Lumidogs. Dogs dressed up to the canines happened on Sunday. It arrived in St Johns Square with a visual bite. Here are the highlights.
LumiDogs. Dogs dressed up to the “canines” happened on Sunday.
The entrants strutted their stuff and posed in lit costumes, working their best look in feathers and glitter to be in with the chance of winning the coveted title of LumiDog 2016.
Here are the highlights.
The Entrants.
The Winner
A french Tango and fire  engulfed St Johns Square on the second night of Blackpool’s LightPool Festival, part of the new network of Light Festivals across the UK.
Last night was pretty phenomenal. All I knew when I arrived was that it was moody and noir and there would be fire. It was a visual feast of showstopping performance. We are all so obsessed with staying in and watching XFactor? How would you know that if you just step into your local town centre you can experience some of this.
I have more images to show from this sumptuous show. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do photographing the performances.
Remember that if there is one thing  you should do this half term is get to Blackpool, Lancashire to witness history in the making.
Friday the 28th October saw the launch of Blackpool’s very own Light Festival, Lightpool.
Over 30 installations including performances make up the Festival running from the 28th October to Wednesday.
I am super lucky to be able to photograph for the event which really is a photographers wonderland if you like photographing fast moving, low light objects, which luckily I do.
Last night saw Captain Kronos: Return to Plant Earth by Kazimer Productions who worked with Blackpool and Fylde College to create an amazing performance incorporating a space ship landing outside in St Johns Church in Blackpool’s Cedar Square. Followed up closely by On The Edge of  a Rising Tide Sound Intervention with musicians from The Boom Bike Bourree.
I had spent much of my day watching the rehearsals and capturing “behind the scenes” moments.
Take a look at some of my images here:
Rehearsals at Alive Church Hall, Raikes Parade Blackpool. With Students from Blackpool and The Fylde College.
St Johns Square Blackpool. Technical Rehearsal.
Blackpool Comedy Carpet run through:
I popped in to hear Bob and Roberta Smith talk about his views on the art world and how visual language is important now more then ever.
The artist Bob and Roberta Smith – Has installed a specially commissioned lit installation for Blackpool. “Art Is Your Human Right”. Follow the specially formulated map of Blackpool to enjoy all the art installations in Lightpool.
Bob and Roberta Smith, instantly likable as a speaker – his message was that we can communicate sometimes difficult messages through art and even if it is not instantly easy to understand, perhaps art will make you question and sit up to what could be.
At dusk Captain Kronos and his journey into Blackpool began on The Comedy Carpet as we were toured through the winding streets by his gang of glittery minions of Blackpool, to witness his arrival from a bejeweled spaceship descending over St Johns Church in a flurry of glitter and fireworks to a bedazzled audience.
After the departure of Captain Kronos I caught up with Dan Fox and his mobile projection bikes as his band played brass instruments to families and children who followed the performance with great gusto and glee as the projections talked to the audience of fantastical creatures.
The Lightpool Festival runs until Wednesday with lots more in store. For more info check the link attached.
Final word from  me is that I am in my absolute element “photography wise” and feel super blessed to be able to capture such amazing and fleeting happenings. Now is the time to embrace Blackpool’s amazing event and shout from the rooftops how amazing Blackpool really is.
I do not want to come across boring, I mean who does…..But this trip really was that made of dreams.
After a ton of time and I mean quite a few years, me and my partner in crime, Ben were able to make it across 3k miles of sea to California. A late honeymoon, supported by a number of amazing people who donated money as a gift to help make our dreams a reality.
Travel to me is like being renewed or reset, a chance to look at other worlds and people and know that life is elsewhere.
Regarding photography, I once read an article about that mechanical instrument the camera, where the writer stated “keep some money back for travel and do not spend it all on equipment” – he was right.
I never thought I would ever visit Disney Land – it is just not on my bucket list, a child hood fantasy perhaps and not on the “to do” list for California. The first day was supposed to be at The Vans Pool Party – Skateboarding event. But we were so near by, we just thought “what the heck”.
In there before anyone else – early doors, taking care to notice signage explaining that we could be exposed to cancer or other hazardous chemicals (these signs are everywhere). Strange thing to read when you are entering a famous entertainment centre (America has all their bases covered, there is no way they are going to get a law suit slapped on them).
So early doors, there was no one about…………..Now I am aware my images are starting off pretty dull and un-creative and ass I start my day but I have slipped into tourist mode and  just capturing anything that looks interesting and it all looks interesting.to be fair. Quite a dull day weather wise too, apparently it is known as “May Grey”! My partner in crime is bemused that I am even trying to take photographs, but you know – its an extension of myself, I cannot help myself, it is a affliction.
It is all just so American!!!
I know I am touch with my childhood spirit – but this is ridiculous.
Even the toilet facilities are attractive – I am looking up at this window and thinking “is this the window with the candle that remains lit for Walt Disney’s return?” I have read about this and I like the level of creepiness.
OH MY GOD!!!!! M.I.C.K.E.Y……..those Disney Staff are soooooooooo happy. Must be the nice weather.
Everywhere I looked, I was like: Ohhh, awww , wowwwww. Even though it is all pre fabricated a bit like Facebook and Disney is basically showing off its “highlight reel”, it is difficult not to be impressed.
The art deco inspired buildings really got me.
I was being submerged into a fantasy land of Disney characters, colour, twee music and very expensive food and drink as we raced around trying to take everything in.
I mean. look!! It is Captain America – goddammit!!
even the shops left me agog!
We entered Radiator Springs and if you are not sure of the reference, this is the place where the Disney film, Cars is set.
Where we were prepared to get our kicks.
A scaled down version of Radiator Springs.
and the scaled up version.
Am just going to leave it right here – next episode: Radiator Springs and beyond. I am not sure what I expected entering Disney and as the day grew hotter and hotter, I wanted to really put the camera away or thought actually this would be much better if I was here just here to photograph! Because sometimes the want to photograph overtakes being able to take the moment in, luckily the cameras magical ability allows you to take in those moments later….
I think I am now on my 4th or 5th year of photographing the very visually pleasing Showzam Circus festival.
Showzam in #Blackpool #UK hosts a variety of street and indoor performances across #TheWinterGardens, #TowerBallroom and #TowerCircus over a 5 day period.
If you were around this year you may have caught sight of wood wind playing chickens or a steam punk werewolf riding his bike through the streets of Blackpool.
Poor Blackpool tends to get a lot of stick (of rock), the poor mans Brighton, the “uncool” cousin of Manchester. I am here to “blow” the trumpet of Blackpool, christening it with it’s new name “Blackcool”.
#Showzam is a mostly free festival currently in its 9th year. See you in 2017.
Claire Griffiths Photography 