Philip Glass and his London visit

Having sadly missed Mr Glass on Friday at the Barbican Centre and with the realisation that tickets had sold out for his show the following day at the Union Chapel (note: great venue!), we were persistent in waiting in line for return tickets on that following day in the chilly evening (15/12/2012). Fortunately enough, we were approached on and sold tickets at face value by a humble and friendly man. YAY!

If you don't know of Philip Glass - you don't necessarily need to, but if you're into influential composers of the 20th century who form "minimalist" styles, then you jolly well should do!

The legend America composer was welcomed in London for two nights only in his 75th year of age, and it was pretty legendary to share this momentous occasion with him and his fellow collaborators.





I must admit I haven't heard too much of his music, besides his mixes with (the late) Ravi Shankar and some music for plenty of films he's been involved with. However, I'm open to all and was in store for some repetitive and trancey keyboard skills + flutes and saxophones + an occasional high pitched lady's voice. Highly noted songs played were 'Raising the Sail' - from The Truman Show, ‘The Grid’ from his film score for Koyaanisqatsi and returned at the finale to play 'Spaceship' from Einstein on the Beach. The mellow, ambient and repetitively played parts did accidentally send me to sleep at some points in the first half especially. I believe this may be due to the glass of wine I'd downed beforehand!

The hardest thing about the Union Chapel is being at the front of the queue for unreserved seating...the fact that you are to CHOOSE your own seating over one of the many pews! This is not for the indecisive. Who says front rows are always best? Maybe? Like going to a cinema - head tilted upwards? Strain? No thanks. Hence, after 10 minutes of decision making, we headed up to the next level for a full-frontal corner view and a cooler less-claustrophobic climate - plus were lucky to be facing Philip! Yippee.

I enjoy the fact that this man is ever so modest. He shyly spoke through the microphone keeping it short, simple and to the point, and frequently muttering. He also had sheets of music scattered by his feet and at one point was unable find his required sheet music. A true artist - love it!

Somewhat crazy and a tad psychedelic. Woah. Although the tunes he played were not completely suited to me usual likes...all in all, it was a grand show.


Privileged.


Thank you Glass and your gang x

Christmas Greets x

Here's an Xmas greet from Ai Wei Wei and myself :) x



A new era to begin tomorrow (21/12/2012) - woo hoo.

reflexions

Minus that digital layer photography (?) which most people seem to be dabbling about with these days (is it because there's an app on the iPhone?) - I'm no pro darlin', thus...


>...Why not simplify this?

With a warm & nurturing cuppa tea in hand and a 'top-notch' camera phone in the other, not much to do, boredom setting in, gone is my 'scenic' day view, out comes the reflexions - here's my version of layering while on my break at the Barbican... Food Hall (canteen) to be precise.

I do enjoy cheating every now and again...however poorly it may be!

Note: It's clear Winter has set in as this was taken in the late afternoon/early evening (around 5pm).













>an area of the Barbican (see the moon, the MOON!) - without reflexions

.before - ....




Without digital complications, it's alright x

Admire beyond...

Look beyond the scratches, there's beauty within. Always.

This planet is stunning.

The Alps from above. Journey: London-England to Bari-Italy (17th November 2012), and that hint of orange suggests it's on trusty Easyjet.

November caned

A week or so later - these frequented trees are looking a little sparse and have now become naked. I'm glad to have caught them in all their autumn glory.

With the winds hitting hard, we've moved onto the next stage of the cycle...I feel a chilly winter coming on.

Nude season has begun.



Can't wait to meet the new batch,
Ciao ciao m'precious leaves x

November Vain

Time out, please! Bless their little hemp aprons and wot-not, but we need a break from you wondrous tribes.
On a seasonal & more present note...



A U T U M N

The warmth I love, but this season (ceteris paribus..)
I adore. Immensely.

Autumn is b l i s s.

Those brisk chilly days where the season is enthralled by a massive blue sky and an intuitive obliterating sun - especially.

Priceless colours swarming; ambient, warm and charming - withering or muddled on the grounds from shade to shade. Glare. Even terrible and scratched lensed camera phones are able to capture the English autumnal flare.

On a frequent route of mine, I watch these specific trees change. Admiring nature in its element. Change. Its absolute f i n e s t. Change. Here be my (unprofessional) captures on that frequent route during that luscious smelling autumn euphoria.


Every right to be... November Vain.

Flower Hmong II - defined versions (they got the blues)

.Flower . flora. fleur. fiore. flor. blume. bloem. hoa. 花. ดอกไม้. फूल. زهرة.


Right! In a previous post I talked of the Flower Hmong - the colourful type typically found in Bac Ha area of the Lao Cai province. They were indeed a colourful, albeit - multicoloured bunch.



.Defining. Types.
Of each group, there will be a sub-group within a sub-group. So we have the Hmong which consist of the Flower Hmong...but then there are variations of these Flower Hmong - and I have probably not seen a fraction of them. Wow.

Here, in these locations headed below, these types of Flower Hmong were found...


>Muong Hum
Muong Hum market once again, these blue ladies were fetching in their sky blue, white and green colours, combined together with silver coins and green beading. Again, they have the very asian style of a wrap over asymmetric top, sometimes arm bands and headscarves, cropped bags, aprons and infamous eye-catching puffy crinkly skirts!

The men of this hill tribe also seem to wear the trendy slick styles too. Cropped top/jackets are definitely way to go, together with high waisted flared trousers. Sleeves, borders and hems of clothing (top half especially)are embellished with decorative features.






>On the road + SaPa
Found these treasures on a weekend day in SaPa and whilst on the road (on motorbike) in the Lao Cai province. I didn't stop to capture them for the latter, though in SaPa, eye-spied their pretty hairstyles from afar in the main square. They had travelled into SaPa to sell their old clothes and textiles; fairly similar to a jumble sale! It's clear that their outfit colours are similar to the other Muong Hum Flower Hmong (blending in with nature colours) - with a differing head dress/style...interesting. It's an art.

What a technique! Buns, ribbons, silver clips, silver comb = a Star Wars style. How did they think of such a style? Adaptions from nature/flora and fauna, perhaps?





Beauties of the nature,
Wowzers x