I've just started one. Oh dear. . .
I just feel the need of somewhere to put pictures and words together in what I fondly believe to be a coherent way. Otherwise I just internalize the emotion and store the pics on my HD, which is frustrating.
Now I can bore people!
Anyway, I have a series of pics and some words about my take on the British Seaside.
It should be perfectly understandable to Non British folks too.
If you feel the urge to have a look, here's the link.

http://hwlatswm.blogspot.com/

Any ideas for improvements etc please let me know. Apart from 'take better pictures'. I know about that one.
Jon

Excellent works Jon, that text is magical, and resonates with me 100%. I went for a five week camping holiday in deserted Norfolk, been going there every year since I was born, but it is incredible, this was the first time I went camera in hand, and I noticed so much about the people who go there rather then the... erm, others. ;)
Would you have noticed all this without your artistic job and photography?

Thanks Alex ;-) I think that I have perhaps learned 'how to look' over the years. Having to draw things really makes you look long and hard. You never see things the same way after that. Learning how to 'look' using a camera is similar, but different in subtle and elusive ways. I'm starting to make some small progress in that direction. You seem to be managing pretty well too ;-)
I love North Norfolk, ( my mate's folks have a small house very near the front at Sheringham ) but have never found it to be all that deserted. Not on the bleedin' roads anyway! But I guess if I walked out to the beach at Holkham, turned left and kept on walking it would get pretty empty pretty quick. The Queen goes riding up there sometimes apparently.
cheers,
Jon

"endeavoring to explore my relationship with the great British cultural ritual of the Seaside Holiday, "

I think it's gotta be something... good luck Jon!

Jon: I went to an identical place last year - also in Norfolk. This series I can identify with so acutely. It was an entirely strange, yet refreshing experience for me. Not one that I wish to a repeat, unless I can revisit with camera in hand...
I urge you to explore this more, for I seriously think that there is a book in the making over here...
Good luck - I really think that you are onto something here. And subject material should be no problem...

Jon, i like very much what i have seen in your blog. Very coherent work ! Good luck :)

Thanks Balazs, and good luck with your Armenia book project ( it was Armenia wasn't it? It began with 'A' and was somewhere Caucasian. . . ) ;-)

Andre, thanks for your comments. You probably went to Hunstanton, if it was North Norfolk, or if it was further south, maybe one of those bleak but sandy places to the south of Cromer. ( there's a place called California there! Not to mention 'Sea Palling', which of course gets known as 'Sea Apalling'. . not without justification ) My shots were from Kent/East Sussex but never mind, it's the same experience ;-)

Thanks Rui, very different from your work! I'm glad you liked it.

best,
Jon

At last I have some time and started to prepare my "mission report" about my trip to the Indian Himalayas:
http://newphotonotes.blogspot.com/

And another announcement... my photo book about Armenia has been finally published and recently presented at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany. I don't want to pat my own back but the book does look good, especially on the store shells :)) For the moment I only have the cover shot of the Hungarian-Armenian version, the final English version looks much better.

It cheers me up after my recent row of rejects. It's good to have your own publication - you can include whatever crap you want, with no fear from screening :)))

A fun read Balazs. I look forward to the rest. Congrats on the book. Obviously you must let us all know when the english version is available.
Jon

I need that ISBN number Balazs!

BTW, I have one in work but I do not think I will find one crazy enough to buy it! :-) 4 books from my travels i have finished already but no publishing hous have any interest! So poor i am!:-(

But all my friends a relatives love it!

Balazs - the book cover shot looks great. So different and pleasing to be able to recognise the cover photo, and see
your buddy's name as author!
Many congratulations, and please let me know which book stores will stock the English version.
Your blog I have not read, but certainly looks interesting. Shall get around to it soon.

ISBN 9789638807830
Balazs Pataki - "Armenians". (My publishng house is full of poets and writers and this was their best title idea - how plain... but then, neither had i somethng better in mind...)
If you want to save me from starvation, you could buy the book directly from me for 25? + delivery - if you're interested, just mail me at patakiorama@gmail.com! I'll post a few sample pages soon so that you know hot it actually looks.

Congrats Balazs - when does the English version come out?

So, would that mean it would be available in all tourist shops in Düsseldorf sometime soon?
I found a very old book of the family of man exhibition and since then, I have been getting my hands on all photographic books. There is something very nice about flicking through photos that way.

Congrats btw. ;)

It's actually out, the publisher starts shipping them next week to the retailer. I need to ask him who this might be in Western Europe. Until then, yours truly will be honoured to send you a copy. 200 pages, hard-cover, in English and Armenian :)

Congratulation to your book, Balazs
Now I'm going to read your blog...

Congrats on the new book Balazs. Very exciting indeed.

Oh I totally forgot, great blog Jon. I really like your British seaside series of pictures (I too think square is cool).

Thanks very much. I forgot I was the OP on this thread ;-)