One advantage afforded Nathan J. Hulse as he steps aside for Jet Harris to handle bass duties during select Me and My Shadows numbers is stage photography. Latest case in point: three snaps from 2008's final MAMS show last Saturday at the Weymouth Pavilion in Dorset.
Says Nathan, ever watchful for details: "Colin [lower right] even managed a mid-Apache glasses reposition."
Dreamily overexposed by Nathan J. Hulse, this crisp snap shows silhouetted John Tuck, Dave Lawes and Colin Pryce-Jones on break... yet on call. But where? For what?
UPDATE 16 MARCH 2008: Trust me, I don't like waiting, not even to "save a packet". Until all is revealed, here's a second "lads on the set" snap, this one blue on blue, thanks to Nathan J. Hulse. I see John Tuck's got sticks, but can anyone fathom what Colin Pryce-Jones is carrying?
UPDATE 17 MARCH 2008: At last, it's here—The Rapiers starring in a UK TV advert alongside Gary Lineker for Walkers Crisps.
Former Top of the Pops presenter Mike Read (left, with unnamed partner) joined The Rapiers on the Butlins Skegness entertainment bill Saturday, hosting a "Pop Pickers question time", reports Nathan J. Hulse.
Read, the long-time British broadcaster (BBC2, Capital Gold, Classic FM), played Cliff Richard to The Rapiers' Shadows in Cliff The Musical, which lit up London's West End in 2003.
During a brief afternoon trek through Valencia before The Rapiers' appearance at the recent Surforama Festival, Nathan J. Hulse snapped these impressions of the cityscape, from antennae-laden rooftops and ghostly lamposts to children's playground toys.
TATTOO YOU: Spotted at last weekend's Surforama Festival in Valencia, Spain, where our lads knocked out a late-nite 75-minute set.
Credit Nathan J. Hulse for making me (second) home sick for the capital, day and night.
DOWN THE DILLY: Stepping from Piccadilly Circus Underground, looking northward toward Eros and up Regent Street.
CHINESE NEW YEAR +1: Taken the day after the official start of the Year of the Rat, probably looking down Wardour Street.
Bravo, Jet Harris! In my book, this is the pick of the bunch from a Me and My Shadows collection on Nathan J. Hulse's photo gallery. But then rock 'n' roll always looks smart in black 'n' white.
©2007 Me and My Shadows
Is Nathan J. Hulse channeling abstract expressionist Mark Rothko (1903-1970) in this close-up of a simple raffle tumbler, featured on his natjag photo blog? That's my impression. Compare it against Rothko's Untitled [1953] below right.
Now for the art history lesson. Says the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.:
"One of the preeminent artists of his generation, Mark Rothko is closely identified with the New York School, a circle of painters that emerged during the 1940s as a new collective voice in American art. During a career that spanned five decades, he created a new and impassioned form of abstract painting. Rothko's work is characterized by rigorous attention to formal elements such as color, shape, balance, depth, composition, and scale; yet, he refused to consider his paintings solely in these terms."
Burlington Arcade, near the London-luxe intersection of Piccadilly and Old Bond Street, was "Britain’s very first shopping Arcade, opened in 1819 to great acclaim and now recognised as a historic and architectural masterpiece", says its home page, labeling it the "longest covered shopping street in England and possibly the most beautiful".
During daylight, its bright corridor and emporia beckon tony patrons, Sloane Rangers, WAGs, et al., with jewelry, antiques, silver, fashion and perfume (cf. promo scene above).
Come nightfall and sans shoppers, the mood swingeth. And to a Rapier with a new toy for his camera effects box (a Lensbaby, to be precise), Burlington Arcade takes on another dimension, as if time and space are out of phase. Explains Nathan J. Hulse: "There is no real focal point in the shot, but I like the mono feel about it, the dreamy out-of-focus area."
Deck the sands!
On his photo blog, Nathan J. Hulse has kindly staged this seasonal Down Under imaging for Aussies who normally "spend Christmas on the beach putting prawns on the barbie".
Snap! Are they still the It Couple?
Nathan J. Hulse found AAA-List jetsetters Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in a clinch at the European premiere of Beowulf in London's West End last month.
Of late our Nathan's spotlighting British pulchritude (Hofit Golan, anyone?) on his photo blog, but this still life of Vox amp and Fender guitar sends us almost as much.
