Recent scans

I just picked up a load of scans from the lab and had forgot what I'd even shot so it was a nice surprise looking over some bits from last year.

Swalecliffe caravan park & Whitstable - Kent times with my family

                   

 Mum & my little sister Grace

                             

Glastonbury 2013 disposie cam

Hong Kong 2.0/ Lantau Island Big Buddha

   
                            

                            

Home in Hackney & Ridley road market

Some of these are parts of ongoing personal projects that I am planning to complete this year.

The journey of a personal project: part one.

Walmart, 2013

So it's Wednesday and it's raining (still....) and coming up to the end of January already this week. It's the quiet time of the year and i'm finding myself catching some air and relaxing. Its nice to take a step back to stop and think.

The last few years have been a rollercoaster personally & professionally, a real journey.

I have been spending this month taking stock and planning for the year ahead. Amongst the busy times last year I did focus on some personal work and I travelled all over the world. I drove across America from NYC to LA with my younger brother Joel and I shot a project. I shot it all on film and I didn't really have a theme in mind, my aim was to document. I shot some portraits,  the places we stayed, my bed, the road, ghost towns, the sky.

I think choosing to shoot on film and searching everyday for new subjects allowed me to kind of build a story in my mind - yet it was film - & I hadn't seen any of the results and also forgot what I'd been shooting over the crazy 7 weeks on the road. I was anxious to see the results and having developed my film in haste in LA, I spent the weeks back in London unsure of what I had created and what I wanted to do with this project. It made no real sense or a coherent story.  I deliberately chose to step away from the work (I have just been calling is America in my mind) and take time to reflect and start some new projects. 

Having revisited my 'America' work at the end of last year, I have now started to edit it down. I shot over 850 photos and I am now in the process of narrowing down my selections.

Seeing my work with fresh eyes has given me a completely new take on what I've made. I think as artists we are continually challenged by meaning & a strong drive to put only the very best out there.  

It is an ongoing journey but I am enjoying working on this thing that I have created. I think I know the direction I am going with this now. 

Here are a few previews from my project: Interstate.

I am hoping to put it out there later this year.

Brother, 2013

 Nashville, 2013

 A place to rest, 2013

Las Vegas, 2013

More personal work can be seen here: http://lauramccluskey.4ormat.com/

All images copyright Laura McCluskey 2013

Edinburgh

This weekend we visited Edinburgh. 

Loved the tropical glasshouses at the Royal Botanic Gardens, I could live in there. So beautiful. My fave London conservatory is the Barbican but these ones were on a whole new level..

Afternoon tea at LOVECRUMBS. YUM. 

My bf's parents house. 

It was my first time visiting Edinburgh & I loved it, can't wait to go back :) 

All pics taken with my iphone.

Bip Ling

Last week I shot Bip Ling for a special project she has been working on with Mercy Delta. 

Here's a preview from the shoot. 

Coming soon...