Tag: Jeffrey Mundell

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A mini challenge

When I took the job at the florist to support my acting work I didn’t ever imagine I’d be asked to construct a pagoda to fit on top of a classic mini. I have a knack for handy-work. I like a challenge. I said I’d give it a go.

Lucy Vail Floristry instillation for KOYN in Mayfair, London.

My primary concerns were weight and weather: the mini’s roof rack can only carry around 150lb, so the structure had to be light, but strong enough to withstand all weather, especially the wind. I came up with a design that used OSB board and narrow timber that held together like an oversized ‘slot-together’ toy with wire mesh to support the floral display.

When I was done I could pick the structure up single-handed and it managed to carry my entire weight standing on top of it (that’s around 200lb of Jeffrey Mundell). The florists then worked their magic and off it went to Mayfair, where it stood for well over a month, laughing in the face of some of the worst wind the British weather could throw at it and smiling pagodashingly for all the passersby.

Perhaps I’ll start a wee portfolio for my little creations.

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Check, check: one-two, one-two

Headed to Tin Hat Production’s recording studio in Sleaford, Lincolnshire to clean up some dialogue for their upcoming feature film, Battle Over Britain.

Jeffrey Mundell with Battle Over Britain director, Callum Burn (Lincolnshire, UK)
Callum Burn in Tin Hat’s sound studio with music composer and sound designer, Ben Thatcher.
This has Tin Hat Productions written all over it.

As you can see, recording studios come in all shapes and sizes (see Grand Central a few weeks ago). This studio was unmistakeably of the Tin Hat variety: their current niche is the First and Second World Wars, so yes, a lot of fire-power adorning the walls.

Battle Over Britain is about a group of Spitfire pilots defending the skies against Nazi Germany’s Luftwaffe at the height of the Battle of Britain – the first major military campaign fought entirely by air forces; a vital Allied victory.

From History.com: “Britain’s victory in the Battle of Britain demonstrated the courage and resilience of the country’s military and its people and allowed them to remain free from Nazi occupation. It also enabled the Americans to establish a base of operations in England to invade Normandy on D-Day in 1944.”

Battle Over Britain is set for release later this year with official trailers coming soon. For now:

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Leaf by Niggle

Pointed my camera at this intriguing pair of characters while out and about with Jo at Box Hill in Surrey, England – I love the surreal and dream-like quality of this photograph. It keeps reminding me of a short story, Leaf by Niggle, I came across on Jo’s bookshelf in a yellow-paged collection of work by J.R.R. Tolkien.

From wiki: ‘…the story is an allegory of Tolkien’s own creative process, and, to an extent, of his own life…It also expresses his philosophy of divine creation and human sub-creation.’

Box Hill, Surrey, UK
(Exposed: Ilford Delta 100, Nikon FE, Nikon 35mm f1.4 AIS; Developed: Ilfosol 3 + Ilford stop and fixer; Scanned: Canon 6D, Nikon 105mm f2.8 Micro AIS; Processed: Darktable, Linux)

Leaf by Niggle is well worth a read, not only for Tolkien’s superb story telling, but also his probing ideas of creative purpose and value. I wonder what he would make of the renown his work has acquired since he put these ideas to paper in 1939 – I imagine the Mountains would ring with laughter.

As for my photos, I’m enjoying the slower, more considered tempo of the film process and the images I’m managing to capture. I recently returned from a short break in North Norfolk with a roll of Ilford Ortho Plus put through a Minolta Autocord. Unfortunately my film developing chemicals have expired, so as soon as I get a new supply I should have some fresh images to share.

Until then, onwards, ever further and further towards the Mountains, always uphill.

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The best odds are uneven

“Much of what we consider valuable in our world arises out of one-sided conflicts. Because the act of facing overwhelming odds, produces greatness and beauty.”

– Malcolm Gladwell (David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants)