Neil A White Photography | Blog

2011-09-14T16:17:00.002-07:00

I have recently returned from the south Spain volunteering at a sustainable and ecological community called Sunseed Desert Technology for just over 2 weeks.

Sunseed is a nonprofit organisation founded in 1986 and settled in the tiny village of Los Moliinos de Rio Aguas in 1987. The project has grown over the years, there are four houses in the village and can put up to 35 people. With a quarter of a hectare of irrigated terraces for organic growth, and access to many hectares of land for regeneration tests of dry and eroded hillsides recovery. Many low-tech methods are used for the least possible impact on the environment are used.

www.sunseed.org.uk

My plan was to develop my knowledge of gardening and permaculture, experience living in a community, learn new skills and meet like minded people / make new friends. Also, to have a much needed and long over due break away from photography and anything to do with the digital cyber world was high on the list. Having said that I did take one camera with me with the view of only taking pictures if I felt like it. After a few days I couldn’t help myself so I started snapping just for fun. Also space and time for reflection and a bit of inner searching. All of these things where happily met along with much more.

Other people also live in the village, some of which I met all very colourful interesting characters from what I could see living a sustainable life style off the grid and having a very nice time doing so. This I found very interesting. Not to mention the beauty of the nature all around which is very unique and powerful and to top it of 3 natural swimming pools to choose from.

My time at Sunseed was inspiring, fun, educational but for me the highlight was the people and the community. Living together, working together and hanging out together. This was a hugely positive experience and in my short time I learnt new things about myself and made new friends.

To sum up the village and and the valley of Los Moliinos is a special and unique place. I have come away with a better understanding of what a sustainable way of living is all about and lots of fond memories. When asking one of the villages Xevin Heaven if I could take a quick picture he replied "well you can take a slow picture if you want" that kind of summed up the place for me...

Charlie

Mel

Carmen

Leo

Mimi

Emilio

Chaba

2011-06-10T03:14:00.001-07:00

© Neil A White

I'm really happy to have one of my pictures included in this years Foto8 Summer Show exhibition.

The work is from one of my current projects Lost Villages which is soon to be completed.

Please have a look at the picture here.

The exhibition opens 8th July with a huge launch party. More information about the show and
how to purchase tickets can be found here;

www.foto8.com/new/on-display/host-exhibitions/1431-foto8-summershow-2011

Hope to see you there!

Neil.

2011-04-21T04:21:00.000-07:00

Tim Hetherington
1970 - 2011

So sad to hear about Tim Hetherington. I still can’t believe it and don’t know what to say. Such a great loss of a very special individual, my thoughts with all Tim’s family, friends and colleagues x

2011-03-04T01:57:00.000-08:00

I’ve had a very busy few months completing 2 projects, starting a new one and putting together a new website which will be launched in the coming weeks.

Some of this new work can be seen below, more details will follow soon.

I have also been busy putting together a new portfolio to show at the Format Festival in Derby this coming weekend. Really looking forward to it and getting some much needed feedback on my new projects

2011-01-25T09:58:00.000-08:00

New book coming out called - Green Patriot Posters: Graphics for a Sustainable Community.

It features designs by some of the most prominent graphic designers and artists in the world all dealing with environmental issues. Here are a few of my favourites;

William Etling: Sustain

Frederic Tacer: Global Warming

Steve Le: Me

Ryan Dumas: Eat Local

Diego Guiterrez: Keep Buying Shit

2011-01-13T06:11:00.000-08:00

A new short film by Tim Hetherington called Diary.

Diary (2010) from Tim Hetherington on Vimeo.

2010-12-16T06:32:00.000-08:00

This new film currently in production looks very interesting indeed!!

2010-11-19T01:26:00.000-08:00

Plastic Bag (short film) Narrated by Werner Herzog

2010-10-03T14:53:00.000-07:00

I went to the opening of the Brighton Photo Biennial curated by Martin Parr yesterday some really exciting work These are the artists I liked the most;

Alejandro Chaskielberg - The High Tide

Wout Berger

Stephen Gill - Outside in

Dhruv Malhotra - Sleepers

Alec Soth - Brighton picture hunt

I couldn't help but take a picture of the comments book re Alex Soth's work. A bit harsh but did make me laugh....

2010-09-28T02:52:00.000-07:00

My project about ancient woodland in the UK is near completion and now moving to the next stage. We are currently looking for funding and sponsorship to exhibit the work I'm also looking for someone to help me with the writing side of things. If anyone has any ideas or would like to get involved with this please get in touch here;

vanishingpresent@neil-white.co.uk

At the moment I'm scanning, editing and re shooting parts on a large format (5x4) camera. Last week I went to 2 locations in Surrey to take pictures with this camera.

