A matter of light and space

For pretty much everybody, the general consensus of opinion regarding 2020 has not been favourable. It has affected us all in one way or another. For me, I saw all of my freelance work disappear along with my sports photography. I tried to replace this with other work, as well as trying out different styles and approaches to my photography. The idea was to stay motivated, keep my skills honed and ideas fresh but it was not that easy. At times you wondered why you bothered or wether to continue with your chosen path. With all this time on your hands, it was little wonder that doubt grew and negative thoughts affected your confidence.

But when you are at your lowest and you realise the only way is up. I know it is obvious and cliched but it is also true. So, you begin to drag yourself out of the mire and smell the rose’s, so to speak. On this journey, not only do you discover things about yourself and what is important but you realise that you are far from alone, you are only a conversation or a sentence away from finding a great weight being lifted.

Journey.

As I searched for a handle on things, a way forward. I began to discover photographers I had never heard off and others I had forgotten or only knew by their images, such as Yoshi Shimizu, Derek Hudson, Clive Booth, Ami Vitale and Victoria Jones, to name just a few. Music that touched your soul and gave you hope, Bill Evans, Hania Rani, Yann Tiersen, Agnes Obel, etc. Art, film, poetry and literature that let you escape the day to day realities. All these influences and pointers gave you the confidence to stop and think. To think about nothing and imagine. It allowed your emotions to roam free, to listen to the silence within. You were allowing yourself to be moved and in that creative space, thoughts formed and ideas began to be nurtured. Decisions are made.

As 2021 approaches, we find ourselves locked down again, isolated from our families and friends. Our plans put on hold or cancelled as we try to evade an invisible enemy. For me, I am not going to let this disrupt my future plans. The borders of our tiers may limit as too how far we can travel or the restrictions of distance, masks and cleanliness may restrict our direction. But, these things will pass, we will overcome and adapt to this so called “new reality”. We will meet again. We will create.

As I have journeyed through 2020, I, like others have realised who and what is important, what matters, what we desire and what we no longer need and want. Over the coming weeks, here on my website and in my social media accounts, my decisions will become apparent with my images and words explaining my journey. I hope you will notice the change, support and advise me. If you are beginning or restarting your journey away from 2020 and into 2021, I wish you ‘Bonne chance’.