5 Jan 2015

Creating A Connection | Visiting Birmingham




Wearing - Marmot Precip Jacket | Uniqlo Shirt | White T-Shirt Co. Tee | Albam Jeans | Converse 1970s Trainers | CHUP Socks | Patagonia Backpack | TRiCKETT Baseball Cap

The benefits of connecting with your peers in real life go far beyond enjoying a nice coffee every now and then - though that's definitely a plus. It's a way of sounding off ideas, forming meaningful relationships, experiencing new places, becoming involved in collaborative projects, and a contributing factor to making us feel satisfied and content in life. Well, it is for this guy anyway. I spend a lot of time alone, beavering away to try and make this freelance lark work, so when I do get the chance to visit a new town or city for work I always enjoy hooking up with the people that I've made connections with online.

On a recent trip to Birmingham to shoot in the Liquor Store I took the opportunity to meet up with Ming Nham, a man of many talents and many wise words to share. We explored Ming's city, visiting the insane looking city library, the Ikon Gallery, a few independent stores and stopped for a quick break in Faculty Coffee. I need more of this in 2015 please - more exploring, more connecting, more real life.

I'll be in London for a few days next week, so if anyone fancies meeting then just drop me a line.

Photography by Ming Nham.

35 comments:

  1. Love this post Mat! Next time your in Birmingham let me know :) Happy New Year!

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  2. That would be great Hannah. Did you enjoy your holiday?

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  3. I agree, it's always a nice treat to meet up with new and old friends, and online pals. I try to do that since I have to travel quite a bit for work. Even if it's a mere coffee time catch up! Happy New Year! :) /Madison

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  4. I love these photos, capture the essence of British weather!

    Nik,
    NIKJAMESS | Fashion & Lifestlye

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  5. looks like a fun trip! The only side of birmingham I've ever seen was on the show Peaky Blinders. Very different from present day of course. The B&W shots are lovely

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  6. Yes had a fab holiday thank you! Really enjoyed it, was strange being away for Christmas and New Year though!

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  7. I don't actually know much about Birmingham myself but sounds like a good time, and what you said is true, real life connections are important!

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  8. I don't know loads but it's the second biggest city in England (I think), lots going on there and is was nice to visit. Annoyingly it's more expensive to get there on the train than it is to London.

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  9. Ah yeah I've never watched that, seems really popular though. Ska music came from that area.

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  10. Love all these pictures of you! Have looked at Ming's Flickr, great photography. I've been to Birmingham but don't think I've explored properly.

    Katrina Sophia

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  11. Being a Londoner I've only visited Birmingham a handful of times. Great photography though and you make it look really cool! Loving the bright Converse too.

    Ben | http://www.twentyfirstcenturygent.com/

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  12. Love the black and white shots Mat! Glad to see you are going from strength to strength, best mens blog out there :) x

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  13. I've only visited B-town a couple of times, don't know what I made of it in all honesty but the library is stunning. Maybe I need another day trip!

    Becky :: accooohtrements.wordpress.com

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  14. Traveling and exploring and meeting new people is the very very best - the freelancer life can be a bit lonely at times for sure, probably why I'm questioning it for myself!

    I can't believe that's their library?! So beautiful!

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  15. I thought Ska was Jamaican? Well that is what I've always believed anyway :)

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  16. Nar it's a british thing, when all the Jamaicans came to England and moved around the midlands, clash of the cultures formed Ska music. Hence the black and white seen in a lot of the work

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  17. You know what, I'm thinking of Two-Tone! Woops

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  18. I was just about to say that and then launch into an essay. Ahahaha. Two-tone and even Boss Reggae (off shoots of Ska) are a British sound. Even Bob Marley started off his career making Ska records in Jamaica when he was a "Rude Boy".

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  19. It can be lonely, i wrote a post about that last summer. I was basically not speaking to anyone all day, but then I started to snap out of that and enjoy my work. It's a weird looking place, you should google it, the outside is nuts.

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  20. Yeah my mind blurred them into one. I've listened to more two-tone, so I was quick to jump. My bad.

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  21. I enjoyed what I saw, though I had a good old tour guide!

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  22. Whoa Charlotte that's a bit kind of you to say that, thank you. I appreciate that a lot. Are you back from your trip?

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  23. Maybe we'll get to meet this year Daisy?

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  24. Where are you from Maria? Sounds like we were close yeah, I enjoyed it there.

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  25. Cheers Ben, only my second time in Birmingham too. I usually by-pass for London, was nice to stop off. The Converse are the 1970's version.

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  26. Thank you, I also agree, really like the way they came out!

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  27. I'm sure he appreciates you checking out his work, thank you.

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  28. I know right, soaking!

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  29. Well it's true. Yep back safe and sound from my trip but off on another next week (I have the bug!) back in March where I'll be forced back to reality :)

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  30. Cheers Shannan. I tried visiting your blog but the url seems to be down atm.

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  31. It's one of the best things. Where do you travel for work then, that sounds ideal!

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  32. Certainly fun, but not always glamourous! Germany ,UK, and California mostly. Thanks!

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