Smashing Pumpkins

For this post, my video of the week is 'Zero' by the Smashing Pumpkins..... stunning music.

Midlands Rocks Radio Show

Heres the link to the latest 'Midlands Rocks Radio Show'..... Check it out.

http://www.midlandsrocks.co.uk/radio-show-podcast

Bellagio sunset....

This is the Bellagio hotel, from the top of the Paris hotel in LV...

Image Copyright VirtuousCirclePhotography / John Colson

I LOVE Las Vegas

If youve had the misfortune of spending more than about 10 seconds in my company, you'll no doubt have been bored rigid by me waxing lyrical about Las Vegas. I absolutely adore the place so I thought i'd write a few words and upload a few pictures from one of my trips there.
I first went to Vegas in 2002 when my wife and I got married. I didnt know anything about the place before we went, but I can still remember my breath being taken away by my first view of the strip.
Since then weve gone back at least once every year and have seen some of the greatest shows on the planet, eaten in the some of the best restaurants and won enough money to pay for a holiday or two (and lost a fair bit to). Weve also met a lot of wonderful people to.
It really is a magical place that exudes a feeling that anything is possible and hopefully I will continue to go back there regularly for a long, long time to come.
Anyway, here are a few shots....

All images copyright Virtuous Circle Photography / John Colson

A walk in the woods....

Went for another stroll today....this time to an Arboretum not to far from my place. Here are few shots ......

All images copyright Virtuous Circle Photography / John Colson

Cadburys and my Grandad...

Even if you live in a cave, Im sure that over the last few days you will have seen the copious amounts of press generated by the proposed sale of Cadburys to American plastic cheese maker Kraft.

Now I have a personal interest in this story as my Grandad worked for the company for most of his life (as a taster ... jammy bugger)....as well as living in Bournville. Some of my fondest memories of the time spent with my grandparents revolved around Cadburys and the all encompassing feeling of community in the area. So Im sure I have no need to say quite how sad I feel about the likely sale of the company. I know in the modern world these things happen (due to greed... plain and simple), but I feel that in this case there is so much heritage that is likely to be lost (even the sign posts at Bournville station are painted Cabdury purple) that it really is a significant nail in the coffin of this (once envied, and now derided) country.

Which brings me onto the main thread of this post. Something fundamental needs to change with regard to the political and economic outlook in our country. Now Im no economist (as my A level economics teacher will no doubt agree), but surely the endless quest for growth regardless of consequence needs to change. Im aware of numerous companies who in the desire for growth prior to the reccession employed more and more people than really neccessary... only to make countless employees redundant when the sand upon which our economy is so ‘soundly’ based got washed away and they found that all of a sudden work dissapeared.

And the very fact that the financial sector is our economy quite simply scares me. And yes, before I forget, the bid for Cadurys is apparently being financed by RBS !! So if jobs are lost, and what truly is a British Institution dissapears... it’ll be our money that has paid for it...... oh what a pleasure it is to be governed by such geniuses (and if you think a change of government will make one iota of difference, think again ..)

I could waffle on for ages and no doubt make a complete fool of myself so heres a link to a post I read today..... I think it sums up perfectly what Im trying (and failing) to say...
http://blogs.birminghampost.net/business/2010/01/a-cadburys-chocolate-teapot-uk.html

Anyway, this post is for my Grandad, who once a month took me to the Cadburys Chocolate shop and bought me a bag of broken biscuits, and taught me how to bowl on the greens in Bournville. Cheers old boy and ‘Vive la revolution’ .....

Latest shoot ...

Here is a new image from this weekends shoot... Im very pleased with it !

 

All images copyright Virtuous Circle Photography / John Colson

Song of the week....

Saw these chaps in the states a while back..... 'Awesome' doesnt quite do them justice...
'Year Long Disaster' ... download their album now.

My cats harder than your cat .....

This is Daisy.... she wear's the trousers in our house....

Nikki is a bit good with the shears.....

A few weeks ago, Nikki (the wonderful lady who takes on the not inconsiderable task of cutting my hair) asked if I would help her enter the 'American Crew Face Off' hairstyling competition. After getting over the initial dissapointment of realising that she didnt want me to model for her, but take the pictures .... I did.
Here are the entries, which did really well ... and were exhibited somewhere up north....

And.... if you ever find yourself in Kidderminster needing a haircut .... just look for Nikkis Hair Salon on Comberton Hill.... shes great and has yet to cut my ears off !

All images Copyright Virtuous Circle Photography / John Colson

The Dirty Glass

So heres a video from a band Im going to see in Boston later this year. I'd never heard of the Drop Kick Murphys until two or three years ago, until a friend of mine played me a track or two (cheers Framey)....  Anyway.... check em out.... you wont be dissapointed (or maybe you will.... but if your are, you have no taste !)..

New Work....

Heres some more work for your wall.... feel free to drop me a line if you would like to purchase one of the shots below. Prints available in a number of sizes and finishes ....

All images Copyright Virtuous Circle Photography / John Colson

A reminder of warmer times.....

Its a little bit chilly at the moment... so, just to remind you of a summer's day ... here's a fluffy bee I photographed last year.

Image Copyright VirtuousCirclePhotography / John Colson

Would you hang this on your wall ?

I love this shot.... would hang it on my wall tommorow... but is it just my poor taste in home furnishings and inability to use my camera, or is it actually not that bad ?

Image Copyright VirtuousCirclePhotography / John Colson

Midlands Rocks Radio Show

Midlands Rocks Radio Show: "The Midlands Rocks Radio Show brings you the best in BLUES, ROCK and METAL across the Midlands in the UK. Chat, interviews, cracking tunes and previews of the best bands heading your way in the Midlands over the coming weeks. This show features The Black Spiders, The Answer, Exit State, Zico Chain plus all the best gigs coming to town. www.midlandsrocks.co.uk [http://www.midlandsrocks.co.uk]"

A snowy stroll ....

With the weather as it is at the moment, a lunchtime stroll in the nature reserve behind my house was too much of an opportunity to pass up.... so here are some shots from snowy Kidderminster .....

All images copyright VirtuousCirclePhotography/JohnColson

Jolly nice chaps...

http://www.myspace.com/vincentandtheonepotts

Check em out.... some great noise to be heard.....

Wildhearts at the Wulfrun

So, as promised, heres a short note regarding the recent 'Wildhearts Christmas Show' at the Wulfrun Hall in Wolverhampton.
What a night !!! I have been following The Wildhearts (http://www.thewildhearts.com/) for what seems like a few millennia (in reality nearly 20 years). They're a great band who's songwriting and musical ability deserves much greater recognition. They were ably supported by The Loyalties and AntiProduct.... two great bands in there own right.
The show was fantastic and to read my full review and see a few piccies, trot on over to http://www.midlandsrocks.co.uk/.
In the meantime, here are a couple of shots from the show.....

All images Copyright VirtuousCirclePhotography/John Colson