Where have I been…..…???
There are three answers to this one question. All three have relevance and I’ll start with the most obvious response, which relates directly to the images in this entry.
Many of you may recognise the subject of the above image. Yes, I have been to Corfe Castle in Dorset. I have to say that I normally try and steer clear of a honeypot location such as this. The very mention of this iconic place and the mind immediately conjures up a picture of the castle ruins rising out of early morning mist, bathed in warm dawn light. It’s a beautiful sight but it’s something of a cliche in the photographic world. Metaphorically speaking, tripod holes are all too evident!
If at all possible I prefer to approach a well known subject with a different eye and avoid making similar images to those that have ventured there before me.
With any form of landscape photography the weather, light and conditions play a huge part and I struck lucky when I went to Corfe Castle on the Isle of Purbeck. My principal intention was to enjoy a good walk from the village, get some fresh air, climb the hill to the west and take in the views, not just of the castle ruins but also the surrounding countryside. Of course I had my camera with me and it wasn’t long before some beautiful cloud formations coupled with glorious autumnal light presented me with a few opportunities to press the shutter. Why hadn’t I been here before?
Time to move on and give you the second answer to the question – ‘Where have I been?’
Unbelievably six months have passed since my last post and in this time my camera gear has barely seen the light of day. Many of you will be aware that England experienced a very hot summer with little or no rain resulting in a drought for many parts of the country. Certainly not the conditions for walking very far or indeed for my style of photography which relies heavily on mood and atmosphere.
There was also another reason for the camera staying in its bag.
This time last year we said goodbye to our dear cocker spaniel of nearly 12 years. My wife and I were heartbroken, but at the beginning of the year we took the decision to find another puppy and eventually we found a breeder and our new four legged companion joined us at the end May. It’s been pretty full on since then so it’s hardly surprising that photography took a back seat. He’s now six months old, another delightful and merry cocker, but hard work all the same.
Call it a photographic sabatical if you wish but I am very conscious of the fact that for various reasons I have been away from my camera.
And now to the third answer.
Although the camera stayed in the bag over the summer I took the opportunity to go back over the images I had made in the 15 years of being a serious hobbyist. Thousands of landscape images all with the intention of making three books. One on England, another on Scotland, Wales and Ireland and a third on my home county of Dorset. In total I selected nearly 350 photographs. It’s no easy task curating this number but I am very happy with my final selection. I have no intention of publishing these books, they will simply be albums for me, my family and friends to enjoy. Images left on a hard drive are rarely seen and there is only limited amount of wall space to frame and hang a selection of photographs. I have been meaning to carry out this task for sometime now, so I’m pleased it’s nearly complete.
As I collated my favourite images from different parts of the UK it reminded me of how fortunate I have been to visit all these wonderful places and to capture their beauty and spirit in monochrome. From the Outer Hebrides to the Isle of Mull and many other parts of Scotland. Northumberland, The Lake District, Pembrokeshire and Snowdonia in Wales. Norfolk and Suffolk on the East coast and much of the South coast from Kent through to Sussex, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. For a small country the UK can boast some truly breathtaking and varied landscapes.
This most pleasurable exercise brought back some vivid memories, but it also raised the question of ‘where haven’t I been?’ Time on earth for all of us is limited and so while I have enjoyed looking back, more importantly I am thinking about the future and looking forward to visiting new locations which I can add to my list of ‘Where have I been?’
I can now include Corfe Castle to this list – and yes it was great to be out with my camera once again. Circumstances have changed and autumn is with us. My enthusiasm for photography and desire to make new images has returned.
One question – three answers – it’s good to be back.
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