The Jotter - issue 42
“Commonplaces never become tiresome. It is we who become tired when we cease to be curious and appreciative. We find that it is not a new scene which is needed, but a new viewpoint.”
Norman Rockwell
(thank you Harry Watson for sharing this many moons ago)
Hello,
I made my pilgrimage to the Saul Leiter exhibition at the MK Gallery this week (with jolly good fellow, Stefan Powell). It was extensive, brilliant and inspirational.
It reminded me how important it is to look and look, again and again, and you will always notice something new.
I have known ‘Paris, 1959’ for many years. Looked at it on numerous occasions. Loved the atmosphere, the composition and the colours. But it was only when I saw it at this exhibition that I noticed there was a reflection of Saul himself in the window. Obvious now, but it took me years to notice…
Paris, 1959. Saul Leiter Foundation
As with most things you want to do well, web design is about noticing the details. Making sure the page feels right, the elements are balanced and the words are clear.
This requires looking intently - time and time again. On different devices, at different times of the day, in different circumstances.
Which is why looking at photos, and art, and the world around me is such good training. In books, galleries and out walking (camera in hand heightens my sense of observation). Because I notice something new each time.
Onwards
Andrew
01, Photography.
The intriguing and inventive photos of Francesco Gioia.
“These snippets of life, beautiful plucked from the everyday, are all linked by mystery.”
02, Business.
Timspons is opening 50 new stores this year and this article explains why.
“… those colleagues who serve customers have complete authority to do what they think is right. They can ignore guidelines from the office, as long as they stick to our only two rules: put the money in the till and look the part. Everyone else in the business is there to help them, not tell them what to do.”
03, AI.
John Cockley went to a Rothko exhibition and realised he wasn’t worried about AI.
“Flaws are what make people unique. Mistakes, experimentation, the comebacks, the rise and fall, the happy accident. None of this will be faithfully replicated by AI.”
04, Why?
05, Music.
P J Harvey’s recent album ‘I Inside the Old Year Dying’ is very good.
As is this interview where she talks about her creative process.
“I’m so interested in learning new things. You learn new things by letting go of the things you already know, and going somewhere you don’t. That can be a very frightening thing to do, but I thrive on it. I love that feeling of the unknown.”
06, Book.
I had a lovely surprise this month when ‘Egg and Spoon’ by Rose Blake popped through my door with a lovely message from Ian Sanders.
It is a short essay about her childhood fuelled on creativity, having to answer an ‘A’ Level question about her dad and going on a drive with David Hockney:
“As we reach the top of the canyon, the sun sets and the music crescendoes. I realise this drive is about being alive. It is about light, landscape, colour, music and above all, the pleasure of really looking at the world. At this moment, big school doesn't matter at all.”
07, Social Media.
Neil Coxon kindly sent this report on social media from Hootsuite to me thinking it might be of interest to some of you. He summarised it like this:
Don’t annoy. Entertain. Be creative. Be different.
And I added be yourself.
08, Work.
At last, I have designed my first website for an architecture practice.
I say at last because my grandpa, dad and brother were all architects. And, as those of you who follow me on Instagram will know, I am a little obsessed with photographing modern buildings - especially those of a brutalist persuasion.
So this is long overdue.
It's been a pleasure working with Høeg Architects. Based in Notting Hill they work on some very nice houses in some very nice places.
Outside of work, photography and walking are my favourite pastimes. So I always jump at the chance of working on a photographer’s website.
Stephen Butler is a documentary photographer who works with NGO’s “to depict some of the most vulnerable people in the world, often living in terrible conditions. But it is always with respect to the people we meet – and with their permission.”
His photos are regularly selected as a Leica Master Shot and he has been published in Black and White Photography magazine.
Thank you for reading the March Jotter. The next issue will grace your inbox on Friday 26th April at 11am. In the meantime, enjoy the lighter evenings and the swans nesting.
Onwards
Andrew
“When burdened by the feeling that there are too many photographs in the world, I ask myself if there are too many flowers.”