A Lady's Best Friend

"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring, it was peace."  Milan Kundera.

Portraits of people with their dogs is a new project I'm working on. It's simple, I'm offering a shoot of dog and owner in a scenic location and then the chance to buy a framed print. Please if you or anyone you know may be interested email james@jamesclarke.me and if you have time please share this post. Oh and this picture is of Vanessa the Belly Dancer and her great dane Daisy Doo.

Two Men And Their Dogs

Apprentice shepherd, 14 year old Olly Russell with his neighbour and mentor 84 year old John on his farm in Flintshire, North Wales. Olly who was recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, has his own flock of sheep, drives a Land Rover, manages his dogs, goes to school as well as tirelessly helping John throughout the recent lambing season.

Sonali

A spread from this months PEI Magazine with a portrait of Sonali De Ryker. It says she could be "the best VC in Europe". I don't know anything about that but she was a nice lady and a pleasant change from the usual men in suits.

PEI = Private Equity International, VC = Venture Capitalist(I think)

The Diabetes Lab

A few shots from my recent visit to the Diabetes Research labs at Kings College School of Medicine. As someone who has diabetes it was particularly interesting, both to see the actual research happening and that headway is being made towards some kind of cure. Most of the research going on was into the blood of the newly diagnosed to gain a full understanding of what is happening to the blood cells at this time and whether any intervention can stop or slow down the process. Fascinating stuff and certainly these studies really are heading in the right direction coming on in leaps and bounds in the last few years. The head researcher there likened the speed of their achievements with what has happened with HIV research and treatment, that is something that was once a death sentence only a few years ago, is now completely treatable and people live long lives with it. However he wouldn't be pushed on that eureka moment and when it would happen, it seems that tests on humans for anything they come up with are still a long way off. It was a real joy to see it all in action though and by a surprisingly cool bunch of young people while listening to louder than you'd expect, groovy music!

Living With Aggro

This is 34 year old Michael Bigg of Stratford, London with Aggro, his 7 foot long boa constrictor. They are quite an intimidating couple, I kept my distance from the snake but got on well with Michael who has Type 2 Diabetes and is one of the recent volunteers from my new diabetic portrait project for Diabetes UK. Please get in touch if you know anyone with diabetes who might like to have their picture taken doing whatever they do.

The Chevy Lady

The latest from my new batch of diabetic portraits. This is our local Diabetes UK representative, tattooed, 50s obsessive Caroline Cornford of Battle, East Sussex with her fantastic 1956 Chevrolet. I'm still on the hunt for more blood sugar challenged people that would be up for a portrait so if anyone knows anyone please give me a shout.

Daisy Mae

My 6 year old daughter who is now a stage actress and successful fantasy football manager.

Chris Ryan

Chris Ryan tough ex-SAS geezer that writes books. I don't normally shoot people with their arms crossed but it seems to work here.

He was born in 1961 in a village near Newcastle. In 1984 he joined the SAS. During his ten years in the Regiment, he was involved in overt and covert operations and was also Sniper team commander of the anti-terrorist team. During the Gulf War, Chris was the only member of an eight-man team to escape from Iraq, of which three colleagues were killed and four captured. It was the longest escape and evasion in the history of the SAS. For this he was awarded the Military Medal. During Ryan's last two years in the Regiment he selected and trained potential SAS recruits, he left the SAS in 1994. His work in security takes him around the world. He has also appeared in a number of TV programmes, including HUNTING CHRIS RYAN, PUSHED TO THE LIMIT (Toughest Families) and TERROR ALERT (Sky TV, 2004).

Get in!

My father-in-law, Ron Pharoah misses a putt, just. This is from the first shoot from my 2nd series of diabetic portraits for DiabetesUK. Ron is 71, has Type 2 Diabetes and is a very keen, 3 times a week golfer. He actually got a hole in one on 18 Nov 2011 at Wellshurst Golf Club in East Sussex. I know this because there's a plaque on the bar wall that commemorates the event.

I'm still on the lookout for volunteers with types 1 or 2 diabetes. So if anyone knows of anyone that might be interested, please get in touch. All volunteers get copies of their pictures as well as the glory of starring on the Diabetes Uk website. www.diabetes.org.uk

JANINE!

The fragrant Charlie Brooks better known as evil Janine from Eastenders. She's actually really nice and about to enter the jungle with I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. A good punt to win it I'd say, she's currently 2nd favourite at 9/2.

The Dentist

This is Karina Sotero, my favourite dominican dentist. Aged just 23, she is a fully qualified dentist and runs her own surgery in La Romana in The Dominican Republic. Multi-lingual, clever and charming, she was a sponsored child in a Compassion project with her sponsor continuing to sponsor her through college.

DR_Ginsely_Dentist_08

The Fruit Bowl Lady

You don't mess with the lady that can balance a bowl of fruit on her head and eat a packet of crisps at the same time. She's one of the many stars from my Dominican Republic trip. More here soon.