There are times (few and far between it seems) when a collection of seemingly unrelated events and circumstances, conspire and aggregate into the much sought after and happy condition for all photographers, of experiencing a ‘burst of inspirational creativity’.
I am pleased to say that one such ‘burst’ happened for me yesterday and almost (dare I say it?) – yes I will! – almost, for a short time only . . . I considered that there might actually be someone ‘up there’ who listens to pleas of “help me find inspiration!” and actually answers these important type requests.
As you may gather, this purely emotional and irrational response, didn’t last long fortunately and soon I was back to my usual pragmatic self and analysing how best to use the quickly changing light conditions.
It happened this way.
The day started as it usually does. Drag myself out of bed around 06:30, have a look out of the window. Nice morning. Sun rising. Makes a change. Dressing gown on. Tramp upstairs to office and switch on computer, so that it can be cranking up whilst I make coffee. Tramp downstairs and make coffee. Watch news headlines. I think to myself “should be in Libya”, but of course my better half wouldn’t stand for that. “Wait until the kids are grown up!” We’ll see.
Anyway, back up stairs to check email. Shower. Make second cup of coffee. See wife and kids off to school. Plan the day. First job is to take the car to the garage for its MOT. Garage is four miles away, so how do I do this? Ask them to come and pick car up? No. Shove bike into back of car and cycle home? No. Bike is absolutely grafted in 3 inches of mud from my last cross country. It was too cold after returning home to be bothered to clean it off. Damn! – What about taxi home? Too expensive. Bus perhaps? No. Too many people with flu like symptoms. Don’t want that. I know! I’ll walk home the long way through the countryside and try and catch up with a uni assignment by taking some photos on the way back.
I break the mould by not taking the 16-35mm zoom lens. I attach the 85mm f1.2 – this will make me focus on the job in hand!
So I drive to the garage, drop off the car and head back along a a narrow country road towards Beverley. The Minster is in view and I enjoy the crisp (bloody freezing actually) bright morning. I shoot off a few frames and hope to see a black rabbit that I saw in this very area a couple of weeks ago. No such luck and no long lens anyway. Half way down, I came across some greenhouses and thought the subject may fit the assignment. (Dividing a frame up and all that!) Fired the shutter a few times and continued on my way, literally contemplating the meaning of life, the universe and everything. Now that probably sounds corny, but I swear to you that it’s true. Anyway, a short distance on and I came across these dilapidated commercial greenhouses, long past their sell by date and normally you would not give them a second glance. I mean I have been past there dozens of times over the years and I have never given them, well, a fourtieth glance!?
This time though, I paused. I don’t know what it was I saw, but something came together in my head like a . . . like a lightbulb going off. (What a cliché!) Anyway, I fired off a couple of shots from the road, but decided to get nearer. I walked into the driveway just as a car was coming out. There was a younger woman driving whilst an older woman sat in the front passenger seat. I pulled out a business card as the older woman wound down the window.
“Good morning, I’m a photographer.
Blank stares.
I just wondered if I may take some photos of the greenhouses? – Please?”
“Well, no.” She says.
“Oh” I says.
“I won’t go inside or anything. I realise it could be dangerous.”
“Well ask my son! He’s round the back.” She says.
And drives off.
I made my way around to the back of the house and looked through the kitchen window to where two men were drinking tea. I held up my card expectantly as the two men (father and son in law?) looked at each other in silent argument as to who should get up, come to the door and see what this guy wants. The son (in law?) loses and opens the door, peering down at me from his higher level step, giving him the psychological advantage.
“Hi, I just saw your mother (I assumed he was the son) and she said to ask you if I could access the greenhouses to take some pictures.”
Blank look.
“I’m a photographer. See?” Holding up my camera.
“I won’t be long and I’ll be careful. I won’t sue anyone if I’m injured, or killed or anything. I’ve had hazardous environment training and stuff.”
(Well, I really didn’t say that last bit!)
He was still looking at me incredulously, but finally agreed to let me have access. And so I spent the next hour or so like a pig in a greenhouse, taking every effort not to get cut on broken glass, whilst taking some wonderful pictures. (Well I think so anyway.)
They really fit in with a long thought of project that just required that little spark to get it under way. I have included a few of the series below, but more can be found on my website at cannedphoto.co.uk under the ‘Entropy – Arrow of Time’ heading. See what you think.
All I can say is that I finished my walk home in a very cheerful fashion. All was right in my world. I know it may seem shallow and irrelevant, but to a photographer who gets just one image he is pleased with, he is the proverbial cat with the cream, the one eyed man in the kingdom of the blind, the fox amongst the chickens, a pig in . . . .
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What a perfect day
))