Saturday 29 December 2007

Madrid to Sau Paulo





Arrived last night. Transfered at Madrid airport which is amazing for photos. There´s a few I found on flickr above... (Going to do some myself on the way back...)

When we arrived there was almost a party in the airport as a group of twenty waited for one of their friends with a banner and balloons - gives you quite a good sense of what they are like here!

Really friendly taxi driver too, who then sped us through the big streets of Sau to our Pousada -which is tucked up in a district which really reminds me of San Francisco - steep streets and blocks. Very noticable how much security there is everywhere - every apartment block has gates and it own guard.

Ate in a typical Brazillian buffet - you pay 7 quid for as much as you can eat - and the food, especially the meat is amazing.

Bus today to Paraty... desperate to get to the sea!

Chao

Ash

A comedy fall...


Starting as I mean to go on. Had a comedy fall in the Cotswolds before leaving....

I slipped on the edge of the terrace at my girlfriends, did a charlie chaplinesque banana split fall with my camera in my hand and as Î protected it I landed badly on the lower back and elbow.

Its the first time I~ve fallen and not been able to move or speak for a few minutes.... so everyone was a a little worried. Thankfully I improved after that...

Now out here in Sau Paulo - ~I´m having to be a little old man - can´t pick up my rucksac and have trouble getting into cars... Its all good practice for when I´m 80!!!

Ash

Sunday 23 December 2007

Brazil - Join me on my travels



5 days till I head off...

Would be lovely for you to join me on my travelogue which I'll update as often as can. They'll be a flavour of places, people and culture with a smattering of photography.

Have a fab Christmas

Ash x

Tuesday 27 November 2007

UniQlo - The Japanese brand for Londoners



An interesting campaign for a number of reasons:

- Use of media - A london campaign that worked really effectively across London media - Metro, Tubes, Magazine content handed out at stations, promotional driver at stations...
- Creative concept - Make it feel london - use londoners... that's actually quite genius...
- Decent promo offer - £10 off £50 initial spend.

BUT

why didn't I go? Because Uniqlo has actually been around for a number of years and so I can't help feeling that you are having me on because the brand has never previously been about London... Reckon this campaign came out of some strong customer research, but I feel a link has been missed.

A loo gallery

Nike ID Studio



Some interesting developments are afoot in retail... that link into thoughts I've been having for a book. We are in an age of personalisation that will only continue to grow. The traditional consumer society is changing. Customers are demanding more relevant products that are tailored to their tastes and technology is there to make this possible. The Nike ID studio is a great example of a brand who are keenly aware of this.

Heima




A proper good film by a band... it's been a while...

Sigur Ros is probably some of the most visual music at the moment, and their music videos have always been beautiful pieces of moving photography, so Heima is probably a natural extension. Seen some clips... very much recommended

Get One Tree




Yet another tremendous promotions idea from Innocent. Rooted in the brand, with significant standout from the buy one get one frees on Tesco's shelves, and doing something good for the planet to boot!

Friday 9 November 2007

Autumn Shirley Hills


Autumn Shirley Hills, originally uploaded by Ashley Pollak.

Autumns definetely here and winter is on the way when you can get a shot like this... The colours this year are incredible and the sun we missed in the summer seems to be on overdrive at the moment.... that is if you ignore the rain!

A crowd marches with shadows

interesting recent photo.

Taken up at ali pali after the fireworks...

At last a blog...

Seemed a natural extension to the flickr account and facebook - I clearly can't keep off my damn mac!

Anyway going to use this blog as a forum for thoughts and inspiration - so there should be an electic mix of photography, documentary, interesting marketing and advertising, art, culture and the like.

Expect some debate, some frustration, some excitement and generally a place that acts as a brain dump... if that thought appeals then welcome!

Ash

Self Portrait - South Bank