©Neil A White 2010

With it being the beginning of Autumn I actually spent more of the time taking pictures and foraging for mushrooms. I have never seen so many Amanita muscaria's, it was all quite magical in an Alive in Wonderland way...

©Neil A White 2010

©Neil A White 2010

©Neil A White 2010

©Neil A White 2010

2010-09-28T02:19:00.001-07:00

Last Friday I was trying to start a new project on the east coast of Yorkshire. Unfortunately it was blowing a gale and couldn’t risk getting my camera out as I could barely keep on my feet. It turned into more of a recce and managed to get find a good few locations for when I return. Did get some digital shots and was great to be out in the elements.

2010-09-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday I went to see Simon Roberts - The Election Project Exhibition at the House of Commons and by chance we got a guided tour of the work by the photographer.

I do hope this work goes onto be shown in a public gallery at some point.

www.theelectionproject.co.uk

2010-09-21T04:33:00.000-07:00

When Werner Herzog Rescued Joaquin Phoenix

When Herzog Rescued Phoenix from Sascha Ciezata on Vimeo.

2010-07-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

One of my rubbish pictures has been selected for this years Foto8 Summer Show 2010.

My picture, along with over 150 images will be on show at the HOST gallery throughout August.

The opening show party is Friday 23^rd July 2010, it would be great to see you there. Check out the link below for more details and how to purchase tickets;

http://www.foto8.com/new/summer-show-mainmenu-191

2010-05-31T09:37:00.000-07:00

March and April have been pretty busy months for me therefore my blog has been neglected a little but plenty of new posts to come.

In February and March I completed an intensive teacher training course which was allot of work. During this time I have been doing some volunteer teaching on a photography degree course which has been challenging and most rewarding.

For most of April I was in Arizona, USA. This was part family visit, holiday and work. I began a documentary project about ranchers and conservation work. Some photographs from this can be seen below, I hope to return soon to complete the work. The landscapes and out there was just beautiful and so much space. I also saw some wonderful wild life.

© Neil A White 2010

© Neil A White 2010

© Neil A White 2010

© Neil A White 2010

© Neil A White 2010

© Neil A White 2010

2010-05-31T08:10:00.000-07:00

Tea Party - Prescott, Arizona, USA

I was shooting most of the time while I was there and came across a Tea Party protest rally on tax day while on my travels. This was an education in the political situation in the states and pictures from this can be seen below.

© Neil A White 2010

2010-05-31T07:48:00.000-07:00

The Slide Luck Pot Show is coming back to London in June 2010. The first one took place here back in 2007 and I am helping out again.

Please visit the website below for me details and how to summit work. The deadline for this is 7 June 2010 for the show on 19 June 2010. So please get your submissions in and hope to see you there.

www.network.slideluckpotshow.com/xn/detail/2028077:Event:57708

2010-05-31T06:45:00.000-07:00

Party at the pumps - Saturday 15 May 2010

Climate change activist close down a Sell petrol station in central London in protest against Shell's involvement with Tar Sands in Canada.

To find out more about tar sands and its environmental impact please have a look at the links below.

www.no-tar-sands.org

www.tarsandswatch.org

© Neil A White 2010

© Neil A White 2010

2010-02-22T02:45:00.000-08:00

I came across a land fill site by chance in Essex last week.

Been planning some sort of project about landfill sites for sometime but as yest is hasn't really come to anything.

These pictures of plastic rubbish I captured while sneaking around the site have really got me thinking.

© Neil A White 2010

© Neil A White 2010

© Neil A White 2010

© Neil A White 2010

2010-01-25T15:05:00.000-08:00

Shift Festival

Photographer: Kathy Barber / Courtesy of Cape Farewell.

Southbank Centre Artist in Residence Cape Farewell pioneers a cultural response to climate change. Working internationally, it brings artists, scientists and communicators together to stimulate ideas and the production of art founded in scientific research.

SHIFT is a festival with a climate focus inspired by Cape Farewell’s expeditions to the High Arctic and the rainforests in Peru. Leading up to two special concerts - Marcus Brigstocke with special guests (29 January) and Robyn Hitchcock presents a Maritime Evening with special guests (30 January) - Southbank Centre hosts free events engaging artists, architects and scientists in discussion about climate change and showcasing creative work in response to questions of sustainability.

www.capefarewell.com/art/exhibitions/shift-festival.html

2010-01-25T14:33:00.000-08:00

On Saturday 23^rd January over 2000 professional and amateur photographers gathered in Trafalgar Square, central London to protest against the unfair use of anit-terrorism laws which can stop photographers taking pictures in public places. This could also see the end of street photography in the UK.

