Dean Leivers
A recent shoot for Greenfield Primary School saw me spending some time with the Pre-School creating promotional images for their new website. A really fun shoot with lots to photograph, I had lots of interest in the camera equipment too!
I’ve had a busy month in terms of commissions but still found a bit of time to delve into some distractions that I thought would be worth shouting about. As always there are some affiliate links that will bring me a spot of cash if you make a purchase.
This month I’ve been reading ‘Gold from the Stone: New and Selected Poems’ by Lemn Sissay
Sometimes I feel like the best writing makes me want to write and I always get that feeling when I read Lemn Sissay’s work. This collection of selected poems contains work from the whole of Lemn’s illustrious career and what I really enjoyed is the rawness of the early poems, they feel very direct in their use of language and as a result I didn’t feel I needed to 'decode’ the poems, they get right to the heart of the matter quickly so you’re never left wondering what Lemn is thinking or feeling. I’d also recommend a look at his autobiographical work 'My Name Is Why’ as it makes a great accompaniment to this book of poetry. As the book progresses you can see the development of Sissay as a writer which is always interesting to me as an artist, feeling like I’m peeking behind the curtain at the process of making.
Speaking of which I also watched 'A Dog Called Money’ on Mubi.
'A Dog Called Money’ is a 2019 documentary film directed by Seamus Murphy that follows English musician PJ Harvey as she makes her album The Hope Six Demolition Project. The film is a mixture of documentary footage with music and poetry performances which let us see the creative process behind the album. During the film Harvey gathers inspiration, field recordings, and ideas for lyrics. We also get to see the recording process of the album, which was shown as a public art installation in London where attendees could observe the recording and rehearsal sessions through one-way glass. It’s well worth your time if you’re interested in the nuts and bolts of putting a project together and the ways in which artists use their experiences to influence and inspire their creative output, you can find it on Mubi and if you if you subscribe using this link we’ll both get 30 days free!
Finally this month I’ve been listening to a lot of…
I won’t say too much about these albums, but they are ambient in nature, sometimes feeling like soundscapes easy to get lost in if you’re giving them your full attention but ultimately have been great soundtracks to a month with A LOT of time spent at my desk editing!
Thanks for checking in, see you next month for more things that have piqued my interest.
I had huge fun photographing this years Colour Dash at Greenfield Primary School. My telephoto lens managed to save me from getting covered, unlike the runners!
I thought I might begin a series of regular blog posts that highlight my cultural highlights of the past month. Some musical and visual delights I’ve come across that you might be interested in checking out (or be reminded of if they aren’t new to you). Some links will be affiliated so I’ll earn a bit of cash if you follow the link and make a purchase but remember that “stuff” doesn’t define us ;)
So let’s get to it, this month….
I’ve mostly been reading…
‘Significant Wow’ by Emily Cotterill
I often struggle with poetry, I find a lot impenetrable and unrelatable and difficult to understand but every now and then I’ll read a collection that really speaks to me. Emily Cotterill grew up in Alfreton, Derbyshire, not too far from my own birthplace of Sutton-in-Ashfield. 'Significant Wow’ contains many references specific to place and experience that are familiar to me growing up in a similar environment but expands to include cultural references and the experiences of growing up and navigating the world that would be familiar to most. It’s a beautiful collection, I absolutely devoured it and I’ll definitely pick this up again and again.
I’ve been revisiting this absolutely stunning photo book this month, it accompanied the first major retrospective of Killip’s work held at The Photographers Gallery in 2022-2023 and is an absolute gem, presenting photographs from each of his major series alongside lesser-known works. I absolutely adore the work of Chris Killip, I don’t make work like him but I admire his approach to project work and the beauty of the reality presented in his images.
I’ve mostly been listening to…
New track’s from Billie’s forthcoming album are sounding brilliant and are a great soundtrack to the (currently) warm Spring.
Cass McCombs has been a long time favourite thanks to hearing him on John Peel’s radio show back when I had less grey hair and back pain! 'Priestess’ sounds so effortlessly cool, the sort of music I’d love to make if I was still in bands.
I’ve mostly been viewing…
'Tripping with Nils Frahm’ (2020) Benoit Toulemonde
Tripping with Nils Frahm is a concert film that captures the renowned German composer and musician Nils Frahm performing live at Berlin’s iconic Funkhaus venue. Filmed in December 2018, the documentary presents a series of mesmerizing performances that showcase Frahm’s blend of classical and electronic music, utilizing grand, upright, and Rhodes pianos alongside synthesizers and drum machines.
'Robot Dreams’ (2023) Pablo Berger
A hand-drawn animated film which interestingly contains no dialogue. Set in 1980s Manhattan, the story centres on Dog, who lives alone in the city. Seeking companionship, Dog orders a build-it-yourself robot through the mail. The two quickly form a deep bond, spending a joyful summer together exploring New York, roller-skating in Central Park to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September,”.
Both films are streaming on Mubi and if you subscribe using this link we’ll both get 30 days free!
Thanks for reading, check back at the end of next month for more things that have piqued my interest.
Image Set: Last week I was invited to produce images for TMC at the ‘Creative Futures: Voices’ celebration event at the Highfields Centre, Leicester. Wonderful to see and experience the amazing creative work made by the young people involved.
I was recently asked to provide production images for Wreake Valley Academy’s performance of ‘Made in Dagenham’. It was a lot of fun photographing theatre again, the show was brilliant!
An image set from a recent shoot for the ‘Home Truths’ heritage weekend commissioned by Greater Creative/Platform Thirty1
Some images from a recent event I photographed for First Art at the ‘Clay Cross Games’ in Derbyshire.
An image spread from a recent shoot for Buzzing Roots’ ‘Sing What You Mean, Mean What You Play’ project celebration day. It was a pleasure to document the groups of young people from Queensmead Primary Academy and Folville Junior School as they shared and performed the music they’d created alongside music professionals Mr Shay and Tatenda Chitsamba.
Project funded by Youth Music
