SPRING IN PERSON

and yes, it is way over estimated spring peak of daffodils and grass cutters coming out of their dungeons, first warm day and sun biting your nose at 11 am, but you know how life doings suck you in and you wake up on the 8th of May and want to welcome the spring via blog

Basically me in a nutshell : always behind the schedule or just hitting the deadline.

It has been a while since I have casually posted some photographs because of pure love for it, its been a while since my last culture blog (disclaimer: not hitting my targets for 2023 so far) and it’s been a while since I actually had a room in my head to just create silly little nothings of life through photographs.

My camera is usually carried to and from work, CF card copied on to my hard drive for the next available hour to do post-processing, or 70% of my time these days I will work with 360 cameras, and so the work dust layers on my Canon for months. It goes without saying that I miss being a creative.

And the arrival of the spring welcomed some external changes to my life, almost made my life a little less difficult, so I am positive that I will be able to make some internal changes too (all these above are purely adult life shit, professional bollocks, I am happily in love if you are asking).
I started with my new tradition (three years in a row) to visit a location in South Cave over the Easter for a little spring walk and photograph the detail of the spring. It may seem random, but I tried to photograph what I am feeling with my skin, smelling in the air and seeing with my eyes, and the awakened ground I walk on. It may not be the ultimate portfolio content, but it is something for myself, to retrieve my senses and relationship with the camera.

The things I have done in the last few months outside of everyday work included an exhibition (blog coming very soon about this) and I have ran two photography classes for a company based in Australia (ORBLE) in Hull (ask if interested as this will be an ongoing business). Both did miracles to my none-working side and reminded me in a very cliché way of why I ended up being a photographer. Meeting likeminded creatives, exhibiting a very personal body of work in a perfect place for a photographer from North, meeting enthusiasts and learning photographers, passing my knowledge and love for it has been so helpful.
It has worked as a driving force to make impossible possible, switch on the double-ninja energy I embody and get shit done.
Full time photographer for an estate is a big commitment that I have signed up for, always making sure that I keep my freelancing going, so the leftover time has to be used up to live, feed, indulge in physical hobbies and have a life, but I am determined to create work and be a photographer for myself too.


Back to spring.
I don’t really rave about the arrival of spring as majority of people, I always like the stretch of February and linger in winters’s safety, but there is a moment when it hits my brain with a happy wave. Passage between hibernating and summer busyness. Because I love summer: that’s when the best plans come to life, my body and face gets sun-kissed, have a lot of warm nights and go on holidays (mainly go back home to Latvia and cut grass)or local trips. After summer comes my favourite season autumn, then my birthday and then Christmas, and then back into hibernating.
So these photographs is a moment right before the spring kicks in as a welcome. Today I can say that I am already buzzing for some of my summer plans: work and leisure, so it kind of is a delayed reaction, but I wanted to share this with you.



We all have our own ways of making our way through life: professional life, adult life, leisure and personal stuff and I know that occasionally it is a guessing game, but we just have to keep going. I keep going regardless of what shit shows I face, so for a change I can tell you : I am great. It isn’t easy, but the sole fact that I am writing this in peace, at my desk with no errors or stresses is a great and promising start.

Happy spring my chickens

Love
Anete Sooda

2022: CULTURE/HULL/GOOD LIFE



As per tradition this blog post is here just before we clock off for 2022: mic-drop kind of send off from me.
It’s been a funny year you know, but amongst all the “life give you lemons, some good for a lemonade, some can go in the bin” there has been culture outings and some awesome jobs in the city.

You will see that my culture wonders are not as frequent in my 2022, but I still believe that our city gives us cultural treats for us to feast on and we embrace it. To some I wishfully never went to, but things I did attend made me smile, wonder and love the city (you know I am a big fan of Hull). 

