The project, reviewed...

Alexander Norton is a Basingstoke based photographer who has just graduated from Newport.  Apart from making rather interesting work himself (watch out, he is a bit of a trail blazer in certain regards), he is also developing a reputation as a reviewer.  Luckily for me, I know him a bit and fabulously for me, he came and had a look at the show.  Click here to read his review.

Other mini reviews have come from the comments in the little black book left in the gallery.  Obviously, I do particularly like the positive ones,

 but I have to admit that the following one is rather a favourite:

It's all subjective, isn't it and for this visitor, my portraits really didn't hit any kind of positive spot.  I do appreciate the fact that they took the time to write their feedback though.  Thanks, Anonymous One.


To see some of Alexander Norton's work, check out his website: and read more of his reviews at The Daily Mention.  Enjoy.

Finally: The Show!

Thank you to everyone who made it to The Willis Museum yesterday for the opening: it was great to see you all!

I loved some of the comments in the visitors' book - including the one below by Caroline.  Our shoot had to be postponed three times due to the weather, and we finally made it on the 4th.  So happy that she and her dad, John, were happy to keep trying.  Thank you!

Final words from a five year old critic:

 Bless.

Hanging the Show. Day I

The best plans of mice and men...  Because of the Mayoral reception, the show that should have come down on Tuesday, only was removed from the walls at 3 p.m. yesterday.  The knock on effect of this is that holes had not been filled in and walls had not been painted.  Did this phase us?  No, of course not.  Thanks to Marian at The Willis for her sanding and to my friend Malika and step-dad Richard for the painting, we managed to get the walls ready for the images to start going up this afternoon.

Three up.  25 singles, two triptychs and one info board to go...

I get to all the best parties

Yesterday, July 11th, the Olympic torch relay came through Basingstoke.  The crowds were 5 deep, the flags were waving and the sun even made an appearance.  Amazing.  Although I had 'broken through the cordon' to get to a spot in the market square, I couldn't actually see what was happening,  Oh to be over 6ft, or own a pair of stilts...

But, my lack of physical stature really didn't matter as I had a Basingstoke golden ticket, an invite to the Mayor's reception at the Willis which meant that after cupcakes and speeches, I got my hands on the real torch.  Yes, the real torch.  In fact, torches - one from 1948 (which a certain leisure centre manager cruelly described as looking more like a toilet brush and holder) and one from 2012!  Thank you, Matthew, fresh from the relay, for letting us all get our sticky fingers on it.

The reason all of these wonders were opened up to me?  My exhibition!  Awesome.

Thank you to all of these clubs

Everyone photographed for the exhibition volunteered their time.  I would like to thank them, and the clubs of which they are members (for without contacting the clubs direct, I would not have been able to make this work.)

- Golden Ring Boxing Club - http://www.goldenringabc.co.uk/

- Southampton Epee Club - http://www.southampton-epee.co.uk/

- Scorpion Judo Club - http://scorpionjudoclub.com/

- Southampton Diving Academy - http://www.southamptondiving.co.uk/

- Basingstoke Hockey Club - http://www.basingstoke-hockey.com/

- Rushmoor Synchronised Swimming Club - http://www.rssc.org.uk/

- Canoe England - http://www.canoe-england.org.uk/

- North Hampshire Road Club (cycling) - http://www.nhrc.co.uk/Welcome.html

- Basingstoke Gymnastics Club - http://www.basingstokegym.co.uk/

- Havant Rifle and Pistol Club - http://www.havant-rpc.org.uk/

- Basingstoke and Mid Hants Athletics Club - http://www.bmhac.co.uk/

- Phoenix Badminton Club - http://www.phoenixbadminton.hampshire.org.uk/

- Hampshire Hornets Wheelchair Basketball Club - http://www.hampshirehornets.co.uk/

- BTC Rowing Club - http://www.btcrowingclub.co.uk/

- Basingstoke Volleyball Club - http://www.basingstokevc.org.uk/bvc/

- Overton and Basingstoke Taekwondo - http://www.obtkd.org.uk/

- Basingstoke Bluefins Water Polo - http://www.bluefinspolo.co.uk/

- Bluefins Swimming Club - http://www.swimbluefins.org/

- Totally Tennis Basingstoke - http://www.totallytennis.co.uk/

- Old Basing Archers - http://www.oldbasingarchers.co.uk/

- Modern Pentathlon Southern Region - http://www.srmpa.co.uk/

- English Table Tennis Association - http://etta.co.uk/

- Basingstoke Volleyball Club - http://www.basingstokevc.org.uk/bvc/

- Marchwood Yacht Club - http://www.marchwoodyc.org.uk/mycpublic/

- Weighlifting portrait shot at - http://www.sportscentre.org.uk/

- Handball portrait shot at - http://www.qmc.ac.uk/sports-centre
- Badminton portrait shot at - Everest Community College 

- Football portrait shot at the War Memorial Park, Basingstoke 

Sadly, I was not able to find a wrestler, beach volleyball player, or softball player to photograph for the show....  If any reader has a photograph of themselves doing any of these sports, perhaps you could let me have a copy for the exhibition and I will find a way to include it...  Contact me on denise.docphot@sportingchance.gmail.com if you do!

Tying up loose ends...

With just under a week to go until I start getting the images on the wall, it's time to get a little bit excited.  I've got some rather fine people making things happen in the background - Simon Regan is doing the printing and Peter Taylor is constructing the handmade frames and getting the prints safe inside.  On standby to help get the work on the wall are my step-dad, Richard, my partner, Lyn and my good friend, Malika who is coming from France!  Being roped in to serve drinks on the day (although she doesn't know it yet) will be another special friend, so thanks in advance, Karen!

Oh - and my business cards have arrived.