Film Club | June

June in film definitely feels like a bit of a non-event, I think the combination of being outside a bit more, focussing on other things and going on holiday have not made for a very good sitting down and relaxing with a good movie environment (+ Orange is the New Black Season 2 came out). I managed to get five in this month though, which is still more than one a week (sort of) so I'm not going to be too hard on myself.

56. A Million Ways to Die in the West
57. The Lincoln Lawyer
58. Mindscape
59. A Long Way Down
60. Bad Neighbours

Most Favourite: A Million Ways to Die in the West: My love of Seth MacFarlane-related things has gone down as I've grown older and programmes like Family Guy don't really tickle me in the way they used to - I think mainly because I'm a Simpsons girl through and through. A Million Ways to Die in the West did get me though, it looked pretty good in the trailers but it's so much funnier than that. There are musical numbers, numerous cameos and even a Barney Stinson reference, to top that off the scenery is pretty breathtaking, I'd love to visit the Wild West. If you didn't like Ted, give this one a chance, it's heaps better and aside from a few weed jokes, it's a really decent comedy film.

Least Favourite: Bad Neighbours: I kind of wish that Seth Rogen didn't feel the need to grow up, I mean what is that about? This film is one of those ones where the best bits are in the trailer, which is always a shame. I don't really get whose side you're meant to be on so there's not much point, plus, again with the stoner jokes, why does that have to creep in everywhere, it's just lazy. Zac Efron and Dave Franco aren't too bad in it but I was just equal measures of stressed and bored.

Look Back –
Film Club | January
Film Club | February
Film Club | March
Film Club | April
Film Club | May

You can also follow along: here

Film Club | May

May feels like it was such a long month, I can't believe how much it feels like time has passed since watching last month's first film. I think I was feeling a lot more inspired this month and made a little more time for movies. I guess because I was trying to catch up with Awards Season back in January, it just felt a bit like I had peaked, then again, quality over quantity and this is certainly a slightly better selection than last month.

45. Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father
46. Frozen
47. Open Grave
48. Mr. Nobody

49. Godzilla*
50. The Monuments Men
51. Oculus
52. Devil's Knot

53. The Station Agent
54. Funny Games US
55. Oblivion

Most Favourite: Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father This might just be one of the best documentaries I've ever seen and I've been telling just about anyone who'll listen about it. I really urge you to give it a go, it's sad but powerful and demonstrates how truly strong and incredible people can be.
Second Favourite: Open Grave: This is one of those films that I wish, wish wish had a better title, because come on, its title is lame, which is a shame when everything else about is not. It's an amazing twist on the whole 'viral zombie genre' and Sharlto Copley really kills it, there are also quite a few really good twists.

Lesser Favourite: The Station Agent: You know when you like an actor so you seek out what they've been in? In this case IMDB made this mistake, yes I like Game of Thrones, yes I like Peter Dinklage in In Bruges but this film is just not good. It's so slow and boring and Tyrion spends the whole film looking mopey. It's not the worst but it's far from enjoyable.
Least Favourite: Mr Nobody: If length alone were a signal of a bad film, there would be fewer films, this one can go in the bin regardless. I guess it's a film about alternate realities and endless possibilities but given that you're never told where you actually are (maybe you are I didn't stick it out until the end), it's just two and a half hours of darting back and forth. Plus, Jared Leto in old-man-make up, anybody in old-man-make up.

I still feel like I've been a bit dominated by TV, when I really do think I prefer watching films. I have a film night planned with my sister on Friday though so that should bring a few to add to the list. How can I stick to just movies though when, omg, have you seen the latest Game of Thrones, it's been almost a whole day and I'm still reeling. I think by proper summer though most of the shows I love will have wrapped up - Orange is the New Black is back soon though - so I might have a little less choice.

What do you think? Do you feel more invested in television series sometimes?

Look Back –
Film Club | January
Film Club | February
Film Club | March
Film Club | April

You can also follow along: here

Little White Lies - Drive edition.

Those who are regular readers may have read that I now love Drive and pretty much everything about it, from the cinematography to the soundtrack.
Before watching the film, but knowing I would have to resist reading it, I bought the latest edition of Little White Lies.


"LWLies is a bi-monthly, independent movie magazine that features cutting edge writing, illustration and photography to get under the skin of cinema."

And it's beautiful, I love it. I love the paper-weight, I love the graphic design. Urgh, I think I loved this issue nearly as much as I loved Drive. I also love that I pretty much agree with everything Little White Lies is saying, it's very rare for me to find a magazine that contains reviews that I don't want to chuck away, we clearly have similar taste in film.

I bought the Jan/Feb edition Black Swan issue, and I did enjoy it, I just was never able to get another issue after that. I think I may spend money wisely and subscribe because it's lovely. I really like that it's not too hipster as well, that aspect of it really appeals to me.




The current issue of Little White Lies is now sold out in stores, but it can still be viewed online, along with other back issues and you can also still purchase a copy at the Little White Lies online shop.

Little White Lies also sells prints, which are just as beaut, I have my eye on the Steve Zissou one, but for the next 24 hours you can get 10% off a print of the current Little White Lies cover of Ryan Gosling (below), just use the code: LOVEGOSLING10.

(via Little White Lies on Facebook)

Little White Lies print shop

Glasto2k11 Photos.