This year was big and important for myself, and it was almost like stepping on the other side, where the light is.
The start of 2022 was tough and most days my head was rolling into the mud, my body trying to catch it, but I didn’t give in. New home came, I found somebody who is worthy of me trying to stay sane and hopeful for the future, then my new lush job came (job interview with a glass of wine and a onesie: not a luxury, but necessity), great freelance jobs kept popping up and then I found love. On the very last day of the year, I look back and it was the best year in decades. 
Today I am grateful and ready for 2023. 
We all know it’s going to be a difficult year, everyone skint and worried, world around us is falling apart, opinionated and angry species that poison the happy and good, climate change probably is going to throw some surprises our way and so on. 
As individuals we need to focus on our own good deeds, be nice and do our best, be open minded and engaged, care and love, respect and never take for granted. And the shit that come our way will be easier to deal with. Simple, isn’t it? And never forget about art and culture, we all need it in our lives.

Which brings me to my main subject: CULTURE IN HULL 2022

2022 started with a spectacular event across the city that Freedom Festival Trust trust brought to us: The Awakaning.  “It’s initial creation was a way of driving audiences to significant cultural landmarks within the city of Hull as part of an outdoor cinema experience. Beautifully using the environment and the historic buildings that line the streets by projecting on to them at night, Re:Score allowed the audience to connect with warm, nostalgic footage from the past with a reimagined, bespoke musical soundtrack.”  

Source: Freedom Festival Trust 

Amongst everyone’s favourite events in Hull the light shows will always be on the top of the list, to layer Hull landmarks in stories about Hull with visuals and lightshows works magic. The attendances were amazing and in my personal spectrum, me and my partner learned things as we went along. 

Ferens Art Gallery as usual gave an interesting exhibition BRICK BY BRICK by Andy Morris 

Designer Andy Morris, aka Little Big Art, is based in Cardiff and specialises in making LEGO® themed artworks. He has exhibited his work internationally. 

His work, Popcorn Time! 2018,  was exhibited in Ferens this year and aren’t we just lucky. It was fun, as cheesy as it sounds, but it was also very detailed and genius/beautiful. Kids area had a space to build your won and me at 32 seized the opportunity. 

At the same time there was more exhibits that tickled my fancy too:

Freedom Festival this year was not pencilled in my freelance diary, but on the last day I went out to see couple of the events. 

SIRENS at the Tidal Barrier, GF Smith PORTAL: A JOURNEY THROUGH COLOUR down Humber Street, 2Face Dance LAST ORDERS down Princess Dock Street were my last-minute choices. All of which brought smiles, inquisitive thoughts, questions and nevertheless another link to the city built through cultural experience 

GF Smith exhibition photographs have vanished in my archives, but one for the eye and memory I suppose.

UNBOXED ABOUT US in April was the favourite. I guess another light show in the city that was a visual spectacular, but for me it was very special. In silence at late hours, I visited Queen Victoria Square and found my seat. I watched it I my own time, in the space I built for my self with someone I love.  

I visited Humber Street Gallery on few occasions for leisure and work purposes, nice stroll down the lovely street always ends there.

BLOOMBERG NEW CONTEMPORARIES 2022 was hosted at the Humber Street Gallery in November. It contained various artist and artworks and as stated is an annual survey exhibition of emerging and early career artist. From my own Google search Humber Street Gallery kind of nailed this: it is  prestigious opportunity and lucky us [again] 

Throughout the year I also did some cool freelance jobs closely Hull culture related: 

Absolutely Cultured LUMINARIUM 

Absolutely Cultured FAST FOOD MEGAVERSE by The Herd Theatre . This was commissioned cultural outing, it was family-friendly, all age groups welcome type of happy event.

Good Things Market in April was MEGA 

HULL COMEDY FESTIVAL 2022 where I literally tipped up on the last day [I was very busy] 

Humber Street Gallery hosted one of the best things of 2022. Silent Uproar is an award-winning theatre company based in Hull and I had an opportunity to photograph one of their shows.  

Big thing this year was getting involved with Risky Cities Project for Hull University. I was asked to cover many events and I loved it.  

