From Mid-Summer and into Autumn . . .

Over mid-summer, while the sunrise is at its earliest and the days are long, I have used my daily dog walks over the fields with Freddie as inspiration for a low-key photography project. I like focus and intent in my photographic work and enjoy the freedom of an iPhone as a light-weight alternative to my Nikon Z7. My intention in this project has been to capture similarities and differences in the landscape over time. Too many photographers visit a location, take a few images, and move on, not choosing to spend time in the landscape nor dwell in its uniqueness. For me, knowledge comes through spatial persistence and understanding; spending time in the same location and getting to know your surroundings provides a better perspective. Rather than seeking impact, I am searching for the allure in a place and my images. I want to draw the viewer in, encourage them to spend time with my photographs and appreciate the details I have observed, and share my experiences as I dwell and offer time and space to the landscape.

In order to spend more effective time in a location, I chose a project close to home in the fields of north Wiltshire. Over the days and weeks, I have sought different viewing points, taking images before and after sunrise and encountered many wildlife moments with Roe deer, Muntjac deer, hares and rabbits. Even in this glorious summer, the vistas have been varied between a beautiful misty morning, to threatening skies and ever-changing sunrises. Yet, it is only possible to appreciate diversity through comparing images over time. While my current project is in its infancy, the camera provides me with a unique opportunity to capture and return to ephemeral moments in time, glimpses of an ever-changing world that, as human beings, we are unable to retain. Our perception is dynamic, a continuously moving image. Over the months, and from summer into autumn, I intend to continue with my project and add to my knowledge and understanding of this tiny part of Wiltshire. I intend to produce a concertina book, similar to the one I created a couple of years ago for an exhibition at the University of Dundee in 2022, while living in Skye. The making of a concertina book will be the subject of my next post.