From Nathan J. Hulse's photo blog comes cool British iconography outside London's Haymarket Hotel near Piccadilly. Says our lensman:
"I'm quite patriotic, so this flag waving over my head was just waiting to be photographed. It's a bit cliched and been done before, but I thought I'd have a go. I exposed for the sky, and let the flash expose for the flag."
You've got mail!
What better way to cheer up friends, delight colleagues and show off your rock 'n' roll allegiance than by sending a free ecard from Nathan J. Hulse's photo blog.
OK, there are only two Rapiers shots posted so far, like this "from on high" shot of John Tuck. But I expect more over the coming weeks. Right, Nathan?
Point. Snap. Share.
A seaside sunset at Christchurch Harbour, singer Suzi Jari dollying herself up, a spectral theatre scene and a so-called "random Italian street" colour the new photo blog of our very own Nathan J. Hulse.
Nathan J. Hulse captured Dave "Joker" Lawes reflecting his best I'm-a-Moody-Guy look on the Isle of Wight recently.
Nathan J. Hulse, who occasionally has stars in his sights as a moonlighting "pap" (as in "papparazi"), scored a mention in yesterday's The London Paper in an article on the competitive world of celebrity photographers, Paparazzi in London With Celebrities:
Nathan Hulse, 35, from Enfield, alternates papping with playing bass guitar in a band and more mainstream photography work. He has been snapping celebrities since June, having simply turned up outside The Ivy one afternoon with his camera.He is now on the books of Famous Pictures—not that the more experienced snappers appreciate his presence.
"I used to get ignored a lot when I started and any questions would be met with a grunt," says Hulse, who shuns the scooter—the paparazzi's favourite mode of transport—for buses and trains. "I get pics of the celebs going into events," he says, "but have to leave before they come out again because I have to get the bus home."
This recent snap of actress Kate Beckinsale is but one example of Nathan's extracurricular activity.
Another from the lens of Nathan J., this local amusement scene launches into interstellar overdrive thanks to a very slow camera shutter.
On his photo depot, Nathan J. Hulse features this jolly outtake from a recent Rapiers' day out at Mercedes-Benz World at Brooklands Weybridge, Surrey, part of Rick Wakeman Celebrity Golf Classic festivities in aid of the SPARKS charity.
Any guesses on the age of the transport?
YOU DON'T SAY! Our lads let their fingers do the talking at the Ashmount Club, Doncaster on 4 August. Photo by Nathan J. Hulse.
ORANGE ALERT! Nathan finds a silent partner at Mercedes-Benz World, Brooklands Weybridge, Surrey on 10 August. Photo by Steve Terrell.
Fancy a modest burn-up?
Nathan J. Hulse recently spotted this night-hawkish hardware, either a Honda SRX50 or SRX90 model, probably of late-'90s vintage.
Laughs our photographer: "I'm sure Colin would be disappointed at a scooter bearing the Shadows name rather than a trad British bike!"
Meanwhile, for the true enthusiast, here's the full scoop from Honda Scooterist, post date unknown:
This very attractive air-cooled, two-stroke scooter was intentionally designed to mimic an American look from the '50s and '60s to help satisfy the Japanese penchant for vintage products. It looks something like the offspring from a mating of a Vespa with a Harley. The model comes in both 50cc and 90cc versions, as it's primarily targeted at the youth market. Called the "Joker" in Japan, it's being marketed as the "Shadow" in Europe. This curious scooter is only being sold grey market in the United Kingdom and there are no known plans to import them into the USA.
Make way for British pulchritude!
Delectable Kate Beckinsale arrives at the 20 June London premiere of action figure Bruce Willis's latest cinematic smash-up Live Free or Die Hard.
Moonlighting paparazzo Nathan J. Hulse captured the 33-year-old actress and star of Serendipity, Cold Comfort Farm and Emma during a seven-hour celeb watch at the Empire Cinema, Leicester Square.
Nice work if you can swing it.
It's Wednesday night, so Mr. Ainsby was probably down the Railway Pub in Bognor Regis, exhorting local musos into action during his regular open mic night, and leaving the quiff checking for later.
Photo by Nathan J. Hulse
Fleet of foot, Terence Harris earned the sobriquet Jet from his North London school chums.
Fittingly, after burner tracers flare behind the former Shadow bassist (probably) during a recent Me and My Shadows concert outing with The Rapiers.
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