Will Knott

Sometimes help and support is offered from unexpected angles. Yes, this is the window of an adult shop in Cork.

I never knew they sold team strips. Does that kind of support work?

take care,
Will Knott

Love is all you need, it can even unlock barriers.

Graffiti near Kent Station Cork

take care,
Will Knott

Sometimes an image collection tells a story.

Not a very well told one, but its still a little story.
Will Knott

Yesterday I blogged about the obstacles with doing the pink portraits event as a way to raise funds as an Irish twist on the internet’s Pink for October.

Image via Wikipedia

However the words of the worlds most unlikely guru, Pat Phelan of MaxRoam came to me.

When asked about doing a business idea he said “Just [effin] do it”. (I’m censoring)

The application has been dropped in. I’m waiting for PinkForOctoberIreland.org to resolve. I might end up meeting the four horseman of the internet, but I’m going to do it.

It may end up being a small quite pairing off of photographers and models rather than an officially sanctioned flash mob of people getting wonderful portraits taken, then those prints get donated to the Irish Cancer Society shop for display and sale. But something is going to happen.

Want to help?

Want to join in?

If this is unofficial, I want photographers and willing models. If you want to be part of this, then comment below, and I’ll contact you when the site is ready to accept people. While I’m looking at making this a sanctioned and not illegal event on September 20 2008 (I’m trying to get the use of Daunt Square as it is almost beside the Irish Cancer Society shop on Castle Street, the collection would make a great photosynth), there is nothing to stop a blind date between a photographer and a model. The web site will allow that.

You don’t have to be in Cork. If you are willing to create an event (and ask your town/city/conty council for permission. Do it. This is a charity event (where no money changes hands at the event) so it possible that the authorities will permit it. If you are willing to briefly pair up, (I can see more photographers agreeing than models) then something a little less official is always possible (blind date style). However a local organiser or administrator or coordinator is needed.

Even if approval is not given, its an excuse for a photowalk.

Don’t get mad: Volunteer.

If you’re willing to help out with a Joomla based site: Comment below and volunteer.

If you’re willing to pose for a photoblogger and then buy a print of that session from an Irish Cancer Society shop: Comment below and volunteer.

If you’re willing to take portraits of the above volunteers, modify the shots, create prints and donate them to an Irish Cancer Society shop: Comment below and volunteer.

If you’re willing to organise a meeting of photographers and models: Comment below and volunteer.

If you’ve been touched by cancer and are willing to be interviewed by a blogger : Comment below and volunteer (or blog about it yourself).

If you want to see a difference, you need to make  difference.

Let’s see if we can change the world,
Will Knott

update September 3 2008. The 2008 Pink for October Ireland portraits won’t be happening. Details in this post.

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I’m trying to see if I can get the Pink for October Ireland project running with publicity for September 20. In Cork at least… more on that, see below.

Image via Wikipedia

Trying. Having trouble getting the domain I want due to user account isues and only being able to get online long after office hours are over.

And I’ve had a new problem presented before me.

In order to have the photographers meet the models in a public space, I’ll need to complete a “Form PS” off the Roads and Transportation Directorate of Cork City Council. This is the licence to use a public area for an activity or event. If you want to have this event in your city, you’ll need a similar form off your local council. I’m applying for Cork.

However, in order to do this event, legally, you need to have public liability insurance for a minimum of €2.5 million for a single incident.

Somehow I don’t think such cover comes cheap.

Without the cover, no approval (or so it seems) and without the approval, well …

• no publicity which means
• few if any models which means
• not much of a point

And its not just Cork. If there are going to be nationwide events, cover will be needed for every meeting venue. And this is a bunch of people getting together (a photo-walk essentially), not a club or society. So there are no funds to use for this.

I will be asking the council nicely, but I don’t know if its possible right now.

Is there a way around this? Any advice or suggestions?

take care,
Will Knott

update September 3 2008. The 2008 Pink for October Ireland portraits won’t be happening. Details in this post.

How does September 20th strike you as the day to take all the Pink Portraits for October, and try to get the models to show up at various points in various cities?

Does the day suit most of you? Since I would like to have you working in teams, having and agreement on date, time and locations are important.

I suspect I really need to make a site for this too…

take care,
Will Knott

Just over a week ago I gave you, dear reader, a little homework to do.

But as well as step-by-step instructions I asked if you would telly me how yo tried to perform your selective colourisation of the red cuff against the red background.

No one got back to me with their solution. No one.

So I’m going to give it another week to see if any innovations are out there. I already said how I would do it. (Carefully)

I’m not expecting any, but still.

take care,
Will Knott

When I went up to Dublin for a Guinness Photo-walk I visited a few old and new stomping grounds.

Ikea Dublin exists…

… but I think they need a new allen key.

I also visited the nearby Ballymun towers

that were. I can’t believe that the graffiti is 4 stories up, but that could have been done before the walls were knocked.

Still nature will make herself present.

take care,
Will Knott

Is it better to go on without someone you are sure you need. Or should you wait.

I’m at a crossroads with the Pink Portraits for October project, and a very strict deadline with a heap of organising to do. And no official word from the officials source other hand “wait and see”.

For this to work we need:

• Photobloggers to group and work in teams, while spread out across the county
• A complete model release form (literally yesterday)
• Advance publicity about the photoblogging teams so that willing volunteers show up to be photographed
• Those willing models, who will also commit to buy the photographs
• Enough lead time to modify and print the photos

I’m sure I should be bothering HARO and a few of the PR guys for help.

Any tips on ways to get large groups of volunteers to show up?
Is an online model release form legally binding (a copy to read would be a good idea anyway)?
Would a facebook group (or 2 for each country) or myspace pages be a good idea?

Given that pinkforoctober.org exists, should I set up a site just for the portraits?

Of course doing any of these actions guarantees that any official support will just halt.

And all of this on our own. Or is it my own?

I’ll take all the advice I can get in the comments,
Will Knott

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The first I heard of Ronnie Drew’s death was when DeirdreMarie commented on this picture.

The photograph was taken as part of a visit to the Guinness Storehouse arranged by Lisa Fitzsimons and the Guinness Storehouse as part of the Guinness Storehouse photo competition. I’ll type more about this later.

I met Ronnie in 1984 in a production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” where he played Jacob. What I remember of him is a quiet man with a large greying beard and jokes mumbled in our presence. I suspect now that those jokes were not quite suitable for the children’s choir.

He died of throat cancer. No, I’m not going to go on about my idea this time; but to point you to a campaign for the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) called Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C).

Ronnie Drew 1934 – 2008

take care

Will Knott

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