A few images from the first shoot...what do you think?!

more links

I message eco-village on their facebook group asking if they minded if I visited next weekend to meet them and take photos. They said I was more than welcome, and that on Sunday they were celebrating Imbolc Festival at 5pm, so I'm going to head along to that. Unfortuantely the last train back to Cheltenham is at 9.45pm so I won't be able to stay that long, however I will get there early.

here's the link to their facebook group-

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=88020757939

here's what eco village looks like...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gGXCM-zuFI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5g-IvHxvfI

Some links...

Ron, Darrens Squatmate, added me on facebook and posted a few helpful links to me...

Before living in the pub, they had all lived in a place called Cotall Street. There was a block of 96 flats in a rough area of London, and they had slowly got inhabited by squatters. Before long the whole block was taken over, and it lasted about 6months before they got evicted. This is where they all met, and enjoyed the highlife as a squatter for pretty much partying for 6months.

These next few links have images of them in Cotall Street

http://www.sonalle.com/  -click on reportage at the top, then squatters.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2038630&id=1500018432&ref=mf

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=171241477123&ref=mf

This is quite useful research to see how other people have photographed in squatter conditions.

First Shoot- a little diary of my weekend

I got the train to London at 7.30am, arrived there at 9.40.

I finally met Tom at about 11am at Kings Cross. A lot of the tube lines were closed for maintence, so I had to get replacement bus services. I spoke to Darren and he wasn't going to be free until at least 3.30pm so Tom and I planned to get on with what I had planned.

We got to Trafalgar Square at about 11.45, we had a quick look in the Portrait gallery then headed outside to see what this "I'm a Photographer Not a Terrorist" event was about. We waited about ten minutes, and realised it was just a big group of people with cameras taking photos of eachother. We realised this wasn't really worthwhile!

So we had about two and half hours to kill until the demonstration started at 2.30 in St Pancreas and Picadilly Circus. Tom remembered there might be a documentary photography masters degree show at the LCC in Elephant and Castle. Back on the tube again, however when we got there it wasn't on. 

So, back on the tube to St Pacreas. We eventually got there just after one so we went for a quick bite to eat then searched for the demonstation. Unfortunately the demonstration was about 40/50 activists talking about how life is too controlled. Nothing exciting was happening, so we popped back onto the tube to see if anything more was happening in Picadilly. Got there, and nothing.

Feeling a bit fed up after spending more time on the tube than anything else, we got back on the tube to Brixton. (Where Darren said he'd be) I called Darren when we got there however he hadn't arrived yet, and still had things to do. But could meet us in an hour, we had a look at the Photofusion Gallery and an indoors market with lots of art shops. We met Darren, but he was on his way to do some filming. So gave us the address to his "house", and we got on the tube, then a bus, and then wandered around Limehouse to find the address.

Finally found the street, walked down it until we found number 49. In a street of houses the only one not be a house was an abandoned pub on the corner. We looked a bit confused, considering I thought Darren only had contacts with squatters and wasn't actually a squatter himself. We rang the doorbell, and someone came to the door and shouted through the letterbox "who's there?!"

After a bit of explaining we were allowed in. We got lead through a big open space, and through a blanket that was acting as a wall. Through the blanket was a little kitchen, and then a living room. Full of sofas, wine bottles, and all sorts of gathered things. There were also about 6 people inside. Everyone was really friendly, and didn't mind us being there.

We got into the pub at around 6.10 and the Art Evict event was due to start at 7 in Elephant and Castle. There was no way we'd make it in time as the train was a replacement bus service, then the tubes were either delayed or cancelled. Plus we were completely shattered from such a long day. So decided to stay at the squat, I would have gone to the Art Evict if Darren lived in a house, as he was in a Squat I thought it'd be worthwhile to stay.

After about an hour, I felt comfortable to ask if it was alright to start taking some photos. Nobody minded. After about an hour or so after that Darren arrived. He said how he and some of his housemates were going to a party in Archway (north London). He invited us. I thought it'd probably best if we went along as I didn't know his housemates, and seeing as squatters were going to this party then more would be there.

The party was being held in a property owned by Camelot. Camelot basically look after properties for people, such as their holiday homes, and then rent them out to people at low prices so that it can be looked after. This is what Darrens friend, Mikael was doing. He went from being in a tiny room about the size of a bed, to paying just £200 a month for this massive house in quite a nice area. 

We got to the house at around 1.30pm, and the decks started getting set up and people started arriving. Darrens squatmate Ron was telling me and Tom how he and his friends really pride themselves in being alternative. We could definitely see that at the party. Everyone was dressed in unique clothing, plus a lot of them were foreign. I found it pretty easy talking to people and getting their photo. Everyone was really friendly, once they knew were just students and knew Darren anyway. I only got a few complaints when people were snorting lines, or rolling joints.