The protest was organised by the group - I'm a photographer, Not a Terrorist!

2010-01-07T10:14:00.000-08:00

The four Greenpeace activists who made a peaceful non violent protest have been released after spending 20 days in prison.

They impersonated world leaders and gate crashed a heads of state dinner at the climate talks in Copenhagen. Two of the activists dressed in black tie and posed as representatives of an imaginary country called Mother Earth. When walking along the red carpet just behind Hilary Clinton (US secretary of state) they unfurled banners saying: "Politicians talk, leaders act".

Have a look at this short film from Greenpeace which tells their story.

2009-12-22T04:22:00.000-08:00

Climate change activists erect a large banner on Parliament Square outside Parliament in central London reading "Rage Against COP15".

It reflects the anger and frustration at the final result at the UN Copenhagen Conference and the Christmas number One by Rage Against the Machine - Killing in The Name.

©Neil A White

2009-12-19T09:55:00.000-08:00

Took this picture in the early hours of this morning inside the Bela Centre where the UN Climate Change Conference is taking place.

The talks where still going on.

The picture in a way kind of sums it all up for me.

2009-12-14T11:29:00.000-08:00

Still sorting the pictures from Copenhagen.

If the person I spoke too on the march (red trousers) on Saturday about the political parties during the speech's please get in touch it would be great to hear from you. I also have some pictures you may like to see.

neil@neil-white.co.uk

+44 (0) 79844 30754

Neil.

2009-12-08T14:25:00.000-08:00

Last night I went to a private viewing of Earth, Art of a changing world at Royal Academy of Arts.

The exhibition is about climate change with some work dealing with it directly while others are just pieces of art. The work exhibited was very diverse with photography, video installations, paintings, sculptures etc.

Some of my favorite pieces are shown below and of course I was drawn more to the photography and video installations.

At time it’s moving, direct and tackles climate change head on, then beautiful more sedate although some pieces didn’t quite seem to fit into the subject matter.

It’s well worth a visit;

Until 31st January 2010

Edward Burtynsky

Tue Greenfort

Kris Martin

Antti Laitinen

2009-11-30T08:42:00.000-08:00

On Saturday 5 December 2009, ahead of the crucial UN climate summit in Copenhagen, tens of thousands of people from all walks of life will march through the streets of London to demonstrate their support for a safe climate future for all.

Part of a global series of public actions, The Wave will call on world leaders to take urgent action to secure a fair international deal to stop global warming exceeding the danger threshold of 2 degrees C.

Hope to see you there.

www.stopclimatechaos.org

2009-11-10T10:17:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures from the third forest for the ancient woodland project.

This wood is under threat from a golf course expansion in the north of England.

I will be going again in December to capture some more tree pictures and do portraits and interviews.

Trying to make the wood pictures interesting is a real challenge I’m still unsure of what the final out come will be.

2009-11-09T10:20:00.000-08:00

On the 17th October 2009 over 1000 climate change activists converged at one of Britain’s biggest coal-fired power stations: Ratcliffe-on-Soar near Nottingham.

Their aim was to shut down the power station by entering and taking over the site. As the activists tried to breach the fence some classes broke out with the police. The protesters, under the banner the Great Climate Swoop, include supporters of three pressure groups - the Camp for Climate Action, Plane Stupid and Climate Rush. Ratcliffe-on-Soar was chosen as the activists’ target in an online vote following the Climate Camp held in London in August.

They want all coal-fire power stations to be decommissioned and environmentally friendly energy options used.

© Neil A White 2009

© Neil A White 2009

© Neil A White 2009

© Neil A White 2009

2009-10-07T07:46:00.000-07:00

Last night I attended the preview of the Prix Pictet 2009 and launch of the book – Earth

The exhibition included shortlisted work by twelve of the world’s leading photographers, one of whom will receive this year’s prestigious Prix Pictet photography prize for environmental sustainability.

The Prix Pictet is an annual search for photographs that communicate powerful messages of global environmental significance under a broad theme. This year that theme is ‘earth’.

Photographers short listed for the £60,000 prize are Darren Almond, Christopher Anderson, Sammy Baloji, Edward Burtynsky, Andreas Gursky, Naoya Hatakeyama, Nadav Kander, Ed Kashi, Abbas Kowsari, Yao Lu, Edgar Martins and Chris Steele-Perkins.

It is an amazing exhibition and do try and catch it if you can - Purdy Hicks Gallery, London from 5 to 10 October.

