My 2012 – 12 months, 12 songs

It’s here!

My yearly ritual of posting twelve songs that have either defined or been the soundtrack to moments that have made my year has come around again. I have put some up with links to blog posts that are the reason they are up there so have a click on those underlined.

Thank you all for being such smashing readers, heres to another year of this!

Without further a do, here goes….

 

1. Amy Wadge – Paris

Had this in my head the whole time I was in Paris. Now it reminds me of my brief but brilliant trip to that wonderful city.

2. James Blake – Case of You

A Joni Mitchell cover that out of all of these songs I urge you to listen to as its quite simply beautiful. Reminds me of reading my book on Hampstead Heath in the bitter cold.

3. Florence and the Machine – No light, No light

It still hurts to think about that run!

4. Yungchen Lhamo – Ranzen

Listening to Tibetan music makes sure I never forget where my heart truly lies, back in India.

5. Missy Higgins – Whole of her new album

This was very much the soundtrack to choosing and preparing photographs for my first exhibition.

6. Elbow – First Steps

The official song for the BBC coverage of our Olympics.

7. Karima Francis - Wherever I go

A stunningly warm and emotive voice, saw her live at a music festival this summer. Well worth a listen!

8. Matt Corby – Brother

9. Ruth Notman – Roaming

Reminds me of the stupid amounts of train journeys I have taken this year!

10. Frank Sinatra – The Coffee Song

Possibly the most cheerful song in the world! Never has failed to caffeinate my spirits.

11. Ellie Goulding – Figure 8

A song that has kept me warm on many a long photography walk.

12. Landon Pigg – Falling in love at a Coffee Shop

A song that has been on a constant loop on many occasions. I love it not only because it has coffee in the title but how it reminds me how lucky I am.

 

 

 

Looking Up #5 – La Tour Eiffel

Art on the Streets of Paris #7

So my graffiti week has come to a close. I’ve given you all a glimpse into the beautiful and illegal art form. Now I want to hear or see your favourite pieces of graffiti, from a slogan scribbled on a bathroom door to billboard sized extravaganzas.

For my next few posts I will be going back to my roots, writing.

While my love is of course photography, my other love has always been writing and over the past year it has become a footnote in my life. Writing gave me jobs, gave me a purpose and most of all gave me a freedom incomparable to anything else. I recently surpassed 150 posts and for the next few weeks I’ll be heading back to how I and my blog began.

Art on the Streets of Paris #6

Art on the Streets of Paris #5

Art on the Streets of Paris #4

Art on the Streets of Paris #3

Art on the Streets of Paris #2

“Despite what they say graffiti is not the lowest form of art. Although you might have to creep about at night and lie to your mum it’s actually one of the more honest art forms available. There is no elitism of hype, it exhibits on the best walls a town has to offer and nobody is put off by the prices of admissions.” – Banksy

Art on the Streets of Paris #1

Whose to say what art is? If it doesn’t hang in the Louvre or have tour groups clicking at it, then is it not art?

Away from the queues, the hoards of people and entry fees there lies the beauty of the street. Free beauty, true art.

Graffiti, it divides people, cities and societies, with its often political and cultural anarchism. An army of thousands, graffiti artists constantly re-design the urban landscape.

This week I’ll be showing you a handful of the art created under the cover of darkness and against the law, all over Paris.

People of the Seine – Part Seven

My week of people watching comes to a close with a hint about my next set of photographs that will be coming your way soon….

Thank you to everyone, you really got in the spirit of the series. I will be updating the posts with what I think are the best guesses and a link to their blog on Thursday, so keep your guesses coming in!

So the question to end the week, is he trying too hard to act cool?

COMMENT WINNER:
Chillbrook: “I think he’s had too many Heineken. She’s tackling him about his drink problem and not getting through… she’s a little fed up about it all but she cares for him so she will continue to try and reason with him.”