The Elias String Quartet gave another great concert in Music in the Round's autumn series at the Upper Chapel on 27th November. Particularly fine in Kurtag and Mendelssohn, composers for whom they have evident enthusiasm and deep empathy. Always grateful for what they've brought to the musical life of Sheffield, determined to enjoy them before they leave us next summer. And for me personally the opportunity to photograph them for their Mendelssohn CD was a real breakthrough. The resulting images are on my site.
Friday 28 November 2008
Thursday 27 November 2008
Lodge Moor Playground
Having moved to the Sheffield neighbourhood of Lodge Moor earlier this year, I'm getting to know a new community. It would be good to find ways of using my photography to benefit this community. So I went to the South West Area Panel meeting on 26th November, at St Luke's Church. Met local councillors, as well as Hazel Fair, who does community liaison for the Hallam Community and Youth Association (HCYA). This was timely, as local playgrounds are topical on this side of Sheffield at the moment. Alongside the excitement at Endcliffe Park, there's been concern in Lodge Moor about a threat to the playground on the former hospital site, now the David Wilson estate. Since a public-access sports hall was lost to the new development, the planning authority placed an obligation on the new estate to provide a playground, mini football pitch and open space for public use. Now, the management company (the organisation of estate residents) has put in a planning application to be relieved of this obligation. Unsurprisingly, lots of people have objected to this. Comments are still being received on the council's website. As of today there were over 120 objections, together with a petition from 12 youngsters. It does seem perverse, as well as socially divisive, to deprive youngsters of opportunities for exercise in the beautiful upland surroundings of Redmires. The nearby Spider Park, established by HCYA, is so successful that it's often too busy for young children to use safely. The arguments against this planning application are put really well by Jennifer Hocking.
At the Area Panel meeting, strong feelings were expressed by members of the public against the threat to the playground. Although no residents of the new estate were present, the meeting was told that one reason for their wanting the obligation removed was the cost of repairs following vandalism. So a possible solution might be for the Council to help out with the maintenance costs.
On 2nd December, I learned that the application has now been withdrawn by the applicant. Good sense has prevailed, following the posting on the Council website of around 130 objections including a petition from a group of youngsters.
At the Area Panel meeting, strong feelings were expressed by members of the public against the threat to the playground. Although no residents of the new estate were present, the meeting was told that one reason for their wanting the obligation removed was the cost of repairs following vandalism. So a possible solution might be for the Council to help out with the maintenance costs.
On 2nd December, I learned that the application has now been withdrawn by the applicant. Good sense has prevailed, following the posting on the Council website of around 130 objections including a petition from a group of youngsters.
Monday 24 November 2008
Getting Started
I've thought about starting a blog for a while. Decided to give it a go after a busy and enjoyable weekend meeting new people and doing new things.
On Saturday 22nd November, I photographed the opening event for the new children's playground at Endcliffe Park, Sheffield. I was recruited to do this by Tracey Shibli, whom I'd known for years; we met when she ran Music in the Round. The event was hosted at Trinity United Reform Church, a striking Brutalist building set into the (eponymous) cliff-end overlooking Endcliffe Park. The stars of the show were Sheffield Young Singers, led by Helen Cowen. They performed both in the church and again in the amphitheatre within the new playground. There were brief but inspiring speeches by the Friends of Endcliffe Park organisation that had raised substantial funding for the new playground. The park was declared open by one of the youngsters and a group of them collectively cut the ribbon.
I'll be posting more images of the event at davidshapirophotography.com. The success of this kind of community initiative is such a delight to see. People working together, driven by shared vision and values, making something happen that brings benefit to so many.
On Sunday 23rd November, a glorious drive over Strines Moor to Holmfirth for the Art Market. At the suggestion of my client, Hilary Simms, I went in search of painters and sculptors who might have need of my Imaging for Artists service. Met several really interesting people, producing lovely work that would be a delight to photograph. To name just a few: David Mayne made the wonderful bear in the Sheffield Botanical Gardens bear-pit; glorious works in glass by Louise Watson; finely shaped and textured ceramic vessels by James Oughtibridge; very striking raku and smoke filled figurative ceramics based on the human form, by Jenny Eaton; Pat Ellacott's paintings inspired by the shape and form of animals and insects; Victoria Ashworth's colourful and boldly-composed images of predominantly north-western English scenes and locales.
On Saturday 22nd November, I photographed the opening event for the new children's playground at Endcliffe Park, Sheffield. I was recruited to do this by Tracey Shibli, whom I'd known for years; we met when she ran Music in the Round. The event was hosted at Trinity United Reform Church, a striking Brutalist building set into the (eponymous) cliff-end overlooking Endcliffe Park. The stars of the show were Sheffield Young Singers, led by Helen Cowen. They performed both in the church and again in the amphitheatre within the new playground. There were brief but inspiring speeches by the Friends of Endcliffe Park organisation that had raised substantial funding for the new playground. The park was declared open by one of the youngsters and a group of them collectively cut the ribbon.
I'll be posting more images of the event at davidshapirophotography.com. The success of this kind of community initiative is such a delight to see. People working together, driven by shared vision and values, making something happen that brings benefit to so many.
On Sunday 23rd November, a glorious drive over Strines Moor to Holmfirth for the Art Market. At the suggestion of my client, Hilary Simms, I went in search of painters and sculptors who might have need of my Imaging for Artists service. Met several really interesting people, producing lovely work that would be a delight to photograph. To name just a few: David Mayne made the wonderful bear in the Sheffield Botanical Gardens bear-pit; glorious works in glass by Louise Watson; finely shaped and textured ceramic vessels by James Oughtibridge; very striking raku and smoke filled figurative ceramics based on the human form, by Jenny Eaton; Pat Ellacott's paintings inspired by the shape and form of animals and insects; Victoria Ashworth's colourful and boldly-composed images of predominantly north-western English scenes and locales.
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