Delighted to have work from my Lost Villages project in the Big Picture section of the Guardian Weekend Magazine.

www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2012/jun/01/photography5?newsfeed=true

Here is some new work from my Lost Villages project. 

Today was the first day I could bring myself to listen to the Beastie Boys since the passing of Adam Yauch. For some reason I found it too upsetting but may be I should have listened to my favourite band sooner. As always they gave me a positive sense of perspective, put a smile on my face, made me think about shit and so much more. With whats happened though their music has taken on another dimension, something like that anyway.  Musically, the Beastie Boys always made sense to me. Mixing up Hip Hop, punk, funk, jazz along with samples its mind blowing. Getting the balance of humour along with heavy issues, well that’s just damn right amazing. When you listen to the Beastie Boys you learn stuff, real stuff! Adam’s activism work was so important. He brought the plight of the Tibetan people to many, my self included. Personally he was and continues to be an inspiration and at times a guiding light. I never met him (slapped his hand once at a BBoys concert) but know a few people who did and all say the same, he was one of the good ones.

Adam will be missed deeply. He put so much out there but  can see so much love coming back at him.


Gratitude, respect, love…

Adam 'MCA' Yauch 1964 - 2012 

Recently spent a week on the east coast of Yorkshire working on my Lost Villages project. The weather and light was almost perfect which was very lucky for this time of the year.

It is now almost complete although I have been saying that for a while. I have been enjoying shooting it so much its hard too put a completion deadline on it but I finally feel the work is at point I am happy with. The new work and edit will be online next week.

While shooting the project I have been constantly taking other pictures, just for fun really. A selection of these are below from the recent week up north. I'm always seen to be drawn to rubbish and I made a new doggy friend.

© Neil A White

© Neil A White

© Neil A White

© Neil A White

© Neil A White

© Neil A White

© Neil A White

© Neil A White

© Neil A White

© Neil A White

A few weeks ago I went to the new David Hockney exhibition - A Bigger Picture at the Royal Academy in central London.

Was so looking forward to seeing his new and old work. It didn't disappoint. Much of the work is from my neck of the woods - East Yorkshire which makes it more special for me personally. Beautiful work and so inspiring. The larget room - The Arrival of Spring - Woldgate, East Yorkshite records the tranistion from winter through to late spring on one small road in 51 prints done on a iPad and one large painting. Quite mind blowing!

Highly recommended!!

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/hockney/

A few of my favourite paintings are below;

The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011

The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 - iPad

Three Trees Near Thixendale, Spring 2008

Woldgate Woods, November 2006

The Road Across the Wolds

I recently came across these wonderful Kodachrome 5 x 4 photographs from the 1940's. They really are quite stunning.

Here are some of my favourites.

Check out this site to see lots more;

www.shorpy.com/image/tid/179

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

© 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.