Skateboarding (my first love)

Chris 'switch kickflip'


Skateboarding, My first love. The first thing I truly got obsessed with. As a child Skateboarding encompassed everything I enjoyed in life. Rebellion,sticking it to the system and generally falling over (a lot). It introduced me to music and dress sense and gave me a sense of belonging, something I'd been longing for. I learn't to appreciate individuality and healthy competition,out with 'High School Sports'. As I grew up it became more and more important to me and during my angst ridden teenage years became a constant source of pain and frustration for me. We didn't have an indoor Skatepark in Peterborough so when it rained I used to get so angry and had nowhere else to release this anger but on my parents and any hard surface close enough to punch. This lasted until I found music and other paths of creation to help release the tension.

Me 'Hardflip' in my boat shoes (photo by C.Niemc,edit by me)


I am still truly in love with 'Skating' it has become a part of me and will be until I am gone. She introduced me to some of my best friends and SURFING, the thing that makes me most happy today.

Chris frontside tailslide

a duck in the graveyard

So I've returned to 35mm and had some mild success.

I love my 80's Pentax P30! Yeah she's a bit temperamental and yeah she's heavy, But man does she make me happy! It's a different sort of photography. A slightly less spontaneous craft, with more thought and measured timing involved due to the expense,time consumption and convoluted aspects of processing film.



It does look great though!

Kam Chan's Camera Obscura @ Axolotl Gallery

If I write about other Photographers or Artists it is usually because they inspire me. But not today, as today I am writing about an Artist because they just blew my mind!

I wandered casually into the Axolotl Gallery (as I do) and wandered around in a clockwork direction (as I do) to be greeted by the illustrative type works of Paul Mowat and Catherine Clark. These were all great works with Paul's work being very subtle but atmospheric depictions of people using the subway(interesting idea for oil paintings) and Catherine's work being bold and energetic portraits with an almost unfinished Dali-esq vibe to them-that were very beautiful and unsettling in a way.

After seemingly finishing my wander I stopped to speak to the Owner Sarah Wilson and other staff about the exhibition who explained there was more to see, namely Kam Chan's Camera Obscura. I was ushered into the back room through some thick curtains, only to be bathed in complete darkness except a small square of light being cast through the middle of a Blacked out window. I had been told what to expect but for some reason hadn't really comprehended what it was I was about to experience. As my eyes got used to the darkness shapes started to appear across the walls and it suddenly dawned on me that I was standing inside a giant Pin Hole Camera! I was surrounded by the projected silhouettes of upside down New Town Tenements and as my brain started to unravel the mystery little details started to show themselves to me. I stood in wonderment for a couple of minutes transfixed and hypnotised by the subtle movement of the trees and changing light and thought to myself what a beautiful thing I was experiencing. I couldn't quite believe it and neither will you.

Altered Images is on at Axolotl Gallery on Dundas Street until the 4th of June and I urge everyone to go. It has to be one of the best installations I have ever seen.

lewis through the woods

I have recently bought a bicycle and the sense of freedom it has brought is priceless. The bike has paid for itself in joy ten fold already.

I implore everyone to get out on your bikes. I am discovering the surrounding area of Edinburgh and am finding new treats everywhere. Next stop Scotland, Britain, then Europe and only nature knows where I will end up, Happy as Larry and all tuckered out!