Happy Birthday ‘The Conversational’ on Reel Rebels Radio

Happy Birthday ‘The Conversational’ – a year old today on National Poetry Day! You can catch up on the archives here

Around Camden in 5 Photos – a photography walk

Around Camden in 5 Photos – A photography walk
Sunday 9th October

Start the new Jewish year with photographer and teacher Naomi Woddis as she shows you how you don’t need to have extensive technical skill or a flashy camera to be a great photographer. On a walking trip of the more hidden parts of Camden we’ll be finding stories everywhere – looking at sequence and how to create meaning and narrative in our photos.

The workshop is not about technical skills but instead about developing a photographer’s ‘eye’ – you’ll find imaginative and unusual ways to capture how we look at the world.

Please bring your camera – any model will do – from SLR to iPhone to disposable…
Naomi’s last walk was a sell out so please book early!

Book here !

Food for Thought – Writing with Letters

This is the first in an occasional series where I’ll be looking at the work of writers, performers and artists I admire. This week it’s esteemed poet Karen McCarthy Woolf whose upcoming workshop, ‘Inside Art, Writing with Letters’ will give experienced and less experienced writers a chance to explore how letter writing can contribute to the creative process.

How close is close ?

For the past few weeks I have been taking photographs for my upcoming exhibition, Poetry Snapshots. It’s got me thinking about what it is to take a portrait. I have the advantage of knowing some of the photographic subjects very welI and wonder how much this closeness contributes to the final portrait. I found this quote by one of my favourite photographers, Nan Goldin.
I never took pictures with a long lens, it is always short and I have to get close to people I photograph.

Goldin’s portraits are very close indeed, including a sequence of a couple’s love-making. Although my portraits are not that intimate I realise I do look at the images I capture with a lover’s gaze. I shoot a lot and spend hours post-processing poring over the subtle changing expressions in the facial musculature. I’m a bit of a face detective awaiting the moment the person is revealed behind the persona. For this reason locations are less important to me than the light playing on a person’s skin, and in their eyes.

It’s been very rewarding spending these pockets of time with some of London’s best spoken word performers. The conversations have varied from the playful to the political with everything in between. And an exhibition of this kind would not be complete without a performance to launch it ! Come and join us.

Dear Andrew Lansley

I have been sent this letter to Andew Lansley to forward and share. It very clearly and simply states why we need to protect our NHS.

Dear Andrew Lansley
The NHS is the heart of Britain’s welfare state. It treats millions of people every year, and prevents millions more from living in fear of ill health. Your Health and Social Care Bill is set to butcher an institution owned by the people, for the people. Without a mandate you are proposing to spend £3 billion to carry out your reforms to destroy our NHS. Below, we outline some reasons for our action today.

The “Efficiency Savings” Myth – Your policy of ‘efficiency gains’ is both underhand and flawed. In reality ‘efficiency gains’ means cuts of £20 billion over the next three years, job losses starting at 50,000 and the almost complete removal of services such as translation. Bart’s Hospital is set to lose 630 jobs and 100 beds. £15 million cuts are being made at the Homerton hospital. King Georges A&E that serves 500,000 people is fighting closure. Leyton Health Clinic that has a children’s clinic and serves the community is fighting closure. District nurses and midwives have been sacked. In Camden two mental health hospitals have closed. This is just a fraction of what is happening in London. We know the savage destruction of our NHS is not specific to London but is UK wide. What is taking place is causing distress to patients and health workers.