User:DavidFarmbrough

English freelance writer and photographer based in Wisconsin, USA. I am employed by a radio station as a broadcaster and promotions man, but most of my work is freelance writing and photography. I was a lawyer for many years in London. I enjoy creativity and my family, and have been a columnist with The VOICE Of Wisconsin Rapids since Summer 2009. I am also co-chairman of the Betty Boop Festival since 2010, dedicated to helping boost my home town of Wisconsin Rapids's finances by bringing in visitors, boosting morale by celebrating the work of one of its sons (Grim Natwick, original top animator of Betty Boop), and educating children and adults in animation, art, and cartoon history. In 2012 I have been active in Wisconsin Rapids Children's Museum Inc., an organisation currently exploring the feasibility of such a museum in our city. I was recently appointed to the city's ADA Advisory Board.

Writing

I first started writing book reviews for my youth club's magazine Explorers Bulletin, when I was a boy. My first paid writing was in around 1983, when I started writing music reviews for Musicnet, the music magazine of Prestel. I edited the Trent Players' magazine Trent News, and wrote many articles for this. I have had reviews published by Celestial Toyroom, Cybermag, Outpost Gallifrey (an excerpt from which was featured in the Daily Express) and the BBC's own website. During my second degree, I edited the Birkbeck College magazine, Lamp And Owl, wrote some articles and contributed photographs. I have started a review website, http://www.FilmTVReview.com FilmTVReview.com, which remains a shell. I have also written many reviews for Amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, and the Internet Movie Database. I have contributed many hours of writing and editing to Wikipedia, and several articles for Axis magazine between 2004-2008, and had an article on the dreaded 'Home Information Packs' published by Solicitors' Journal in 2008. I have written many articles for various news organisations and journalists in the last few years, including political opinion, "how-to" guides, and reviews. I currently have a regular column in the Voice Of Wisconsin Rapids (92 columns written at March 2013) and occasionally review plays and music for that paper. I also write political and other articles to order. I also write scripts and direct for video's made by Hearts Media and interviews for a Central Wisconsin news site: Life At The Center

Photography

I am a prolific photographer and have had pictures published in the local newspaper, maps, and over 1,300 on Google Earth. Each day, my photographs on Google are viewed over 600 times. I have had several photographs in my city's weekly paper, The VOICE Of Wisconsin Rapids. My pictures have been used in five election campaigns, company and church newsletters, a real estate agent, the website for Fleischer Studios, Country radio station Y106.5, Radio station Mix 96.7 and bands' Myspace and facebook pages. My pictures have been used by a London newspaper and a London radio station. I have also taken pictures on both a paid and voluntary basis for many local organisations and charities. In 2012 I came second in the "Best Photographer/Videographer" category in the People's Choice Of South Wood County awards. I have taught photography for the outreach department of the University Of Wisconsin (at Stevens Point).

I started taking photographs when I was a child, and during a photography course as a teenager became fascinated with the photography of my London surroundings. I took a set of transparencies of North West London in 1978 of which I am very proud, including some shots of the Trellick Tower and Kensal Green Cemetery.

I developed the digital process which produces 'reflectograms', a digital art made by capturing textures and colours and then reflecting them. My art is available on Redbubble.

I am Publicity Manager for Grand Avenue Artists an artists' group based in South Wood County.

Broadcasting

In the 1980s, I ran and DJd on a pirate radio station "Radio Enfield" with a friend, playing mainly old music but also contemporary songs. I have also DJd for parties and clubs. Since August 2010, I have been employed by WHTQ|Mix 96.7 in Central Wisconsin where I had two shows at the weekends (Saturday 2-8 p.m. and Sunday 11a.m.-3p.m.) until December 2012 when the station closed.

Qualifications

First degree in English Literature from Birkbeck College, University of London where I studied black British writing, post-colonial writing, Shakespeare, classical epic and science fiction|science-fiction, and an M.A. in History Of Film & Visual Media, also from Birkbeck, where I studied under Professors Laura Mulvey and Ian Christie (film scholar)|Ian Christie. My research report was on recovering our lost television heritage and my dissertation was on deaf people's access to television and film. My M.A. was presented to me by Eric Hobsbawm. I am a member of Convocation of the University.

Personal

Divorced, living in Wisconsin, USA with my young son. I enjoy singing well and playing instruments badly.