“What you looking at, face-ache?”
My dad loves a wind up. He was refering to my bored face while he watched Grandstand. Honestly, that program felt like a lifetime in a child’s Saturday afternoon.
Fast forward to evening shows like A-Team, MacGyver or Alf.
These past few weeks, I’ve had a different kind of face-ache. From smiling.
Visiting 18 doorsteps in 18 days, running socially distanced portrait sessions for residents in Crowborough. Creating happy memories for families in Lockdown, and donating 75% of the total to the local Foodbank.
Foodbanks didn’t exist in the 80’s. A few years before that afternoon of yawning sport watching on our comfy floral sofa, my family was in need of help with living essentials.
There wasn’t any help.
Just the crushing advice from a Council worker to ‘drink tea as it stops you feeling hungry’.
My dad – even with his bright sense of humour – was reduced to tears.
Today, news reports have been filled with crisis. My mind went back to that time of need in my family. This time, there was a way of helping.
With Government restrictions causing a hold on businesses (my usual music and family event bookings), I spoke to locals and announced just over 2 weeks’ of low cost portrait slots – all snapped up.
Families ordered more images, making the donation total much greater that I could imagine.
A super £525 for Crowborough Foodbank!
It’s been an action packed time – I met Spiderman, watched a daring stunt, went through 2 packets of dog treats, ice cream, many laughs (esp. the one with the itchy bottom), excited children, and relieved parents to have 20 mins of conversation with someone other than the postman.
Best of all, many of the families hadn’t had a photo taken all together before.
I love it when a plan comes together.
*Check out some images and imagine the A-Team theme*
and of course, this one…
Marie x
I’ve exhausted the amount of photos allowed of my once involved daughter. Her reaction is like an A-lister hand towards a pap.
“No more!” she protests. And don’t even mention photos to the husband.
Just over 6 weeks into lockdown, I’m in desperate need of a creative outlet. Online there’s signs of other photographers feeling the same – one taking impressive pics of trainers from every angle, others raiding photo archives to keep that sense of connection, and there’s the worldwide ‘doorstep portraits’ idea. Wondering whether to offer the locals, but the news reports are as contradictory as the daily update – ‘What a heartwarming idea!’ then ’Photographers, stop. It breaks lockdown protocol’.
Sigh. I thought once about taking my camera to Tesco for some tinned soup action – worked for Warhol, right?
Garden and daily walk snaps it is then.
In walks The ‘McQueen Creators’ campaign. Alexander McQueen have been running a weekly project for independent artists during isolation (with a chance to be featured on their social media channels).
Last week’s campaign #McQueenNature for photographers – “taking inspiration from nature: now more than ever its beauty and ability to regenerate is a symbol of hope and quiet power”
I. CAN. BREATHE.
An escape from financial worries, news reports, everyone sharing opinions and arguing about the news reports (the memes are funny tho!), and spent a few days in a creative bubble.
Reviving an old instagram account, I submitted a bunch of images. Then immersed myself in a violent Scott Adkins movie (Avengement) with the husband. I recommend!
Checking my phone at the end, I’d received various notifications. In amongst them ‘We’d like to feature your image’ from Alexander McQueen.
My already adrenaline filled body kicked it up a gear. WHAT?!
The Wilting Tulip. Selected and featured along with 100 other photographers pieces for Alexander McQueen. Never thought I’d say that in a sentence.
I’m offering prints of this with 20% profit donation to the NHS.
A4 £17.50
A3 £26.00
50 x 70cm £37.00
Love, a slightly less creatively frustrated
Marie x