“The city of Hull and Humber estuary region has an 800-year history of living with water risks, including recorded floods from the 1250s onwards and several major floods since 2000. Despite this, research has found that residents have a low engagement with flood risks and adaptation measures, such as flood alert systems. 

In response, the local councils, alongside the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water and the University of Hull, have developed the Living with Water Partnership with the principle aim of increasing awareness and engagement in the region. 

The Risky Cities project will contribute to this partnership by drawing on Hull’s long history of living with water – as recorded in its artistic and cultural heritage – to raise climate awareness and build flood resilience today and for the future” 

Source: Risky Cities 

The project focused on engaging with local communities across the city and that was the “juice” of the project. The conversation around the subject was vital and I learned so much throughout the workshops, talks and exhibitions.   

New Year’s culture resolution: to be more out in the culture, monthly visits. More frequent none-work related culture wonders.
This is the seventh-year culture blogging anniversary and I want to celebrate double that, so let’s get cultured.

YOURS TRULY 

ANETE SOODA PHOTO

 

INNER STREET SESH 2021 : then and now



Can you remember last summer, that first festival/outing after the boring pandemic? And how Humber Street Sesh came back in a form of Inner Street Sesh?
Well this year it is back! Back with its full package, back in Hull Marina.


This blog post been pending since last September: I was waiting for the perfect moment to celebrate. After it never saw daylight in late September as a farewell to the summer, I though to cheer everyones January (just right before I do my tax return haha). When that didn’t happen I thought that this blog post could welcome summer 2022 arrival and swing us in to a first back-to-normal summer.
And here we are just under a week away from HUMBER STREET SESH 2022: call me genius or what.



It’s not a secret that I have had an interesting year that I have somehow survived and actually thrived from ‘then’ to now, and so my blogging practice has disappeared in everything, but I knew that I will be back.

Little bit about the last years Inner Street Sesh: it was amazing (thanks for all access Media Pass), it was the perfect ending to the summer as the weather complimented the music, crowds danced the day away, smell of street food wrapped Queens Gardens and it was just a little inner street magic.

I fell in love with a band BDRMM, saw some old faces and of course shot some pretty cool images. live music (LIFE Band), rave, dance, Silent Disco (my favourite), face paint with my Queen Tracey, graffiti, BMX stunts and of course our own Hull quirk <3



Thank you for still being here and enjoy scrolling through past than soon will repeat on a bigger scale:



p.s. check out my instagram anetesooda_lovephoto feed for some moving thing I created in order to sell you this blog post. 

love
Anete Sooda Photo

HULL – CULTURE – I AM ALIVE – HANG IN THERE – 2021

Pandemic time keeping explained in short – you either have all theme in the world through this or no time at all. I’ve been B apart from odd moments of blunt ignorance to the global pandemic and complete social avoidance. But I assure you that I AM ALIVE AND SHOOTING.
Hence why this short snippet of 2021 in Hull and culture comebacks : you’re welcome.

Ponto Cafe Hull

When I say comeback I more mean my own comeback to the much loved Hull galleries, culture hotspots, local shops and other outings. Sure, many areas of our pre pandemic normality had a comeback, but I had a choice to make to either carry on work only, or spruce up and do what I loved to do before.

In short:

During spring/summer Hull Vigil rose my attention and I applied to be one of the participants, so obviously years long landmark at the very top of Hull College was captured. Combined with visit to the Hull School of Art & Design degree show adapted to pandemic normality.
I was good, but not enough for my hungry camera eye.

At Ferens Art Gallery all year round here is something to see, so on more than one occasion I visited for an indulgence of art. Pride of our City was one of the exhibitions I saw. Pride in our City explores Hull’s LGBTQ+ history and documents people’s experiences of being part of LGBTQ+ communities in the city.

This time on a separate visit I indulged of art collections solidly there to please my eye. Ferens is often a place where I like to people watch and slowly digest the of who comes and goes through gallery rooms.

