So its 4 am Friday 13th January 2017....and i am only just doing my 2016 review ...better late than never ...i hope ;)
Well January 2016 started with me getting laid off after being treated bad by my employer of 20 years ....to meeting David Bailey ...twice at the end of 2016 so i guessed January was a good time to write this.
Its very hard to round up the past year without writing a huge amount of words here,just to thank all the people who have helped me along the way in person and online would take a book! So i think its safe to say those of you who have been there for me in 2016(and still are,you should know who you are by now ) i sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart,the support not only in my photography journey but the help and advice on all matters of life in general have made me keep my head up in some pretty testing times the past year,you welcomed me with open arms,into your groups of friends & your lives and i am truly grateful because without my family and some amazing people i have met in 2016 things would have been a lot different for sure!
2016 roundup
Found myself Laid off in January ( insert your foul language aimed at company after the treatment they gave me...use your imagination)
So as i couldn't do that job anymore i invested some time into my photography while volunteering locally,met some amazing people,some of which i now class as close friends (bonus),its like i had found what i was meant to do all these years and i had found a new passion for where i have lived all my life.
The getting up at 5:30am every morning driving out of the area then returning by 6:00pm 6 days a week(if i was lucky M25/A406 anyone?) meant not seeing my area how i should,just brushing over it like a visitor not a resident,as my spare time was precious,i see all the changes as totally negative but not realising behind the scenes there are amazing people both employed & volunteers building communities and bringing people of all ages and backgrounds together,in an attempt to give local people a reason to feel part of the area,giving the kids some purpose and the elderly a reason to leave the house.
I never knew half of these places existed and right on my doorstep!
Creative Barking &Dagenham? B.E.C? Summer of Festivals ?Volunteer Bureau ? Boathouse ? and some "new" place that i found called Studio 3 arts ....that is celebrating its 30th year in the area ...who knew?!!!
I have learn't so much from these people and gained so many new skills ....its cost me time but so well spent,ive been on steering groups,interview panels,learn't about funding,curating my exhibition,Mounted and designed my own exhibition space,helped curate and mount another artists amazing exhibition,taken old people to the Savoy for tea,helped with festivals,employed to take event photos all last year,been published in Magazines,interviewed on Valerie Jardin podcast (link below) David Bailey and his Family visited my exhibition twice (once wasn't enough ). I have sold my first proper print,properly mounted and in the process of setting up my own online gallery and selling my first limited edition,i have photography work in the pipeline,from projects to working with big companies and even getting to shoot my first wedding in my style...unposed/natural/documentary style.....happy days.
ALL this stemmed from one single email i sent to someone in my council after i lost my job.So thank you all so much,some of you have/still helped more than you will ever realise x
Its been tough at times and if i hadn't had the full support of my wife and family it would never have happened ,so the biggest thank you goes to them xxx
The Exhibition is still on at the Boathouse Studios until 20/2/17 there is a link at the top of the page for directions
I will leave it there as i could go on forever and you probably stopped reading after the first paragraph
Heres to 2017 and beyond may all your ambitions be fulfilled,deadlines met,businesses flourish and your loved ones stay safe
Take care
Jimmy x
PS,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,David bloody Bailey !! pinch me!!
Podcast Interview
http://thisweekinphoto.com/street-focus-97-new-beginnings-jimmy-lee/