Londonist Behind The Lens: mrdamcgowan

Lindsey
By Lindsey Last edited 172 months ago
Londonist Behind The Lens: mrdamcgowan
Deptford Creek: I've buggered about with this a bit but I think it gives a nice painterly effect. This is the view from my mate Eddie Real's little 30- foot cruiser, Hot Chocolate. The Thames is about half a mile away so it's tidal here (you can see the line on the wall to the left). The graffiti refers to DMT. The wooden boat was broken up and taken away not long after this was taken. That's progress.
Deptford Creek: I've buggered about with this a bit but I think it gives a nice painterly effect. This is the view from my mate Eddie Real's little 30- foot cruiser, Hot Chocolate. The Thames is about half a mile away so it's tidal here (you can see the line on the wall to the left). The graffiti refers to DMT. The wooden boat was broken up and taken away not long after this was taken. That's progress.
Une Pipe: London's as much about what goes on behind closed doors as it is all that stuff going on out in the streets.
Une Pipe: London's as much about what goes on behind closed doors as it is all that stuff going on out in the streets.
This is my view from the 4th plinth in Trafalgar Square. I had a megaphone; I was wearing a pith helmet and a pink safari jacket and holding a placard that proclaimed "DAVID BLAINE IS A PUSSY", yet still couldn't gain the attention of the folks below. I sometimes wonder why I bother.
This is my view from the 4th plinth in Trafalgar Square. I had a megaphone; I was wearing a pith helmet and a pink safari jacket and holding a placard that proclaimed "DAVID BLAINE IS A PUSSY", yet still couldn't gain the attention of the folks below. I sometimes wonder why I bother.
Chickens wear these on their heads.
Chickens wear these on their heads.
The Budgieman Sings: Top class entertainment.
The Budgieman Sings: Top class entertainment.
We Are Not What You Think We Are, We Are Golden, We Are Golden
We Are Not What You Think We Are, We Are Golden, We Are Golden
15232_7fullofcunts.jpg

A series celebrating the talent of our friends over in the Londonist Flickr pool. Here, they introduce themselves and share their favourite London shots. This week, mrdamcgown. AKA Dave...

I was born and bred in South East London and have lived all over it. For the last decade or so I've been fortunate enough to live in Central London and am now set up in Covent Garden. Brixton, too, is a particular stomping ground of mine. I believe work is over-rated and am a keen idler. I DJ, write songs, sing in a band (occasionally) and am currently honing my creative writing skills at City Lit.

Every time I step out of my front door I love it. London's constantly changing and there's always some thing or place you've never noticed or been to before (or a pub to investigate). There's nothing better than getting about a bit. I'm drawn towards London's darker side and am fascinated by the mundane and the minutiae. This is what I want to show people. I always go down alleys and peer into dark stairwells or investigate piles of rubbish. I found a stuffed armadillo in Pimlico, once. I could NEVER live permanently anywhere else. I would pine away. London is like a parent to me.

I'm relatively new to photography and no great technician (conveniently my lack of technical skills ties in with my old punk philosophy). The majority of shots on my Flickr photostream were taken with a Pentax film camera or a Nokia 6000 series phone. In the next few weeks I'm intend to purchase a digi SLR (probably a Canon EOS 400), a digi compact (possibly a Leica D-Lux 3) and an old mechanical Pentax, all second-hand I hasten to add. I recently took a second basic course at The London School of Photography and hope to learn even more about the workings of the magic box. I've learnt to use the dark room, which is great fun and have a picture framer mate who kindly allows me to use his facilities. These factors, I hope, will one day come together to enable me to exhibit my photos.

Check out Dave's Flickrstream, blog and band for more

Last Updated 14 November 2009