Marc Provins

It's unsettling to think that everything is temporary so I prefer to believe that life is cyclical. These flowers were a gift and looked stunning for a week or so before they started to wilt. Now they are off to the compost heap for a year, maybe two after which time their remains will feed another plant, which will look stunning for a week or so... Anyway I'm back working in the daylight studio or box room as it's more commonly known, scrabbling around on the floor thinking about colour.  There are some earlier blog posts with my other experiments made in this way if you'd care to look: Stilleven Glow Acid Flawlessly Typed and Spaced There is still time to vote for this blog in the Blog North Awards if you'd be so kind! Big thanks. www.blognorthawards.com

One of the perks of being a photography lecturer is that I get to go out making pictures with the students. Today was the annual typology shoot, tapping into the collector in each of us, deciding on a subject and then hunting it down in urban Manchester. After a few false starts I decided to go for these skinny yellow legs that are all over town. I like that scaffolding at ground level has to be 'dressed' these days in a dapper outfit to avoid confused passers by marching straight into it. It does add a graphic edge to the streetscape. It also looks like the recession might be over as there is a huge amount of building and refurbishment going on in this neck of the woods.  Just a little reminder that there is less than a week left if you'd like to vote for this blog in the Blog North Awards - I'm really chuffed to be shortlisted and overwhelmed by all the positive messages and support, many thanks! www.blognorthawards.com

I saw this scene down the corridor this morning as I rushed to get ready for work and thought - yes that's exactly how I feel, squeezed. It's been a hectic week but the highlight was discovering this very blog has been shortlisted for a Blog North Award! I'm in the Arts & Culture category, if you fancy voting for me I'd be honoured. www.blognorthawards.com

I keep seeing monsters... These three were spotted emerging from the sea at Llandudno having just clambered over the fence designed to keep them out. If you missed my previous encounter you can find it here:  Belgian Flower Monsters