In 2020 and 2021 Was raving about Plant and Paint shop down Humber Street. Still am and consider that as one of the best success stories of Hull. The shop and Lara who probably doesn’t recognise me are just what you need on a rainy day or if you struggle for gift ideas, or just want to gaze at plants. For me personally its like a local TK Maxx and can solve all my problems. Yes, its a shop but whit its own culture.

Prospect Street Gallery is a little hidden gem with a lot of prospect. Each visit is a humble culture engagement with a lot of talent exposed. Local, small and independent.

My favourite market. end of. Visit if you can.

dot dot dot Humber Street Gallery always deliver interesting, controversial and funny. Or whatever you want to see and be exposed to in your own translation. On this occasion I visited the exhibition with someone who never been to anything of this kind and we rose a conversation about what art is and what it does to us and our outlook own cultural outlook. Of course, this was on the edge of what-the-hell, but I explained the this will speak to someone in a different way and we must not disregard art.

What is culture without a rainbow and a coffee break.

Comedy made a comeback and I was lucky to photography chunk of that. In fact during my last comedy gig, a comedian own stage said that comedy is a form of art despite Arts Council refusing to fund. I agree and will continue to support Hull Comedy scene.

HOF Food Hall came with a bang and I had to see it for myself. Twice in one day actually. Impressed with the internal design, orgiginal features and all the food indulgence and options to spend, spend, spend. It is beautiful butI wonder if HOF food hall is too posh for us humble working class and how long the hype will last. We shall see, but in the meantime I’ll keep visiting, buying expensive mayo and drink coffee at HOF.

Better late then never to officially rave about Oliver and Friends On Every street amazing merchandise and super cozy woolly hat that I purchased. Such a proud Hull moment.

Right, that’s 80% of my culture engagements. Inner City Sesh still pending on my to-do list and other bits, but this is little old year wave a goodbye kind of thing and a marker point that II am alive and 2022 will be great year. That’s all we can hope for.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND STAY SANE

Love
Anete Sooda Photo

escapism

Almost my escape, but more a general way of some peoples escape from the urban rush and recently Covid strains.

These series are a short personal experience from being in allotment with the seasonal garden work and chats over the fence. Last summer I spent few days here helping and catching sun, this spring returned.

Maybe my upbringing, maybe my love for outdoors, maybe my wishful thinking that I have green fingers, or all combined is what draws me to these mystical allocated zones in cities for people to connect with the basics.

My friend who owns the allotment is a straight forward woman with a big heart. She invited me in, gave me opportunity to learn craft, help pulling weeds and eat the goodness,

I am hoping to create more photographs over the season, as this indeed was one of my favourite pastimes in the pandemic,

We each found our ways to cope, to last and to still enjoy life and there was many people taking advantage of the allotment.
What was your escape?

That mystery trip of 2002

This was when we were able to do fun things, mingle, to breathe on each other and stay over. I was c h e e s e f a c e happy and excited to go on my first real British National Holiday Mystery Tour with other three friends. I was excited about the mystery location, about the grannies on the coach, about eating crisps on the coach and, most importantly, wonder around new cities, soak up new culture and relax. We even had a little betting game of where we will go. If I correctly remember I was the closest one to guess with putting Coventry in line and I won a pint of beer. Lichfield and Derby on the day 2 were our mystery locations, and, although not really tropical and exotic at first thought, it was a pretty good. We actually got soaked more than normal in August, and it was rather nippy for the time of the year, but we survived that too.

Since the current states is a bit plain in my line of work, I’m finally getting time to edit and revisit old personal and semi personal imagery/content.

Two main attraction points was the stunning Lichfield Cathedral and Darby Museum and Art Gallery with two exhibitions – Bare Bones and Wild: A Celebration of the Natural History of the British Isles

The best thing about the concept of mystery trip is the unknown. No pre planning was that little freedom. We just set ourselves to a random direction and strolled through beautiful town centre through Lichfield Cathedral

It goes without saying that the cathedral was gorgeous and it had little exhibits [including a children’s play area with a coffin as a centrepiece].

