Kit Oates Photoblog

The Photography Of Richard Mosse

2010-04-30T15:32:00.003+01:00

It's great when you stumble across another photographers work, and are completely in awe of every aspect of it. I first saw Richards work in the Times Weekend Magazine about two years ago, it was his series Breach (left) of American bases founded in Iraqi palaces.

It reminds me of squats that take over old buildings. The buildings themselves are beautiful, yet quite uninhabitable in their nature. They need to be modified in order to fit the needs of the military.

His latest series Quick uses a type of film called aerochrome, devised by kodak and the military for use in military purposes during the cold war. The film picks up on foliage and greenery yet usually show military camouflage in a different hue. the end colours are both confusing and surreal. Candy floss pinks in images of the Congo (below) are perculiar.

http://richardmosse.com

westPHOTO Competition blog page

2010-03-10T10:23:00.002Z

take a look y'all, for any info on the Annual westPHOTO Prize, past present and future. Every year we do a comp and exhibition, every year it just gets more and more exciting to do these comps. Definately one of the most rewarding aspects of working at westPHOTO.

http://www.westphotophotographyprize.blogspot.com/

westPHOTO Blog Launched

2010-02-22T13:25:00.003Z

Good News Bloggers,

westPHOTO, the Agency that I run has now launched it's very own Blog. Expect some really good posts on current photographers we admire as well as competition news, job opportunities and much more:

http://westphotoagency.blogspot.com/

Favourite Chicken and Ribs

2009-11-24T19:35:00.004Z

Book review: Fall River Boys - Richard Renaldi

2009-09-25T12:51:00.003+01:00

Fall River Boys Is a book by Richard Renaldi, who regularly took trips to visit fall river to create this book. The Towns name sparks romantic almost hollywoodien (sic) thoughts of middle America, prosperity amongst epic nature. His images hold a notion of romantic youth, and also of the decay of American cities and suburbs. Fall river in his own words is An industrial landscape well past its boom years". The remnants of this industry can be seen in the background of portraits and throughout the book.

I like renaldi's honest depiction of different boys, they all seem to have a unity, growing up or living in Fall River, that is present in the portraits. A slight aura of despair lingers over the portraits, almost as if, the boys cannot leave or will always be boys of fall river.

Image Copyright Richard Renaldi

2009-09-17T18:23:00.004+01:00

Latest takeaway shot on 5 x 4 with a 150mm Lens.

Carolina Chicken

2009-08-20T13:19:00.002+01:00

Image taken on my Toyo 5 x 4 camera, a new addition to the Sanctuary series

Microstock - Self Improvement

2009-06-11T09:43:00.004+01:00

Although It's a topic not usually talked about by photographers of my Ilk. But because I run a student picture Library and Agency (www.westphoto.co.uk) I find myself regularly explaining the differences to students between RM and RF sites. This regularly brings up the topic of what is Microstocking good for if you are a student.

My usual answer that it is a good way to train yourself for Macro and RM photography (if it will still exist by the time they get there). Keywording and management are two things you improve on by uploading to microstock, so this site Microstock Diaries, I think would be useful to any young photographer practicing on Microstock. It's a good blog because it (usually) avoid lengthy discussions of money based topics such as RPI (revenue per image) which beginners won't be too interested in.

Microstock Diaries - For People Selling Photos Online

Photo's on ARTE.TV

2009-03-23T17:17:00.003Z

Some of my photos of the Tweed Cycling Club we're used on a recent episode of Tracks, a show on Arte.tv which broadcasts in France and Germany. I took the photos a few years ago for The Chap Magazine.

http://www.arte.tv/de/Kultur-entdecken/tracks/2495254.html

Professional Seminars: Ben Roberts

2009-03-15T11:38:00.005Z

Last Thursday I organised another westPHOTO Professional Seminars, talks aimed to give the students and photographers of westPHOTO an insight into how a specific professional works and earns a living from photography.

Speaking was a friend of mine Ben Roberts, who spoke about his route into the industry, and about his personal work up to now. Ben Has two degree's, one being an Ma in Fine art, and works incredibly hard at his profession. He is one of those photographers that is involved in everything, He is also a very good public speaker, and the lecture Theatre was packed.

Out of his works, Higher lands stood out personally as a carefully composed body of work. It documents young adults and teenagers growing up in the highlands of Scotland.

Ben's work has recently touched upon an industry that is increasingly at the mercy of the global financial meltdown, Construction in Spain. His series The Brick Business documents recent builds, most uninhabited or sold and the effects of construction on the Mediterranean countryside (Below)

For more of Bens images visit: www.Benrobertsphotography.com

Going Large

2009-02-16T12:35:00.004Z

The blog has been fairly quiet over the past few months, and this is due to a new arrival in the household. The new arrival comes in the shape of the Toyo 45C View Camera that I picked up from a photographer in Somerset late last year.

It's a beautiful camera, and hardly used. I'm hoping to use it in conjunction with several projects over the coming months/years. I'v alrady begun shooting takeaways with the camera, and will post the results on here soon.

Young Union Soldier

2009-02-13T11:34:00.002Z

Lady Maid of the Unions

2008-10-31T13:06:00.001Z

Re-enactor # 03

2008-08-28T19:02:00.000+01:00

Re-enactor # 02

2008-08-21T23:39:00.002+01:00

Re-Enactor # 01

2008-08-18T20:18:00.006+01:00

Liz Evans, Member of the Winchester regiment, Wales, 2008

Chap # 03

2008-08-06T17:37:00.001+01:00

Atters Attree, Grooming Editor for the Chap Magazine, Committee Member of the Handlebar Moustache Club, London, 2008

Chap # 02

2008-08-06T01:00:00.003+01:00

Artemis Scarheart, Member of the New Sheridan Club, London, 2008

Chap # 01

2008-07-23T18:03:00.008+01:00

Earl Of Waveney, Member of the New Sheridan Club, London, 2008

Eagle and the Dragon

2008-07-22T15:30:00.002+01:00

image by Alec Soth

I'v been fortunate over the past few weeks to have free copies of the weekend Telegraph newspaper, while my parents are on holiday i'v been using their annual subscription.
The Telegraph magazine has recently had some great articles, in particular this four part photo article on America and China, with photographs by Alec Soth.

Soth's style of portraiture i find very interesting as most of the image is of the persons surroundings, this places the image in between documentary and portraiture. Both personal yet also surveying, placing the "sitter" in their social context.

its a true return to form for the Telegraph magazine, which had perhaps lapsed somewhat over the years. The series is great and i recommend you take a look, it's all available on the Telegraphs website

2008-07-21T18:59:00.002+01:00

Studio Shoot Photos of Becki Biggins are now viewable on my website.

Becki is a jazz musician from west London. She's playing at the Marlborough music festival this weekend and has been nominated for the best newcomer award.

Visit www.kitoates.co.uk to see the images

London tours Bus conductor

2008-07-21T18:43:00.000+01:00

Dimitri, Bus Conductor, Baker Street, London, 2008

Waiting for the 182

2008-07-20T20:44:00.000+01:00

An old man waiting for the 182 bus on my road, I was waiting for it too.

Extras Photographs

2008-05-30T14:25:00.000+01:00

A new photo series is available for viewing on my website these photo were taken of background artistes on set of a film that i'm not allowed to mention. (It hasnt been released)

Tweed Cycling Club

2007-07-29T14:51:00.003+01:00

The new edition of the Chap Magazine is out now featuring the retro fashion shoot i did with the tweed cycling club. You can see the full set of images here on my Flickr Page.