Below are some of my favorite pictures;

© Darren Almond’s
Fullmoon@The Sea of Clouds

© Nadav Kander
Mouth I (Wusongkou, Where River Meets Sea), Shanghai

© Yao Lu
Smoke-like Clouds at Zhongshan

© Edgar Martin
Untitled, from the series 'The Diminishing Present'

2009-09-25T01:40:00.000-07:00

Some of my work and a interview has been included in a feature (Sacred Planet) about environmental photography in the Digital Photographer magazine.

If you get the chance please have a look.

2009-09-14T10:10:00.000-07:00

Just arrived back from a short trip to Finnmark.

The vastness, remoteness and beauty of the landscape located in the extreme north east of Norway has once again left me longing to return.

Not to mention the light.

2009-09-06T15:54:00.000-07:00

2009-08-26T18:31:00.000-07:00

Climate Camp started today with a swoop from various locations throughout London onto a secret site in the city. The climate campers were sent a text message with details of the site location which is Blackheath common near Greenwich.

It was quite something to see the camp take shape so quickly and everyone working together.

The camp will last for 6 days.

For more info have a look at the camps website;

www.climatecamp.org.uk

© Neil A White 2009

© Neil A White 2009

© Neil A White 2009

© Neil A White 2009

© Neil A White 2009

2009-08-18T06:16:00.000-07:00

Video: Fish, Chinese Campaigner on Climate Change in China

Have a watch of this short film from the recent Greenpeace Arctic Sunrise xpedition to Petermann Glacier in far northwestern Greenland.. It is about a Chinese Greenpeace campaigner who is known as "Fish".

I think it’s really powerful and beautifully shot.

2009-08-13T03:28:00.001-07:00

2009-07-23T05:17:00.000-07:00

Protest against the closure of Vestas Wind Turbine Factory - 22 July 2009

Demonstrators gather outside Department of Energy and Climate Change to protest against the closing of Vestas wind turbine factory located on the Isle of Wight, England. The factory is the main producer of wind turbines in the UK and is due to close on 31st July 2009. Over 600 people will loose their jobs. About 25 of these workers are currently staging a sit in protest which has closed the plant. Several people address the crowd including Simon Hughes the Liberal Democrat MP.

www.savevestas.wordpress.com

© Neil A White

© Neil A White

© Neil A White

2009-07-16T03:45:00.000-07:00

Climate Emergency Parliament

Climate change activists converge outside parliament for a alternative parliament in response to the climate emergency the world faces. Several speakers address a crowd on current climate change issues and how this current government in the UK is failing to cut carbon emissions fast.
www.campaigncc.org

2009-07-15T16:49:00.000-07:00

Getting involved and helping out with this great event – Permaculture Picture House organised by Naturewise and Passing Clouds.

It happens every 1st Tuesday of the month at Passing Clouds, 1 Richmond Road, Dalston E8 (just off Kingsland Road) and is a lovely space.

More details below;

www.naturewise.org.uk

www.passingclouds.org

2009-06-18T11:52:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures from my second shoot of another forest for the ancient wood project.

This would wood is located in Surrey and is under threat from oil drilling. Some of the local community have formed an activist group to try and stop this destruction of the wood.

I will be visiting the area again to make a serious of portraits and interviews of some of the people who are involved in this group and those who use the forest for example walking.

2009-06-03T15:21:00.000-07:00

I recently arrived back from Sicily where I was working on a story about the Volcanic Island called Stromboli with a journalist and friend Concha Caina.

The story is about the people who live on this active volcano and will be mainly portrait lead. These portraits where shot on a medium format camera and currently in the process of scanning them and putting the story together.

Stromboli is one of eight Aeolian Islands and is located off the North coast of Sicily. It has a population of about 500 people.

Below are a few images I took when I reached the summit of the volcano.

Climate change cycle protest

2009-06-02T15:04:00.000-07:00

Last night I took part in a climate change cycle protest organised by a group known as Climate Rush. The protest went through the streets of central London with hundreds of other cyclists taking part. It was a lot of fun!

The day was chosen so as to coincide with a London conference about the coal industry and promoting new coal power stations. It was also the first day MP’s returned to Parliament.

http://www.climaterush.co.uk/

© Neil White

2009-05-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

Last week I started work on a project about ancient forests in the UK. The project is at a very early stage and I am currently experimenting with how I want to visually translate the work.

Below are three images from this first shoot. I didn’t plan to take these pictures but after spending a couple of hours in the forest I spent a lot of time looking up and began to be more interested in what I saw. Plus this part of the project is also about air travel and how it could affect this particular ancient forest.

© Neil White 2009

© Neil White 2009

© Neil White 2009