We eventually got two night buses back at 5am, and got back to the squat at 6am. When we got back, absolutely shattered, Darrens squatmates answered the door buzzing their faces off on MDPV (a legal chemical drug) and had glitter facepaint all over their faces. I was so tired from being up for nearly 24 hours, so we just went straight to bed. 

I planned to get up at about 9am to go to the food cooking and giving out in Hackney, however I ended up sleeping until 12pm. After travelling all day on very little sleep for two nights I just couldn't get up. Life as a squatter with no sleep just isn't for me! I took a few more photos in the squat then got a lift back with Tom to Cheltenham.

I have been invited to go back next weekend as they are having a party themselves. Plus Darrens squatmate, Jasmina, told me about a place called "Ecovillage". Eco Village is in west London, Kew Bridge. It's basically a field where a load of squatters have taken over with tents etc and have made a small community. They have no electricity and grow their own food. I think it would be interesting to have a look there next Sunday. Thankfully, second shoot is planned and I'm thinking I'll get some good shots out of it!

Squatter Shoot

I have booked my train to London for this Saturday morning and I'm returning Sunday evening.

Here's what I have planned- (events from the rampART website- http://therampart.wordpress.com/newsletter/)

SATURDAY
first of all from 12-1pm is a mass photo gathering organised by "i'm a photographer not a terroist".

then from 2-4.30 is a protest called "life is too short to be controlled" at st pacreas and picadilly circus

then 7-10pm is an event called Art Evict- an art event taken place in abandoned buildings.

SUNDAY

11am- Hackney. some people getting together to cook food found in rubbish bins or has been donated and then serving it to squatters at 2-3pm.

I did email the people organising Art Evict and the food event in Hackney just to double check if it was alright to photograph there. However, on the rampART website it says to come join so I don't see why it would be a problem. I am happy to help out if it's needed. They haven't replied as of yet, however I'm going to turn up anyway seeing as I've booked the train. 

Even if the worst happens and they don't want me to photograph then I will at least get a chance to meet some squatters, get some contacts, and learn as much about them as possible. However, because Darren is happy to come along with me and introduce me to some people I hope they will be willing to trust me. Thankfully Tom Wharton's agreed to come along with me so I will feel more confident in talking to people ad photographing in a new environment.

I am intending on photographing on 35mm film. I am taking my digital camera as a backup, however I am much more passionate about using film. I prefer the effects, and it adds more excitement to shooting not knowing what will come out until i get to the processing room on monday. I've got quite a range of lenses, and I am also taking my flash with lots of batteries. So fingers crossed I'll be well prepared for what ever comes my way!

Also, as I'm a very poor student I can't afford to buy a hostel so thankfully Darren offered me a space at his house, which has 10 people living in it. I appreciate his offer a lot, but if I meet some squatters that are willing for me and Tom to stay with them I will definitely do that as it would mean more photo opportunity. Much more important than sleep!

So yeah, roll on 7.30am saturday morning train!

rampart

Anothony put me in contact with a helpful man named darren. he has contacts with squatters (and the website below) so i am going to arrange to meet him.

http://therampart.wordpress.com/

rampART hold events for people in squats, and the events are held in abandoned buildings. From looking at the website they do things like raves, film nights (where people show their own films), and they also meet every monday at 7pm in a cafe to talk about future projects etc.

I intend on going to as many as these as possible, and darren said he'd be happy to join me. I think i will try and bring someone with me just so that i feel more comfortable. at least at first anyway. i think it would also be a great opportunity if i get the chance to actually squat with some of the people. that way i can see what it's like properly.

i just need to arrange trains to london and back. it's difficult as i dont have very much money at the moment, and the last train back from london to cheltenham is at 9.45. i cant really afford to stay in london either so i'm not sure what i'm going to do yet.

Squatter Research

I simply had a quick look at news websites to see if squatters are a current and big issue.

here's what i found....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/west/series3/squatters_homelessness.shtml

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8458005.stm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/jan/10/property-guardian-schemes


the link below is about a lady who decided to give up her lifestyle of a job, flat, friends etc and became a squatter. it's a good read!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jan/02/katherine-hibbert-living-without-money

After the crit in november where I showed my work to class it became clear that abandoned buildings simply wasn't enough to get a strong enough body of work. I want something with substance, and I also want to get involved with people.

I am still intrigued by abandoned buildings, as they have a strange ambience and atmosphere in them. So I wondered, imagine living here. Not being able to afford rented accomodation, and not wanting to live on the streets. Is there much other option? So squatters. I know they exist and there must be plenty of them. But where? And why?

I want to know more about people living in squats. It can't be all fun and games, it must be difficult living in cold, damp, dark buildings with fear of getting evicted. Or do some people enjoy it?

I have so many questions, just need to find someone to answer them....