Contrary to that title (a slight change to the film) and the opening image this post isn't about a group of youngsters being stalked by a hook-wielding killer. It is about what we did over the school summer holidays and a group of youngsters being stalked by a camera-wielding idiot.
Usually we fit in a holiday abroad somewhere, but I decided that I'd had enough of being ripped off by travel agents. You know the kind of thing; "A week in Spain £1,500, oh just a minute, it's the school holidays, that'll be £3,500 please sir" So instead we simply went away on some day trips. Actually Sam (the corpse above) worked for much of it and I took the children off on a few occasions. Besides, we purchased some pedal bikes and for the most part she was asleep/dead.
I know and we as a family will always know what we did last summer because I documented it and so I hope it will trigger some memories for the children in the future. I suppose that's what we're doing with our cameras for the most part. I missed shooting on the Street, but amused myself equally well by clicking the kids. I don't want to bore you with all the details, needless to say we travelled a fair bit, saw the sights, visited relatives and tried a few new activities.
Putting to one side the endless punctures and continual falling off their bicycles I'll briefly tell you about one trip so there's no misunderstanding and a belief that it's all "The Sound of Music" around here. It's a good example of how these outings often didn't go quite as smoothly as I would have liked. We headed for Clevedon with its beach and Pier. This is where I really wish Sam had been in charge and with us. It started so well too, the children jumping in the water, playing in the sun.
See that pier in the background? That's where it all started to go horribly wrong. It's wood, well not the structure, but the part that you walk along and side walls. We strolled down it and in my defence warned Louis not to run his hands along the side, exactly at the point where he received a large splinter in his hand, which predictably I couldn't get out, despite all the screaming it was staying put. Oh well I thought, I'll change his mood and take him to what they describe as a salt water swimming pool. Looked safe enough, lots of children in there swimming around. Still sniffing to himself, he wiped a tear and listened to his daddy. In he went and just like the Captain of the Titanic I thought "what could possibly go wrong".
I've decided not to show you the large cut on Louis's foot or all of the blood flowing out of it after he'd stepped on a piece of broken glass. No need for your to see even more tears or that look of hatred towards his father. I presume a revelling youngster had thrown a bottle or glass in there, some of them might deserve to get stalked by hook-wielding killers! Anyway, he lived, got bandaged up by a friendly nurse and the splinter was removed once we got home. The tears finally stopped, both his and mine!
Rather than waffle on, as I tend to do, I thought it best just to present some images. Have a look through if you wish by clicking on a thumbnail.
Believe me when I say that there are hundreds of photos and I don't want to push my luck, so we'll leave it there. Any photographer worth their salt is going to photograph their children, it's extremely rewarding and great practice in readiness for when the serious stuff begins again. They've gone back to school, parents across the country have cracked open the champagne and life returns to normal. I'm going to concentrate on my Street/Life Photography once again, the bicycle will gather dust in the garage and I get to use a proper one, that is one with an engine.
All images can be opened by clicking on the thumbnails and are taken using a Leica M.
My sincere thanks go to anyone taking the time to read my blog.