Sign of the times - back to work

sb010613                         Faded works sign, Neill Road; Sheffield.

Working week again. For me it's the grind of laying out the book. I'm not grumbling too much though, it's indoor play with no heavy lifting and beats working for a living any day. I'm not too sure about trying to second guess the weather as to when to visit the coast though. We've just had the wettest April ever recorded in Sheffield and the start of May looks to be carrying on the good work of refilling the water table.

Five things that keep me loving photography, part 5

5] Memories


The final part of this set of five pieces. As I've mentioned, my daughter Yasmin helped me narrow down what keeps me loving photography to five things, sort of. She then pointed out I couldn't waffle on about all five (approximately) things in one post, hence these five.

So, here's the fifth of five posts as a series "Five things that keep me loving photography." It's probably, for me, the most important aspect of them all; memories.

I really enjoy recording the oddities, banalities and joy of our everyday lives. These images, made for earning my living, are often meaningful to me. Hopefully they also have some meaning for other people. Toward the end of his rant though Allen Murabayashi of PhotoShelter hits the nail on the head for one of the main reasons many of us love photography. Our personal photographs anchor to, and reinforce our personal memories.

I've chosen just put two of my important* photographs here, somewhat related to each other though seperated by decades.

The blurry shot atop the page of a coal transporter getting stuck in Douglas harbour is mine. It's really a rubbish shot. But it's the first journalistic shot I ever remember making. I was very young. I was also very proud that I had my own camera; a Kodak Instamatic, cartridge loading and ideal for a fumble fingered five year old. My father's version of this scene, shot on an Exacta Varex 11a with a 35mm Biogon lens on Kodachrome was much clearer. But I still like mine more. A child's honeyed memory of a simpler time playing happy families.

The second is a bit more complex.

Again it's not one of the greatest shots ever. It's actually one of Yasmin's. She was about the same age I was for the earlier image. It was also made on her first camera, a 35mm Halina. The old man is my father. This was the last time he would see Yasmin, and the last time he was well enough for a family day at the seaside. We had a marvellous day, that day we went to Cleethorpes. Sand castles, candy floss, fish and chips and wet trouser legs from over enthusiastic paddling. I know I can remember this day, and so can they, yet this image enhances mine and Yasmin's memories. To watch her recently patiently and proudly describing the image to him was a delight as I realised that 1/125 of a second also enhanced my father's memories. Even though to all practical purposes his sight is completely gone. And in years to come Yasmin will be able to show that photograph to her children, and it will reinforce and help her share her memories.

Sometimes, when I've been stuck in front of the Mac for days I look at some of the images on my office pinboard and realise that even after all these years, I really do love photography. 

*important to me

**Okay, it's much better than my effort. 

In the window - Cafe Ceres' window

sb010593                     Flowers in the window, Cafe Ceres; Sheffield

On Thursday, a cold and very wet April day, this vase of flowers brightened the view from Cafe Ceres' window.  The excellent espresso helped too. Somehow, I don't think a seat will be as easy to find today. Whatever the weather.

Sharrow Vale, Shefffield

Out & about - Giraffe in Sharrow Vale

sb010627               Giraffe and baby, Sheffield

Outside an antique dealer on Sharrow Vale Road a mother giraffe waits patiently for her baby to leave the shelter of the cellar.  Of course, there are all the usual hazards of urban foxes and the occasional confused badger, but the giraffe's the star. 

Passing scenes - The long wood

sb010448           Silver Birch beside the rail line

All along the Doncaster-Sheffield rail line there are patches of relatively wild space. This is between the housing, steel works and scrap yards. Here, at Blackburn close to the M1 and Meadowhall shopping centre, Silver Birch zip past the window. When the trains are moving less rapidly you can see Kestrels, Jays, Foxes, Rabbits and even the occasional Pheasant. Irises and Reed Mace flourish in the wet ditches between the bank and track.

For many commuters these are a welcome little glimpse of the countryside on their way to work. Others of course simply plug in headphones and text away obliviously.

In the window - Mannequin pieces

sb010313                 Mannequin in pieces

Sometimes not having a single thing to wear can make you go all to pieces.

Things left behind - Along Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate; York

sb010107                                Old wall, Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate; York

York, like many ancient cities is mostly built on, and of, York. This bit of recycling is on the shortest street in the city, Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate. Whatever these stone once were, they're now a wall.

Trees - Green shoots of recovery

sb008636           Urban tree; Moorfoot, Sheffield

Fare - Empty cafe tables; Sheffield

sb010326                          Outside cafe tables; Sheffield

On a cold and blustery Saturday the tables ourside Spoilt For Choice sit empty, even at breakfast.

