Spent three days this week wandering around Europe’s biggest annual imaging show which was it’s usual mix of huge commercial stands from the likes of Canon and Nikon intermingled with small specialist firms run by people who really do care about photography. The Ilford guys had a typically wonderful black and white series of prints but the star of the show, for me at least was the Linhof stand who make cameras that are just works of art in themselves:

As ever with photography equipment, if only I had that extra few grand…

Also fun was having the chance to have a go with the Seitz 160 megapixel 6×17, (that’s 160 million pixels) a camera that it’s safe to say won’t turn up in your local Jessops.

Also impressive were the educational establishments on show, Solihull College in particular had a good show this year, if only Sandwell had got their act together and organised their stand in time.

From a business standpoint, in an age when most photographic equipment and consumables are ordered online shows like Focus are the only opportunity to see new products in the flesh, especially things like inkjet papers and frames, as well as actually talking to people who you may use for printing or framing your work in the future.

Another excellent night from the Project X Presents folks at Concrete in the Jewellery Quarter. It’s always a pleasure to take photos for them, the sheer energy that infuses their nights is quite infectious. The sense of community and an air of general oddness make for good picture opportunities.

full set here

The results of a commission to produce publicity shots for Symphony Hall. I decided to take two approaches, firstly Hockneyesque joiners produced digitally which bring to prominence the colour and energy of the place and secondly a series of black and white images emphasising the extraordinary architecture of curves and shadow which awe you into silence as you enter.

complete set here

complete set here