It resembled Hull Minster and how these incredible buildings can be used not just to pray, but also bring communities and people together with art flare in the middle.

The cathedral is enormous and takes time to walk around, but the view up is stunning.

Lichfield was welcoming and friendly, good vibes and all that was enhanced by an accidental farmers market with something for everyone – alpaca meat, apple moonshine and ice lolly artworks.

Day two brought rain. Enough rain to skip exploring Derby and hide into Darby Museum and Art Gallery.

It was actually funny visit to a museum/art gallery with three grown ups with different interests in life. We laughed, learned stuff and were fascinated by the collection of bugs and creepy crawlers. Skeletons, drawing stuff, assembling horse and escaping hunger with weird sausage rolls.

I loved the intense red at the Bare Bones. From seeing so many exhibitions over the years valued its great ability to educate and amaze at the same time.

The other big part was the Wild: A Celebration of the Natural History of the British Isles and this had a mixed reaction. Some of the bugs and creatures raised goosebumps with my imagination flying to the worse scenarios and confrontation with them.

But it was beautifully set out and organised teaching me all about British Isles wildlife.

And there was there rest of the museum and gallery – again, very good and educational with not many yawns.

It was a shame that the rain spoiled seeing the city, but we probably wouldn’t have seen these beauties, so all good and forgiven. We did had Derby sausage rolls and saw the giant sheep. Plus visited the entertainment centre and played some indoor games.

Fun times, fun times. All being well we might be able to repeat that in 2025. Maybe. But for now we listen to Boris, say thank you for good health and plan our future dream destinations.

MY CITY OF CULTURE – MY HULL – 2020

I never thought I will be writing a blog post for 2020, but this is a hope-building mechanism for the future – near and far.

I will keep this short (easy) and sweet (bitter) not to keep you long.

This year brought so many things that we had to bare, situations that we couldn’t imagine and took away hugs and kisses from people we love. For me it took away big chunk of my life and, quite honestly, piece of my heart – photography/client/culture work. It wasn’t all bad and gloomy, so instead of pointing out fingers at Covid, I will drop a few happy highlights from 2020.

First, I got a dog. Pablo, the chocolate miniature poodle. Not a culture or work thing, but that helped a lot not to loose sanity and will to live. I rolled up my sleeves and started photographing the dog as my “client” and aimed to make him into an Instagram star. Still doing it. It’s going alright.

Second. The culture was cute off from world, at lest the culture life that I was living with before the pandemic. Instead I returned to Hull and the depths of it to look for weird and wonderful little hints of “happy”. I know from the past that practice makes perfect, so I needed to photograph something.

The third item was FOOD. I invited people to be part of my Covid Fat Club posting their food tales. The food thing stopped about June, because I started to gain too much wright and it stopped being funny.

In 2020 there was only few options – give up and throw yourself in the river or just make the lemonade from the lemons that we were handed out. I focused a lot on work, make up for the loss income from photography, so I cannot say that I was bored. I was often sad that I don’t see my regular clients, see cancelled weddings, festivals and all culture activities, there was also moments of disbelief that this shit storm is happening.

The dog played a part in my often spontaneous walks around the city. I grasped those little moments when I felt the juice running through my body and mind when I picked up a camera.

I even figured out a way how to play with the city and it’s people through photography, social media and getting something out of it (emotional satisfaction). To be continued in 2021.

and I went to see one exhibition (happy face emojis)

FLOOD STORY:EXHIBITION happened in October down Humber Street. It funny that I was actually learning how to walk again when at the exhibition. The artist was super nice and we spoke little culture, I took his portrait (very time appropriate) and did the usual exhibition snaps. Beauty. The exhibition was textured and multilayered, there was plenty of little things that draw the attention.

