Through the Lens - CLOSED

KKK

Glancing through the just published Sportsfile team's A Season of Sundays an image of four stewarts in long white coats reminded me of an international match in Dalymount Park many moons ago. As a token to crowd control a group of men dressed in white shop coats patrolled the sideline before the kickoff. As they passed the terraces at the tramway end we could hear the citizen remark, "Jasus, if it is'nt the Ku Klux Klan."

DISMAL DIGITAL

Sunday Times Arts Editor Richard Brooks reports that one of Britain's most famous photographers Terry O'Neill has taken a swipe at the state of his profession, blaming digital cameras for distroying much of the art of portrait photography. "I refuse to use it," he said, "It's going to ruin photography. The problem with it is that the picture taker keeps on looking at what he's just done rather than look at the subject. These days the modern technology means you also don't have to be a real photographer. The eye and the feel of the stills photographer have gone." In February more than 100 of O'Neill's portraits will go on sale in the Chris Beetles gallery in London's Mayfair.

EYES WIDE SHUT

A strange story has reached me from the land of the wedding photographer. The ruse is to get the wedding guests to close their eyes when the photographer is making the pictures. When the finished images are presented the couple complain and contest the costs. Ah, the minefield of dealing with the public.