I’m missing 2020 already. Now I think about it things weren’t that bad! Welcome to 2021, barely a week gone of the new year and we’re in another national lockdown: Stay at home, Do not leave home, Move directly to jail, Do not pass go, Do not collect £200. If you do go out beware of the even deadlier South African variant, whilst avoiding the new U.K. variant which spreads like, well, a virus or perhaps wildfire. Don’t forget to give the old variant a very wide berth whilst you’re at it. Doom and gloom, but not everything is dark and depressing, there’s a vaccine this time around, light at the end of the tunnel. Some good and bad news there.
Here’s some more news, the jury is currently out on whether this is good or bad, as predicted Father Christmas brought me a GoPro video camera. Now, and I apologise in advance, on the positive front I’ll be able to video my motorcycle trips, some POV Street Photography, the family walks. Meanwhile and heavily on the negative side I’m going to be testing these videos on you. Remember the days that your neighbour or friend would return from a holiday and you’d be invited (I really want to say subjected) to look at hundreds of photographs of the hotel swimming pool, well it just got worse, now he or she is getting out the projector and screen for a home movie night of, you guessed it, the hotel swimming pool. Maybe it could be worth a trip to South Africa just to avoid this pain!
Usually around this time of year I tell you all about my Christmas and show some photographs. We’re always pretty busy, day trips and so forth. Plenty to do and see, lots of photo opportunities This year there’s been practically nothing to report. Over the last three weeks I’ve met a total of three or four people, outside and at a distance of two metres. My friend Kev who often gets a mention here, next my sister and brother-in-law for a walk at Budleigh Salterton Beach, finally my eldest daughter along with two of my grandsons. It’s been cold and mostly dull, I know you didn’t ask for the weather forecast, but there it is regardless. Christmas weather in England is typically 11c and damp, essentially the same then, but much colder. So, Budleigh for a quick walk with my sister. I managed three shots, one above of the bench and these two window variations:
The second shot shows Louis looking out from a hide, designed for bird watchers although this particular watcher is more interested in hunting than admiring them. Paradoxically he loves animals, he’s a kind little boy and yet… He’s become obsessed with survival gear and tactics. Misguided by promises of both sensible and best behaviour we bought him a few things for Christmas… Flint and Steel for firelighting: Confiscated. Swiss Army Knife: Confiscated. Catapult: Currently in his possession. We’ll come back to that because I made a short video and accompanying photographs, we’ll also discuss the GoPro and what I predict could to be an issue for me with this whole video making process. Before all of that it was Amélie’s birthday last week. We had a meal at home and a very short shopping trip into Bath which is now virtually closed by the way. Here she is, a truly beautiful soul. I know, I know, people always say these things about their own children.
Bath was reasonably quiet, it was just before lockdown was announced and so I think some were playing it safe. I managed very few shots. What I wanted to do was test the GoPro on the streets where I will eventually be filming, attempting some kind of street photography POV. It wasn’t the day for that and so I clicked a few as I walked about with the family. Lack of available light was a problem:
What I have been managing to do is walk the dogs, Louis has been my companion for the most part. Mainly because he wants to try out his catapult. I wanted to test my GoPro. What I have found so far is that just like any camera it’s really easy to rattle of a huge amount images, in this case footage. We’ve discussed before my dislike for editing photos, I can now announce that extends to editing video as well. There is a question of knowledge, but even if I had any I’d rather be out shooting than sat at a computer. There’s a lot to look at and attempt to edit. Some clips where I’m on my own speaking to the camera, now I’m one of those trendy television types or Vloggers I know to call this “doing a piece to camera”. The problems is I haven’t scripted what I’m going to say, of course I haven’t, that would require some degree of planning. As much as I’d like to have a cut glass English accent I’m afraid that’s not the case. I come from the South West of England and therefore have a West Country accent. For that you can read “sounds like a pirate”. Anyway here’s a “Piece to Camera”…hey, I’ve got all the terminology…
We’ll see if we can improve on that, lord knows it can be. As I say, the intention is for some Street Photography with a little documenting of my motorcycle trips and we will definitely do that. Evidently neither of those are currently possible. Anyway, all this GoPro business will be refined soon and we’ll have a more polished look to it all and hopefully some street photos. Practice is over. All I need now is some vaccine, 10cc’s of valium and lockdown to end. In the meantime here’s another video. This one featuring Louis and and his Catapult, near the end a couple of my grandsons appear. I actually managed to make some photographs in this video which is titled “The Catapult Kid”. You can watch that or below are the photos. I’d save the time if I was you and skip the video…
It’s quite daunting, all this video business. I’ll press on for a while and it really isn’t any big deal if it doesn’t work out. I do think it will be interesting to have some Street POV and documentation of my trips, however I don’t want to become too distracted with shooting video. My passion is photography, not videography. Time, as in all things, will tell. It must be said that I don’t intend to have commentary throughout future videos. I know that’s a relief to us all, no one needs that from me. I will possibly include a few conversations if I ever get to have any.
As always my sincere thanks go to anyone taking the time to read this blog.
All images can be opened by clicking on the thumbnails and are taken using a Leica M with Summicron 28mm Lens fitted.
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