I left the party happy, but hesitant of what the future is offering. Is there going to be more of these or are we gonna fall asleep in the winter months and quarantine deep (happening right now).

To finish this small culture venture of 2020 – I am currently working on some zine designs with some of my work – Home Glory Series, End Of Life and Covid Tales. All neatly named and mocked up in my folders.
Throughout the year I had some time to acknowledge the gap between me artist and me the professional photographer. The understanding is that I fail to establish one or the other and that’s probably why I struggled with work this year.

But thanks to the spare time that I could spend reading Latvian poetry, BJP and other sources of inspiration.

Thanks to my dog, thanks to Anna Bean, thanks to Diane and thanks to my family for being there for me this year. Small or big efforts – all count.

Much love and let’s see what 2021 brings! Happy New Year monkeys.

SPRING

If only we could pause the spring arriving and stand still while the Covid 19 is trashing our normalities.

Yesterday I almost wrote a sorry-for everyone Facebook post, since many of us are seeking support online. It was awkward for me  to publish such words, because I definitely don’t feel sorry for myself. I am enjoying the lockdown and thriving on the freedom, I am reconnecting with basic joys of life, and spending plenty of time with my family.

I accepted the things I can’t do or have at the moment, mourned my future travels to Latvia, and sick into my other job, where I am a key worker.

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday and spring is in a full swing. I love spring, my nostrils and skin loves the effects of it, for Easter I love invent my own happy and play Easter Bunny.

 

Couple of weeks ago, before the lockdown got tight, I went to a little wonderland near South Cave for some one-to-one with Mother Nature.  I had a clear vision in my mind what images I want to get out of that hour of freedom, and I think the result is an intimate imagery with snippets of nature. Subject to availability by the way…don’t expect palm trees and corn fields.

Enjoy these images and hopefully you feel like you are there smelling the grass, touching the dry stumps of tree, your skin is kissed by sun, and your lungs fill with spring air.

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I wish everyone Happy Easter! Stay at home, indulge into spring through the window, in your garden or acres of land, if you are lucky.  Tell your loved ones you adore them and miss them, pretend to be Easter Bunny, and cherish the things you have, don’t sulk on things you don’t.

Sending all my love
Anete Sooda Photo

MY CITY OF CULTURE – MY HULL – PART IV

End of an era or what?

The past few months my life has been a shit show, but there has been so many great photo moments that I am excited to shout about it on the last day of 2019.
Yes, 2019 I really want to slap you, but despite all the things that went bad, I had amazing work and culture opportunities, another bunch of great people in my life and rememberable image stock.

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October brought HIP PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL and this year the festival did shine a bit more than last year. The festival celebrated its 6th year and brought to Hull Peter Dench, Rhiannon Adam, Claire Armitage and Lomography. There was also a vast selection of local talent on display.
My favourite of course was Peter Dench with Trans-Siberian World Cup series. I also very much loved the Rhiannon Adam’s Pitcairn series shot in Britain’s last Pacific Overseas Territory. Photographs are stunning, even breath taking I dare to say. Her photographs with voyeuristic edge and true moments of intimacy masquerading as casual snapshots, but holds loneliness, isolation and portrayal of a broken society shrouded in mistrust.

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Peter Dench never disappoints. Never. This time he tackled a culture that is quite familiar to myself as me being from post Soviet Union country. I thoroughly loved the photographs.

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As one of the unexpected surprises was the exhibition COHERE.

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The exhibition was a collection resulted from various workshops where photographers worked with writers and performers from refugee backgrounds to create an exhibition that creates, challenges, disrupts and charms. The result is pretty amazing. Films, visual installations and photographic works of art that gives an experience that in a strange way tailors to your won life experience. It worked for me on different levels – I admired the visual with textures, playful colours with disrupted lines, the touch-and-feel experience. On the emotional level I felt inspired and touched by the imagery. The exhibition COHERE was on the top as one of the favourites.

