us: On the Lomo site what do they say is the first golden rule of Lomography?

Send your answer to competitions [@] fusedmagazine.com. Please include your name, address, telephone number and date of birth and put LOMO in the Subject Box.

Deadline for entries is 22.06.2011.

EVENT DETAILS

The Victoria, 48 John Bright Street, Birmingham, B1 1BN
2nd July, 12-3pm
£10 – includes workshop, use of a Lomography camera and a free roll of film
http://uk.shop.lomography.com/lomoroadshow-ticket

Image credit: paper_doll

Click here to view the embedded video.

Fashion blogger’s around the world are gaining serious props from brands on the High Street and beyond with their personal and unique takes on style and trends. Getting flown to the Fashion Weeks they are even bumping print fashion journalists off the front rows. These online-savvy, fashion conscious writers / photographer posts their pictures, thoughts and opinions on the latest fashions for the whole world to read.

Following the trend closely are Birmingham City University Students Hannah Quainton, Rachel O’Brien, Suzanne Chetty, Georgia Moxham and Joel Mellor who have filmed several webisodes under their Purple Boot Media site.

Their first feature focuses on charity shop worker eighteen year old Jazmine.

Small and shy but boasting over 1000 followers, this charity shop girl is a leader in the blogging pack. Her short but sweet posts on blog Jazzabelle’s Diary, show off her charity shop finds as well as showcasing pieces sent to her by high street giants such as ASOS and H! By Henry Holland.

Her musings on fashion, art and culture and stunning photography have proved extremely popular with the public and the industry alike. We follow her as she rummages for fashion treasures at car boot sales and in charity shops and as she styles and blogs them in her Clapham home.

The second webisode focuses on cool kid Jack Adams, otherwise known as the creator and King of Uber Brum.

This street style blog hunts out the fashionable people of Jack’s home town of Birmingham and displays them proudly, in his own unique style. His arty photography and Birmingham’s distinctive fashion has caught the eye of over 200 followers. We join Jack as he hunts out beautiful people at Vintage Fairs, bars or just in the city’s streets. We follow Jack to music events he helps to organise, as he creates stunning visuals to compliment up and coming bands and DJ’s, all the while looking out for different, quirky or interesting styles that he can snap and then blog for the rest of the city, and the world to see.

Keep an eye on the blog to see the next installment.