Wednesday, December 15, 2010

New foot for Mitzy the Bionic German Shepherd






Brilliant neuro-orthopaedic veterinary surgeon Professor Noel Fitzpatrick fitting a new foot on Mitzy a German Shepherd whose foot was almost severed by a horse. This guy has proved the last stop saloon for many a despairing owner - the number of suicides his surgical skills have prevented as a result is not inconsiderable. I guess if you've never had a pet then the lengths that people will go to save them might seem a little extreme . But these people aren't nuts they just really love their animals . One emotional owner put it as follows  " she's given me so much more than i could ever give her that I'd mortgage my own house if i had to. " 

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

WikiLeak Bombshell at the Frontline Club

..another day another wiki leaks bombshell ?

Following the release this weekend of 251,287 confidential United States embassy cables, the First Wednesday debate at The Frontline Club focused on the revelations of this latest leak from whistle-blower website WikiLeaks.

Spokesperson for WL Kristinn Hrafnsson may have had large numbers of the audience behind him but Professor Colleen Graffy, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy remained unconvinced. In fact she was downright disapproving. She did however underline much to the amusement of the audience, that she had been instrumental in convincing the US state dept of the importance of social media members of whom she wryly observed then went onto mock her enthusiasm on their new Twitter accounts .

LRB3: The Unapproved Alan Bennett on G2 cover ?

Simon Hattenstone who wrote the accompanying profile of this cheery chap drew attention to the veins on Bennett's cheeks likening them to the skein of a fine cheese. Could that be why the Guardian's photography desk chose my archive pic snapped last year at the LRB over one by Bennett's approved photographer Antony Crolla  [ some what surprisingly Bennett stipulated that only Antony could do the accompanying pic] a much less forgiving image - if that is, you regard such things as unsightly.  I wander if the great man felt he'd been swindled in some way - suspicious, wary feelings towards the press in general that as Simon points out , Bennett already harbours to no small degree  . Perhaps the Guardian photo dept. sought his approval first but knowing the considerable time pressures and workload the picture desks are under I somewhat doubt it. Anyway, I the eternally amoral photographer isnt complaining of course !

Saturday, November 27, 2010

LRB2 : Owen Hatherley's Nails

Next up at the LRB , Owen Hatherley fessing up to his guilty secret .. nail biting. I don't think that counts as defamatory ? What are the rules about that anyway ?

Thursday, November 25, 2010

the kids are Alright !





Some revolting students and their schoolchildren comrades from yesterdays demo.

 Not sure about that police van that just happened to find itself abandoned slap bang in the middle of the crowd . A crowd that was then 'kettled' by the police whilst on route to their  assembling point in Parliament Square. Much of the press dutifully followed up with their focusing on the vandalism of said van . It's not that the police or their gear should be the target for these young lads and lasses complaints neverthless  you do have to wander whether were deliberate knowing acts of provocation on their part instrumental in shaping the public mood against them.

Monday, November 15, 2010

duet with Iain Sinclair

Iain Sinclair at the London Review of Books Bookshop . Though he doesn't look it he was entertained by my moves as His lankiness  stooped to fix him in my prime lens .  Do a jig -  one way of teasing something a little bit different out of a subject.