Addictive, indeed

This Bank Holiday weekend I have mainly been sipping from the Devil's cup; yep, I've been tinkering around with AI. I know what you're saying, it's a sure fire way to Hell and no mistake. And you may well be right. But, and here's the thing, I quite like it. I wouldn't say I'll be throwing all my AIggs into one basket but as a fun tool to have in your, er, toolbox, it's a handy, what's another word for tool, bloody hell, tool thing. 

As a for instance I 'asked' it to 'paint' my spiritual local The Abdication in the style of Edward Hopper. Thirty seconds later - Boom!

If the Abdo wasn't my hosterlry of choice before seeing this image it certainly would be now. The light and shadow - two of Hopper's trademarks - are both here in spades. And solitude. Don't get me wrong, the pub is never empty, and yet... this stark image is so Hopper and is so pulling me in through its front door. Would it be so wrong to want to live in this fake world? Hopper may have shuffled off this mortal coil over fifty years ago but in this new world he and I are exchanging pleasantries over a flagon of frothing ale looking out into the murky nether lit city streets; a pair of Nighthawks.

Regular readers will know that directly opposite the Abdo sits the former Home Ales building. I photograph it every time I go to the pub (yes, my photo roll is groaning) but I've never captured a passing classic car when photographing it; 'AI, remove the nondescript black hatchback in this photo and replace it with a blue Mk.1 Ford Cortina. All in the style of Hopper.'

Can you see now why, for some, this new technology is proving so addictive?

★ 

 Edward Hopper (1882-1967)

Three of a kind

I was honoured last weekend to take photographs of three Irish siblings who were all a. making me laugh like a drain and b. buying me beer like it was going out of fashion (I think a & b may be linked). They all get on so well (I'm told they always do, with or without the aid of alcohol) and I just wanted to capture some of that vibe. 

You'll also notice a certain building in the background. And a brilliant blue sky. It was the prefect Sunday afternoon. Thank you, Margaret, Michael & Trish. And thank you to everyone at The Abdication for making it my spiritual home.

Up above the streets and houses

You don't need to be Columbo, nor indeed Sherlock Holmes, to deduce that my favourite building in Nottingham (and the one I have photographed literally hundreds of times) is the former Home Ales Building in Daybrook; last year I curated a limited edition photobook comprising nearly forty images (choosing the final cut was a nightmare, I can tell you). However, for some reason there are a couple of glaring (to me, anyway) omissions from Vol. 1 (that's right, I'm working on the next collection as we speak) - namely any photos of it in the snow or with a rainbow in the background.

However, this evening in the midst of a tremendous downpour the sun came out in force and swathed Nottingham in a spectacular light and provided a rather splendid arched spectrum. Quick as a flash (see what I did there?) I hotfooted it from one end of NG5 to the other and fired off a few shots; some of them may go in the next book, some of them may not. The one above certainly will.

Don't suppose there's any snow forecast tomorrow?

Matt Berry - Rainbow (2018)

Matt Berry · Rainbow

Architecture. And affordable art

When art and architecture collide - today's 500 words are brought to you in association with Nick Coupland and Thomas Cecil Howitt.

Nick is a contemporary artist working in pen & ink and specialises in post modern architecture; often concrete; often brutal. I've been a fan of his work for a long time and, a couple of Christmases ago I gifted my daughter-in-law (hugely into architecture) a signed copy of his beautiful book - Modernist Lines, Brutalist Shapes - which had a number of his drawings of English (many in Hull and Manchester), European, Asian and American buildings & structures; from Preston Bus Station to the Nakogin Capsule Tower in Tokyo.

Nick's work is nothing short of amazing. His attention to detail is forensic. How he can replicate the smallest of windows, the most ornate corbel, in such microscopic detail is amazing. And also a little bit scary; he must go to the same optician as Superman. He recently posted on Twitter that for the modest sum of £20 (including postage) he would draw any building of your choice on a  6'' x 6'' card, so you could own a true Nick Coupland original. I didn't need to think twice: for the last couple of years I have photographed the former Home Brewery Building in Daybrook, Nottingham countless times*. From every angle. In all weathers. Day. And night. Like my bloody tree, it's become an obsession.

So I asked Nick if he could work his magic on this beautiful building dating back to 1938 and designed by acclaimed local architect Thomas Cecil Howitt. (An architectural practice bearing his name still operates in the city to this day.) He could and he did. It landed on the doormat yesterday. To say I'm chuffed would be an understatement. I absolutely love it. 

Please do check out both the artist from Hull and the architect from Nottingham (links at the top of the page). Who knows, you might want to ask Nick to draw a building designed by a renowned architect from your area. Or your house. Or even your local pub. Speaking of which:

* I won't lie to you. There's a good reason I photograph this building more than any other: it's directly opposite my favourite pub - The Abdication - which I'm sure I've mentioned once or twice round here before. Cheers!

Thank you to Nick. And thank you to Mr. Howitt (1889-1968), without whom...