I’ve wondered about doing a BLOG for sometime and have decided as we launch into 2015 that now is a good a time as ever …
a bit of reflection
As we launch into 2015 I’m actually really excited about the New Year. Usually I DJ my way through Christmas and New Year and don’t really have time to pause for thought or reflection until I wake up on the 2nd January shattered vowing never to do it again . .
New Year though is a fantastic time for touching base with yourself, reflecting on the previous year and sorting your priorities out. On the photography side of things I took a bold step last year and renamed to Matt Poole Photography. The reason for this was actually quite simple. Matt Lowe was a pseudonym. Years ago, when I first started playing with a camera and wondering what the buttons did, the company I worked for weren’t happy with me using my real name on my shots for, what was at the time a hobby, so asked me to change it. I did so. As my business took off it became harder and harder to change the name and I kind of got stuck with the Matt Lowe brand. Eventually Mr Facebook worked out this wasn’t my real name and consequently made me change it to my real name. I took the opportunity to rebrand the business and revert to my “real name” for business too.
Having worked in marketing and branding I was all to aware of the potential, alongside the risks of a rebrand. On the one hand a change is nice and refreshing, but on the other, you don’t want to throw away an established brand that people know and are familiar with. I wanted to reflect a professional maturing but still the unconventional approach I take to my work. It actually took me 3 months until I was happy. Fortunately it appears to have worked as this Christmas was my busiest on record which was really exciting. It does finally seem that the economy is recovering.
Alongside that 2014 has really seen Enigma take off. This is a side I started late 2013 but I don’t actively push. I love all sorts of photography but to me when I’m shooting, Enigma is perhaps the purest form, with its black and white, simplistic and honest approach to the subject. there are no props, no gimmicks just what I hope will be beautiful pure artist nude shots.
a few of my opinions on the latest news
The main reason for starting to do a blog is, because as I use my FACEBOOK page just for business, people have no real idea about me. Something that hopefully I can start to change. If your expecting drugs, sex and rock and roll I’m afraid your going to be a bit disappointed. Being a glamour photographer and DJ doesn’t make mean I spend my spare time chilling out with Keith Richards. In fact a glass of milk, a cat on my lap and youtube is much more my cup of tea.
I plan on doing a blog every couple of weeks and splitting it into two halves. The first part on a particular subject and the second bit on a few current news. In fact my biggest confession is that I am a complete news buff .. I love watching current events and as technology progresses this is getting easier and easier.
One story of the last few days that has particularly popped up on my radar is the 2 year old who accidentally shot his Mum in Wallmart in the USA.
Love as I do much of the American constitution and alot of what that stands for, I fail to understand why they see the second amendment is so important and why the gun lobby are so adverse to change. Let’s be honest it’s extremely unlikely that they will be attacked by red indians nowadays so you perhaps not need to be carrying round a lethal weapon. With this particular case, the first question must surely be why on earth did the lady feel the need to carry a gun in her purse when popping to the supermarket, and secondly why the bloody hell was it not safely out of reach of her child.
Using as ASDA as I do, the UK equivalent to Wallmart, I can in all honesty say that at no point have I ever thought I needed a gun whilst doing my weekly shopping. Its never crossed my mind. I’ve occasionally participated in a bit of trolley rage like we all do but I have never felt I actually needed to assassinate somebody to make my point.
At the risk of sounding completely insensitive I’m glad the bullet hit her and not anyone else who’d simply popped in to buy a few groceries. Her child will now have to grow up and live with the fact that they were responsible for their own parents death which is a terrible burden to be forced to carry. I’m just hoping they don’t reach adolesnce and decide to go and shoot up their local school.
Let’s be honest, and I know that Americans law makers aren’t generally known as the brightest people on the planet but surely this is bit is very obvious. Guns are dangerous, they are not toys. The majority of people don;’t need them and aren’t intelligent enough to handle them anyway. Perhaps it would be better if you had to pass some sort of IQ test before you could apply for a licence? . . . If you don’t have a vague idea of your own name and address, and an IQ in double figures then perhaps it’s not really a good idea for you to be given a deadly weapon to carry round in your purse. Common sense really.
Perhaps also in 2015, it would be good to check if they had a genuine reason for carrying a gun. The way I see it is the only people who actually have a genuine reason to carry guns in America are the black citizens. They obviously need these to protect them from the Police but I’ll leave that for another time.
links
Each blog will have a few links to things that might be worth a look at alongside a short description ….
these guys are brilliant . I don’t agree with all they say but they question the news and question the media in their unique way well worth subscribing to their youtube channel if you like this one : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LMaXQC9qtE&channel=TheYoungTurks
these people are kicking out some amazing tracks lately and deserve a lollypop and a packet of crisps : https://www.youtube.com/user/SpinninRec
Christopher Hitchens was a complete genius in my humble opinion and author of the book “God Is Not Great – Religion poisons everything” Sadly this guy passed away in 2011 but not before leaving his mark on the world. Again I don’t agree with all he said but what I love is the way he argued as a public speaker. If you like this then just put Christopher Hitchens into Youtube and he’ll keep you entertained for hours .. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR0GyYaeI-k
Matt Poole Photography 