Greensnapper Photography

Introducing… The Photography Collective

Jane — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:06:04 +0000

Something is stirring below the surface of Birmingham’s art scene. A unique collaboration is being formed. Contact is being made.

During the first two weeks of September 2010 there will be a rare opportunity to explore some new work by seven talented Birmingham photographers.Contact, the exhibition, is a collaboration between The Photography Collective, a newly formed pool of photographic talent for the Midlands, and Birmingham Photospace, which exists to establish a permanent space for photography in Birmingham. Graced by the one-time opportunity to exhibit as a group at Rhubarb East Gallery, Contact is an associate exhibition of the recent Rhubarb-Rhubarb Photography Festival, a highlight of the year in the fine art photography world’s calendar.

As a member of The photography Collective, we formed the group essentially to build a stronger presence for local photographers within the Midlands art scene, discuss all things photography and launch exhibitions together. We began meeting in April in Birmingham Central Library, and before long found ourselves working towards an exciting debut exhibition.

Since then, it’s been all hands on deck, identifying an exhibition theme, selecting work, writing press releases, building an exhibition website and a whole lot more. And with the support and expertise of Light House curator Kathryn Klizsat, we are proud to showcasing the group’s talent.

Contact – a Fine Art Photography Exhibition
3rd – 18th September
Rhubarb East Gallery, Heath Mill Lane, Digbeth, Birmingham, B9 4AE

Open Thursdays to Sundays, 11am – 5.30pm

With such a fast start off the blocks already, i’m sure there will be lots more exciting Photography Collective projects and collaborations on the horizon. So, watch this space!

Students lobby Andrew Mitchell MP on Global Education

Jane — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:45:22 +0000

This morning’s shoot was in Sutton Coldfield where i photographed students from Fairfax School lobbying their MP Andrew Mitchell. The year 7 students presented the Secretary of State for International Development with 250 hand-made scarves containing 1100 signatures calling the government to help children living in poverty around the world go to school.

The students were involved in a month-long project for 1Goal, a global campaign running throughout the World Cup, which is calling on world leaders to bring education to 72 million children by 2015: http://www.sendmyfriend.org/one-goal

Students from Sutton Coldfield lobby Andrew Mitchell MP on Global Education. Photo credit: Jane Baker/ Greensnapperphotography.com

Andrew Mitchell MP makes a speech at Fairfax School in Sutton Coldfield. Photo credit: Jane Baker/ Greensnapperphotography.com

Get Real Gordon Billboard!

Jane — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:19:26 +0000

I saw a little gem that made me laugh today, a joke shared by the drivers queuing along the road next to me. On my way back from a shoot in Birmingham I saw this billboard and couldn’t resist taking a quick snap. I love the idea that somebody got up during the night with a huge ladder and a can of green spray paint. What with all the interest Lib Dems have been getting through the TV debates, who knows, the wind of change might just be around the corner.

Liberal Democrat Grafitti in Birmingham on the run up ot the General Election 2010. Copyright: Jane Baker/ Greensnapperphotography.com

The Age of Stupid

Jane — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:49:18 +0000

Well, I’ve finally got round to seeing The Age of Stupid, a gripping film about the impending consequences of climate change if we don’t do something about it NOW!

The Age of Stupid is the new movie from Director Franny Armstrong (McLibel) and producer John Battsek (One Day In September). Pete Postlethwaite stars as a man living alone in the devastated future world of 2055, looking at old footage from 2008 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?

Click here to view the embedded video.

I must admit I wanted to come home from the screening feeling solidarity, selfishly I suppose, with all the other people who are doing ‘their bit’ for the planet and pat myself on the back. Instead I came home feeling terrified and near speechless. It’s weird coming out feeling like you’ve seen a horror movie but knowing that what you’ve witnessed isn’t fiction, but stark reality.

Containing real life documentary footage filmed by Director Franny Armstrong in locations ranging from the Niger Delta to the French Alps, we follow five narratives, some paradoxical within themselves – from a Shell employee to Windfarm Developer.

There are plenty of reviews on the website so I won’t attempt to out write them. Instead I will agree with Caroline Lucas (Leader, Green Party) who said on seeing the film ‘I defy anyone to come out and not feel like they’ve got to make a difference’;

And so instead i’ll make a pledge…

* To pass the DVD on to as many people as I can (Apparently it’s on sale on 19th Oct 2009)
* To ramp up personal efforts to reduce my carbon emissions (thinking cap on – watch this space!)
* To campaign harder (e.g.The Wave, 5 Dec, London)

This film will change your life (if climate change doesn’t first) – don’t take it from me, watch it for yourself!

Click here for a list of upcoming screenings or organise your own!

Related posts: Can Artists Save the World?

Stepping Up in Lozells

Jane — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:59:25 +0000

When it comes to having street cred i think i miss the mark. Put me in a recording studio and ask me to MC and i wouldn’t have clue. For the last ten days i’ve been blown away by the talent of young people in Lozells, Birmingham. I’ve been documenting Step Up + Step Out, a summer arts project where young people get stuck in to movie making, MC’ing, street dance and a whole host of other workshops.

