Trip To Bradford

So last week i was given the pleasure of being given a chance to go visit the media museum in Bradford. I had done a little of research before i went and was excited for my visit to Bradford. What could be better then going to watch a Imax film and then get to go around a museum that holds loads of interesting archive, equipment. I was most looking forward to the exhibition  of Ray Harryhausen and the photography of Tom Wood. Ray Harryhausen is famous for doing the stop-motion animation on films such as "Jason and the Argonauts" and "Clash Of The Titans". As a kid i used to love Jason and the Argonauts and even to this day thing it is a film with a brilliant dynamic to it and the stop animation, though dated now was well ahead of its time i still get a thrill from watching the skeletons come alive. Tom Wood is somebody i have not heard as i don't know much about photography but looking at some of his images i was taken to era before my time a much simpler time one i could only imagine. His photos are nothing fancy nor artistic but they show the public  going about there everyday life. It shows how simple life was before digital cameras took over and when i saw some of his images i was looking forward to seeing his work at face value.

 A piece of work done by Ray Harryhausen

The start of the day i had brought myself a disposal camera hoping to find the time to get some photos of my own to take back with me. It is something i have done a view times as i really like the filters that are used to in the cameras it gives me a feel of being a youth again where a picture was to be used for a frame to put on the family cabinet and not to be spread across for the internet for the whole world to see. Getting there i was eager to get inside and see what the place had to offer and it didn't fail. Walking in looking around in the gift shop was a good way to start and i wish i had brought some money with me as there was a few books i would of liked to purchase and photography but if i ever visit again i know for sure i will have to pick one up.   Then it was on to the I-Max film about the Hubble telescope. Even though I-Max hurts my eyes i can't deny how brilliant it is. Nothing can really top it is visually perfect and gives the audience a better viewing experience as you feel you are there living and breathing in the film. After the film had done i walked around the museum with dale to see what it had in store and i was looking forward to seeing the pictures by Tom Wood.

The exhibition didn't disappoint me either i wanted to take a few photos but there was a ban on picture taking(which seems a bit ironic but oh well) going around his work it was like i was there in the shot with the people.Its not that he has used any fancy technology or computer tricks it is just plain and simple and very effective. It use no lighting either its just a man and his camera and taking a picture without worrying, Some of the pictures that he has done are probably a bit out there and different. But isn't that what the world stands out for sometimes? Someone who is willing to stand out from the mainstream and do what they believe is right. Every movement starts with someone and stands out from the rest. Im not saying this is pioneering stuff but the pictures taken some up a lot of feeling without the person in the picture knowing what has happened. It's great it gives the audience a lot to think about when they look at the picture. I was thinking as i went around where are these people now? Have they ever seen these pictures been taken off them and what would they think about it. I want to do a separate blog about Wood so i can break down and analysis some of the pictures and shoots that he has done. Downstairs they had the Kodak museum it was great getting to know some of the old camera and the type of pictures it took(links in with the Tom Wood exhibition)  it is an area i would like to get to know a lot better old film for cameras and build up a portfolio for myself as at times i feel we overload everything with digital and sometimes i just want to take a picture without worrying what filter i am going to use or taking one two or three times to make sure it is perfect.

Below are two of the images from the gallery at Bradford:

For the Ray Harryhausen i was very let down i was hoping to find a lot more about the man behind such genius work. There wasn't really a lot about him i just managed to get a few snaps of some of his creations which i will upload when i get chance. Despite this let down i enjoyed my day in Bradford i got to know how to use vintage 1950's camera and how much different filming was back then and how the digital world has now made film making and tv work a much smoother process. Also playing vintage videos games was a big highlight for me at the end of the day

Couple of images and video i took on my day at Bradford