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The festival offered plenty of work that meets the demand for different subjects.
There were others that I really liked – The Launderette one on the ground floor of the Princess Quay, Homer Sykes and others. It was a great festival and I am glad I made the effort to make it part of my culture wonders.

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For the first time in long time I also had the joy of re-visiting old places through the viewfinder. It sounds simple, but for me that sparkle was long gone, so to be in the mood for such was a great feeling. The long waited pedestrian bridge played a small roll in that too.

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Whilst wondering around Marina I popped down to Humber Street Gallery to see the exhibitions on display. Nenna Kalu Wrapping and Aniara Omann Equanipolis.

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Nenna Kalu Wrapping [above] raised my eyebrows even though the the basis or the work are great. Nenna Kalu works with ActionSpace, a London based visual arts organisation that supports artists with learning disabilities. In the current exhibition she used various materials like plastic tubing, newspapers, foam, fabric ect.

The work is very tricky to judge appropriately in such exhibition space, as usually we get some high end art.

The other two floors were Aniara Omann and Equanipolis. The artist evokes and questions different aspects of the human body with sculptures that at once resemble and mutate the human form, as well as our relation to ecology through her choice of material.

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From summer until end of October there was a little Hull Fishing Industries treasure display at Hull Maritime Museum. The heritage and tradition of women working in the fishing community was celebrated through imagery. In this exhibition, award-winning photographer, Craig Easton, well known for his landscape work and intimate portraits of real lives, explores the past and present. It will bring together the three strands of the fisherwomen’s story: their heritage, their journey and contemporary portraits, including exciting new commissions of Hull’s own fisherwomen.
Fisherwomen celebrates the tradition and importance of women in the fishing industry by following the traditional route of the herring trade from Shetland down the east coast, via Hull to Great Yarmouth.
The exhibition highlighted the central role of women in the fishing industry today, even though their work is now almost entirely done behind closed doors in processing factories, sheds and smokehouses.

Source: Maritime Hull

The sad thing was that I missed the exhibition and just saw the “remains” that are on display currently.

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On a sunny weekday I strolled into city centre for business, and was a pleasure to see Hull lit by sunlight. Autumn can be dull, and it is dull mostly, so I was lucky to have camera on me to record the rare scenes for that time of the year.

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“Michelangelo – A Different View” at Hull Minster was the thing that everyone raved about, and I had to see the Sistine Chapel’s iconic scenes with my own eyes.

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The first thing that caught my eyes was the odd phones and the quite an elderly generation. The combination reminded me of a tourist group from Germany and that made me chuckle.
The exhibition was quite a piece – the atmosphere in Minster definitely was the correct recipe for a success.

I found myself in a bizarre situation – instead of grasping for breath after being stunned by Michelangelo, I was amused by other people and their reactions.

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I mean, yes, it was quite alright, but I guess I’m not the “type”. As long as it created an excitement and buzz amongst people, I am happy to approve.

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What I approve and celebrate myself, is the little things and the little snaps of people in  the right place and the right time for a great photograph. Hull Minster is a treasure in its own right and to see any kind of exhibition hosted there is a privilege.

In 2017 I created few images to acknowledge Whitefrigate’s empty shops and how the shop windows were used as canvas for marketing or art. I decided to revisit this in 2019 – and see the change. Baring in mind all the regeneration plans, it was a curiosity more than need for culture images.

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November brought another good festival – Hull Comedy Festival 2019. 2019 was another year where the work commitments and health issues made me unavailable for 90% of the festival, but it was a great, great feeling to fill the old boots for 10%.

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I happened to see a gig that was hosted by Jed Salisnbury at Princess Quay, and although on a small scale, it was filled with laughter and good humor.

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Ross Brierley with Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left Of Them?

I have known Ross as a comedian from the early days, I have had then pleasure to shoot NOT SO LATE NIGHT SHOW WITH ROSS AND JOSH and I have had belly cramps from laughter from previous festivals. Ross still holds the same amount of charm, fun and entertainment.