Directing a movie

The guys are in to movie making, and act out scenes of street fights, meetings in dark grafitti covered underpasses, money exchanging hands, high speed chases on foot. Of course, as with every good movie, in the concluding scene the protagonists change their ways and a resolution is found between gangs.

When it comes to music, thanks to the project, i’ve discovered a little gem, the Young Disciples recording studio, tucked away above a shop on Lozells Road. Packed full of state of the art macs and recording equipment it’s a great place to find young local talent sweating out the beats over an open mic session. Each young guy projecting a natural air of ‘cool’ in the fast and furious atmosphere of the breathless, dimly lit studio.

MC'ing in the recording studio

The girls are pretty hot on street dance, each one watching their moves reflected in the mirrors in the dance studio above Gerrard St Methodist Church. They barely get to the end of a track before they fall about laughing when one of the group misses a beat, forgets the step or complains that the track is too fast. Their faces start to become familiar to me as the girls return at the next session to perfect what they started.

Street Dance

The Guardian reports that since the success of dance troupe Diversity on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent the hiring of street dance instructors has tripled in schools, not to mention spilling over in to summer holiday activity schemes like this one.

If that’s anything to go by, who knows, maybe Lozells is growing young talent today that we’ll see on our TV screens tomorrow.

Watch this space!

Can Artists Save the World?

Jane — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:39:47 +0000

Making the statement in a Guardian article that ‘Documentaries are the number one way to save the world’ is a sure way to catch my attention (Can Artist’s Save the World? Monday 6 July 2009, p17). Understandably it’s a subject close to my heart so instantly I want to (metaphorically) shake the writer’s hand, there and then, in enthusiastic agreement.

I scroll down the article (online) to see that it’s peppered with the names of influential, highly and internationally renowned artists – Anya Gallaccio, Joseph Beuys, Guztav Metzger – the list goes on. Jane Baker? Greensnapper Photography? – i’m not on the artist celeb list. But not so long ago neither were film maker Franny Armstrong (The Age of Stupid), ‘green’ minded architect Ted Cullinan, Music Industry carbon conscience Alison Tickell (Julie’s Bicycle) and more – all moving up the ranks.

It’s great to see that the many ethically minded and highly dedicated, but relatively unknown creatives, are making their mark too – dedicated to the environment, chipping away in their sphere of influence and making a difference, whether or not the big fish catch on.

A sign of what's to come? Franny Armstrong's film The Age of Stupid

It gives me hope that – although working as a photographer in a less commercial specialism brings less financial reward – telling the stories of people living in poverty or promoting an environmental issue or helping to correct public misconceptions about HIV are all contributing to making our world a better place.

Can Artist’s Save the World?

Maybe that’s going a little too far – but at least we are trying to do our bit, and hopefully little by little it will make a difference.

Read the Guardian Article: Can Artists Save the World?

High Rise to Power: Speak Out Magazine

Jane — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:57:46 +0000

Isn’t it great when you stumble upon a real gem…

Brap is an equality and human rights charity based in Birmingham who have launched their very own magazine called Speak Out. Under the strapline ‘Same City, Different Lives . This is Birmingham…’ the magazine invites contibutors and readers to share opinions and consider what it’s like to live in one of the country’s most ‘diverse’ cities.

So that’s why I thought i’d make my own contibution with the feature article:

High Rise to Power (Speak Out, Issue 4: pages 2, 8 – 10). It’s about single mums, Lynsey, 23, and Carina, 21, who took their chance to speak out in Parliament about their experiences living on a council estate in Birmingham.

There are very few magazines like Speak Out that give an opportunity to profile stories of people in Birmingham that might otherwise go unheard.

Lets hope those that can bring about change listen up!

Look Beyond The Label

Jane — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:49:10 +0000

It’s a funny old thing – being one foot in the photography world and one foot in the NGO world. You find yourself wanting to take photographs and campaign for a living at the same time. But that’s the magic of using what you produce behind a lens to further a cause, unearth an injustice, or inspire others to get up and take action.

Refugee Week (15 – 21 June 2009)

At the moment i’m pretty obsessed by Twitter. You can find me on there as @greensnapper. Yesterday I discovered a fantastic way of showing support for a British Red Cross campaign using Twitter:

‘Refugee Week celebrates the important contribution of refugees to UK society. This year we’re asking you to look look beyond labels to the true identity of the refugee in modern Britain. Only by looking beyond the status and label of ‘refugee’, can we overcome prejudice and help people restore their sense of identity and belonging. Show your support‘ (Look Beyond the Label – British Red Cross).

So i’ve changed my status on Twitter and my new photo looks like this.

Best get back to the photography now!

Jane — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:20:53 +0000

Lynsey, 23, at the bus stop with her daughter Keeley, aged 5. Birmingham, UK (from High Rise to Power series).