W.G Sebald.

http://winninly-lo-fi.blogspot.com/2010/07/caught-by-river-nature-book-reader.html

I had one lecture with Sebald, very sadly shortly before he was killed in a car accident. It was before I had read any of his books, and if my recollection serves me right, it was based around the concepts of the power of narrative and its sometimes fraught relationship with translation. I remember the sense of surprise (as lectures rarely gripped me in my 1st year of uni) and inspiration I felt as I left the big lecture theatre at UEA (just opposite the library). It sadly took me a while to actually sit down and read his books properly and by then, I felt even sadder that he wasn't able to write anymore. I heartily recommend him to you.. and by the sounds of it, so does Dan.

Absent spaces

Here are some photographs I've taken roaming around the place. I love spaces that have some semblance of life but are essentially at that moment of capture, spaces of absence and quietude. Its my attempt to capture an essence, or atmosphere as well as construct an image that works simply with composition and light.

Krakow, Poland

Barcelona, Spain

Berlin, Germany

Golden Lane Estate, London (as first image)

London Zoo and such.

(the lady herself!)

It was the lovely Kate's birthday recently and in a plight to celebrate youth and childlike excitement we all skipped to London Zoo to look in awe at these amazing animals (and yes of course we questioned the nature of zoos and whether animals should be kept in captivity but I can genuinely say the marvel of seeing such beautiful animals up close made a wonderful day out).

It was a really lovely day and the great company made it even better!

Klausi lad.

Stanley Donwood

(image © Lucy Johnston, not to be used without prior consent)

Stolen posts from There's more to life...

The other week we were scheduled to shoot in Cardiff at the Manic Street Preachers recording studio... sadly a last minute hitch with a string section meant we had to postpone, so with tickets already bought Dan swiftly arranged a Bath based plan. On a beautiful sunny day, I boarded my train to Cardiff, got off at Bristol, met Dan and journeyed to Bath. Here I visited Tim Richards' (the sculptor and model maker) studio, posed with real 1960's Daleks, explored a renovation project (cue taking photos of decaying layers of past domestic mundanities like wallpapers and light fixings - some of my favourite things to capture. I'm obsessed with homes that have been vacated and small semblances of personalities long gone, left behind, as I think discussed in a early post). After a wonderful lunch discussing frail eyes and fashion houses, we scurry up to the great Stanley Donwood's studio, where he had kindly allowed us to photograph and chat. I'm still working on the digital shots and need to get the film shot on my Mamiya processed but here are the usual behind the scenes shots (taken on my LC-A+)

The journey...

The Man himself

(all images copyright Lucy Johnston)

Read more on this wonderful project here: http://more-to-life-than-books.blogspot.com/

and from Dan's own blog here: http://winninly-lo-fi.blogspot.com/

Vaughan Oliver

This wonderful craftsman kindly allowed me and Dan into his home to talk to us about his brilliant collection of work (mostly whilst I stood gaping over the treasure troves of brilliance he had stored in various drawers). I saw actual artwork drafts for Pixies' Doolittle and got to hold in my hands the glorious and lavish Minotaur boxset... not to mention look at more beautiful artwork he'd crafted for some of my most favourite bands (Cocteau Twins, Atlas Sound etc).

http://vaughanoliver.co.uk/

Me on the Guardian website...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2010/apr/15/photography?picture=361513261

Pretty chuffed doesn't even cover it.