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Stevie Gray: Arctic Monkeys’ Midlife Crisis

Stevie Gray was a “fresh” act on my list and OH MY. He was totally hilarious. He did good and even better – when he’s guitar lost a string he cracked on as normal and made his repertoire even funnier without music.

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End of November and beginning of the December was that time of year when I started to come out of my hiding spots. I had to face the fact that Christmas is coming and there will be no hiding from happy. I had plenty of work upcoming that was festive and so I had to embrace it.
One of the proud moments was the tough decision to grab a tripod and travel to Hull City Centre for the Christmas decorations and tree.

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Funny though that I picked the windiest night of all times and all the efforts to have steady images on slow shutter went in a bin.

I don’t think that it is visible with a naked eye, so MISSION COMPLETE.

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The main spectacular was lacking wow factor. Yes.

Another interesting work opportunity was through The Herd Theatre Company in Barnsley – Slime. It was more of a work opportunity than culture haul, but it was inspiring, sweet and full of culture.

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It was a great honour to be asked to capture the pre show promo’s and I had a great time.

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2019 was the year where I had to make an extra effort to gather images for the blog. But those moments when I was out with camera, proved that there will never be enough of Hull for me. The city remains vibrant and full of solid gold people and places.

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The last job of the year was probably my highlight of the festive period. Good Things Market Winter Edition at Fruit Market.

It was everything Hull could want just before Christmas. A collection of talented local artists, craftmakers and genius in on place – offering great food, stunning gifts and Hull merchandise.

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Whilst there I also had an exclusive insight into behind the scenes for the Enchanted Wonderland created by Bluebeany aka Anna Bean. The show featuring performances by Ruth Getz, Zoe Hughes, Michelle Dee, Caroline Ullyart and Joshua Barton. Described as.. “if the Mighty Boosh made a Panto”

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Anna is just amazing! Her talent, her personality and the drive to succeed is inspiring. I am lucky to have been thought by Anna and work with her.
Her shows are becoming iconic to the city and could be something that Hull is known for widely across the country.

Her stamp is all over.

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The last but not least was the casual walks around the Humber Street that cheered me up. Little festive preparations, decorations and Hull sense of humor are things that help people to get into festive spirit, including myself.

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This blog post is a bit of a cheat – it was supposed to see the daylight on the last day of the year, but family circumstances and other factors caused days delay. We can just pretend that we waved goodbye to 2019 yesterday and are looking forward to a bright and shiny new decade.

My year has been a struggle in personal life and so I am thankful for what I still have, of what I managed to achieve and how many people stud by my side when I needed support.

2020 will be a new era for my work and business, I want to expand, change and evolve. I want to once again feel in control of my own life, decisions and career.

This time of year has brought sadness to my family. My grandfather past away on the 30th December and I had to suck up the reality and commit to write the last blog post of 2019 whilst in Latvia. Despite the loss, we as a family are staying grateful and thankful. To be able to take away gratitude from this darkness is a gift. My grandad was a strong character and living to the age of ninety is not a surprise. He was tough. strong, honest and humble. To even think that I could make it to that age with my head held up high like he did…

For the future of this culture blog I will continue to explore and celebrate culture scene in the city, as we still have another year before Coventry officially takes away the glory.

Happy New Year, monkeys.

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HUMBER STREET SESH VS FREEDOM FESTIVAL 2019 ANETE SOODA PHOTO

Well, this is not really about both festivals going against each other – Humber Street Sesh and Freedom Festival share similar qualities, but are completely different. Both share a common quality – it gives Hull the heartbeat once a year and we all look forward to the August and September.

This year I wasn’t fully employed or involved for neither. And it isn’t good or bad, it is just a fact. But I still made small contributions to both festivals and now it is the perfect time to celebrate and say goodbye to crop tops, cold cider in the sunshine and busy streets in the city.

Humber Street Sesh 2019  – Friday

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Freedom Festival 2019 – Saturday + Sunday

 

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