Friday Folks – Paul Floyd Blake

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Self portrait by Paul Floyd Blake

On today’s ‘Friday Folks’ we’re featuring photographer Paul Floyd Blake.

Paul, who lives in the neighbouring town of Hebden Bridge, is an inspiration to anyone wishing to change careers or direction in life. During his forties, he went from laundry worker to award-winning photographer. Dedication, enthusiasm and of course talent all played their part.

The following images are taken from his series of photographs featuring talented young athletes aiming for Olympic glory at London 2012. The first photograph featured actually won the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize.

Who are you & what do you do?
My name is Paul Floyd Blake, and I am a freelance photographer. I shoot commercially as a way to earn enough to finance my own creative projects – also to contribute towards keeping our heads above water, of course!

How did you get into the business?
I first experienced the magic of photography at the age of thirteen.

We were not well off as a family and had only visited the coast (Southend) on a couple of occasions and just for the day. When my mother told my two brothers, two sisters and me we were going to Ramsgate in Kent for two whole weeks, our excitement was immeasurable. It was one of those long hot summers, we had a blissful time and my mum and dad even got on for the duration of the holiday!

One evening, I took a photograph as the sun went down over Ramsgate Harbour. When we were back in grimy London and back at school, this photograph allowed us to relive the intense joy and warmth of that fortnight.

My mum asked me recently how I ended up becoming a photographer, and I told her that story. She said, “Naaaah!!! Ya bruver recons he took that picture.”

Anyway, whoever took the photograph it was still the image that made me aware of photography.

I did not get my own camera until I was about 21 and then only used it to take images on holidays and later of the kids as they grew up. I did however buy magazines like Amateur Photographer picking up tips on exposure composition and the use of colour. After years of driving a laundry delivery van in London, we moved to Yorkshire and my partner Leila encouraged me to go to college to study photography, so I could do something I loved rather than getting a transfer to a laundry in Bradford. I never looked back.

Who or what inspires you?
I was forty when I eventually took up photography professionally.

At college, I felt that I had an advantage over the other younger students because I had worked all my life and now for the first time was really hungry to learn but also had the experience of life to draw on and use in my photography. Being a photographer you are always on the look out for things to inspire you. You tend to be looking for the beautiful the strange or absurd, and when you look you tend to see it. So the short answer is that everything is inspirational.

Photographers that inspire me:
Tom Wood
– beautiful photographs of people and of Liverpool that do not leer or patronize. My favourite book of his work is All Zones Off Peak.
Rineke Dijkstra for her fantastic portraits of adolescent teenagers to blood spattered bullfighters. My favourite book of her’s is Portraits

What has been your greatest success?
After failing at school and having such low expectations of myself, just being a photographer feels like a great success, but in 2009 I won the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize and that really changed a lot of things in my favour. Having said that, it was just one image and there is a certain amount of luck involved in winning a competition like that. The project that has given me most satisfaction was Changing Faces of Yorkshire. This was my first solo exhibition and involved photographing all different communities that make up Yorkshire. It brought people from many different backgrounds together and the opening night was a wonderful mix of people national dishes and alcohol. I recommend Serbian brandy!

Have you got any advice for someone wanting to break into the business?
Try not to procrastinate. I have found that I learn from my photographs, so I don’t spend too much time developing an idea in my head. I go out and shoot and then allow the ideas to flow, develop from there.
Photograph things that are close to you, be natural when you deal with people, and then your uniqueness will come out in your photographs.

You can see more examples of Paul’s work on his website.

Paul kindly allowed us to use his photographs for this feature.

Unauthorised reproduction is strictly prohibited.

Out & About… Spring

Spring has sprung in these parts – with the garden awakening…

…blossom on trees…

…ferns unfurling…

…daffodils in flower…

…chicks on the canal…

…bluebells in the woods…

…and lambs in the fields.

It’s a wonderful time of year, with signs of new life all around us.

Out & about… February

We’re a bit tardy with our Out & about post for February.

It began with snow (again!!) – it’s as if winter keeps reminding us that it’s still here at the start of each month.

February isn’t always the best month for walking, but there’s no choice with Fudge looking expectantly at you.

Once we’re outdoors, it’s fine – fresh air & exercise – time to chat or think… and there’s always something to see.

With no leaves on the trees you tend to notice things like bark, moss & lichen.

These old pack horse routes criss-cross our local area – slightly above the valley floor which was once flooded & marshy.

We also come across many of these disused barns and farmhouses – some of them have beautiful views.

It’s easy to imagine them restored – many even retain wonderful original features like stone steps, beams and mullioned windows.

Towards the end of the month we got the first signs that spring was approaching…

… with buds on the trees…

… daffodils and bluebells emerging…

… and planters around the town filled with crocuses & other early flowerers.

It’s nearly time to dig out those shorts & t-shirts!

Out & about… January

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Snowy Pennine scene with blue sky, bare tree branches in the foreground & trees & farm outbuildings in the background

December started with a cold snap… and January began in the same way.

Higgeldy piggeldy fence posts in a snowy landscape | H is for Home

Lots of snow, frost & ice about again.

Canal lock with barge in iced over water | H is for Home

Here, a barge has to break through icy water in Rochdale Canal.

Old bath in a field being used for animal feeding | H is for Home

We often come across these old baths while wandering around the local fields. How about this for al fresco living? It was about -3ºC on the day we saw these – tempted to take a dip anyone?

Old baths in a field being used for feeding farm animals | H is for Home

And what about this twin-tub arrangement?

We spent a week away in the Lake District in the middle of the month. Unfortunately, we got 7 solid days of mist & rain.

Loughrig Tarn with the Langdale Pikes in the background | H is for Home

The area still manages to be beautiful even in the worst of weathers though.

Langdale Pikes from Elterwater, Lake District, Cumbria | H is for Home Bridge Gate in Elterwater, Lake District, Cumbria | H is for Home

We stayed in Elterwater and spent our time walking in the surrounding hills… and then drying off in front of fires in our cottage … or the Britannia, the local village pub.

Britannia Inn, Elterwater, Lake District, Cumbria | H is for Home

Fudge was always waiting for his next walk… of which there were many!

Fudge looking out the window of Rose Cottage in Elterwater | H is for Home

We did break it up with a day’s shopping, spending a couple of hours in Windermere. We picked up a few things including these immaculate 1970s headphones and some Holmegaard glass candle holders.

Vintage 1970s stereo headphones | H is for Home Vintage Holmegaard glass candle holders | H is for Home

We also stocked up on nice things to eat and drink at Booths. It’s a small chain of food stores in the North of England – and a firm favourite of ours.

Inside the cafeteria of Booths Supermarket, Windermere, Lake District, Cumbria

Last week we spent a day taking photos in Manchester – we’ll be doing a blog in the near future about vintage shopping in the city – we’ll keep you posted!