This was a shoot which really helped me to pin down what I was trying to do. I loved most of the photographs from this session, it was chilly, getting dark and by the time I finished it the moon was climbing high in the sky. I used long exposures with my digital camera on a tripod. Sometimes as long as 5 minutes. I hadn’t done much night work up to this point and wanted to see what results I might achieve.
I have converted a few of the images to black and white as I think this added to a sense of timelessness The jackdaws in the trees were very vocal, as were the pheasants! As it was their time of day to set up roost in the trees. This was tricky to capture on camera but I rather like the movement in the treetops whilst also revealing the silhouette of the birds settling there for the night. The canopy of the trees was especially dramatic because of the clear sky and full moon that night. They cast their silhouette on the lake and so with the longer exposure I had the effect of smoth mirror like surface of the water and the reflection of light cloud, branches and leaves which had slight blur to them.
This work was a joy to make and the focus on just a few small areas of the lake meant again that I just surrounded myself with the landscape and really felt a part of it.
As I was about to leave, I turned around and saw the perfect reflection of the moon in a puddle. I got the camera back out and photographed it, also the scene of the driveway down to the area of the property where the rented sheds are.
The work here really doesn’t quite fit visually with my narrative though. I am being less concerned about that when actually shooting because thats my aim but when it comes to sequencing a book or selecting work for the gallery wall, I think it sits alone. It is likely I will create a separate body of work for another project having been inspired by this shoot.
I took my Nikon out and treated the activity just as a walk rather than a photoshoot. Some of my photographs were banal but I’ve selected a few that I felt had the beginning of something more meaningful. Successes for me are the shots under the tree canopy at the waters edge. I, like many people am drawn to water and this is the place which contains the memories of mid summer when the lake is used for leisure and the teens ‘hang out’ on its banks. The swan is reclaiming its territory here, with everyone now headed home. I have ideas for other projects which centre on this lake. It centres around the summer months when it is very much in use by family and friends. Of course, thats not possible for this final project because it is being carried out over Autumn and Winter, when the landscape takes on a whole new meaning for me. A place of solitude and quiet where I get to lose myself in my own thoughts.
I shot alongside using my analogue camera, the images from that can be seen on the following post. The light was very bright even though late in the day and it was surprisingly tricky to get the balance right.
At this moment I was very much still trying to narrow down my theme and now, writing this up and having developed this further, I am not sure how these may / may not fit. I think that they do tell part of the story of the place itself.
In the first few images of the ‘square lake’ I have concentrated on the aspect of the lake which we use for socialising. My children are there as soon as the temperature climbs in the spring, until the last of the summer warmth. There is a deep connection with this place, when I think about the summers spent here and some essence of each of us remaining, memories are literally contained here and the rope swing in particular symbolises that. I admit to a tinge of sadness when I photographed this, knowing that this is another year of a rapidly disappearing childhood done. I think that may be why I chose to convert the tree and rope swing images in to black and white. I didn’t want the distraction of colour to detract from the memory. The garden hoe was used by the children to ‘grab’ the handle of the rope swing to pull it back in, ready for the next launch. The presence of the swan, peacefully swimming along whilst I photographed, did make me think about how it is probably enjoying the peace and quiet now. The white chair in the background, and also of the yellow boat on the late, as well as the kayak on the shore, is further intended to show where someone once was, enjoying the surroundings.
The next set of images is from the adjacent lake, this is less used as a ‘playground’ as it is close to holiday yurts that my mother and stepfather rent out. Also manmade, these have over the years changed shape as my stepfather digs out channels and creates small island areas for the wildlife. Not one to leave things be, he enjoys creating spaces for all (people, plants and animals alike) which results in an abundant landscape. For these images, I was able to concentrate on smaller details, like the reflections of the trees, plants and the exposed roots. This was taken at a time when Southern areas of the UK had no rain for 45 consecutive days. The impact of this was so clear to me when I took these photos. Areas of the lake were completely dried up and you could walk from one section to another, without getting wet! Even the algae bloom was everywhere this year which you can clearly see on the lake surface. I like the traces of the ducks etc in the water, revealing where they’ve been, which of course would be impossible without the algae.
I think I have some nice photographs but none of them really say anything about what I am trying to create. I do feel some frustration at this stage, I have also photographed using my analogue camera, I am hopeful that the film will be more rewarding as I have taken more time with it, with only 10 frames per roll of film, it commands a slower, more considered approach. I have realised I am almost using my digital camera to document this process.
Lucinda Taylor 