Perous Secret Diary - Keep Out: June 14, 2006

london town

opposite the oxo tower, after several glasses of pinot grigio.

i like the way everywhere could be somewhere (else) if you squint a bit...or drink enough wine.

ms. hood goes arty

this was taken by frances in the back of a black cab, after several glasses of pinot grigio .

i think she shows great promise: she's obviously learnt from one of the greats...

assistants at rest

frances and sara in the back of a cab en route home about 2am (weds night?).

after a day of 'fannying around' the studio, as frances says (which isn't as fun as it sounds) we went to the oxo tower gallery for the launch of the BT "Essence of the Entrepreneur" show.

i'm very proud of how the show is looking.
many people were kind enough to come and compliment me on the way it came together.
as i said during the speeches, it was only because everyone we photographed were so willing to participate and try things that we were able to collaborate and get the goods.

i think all photography of people is a collaboration...or at least should be.

only one person hideously offended me at the show by coming up and saying (something along the lines of...) 'i'm a fan of your work. i read your diary. i entered this competition to be photographed by you. i didn't win but then i'm gald because i thought you were a creative photographer and this is not you being creative, or 'you': you didn't do perou shoots. these aren't any good'.

i never know quite what to say when someone is so directly rude about something i've been working hard on and putting my soul into.
often my photographs feel like my children (not really, but you know: they're little bits of me).

it's not that i'm hurt or offended that this person didn't like my work: i don't care AT ALL if ANYONE likes my work: i shoot for myself only, but i was shocked/offended at how rude this person was.
its like going up to a heavy set person and going 'you are fat!' or an unatractive person and saying 'you are ugly!'.
it might be true but why would you be that rude/ignorant/self-righteous?

regardless: she was wrong: the shoot is all 'perou' and good enough for me to say i'm proud of it.
if anyone should be able to correctly judge my work, it's me.
sore loser: hope you're reading this...i'll do you the favour of not actually naming you or your company.

mrs.perou made it to the show but maximum did not: he was wiped out after weds' swimming adventure.

after the show, went for a drink at the oxo tower and then caught a cab to soho house with frances, annie and sara where we had dinner and continued to drink (stupidly).

cab home. bed by 2am