16 Comments
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Mark Foard's avatar

The David Hemmings character in Blow Up is reputedly based on David Bailey who is known to be a bit of a prick and he did once own a Rolls Royce.

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Li Chen's avatar

Thank you, Mark! I did not know this. Gonna do some reading about this movie.

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Lin Gregory's avatar

Apparently Bailey was offered the lead role and turned it down - shame really as Vanessa Redgrave might have taken him down a peg or two on set!

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Li Chen's avatar

Thanks, Lin! Redgrave was very good in this movie.

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søren k. harbel's avatar

Way too much fun to read this one! I do believe learning the ropes before getting on set is important. I have musician friends who get irritated when someone pretends badly. I don't play an instrument, so will ask out loud during a movie... "can he/she play?" When I get the silent treatment, I know that the answer is a definite 'no'. Your noticing the camera handling to me is in that category.

As for Bailey being a prick. As I understand it, he is an Eastender. He takes as well as he gives, but yeah, I have heard he is prickly.

Nice pics - really like the last one!

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Li Chen's avatar

Thank you Søren! I like going down rabbit holes about tiny details in movies, an interesting watch, a camera, or even the cassette player in Pulp Fiction. Yes, I think he could've benefitted from learning how to handle a camera properly, even though it's not a big deal, and most of the audience couldn't tell the difference. Very interesting facts about Bailey. I do think it takes a big ego to be a fashion photographer, and it's something I admire people for having.

I also like the last photo, shot during the pandemic, fittingly.

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Lin Gregory's avatar

Nice series of images - I do like that one on the church steps.

Blow Up! is a film I love and hate in equal measure...the first time I was puzzled, after that I just had to watch it a few times over the years hooked but still not sure why. It's a '60s curiosity but now you've highlighted it I'll have to watch it again!😊

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Li Chen's avatar

Thank you, Lin! I went into the film with the wrong expectations. I kept waiting for the murder to be solved. Thinking about it now, I think it's quite an interesting movie.

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Sarah Best's avatar

Nice shots. I'd preorder your book!

Also, sometimes I quite like watching movies where the lead is a repugnant prick - gives a different perspective, I guess from the mostly likable leads in films.

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Li Chen's avatar

Thank you, Sarah! The movie is interesting. I'm okay with the repugnancy, it's the handling of the Nikon that bugs me. It's worth a watch.

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Linda Blatnik's avatar

You suck at it? Crazy.

I'd like to suck at something the way you suck at street photos.

Puhleeze :)

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Li Chen's avatar

Thank you, Linda! Whenever I go through my catalogue, I keep thinking about the photos I did not take, which, at least in my head, are way more interesting. Just a thing I do.

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Vincent Wagenaar's avatar

I smiled when I read your comments about Hemmings' version of a 'repugnant prick' photographer, and your 'main beef' is how the guy holds his Nikon. As Mark mentioned already, that character is based on David Bailey, but your irritation tells me somehow you take your photography seriously, and you should. I would recommend you to watch a film like "la notte",or "l'avventura" by the same director (Antonioni). You'll like those and certainly appreciate the cinematography, I'm sure.

Now about your photos: these quiet photos you took in Macau, the tiny restaurant in Hongkong and the street vendor are wonderful. I think you're selling yourself short again; these are good street shots! Pre-order? Yes, if I can afford it:)

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Li Chen's avatar

Thank you, Vincent! I'll look for the movies you mentioned. I like being nerdy about small things I see in movies. In this case, when I see Hemmings handling the camera, I keep saying to myself:" Well, that doesn't work." Makes me feel I have some personal stakes in it. Thanks for the kind comments about the photos. I'm counting on the pre-orders for my Rolls Royce, so....

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The Bard of Tysoe's avatar

Some really wonderful images… – but am particularly drawn to that last one: I find it (and its title) quite powerful.

PS: Never seen the film!

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Li Chen's avatar

Thank you! The last photo was shot fittingly during the early days of the pandemic.

The movie is interesting once you get past the annoying lead.

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