Sometimes you have to squeeze a trip into whatever time you have available. And if all you have is a couple of hours to visit the beautiful Giant’s Causeway before starting work in the morning, then so be it.
I am always extremely conscious of going somewhere with someone else expressly for the purpose of taking photographs. I tend to get totally absorbed in what I am doing, flitting from place to place, searching, looking, adjusting and perfecting shots. Before realising that the person I am with is hovering, patiently (most of the time) further up the road, waiting, perhaps doing their own thing, but always fitting around me and my activities. Despite trying hard not to put pressure on me to finish, or trying not to get in my way, their presence will inevitably bring me back to reality no matter how supportive or understanding they are.
That morning would prove to be no exception.
I was in the zone, keen and eager to start playing with what was laid out before me. The light may have been grey and flat, but there was stunning geometry to work with and puddles of reflections waiting to be discovered. And adding to my eagerness and the urgency I was feeling was the fact that, despite the early hour, coaches were starting to arrive in the car park high above us, spilling their contents out into the morning air, streams of tourists pouring down the hill.
I had ten minutes at most, with no choice but to disappear into my own little world, consciously, stubbornly and hopefully politely, ignoring Murray.
And sure enough, ten minutes later, Murray had no choice but to consciously, perhaps stubbornly and definitely politely make his presence felt.
I need a shit, I’ll see you back in the car park” is as good a way as any to interrupt the creative process, and laughter is as good an accompaniment to taking photographs as any other.
Five minutes later the tourists were upon the Causeway and I had done all I could. I too was heading back up the steep hill, my pace slowly increasing as, inevitably, my bowels also started telling me – in no uncertain terms – that perhaps I shouldn’t have left it so long to make the long journey back to civilisation.
The perils of interrupting your morning routine for whatever reason – sightseeing or art – should never be underestimated.
May 19, 2019
April 26, 2019
January 28, 2019
March 19, 2018
February 15, 2018
January 11, 2018
October 3, 2017
September 3, 2017
June 2, 2017
May 18, 2017
April 27, 2017
February 27, 2017
November 11, 2016
November 7, 2016
November 5, 2016
September 25, 2016
July 1, 2016
June 3, 2016
May 24, 2016
May 24, 2016
April 9, 2016
March 20, 2016
November 11, 2015
November 10, 2015
October 20, 2015
September 12, 2014
August 15, 2014
July 1, 2014
June 2, 2014
April 20, 2014
April 19, 2014
November 28, 2013
June 10, 2013
May 8, 2013
May 3, 2013
March 24, 2013
February 23, 2013
February 22, 2013
February 21, 2013
February 7, 2013
January 22, 2013
November 29, 2012
November 1, 2012
June 9, 2012
June 6, 2012
June 5, 2012
June 3, 2012
February 3, 2012
January 20, 2012
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
January 5, 2012
September 3, 2011
August 19, 2011
May 24, 2011
April 21, 2011
April 20, 2011
April 10, 2011
April 8, 2011
April 7, 2011
March 22, 2011
March 16, 2011
March 3, 2011
March 2, 2011
March 1, 2011
February 28, 2011
October 20, 2010
October 15, 2010
September 16, 2010
August 22, 2010
August 5, 2010
August 3, 2010
July 8, 2010
June 25, 2010
June 19, 2010
June 15, 2010
June 2, 2010
May 23, 2010