Hope you have a wonderful creative Springtime.

It amazes me still, how a small sentance or comment can be so well received.
Serendipity ?

An email arrived, just before I was due to leave the house, from an artist I had met at the weekend during and after a race she ran, the distance of which (50km) inspires me to what people are capable of. We had been talking and discussing images I had taken.
But at the end of the email, instead of a routine 'cheers' 'bye' 'later' or 'regards' ending to the email, she closed with the sentence;

"Hope you have a wonderful creative Springtime."

What a beautiful way to part. It's different. It stands out. OK, it doesn't rhyme or roll with alliterative prose, neither is it blunt, safe or dismissive.
Oh but it does resonate.
I took that sentence with me, and to the village where I was heading,  all along playing it back. And here is where it took off, the morning sunshine along the Rye river was beautiful, a Thrush hopping about the grass within reach. Birdsong - yes it is that time of year where birds call and fill the air with sound. The river itself, full in both sound and flow, no doubt the trout are feeding well, with the extra rain these days, I'm sure enough nutrients will be introduced into their world. I wonder will the salmon find their way upstream. The river Rye is known as the furthest river upstream of the river Liffey to carry Salmon.
The trees have not yet filled out with leaves, but maybe it's only the awakening of springtime.

As I walked, and closer to the village I got. Sounds changed. The life of commerce, of commuting and peoples lives started to slowly fill the air. But not in a bad way. A slow quiet tempo - distant, removed yet close. Not intrusive, but sharing the audio with nature.

Into the village, and the business I was to visit was closed, today was its day not to wake early. I enjoy that, commerce taking a relaxed healthy approach on one of it's days. I hope some of their staff took the opportunity to walk also !
Though closed, all was not in vain. I, by chance, met another athlete from the weekend. Some fine compliments were exchanged, He admiring the images, I admiring the way he and the other athletes had style during the race. The conversation flowed so well, by the time we parted, the doors were almost opening, I still had time to cross over and look at the river Rye flowing and joining the River Liffey. And think some more on Springtime.

I came back from my morning, buoyed with positive ideas, Business ideas for my images came flowing, inspiration from positive people - and it all started with the ending;

"Hope you have a wonderful creative Springtime."


To visit some of the images from a muddy 50km forest trail race: Donadea 5km Trail Ultra Marathon

Last week - this week 2

Do professional photographers take photographs whilst on vacation ? Now there's an interesting question !
So, to the next installment;
Have any images come my way, yes hundreds, thousands even.
Any good ones ? Hmmm, always a hope of a few in there.
But first what has been going on.

The last 3 weeks has seen me taking holidays 'en France' with the family. So 3 weeks in picturesque towns, vineyards, the occasional Chateau - of course something will come of it, in fact lots of great shots of ...my kids.
 In fairness, I do not work as a professional photographer, nor do I claim to ( but I do in truth aspire to it...that's a different blog topic). So if on holidays, I take loads of the kids, the Mrs and the occasional vineyard - then I'm happy. Now if the balance was loads of 'art' and only some of the others...then I'm in trouble.

Sunflowers were but one of a theme I went away to capture, but the little yellow beasties kept turning their backs on me, I got some to play with, eventually liking the burnt out sad looking ones more than the bright yellows. Maybe it was reflection on how they and the weather treated me. Good, kind, bright sunshine even...but not always when I needed it.

The buildings in France, rural or urban, if over a certain age, just ooze character. Just walking and looking is worth it. Bringing the camera and walking slower than the rest of the family... well we can't always be leading the way. Mind you, carrying the youngest on the shoulders, while trying to fire of a quick shot of something you just caught a glimpse of... lets say that not images worked as well as they possibly could have.

It is amazing though, how, often when out on a short errand, I could find myself taking the wrong turn - quite by accident you understand ! Actually one of the best fun images came from such an occasion - so good - I had to bring the family to show them the follwing day. The fact I hadn't got the camera with me on the first day ..well that was An accident really !

If that was the last 3 weeks, the next 3+ will be the hardship end - sorting them out, processing, picking the favourites...and hopefully printing some to frame around the house too.

I'll insert a few images soon.
Let me know - was it family or art which won out.

James

Last Week - This week

In an effort to keep the modern world tapping at the door, and the habit of procrastinating at arms reach, I've decided to start a new blog.
Last week - This week , a semi-regular note as to what I got up to photographically over the last week or 2. Similar to twitter but without the restriction of characters and with the inclusion of images.
In fact the more one thinks about it, the more it sounds like, well, a blog ! Interesting that ?

So as an inaugural This-week-last-week Blog. Here's a flavour of what I've been up to.
Hope it works.
J..

Last week: Lunar eclipse 16-19 June.
Managed to try some moon rise shots, have been contemplating this one a while, so as soon as I heard from both the news and a phone call from John, the procrastinating bit got a kick and I managed in the space of 3 seperate nights, to take some what I hope are decent images.
But, true to form, the images are taken - just not yet available...... I will, I will, get them processed....soon. (old film habits of anticipation definitely still in there) When I do - I'll insert some here.

This week: School fundraising. Again, as last week, 3 seperate outtings with camera
My kids go to the local Gaelscoill (School through the medium of the Irish language). Their 6th class (final year) students raised almost 1000 Euro toward the Irish Special Olympics team. Bravo and well done them. By 6th class is primary school... 6th year is secondary.
I was asked to take photo's for the school website of the presenting of the cheque. Happy to oblige.

Current school fundraising is toward the building of a new playground facility. To this end, a benefit concert was held, supported by the school band (An Banna Ceoil), An internationally acclaimed Irish band 'Kila' joined the kids on stage and then took the main stage to perform themselves. Kilas' music if you haven't heard of them, is excellent. Traditional Irish, with a modern rock yet hippy flavour (my words not theirs) Speaking of words, their lyrics are all through Irish also.
Anyway to cut the story, I was also asked to take the photographs at both the Banna ceoils rehersal, and then the main event. Happy out.
Images;



I'll come back to this post soon. I want to insert some more bookmarks in case you want to listen to Kila, buy their music (after all they gave of their time for free..) or feel inclined to help out with the school fundraising, or know more about the special Olympics

So that was the 2 weeks that were. Promise I'll insert the images soon.