So it's taking ages to upload the photos onto Facebook but for some reason the ones I've put onto Flickr were done hours ago. So here is my mandatory 'here are my photos from Glastonbury' post.

Despite the fact that I only took my Canon 90IS AND the fact that it practically fell apart (thanks Dan for the electrical tape), the photos actually look a lot better than I thought they would, even if I do say so myself. I was feeling pretty pessimistic after a quick run-through in-camera but it just goes to show that you should always have a proper look on your computer when working with digital.

So, I think my previous post pretty much said all I had to say about how awesome Glastonbury was.
I feel like I want to add how much I hate NME after reading it this afternoon; why the hell does it have to be so angsty about everything, hardly anything was positive, I think it's time NME grew up. I'm not a big reader of NME anyway and usually only browse it if they're taking about something I've been to and this weeks issue fully confirms that they are just wrong. The photos are brilliant though. I'm just all about event photography at the moment anyway, particularly from Glastonbury - obviously because I've been there, but also because there's such an eclectic mix of styles from each of the photographers, it's really exciting for me.

My favourite images so far can be found as part of Boston.com's Big Picture feature, the captions are a bit hit-and-miss, I think it's because it's American, but the photo selection is brilliant and I love the size and layout of the page. I love that each year usually has a couple kissing as well, nice.

© Cathal McNaughton/Reuters

I saw this man, it was pretty awesome initially but from behind, the manufacturing was much less impressive

© Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

© Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Flickr Set














Here's a panorama from Sidmouth, which we visited enroute to Bodmin.

Float your own boat.

Moon and I went to have a look at the graduate exhibitions currently showing in the Eldon Building in Portsmouth. Naturally it was all a trip mainly to look at how the Photography graduate's work turned out, it's all to such a high standard, I don't know how we're going to pull it off this time next year, but then I guess that's why they're graduating this year and we've only just finished our second year. The amount of bickering that took place for the last exhibition was unbelievable, hopefully people will be better at settling their differences next time around.
The Photography degree show is called 'Wide Eyes', like I mentioned I think a serious amount of skill went into producing these images and the exhibition really comes together despite the diverse amount of subject matter on show. I went ahead and bought the catalogue and everything. One criticism I would have would be the layout of the show as it's weirdly spread all around the building and some of the work is really far apart, but it's not really the fault of the graduates as it probably was the best that they could work with, the only reason I am mentioning it is that due to the odd layout, some of the work is quite easy to miss if you're idly walking around and not completely paying attention.

This is the inside of the catalogue, I didn't actually take any photographs of the show, not for any particular reason, I was just too busy looking to really think about it. This piece by Adam Gilbert-Anderson was probably my favourite of the show, the way it was displayed was also how I hope to display one of my major projects next year, so it was a big help. The image below also got featured as a commended image on theprintspace gallery's monthly competition, I think the whole piece was really effective, particularly the ticking clock, it actually drove Moon mad. The video piece can be found on his blog along with other work, which is also really interesting.

There really are some great storytellers among this lot, a pretty useful tool to have if you want to more than a photographer's assistant.

© Faye Wears

This is another piece that I really liked, the lines you see are light trails of planes, very interesting, also, I found the below video today and it kind of reminded me of it, two more examples of simple ideas working well.

Flight Patterns, © Charlie McCarthy via Public School

I might see if I can get to the show in London to see how it differs from the one here, the photographs are great so with a better exhibition layout they could look even better.

I also saw this suitcase of tea as part of the Collective exhibition also on at Eldon, the other pieces are really interesting, once again, I wish I'd photographed more to show, but I was concentrating, I don't even know who it's by, but it's great.

After all of that, we then went to the Portsmouth City Museum. It's not so great, but it was free, and at least I can say that I've been now, even if none of the exhibitions interested me. Well, apart from the one about 'hey day' Southsea, but that could have been done a lot better. Sorry, Portsmouth City Museum, but at least you're better than Portsmouth Natural History Museum.

Had enough of panoramics.

..But have become obsessed with the bed.
I've photographed it about 4 times today.
This project, with or without research is going to kick ass... why am I so enthused about a piece of rubbish?
I don't really like modern art, I guess because it's pretty easy and related to the idea of space - otherwise I wouldn't notice/care.

© All Images, Ruth Johnston 2009

Maybe I should fork out for a fish-eye lens, a proper one. I haven't even got the right lens for the attachment I bought anymore. Anyone want to buy an attachment?

I have no time now and the time I do have, I spend sleeping. When I have finished doing my RDB, I will update the blog with proper work and not ugly 'shot on compact digital' panoramics, urgh.

Didn't watch Couple's Retreat in the end as Lovefilm sent me Spinal Tap and Little Ashes. Wish I'd used up the Orange Wednesday to be honest..
Spinal Tap is awful, I even see the influence it's had on The Office and I still hate it. Literally the only funny parts are the ones included in the clip shows that talk about how funny it is. I really, really wanted to like it, but I just couldn't.

I hope Little Ashes has a bit more to offer, although ofcourse I realise they're two completely different types of film.

Did have nachos though, at HaHa, wasn't as good as the one in Brighton, why is Portsmouth so lame?

I'm going to London again tomorrow, this time to see Bowling for Soup. Might head there early to get to The White Chapel gallery to sneak a peak at their Sophie Calle exhibition, I think it's kind of a retrospective, at least they're showing her work from the 1980s to present, should be interesting.