Vintage Book - Modern Photojournalism

I found this marvellous book in a local antique market. It turns out to be the first volume of a series Photography: Men and Movements. These particular men are predominantly working in Germany from the last years of the German Empire, through the Weimar Republic and the rising obscenity of Nazism; The Reichstag burned in February 1933, the rest of Europe followed soon after.

The first thirty pages are a readable and necessarily brief history of the period, the remainder of the book a selection of photographs from the period. There are some big names and some near unknown ones rubbing shoulders here: Andre Kertesz, Umbo (Otto Umbehr), Harald Lechenperg, Tim N. Gidal, Walter Bosshard, Felix H. Man, Erich Salomon, Wolfgang Weber, Martin Munkacsi, Alfred Eisenstaedt and Willi Ruge. I'm posting a few images here, you should be able to track a copy down from your friendly local second hand book dealer(I've put the publication details after the pictures) or abebooks.co.uk.

In the window - Faded flowers in a window

sb010427   Pot-pourri, empty shop window; Mexborough

For some reason a bowl of pot-pourri lies forgotten in the window of this former plumber's merchant in Mexborough.

Mexborough, like the rest of the Dearne Valley, was hit hard by the collapse of the South Yorkshire coalfield and the loss of it's supporting industrial and social base. It continues to struggle.

Out & about - Commuting feet

sb010467     On Sheffield station

One of the thousands of pairs of feet which step through Sheffield station every day.

Noctilucence - Shadows in a night Alley

sb008068      Alley and shadow, Sheffield

Behind the modern glass and concrete of Sheffield Hallam University an old cobbled alley quietly lingers.

Out & about - Kite

sb010452                                      Kite in tree, Sheffield

Street art - Children dancing in the street

sb010281                              Mural and road sign, Sheffield

Maybe the streets where we live would be happier places if the roads were closed so we could all play, children and adults together.

In the window - Banana window, Sheffield

sb010180      Banana window display, Sheffield.

Window displays need to attract the attention. This one, close to St Patrick's day* certainly caught mine.

*why do so many English, who never go to church, celebrate this day in March with such enthusiasm?

Beside the seaside - A lovely days out

sb010428                 Coach excursion advertisements, Mexborough   

Coach trips to the seaside remain a popular event in the Dearne Valley. In the days of the mines, glassworks and their attendant engineering firms these would have been organised by their social clubs. Now a bevy of small local firms do the organising.

Out & about - Changes pt1

sb010376       Former newsagent/tobacconist; Sharrow Vale

Everything changes. I'll follow this shop over the next couple of weeks, to see what difference this change brings.

In memoriam - A peaceful way of coping

sb010384  In Sheffield General Cemetery

I've been reading Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun over the last couple of weeks. Before that was Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; now it's Bram Stoker. This rather Gothick turn  has lead me into Sheffield General Cemetery. A wonderfully peaceful and comforting place of slightly decaying Victoriana. 

One still expects; or perhaps wishes;  though to see one of Clive Barker or Neil Gaiman's creations step delicately from behind a crypt.

In the window - Cafe window colour

sb010371    Flowers in the window; Sharrow Vale

This popular cafe in Sheffield's Sharrow Vale is closed for the Easter holidays.  The bright flowers and clean, elegant decor still make it welcoming.

Noctilucence - Night head, Sheffield

sb008539              Night Head, Sheffield

A mannequin of sorts, keeping a watchful eye on the revellers. Division Street, Sheffield.

Out & about - More Easter

sb010343  Easter egg, Cocoa, Sheffield.

It's still Easter, still chocolate time. Another little box of delight from Cocoa

Out & about - Easter! Chocolate!

sb010331   Signboard, Cocoa, Sheffield

Easter, at least in Sheffield, is a predominantly secular celebration. For many it involves the consumption of much chocolate. A visit to Kate and Anne at Cocoa is without doubt the best choice in town to find your celebration sweeties.

sb010338   Chocolate nests, Cocoa, Sheffield

sb010348                    Sweet treats for Easter, Cocoa, Sheffield

Five things that keep me loving photography, part 4

4] Leave the camera at home

The fourth of five posts as a series "Five things that keep me loving photography."

Okay, this post has some relevance to the 'assistance' in the bar from my daughter. She helped me narrow down what keeps me loving photography to five things, sort of. She then pointed out I couldn't waffle on about all five (approximately) things in one post, or then. We had two minutes to get to Screen 2 and settled for the start of the film.

Out & about - Doorway, Basilique de Saint-Mathurin, Larchant.

sb007162     Doorway, Basilique de Saint Mathurin, Larchant

Saint Mathurin was a French exorcist and missionary born in the mid 2nd century AD in the small village of Larchant. This basilica dedicated to him will be very busy over this Easter weekend. 

I'm not a religious man, but the mixture of warm stone, picturesque ruin and intact church do meld to make this place as comforting as a Keats poem.

Passing scenes - Passing commuter trains

sb009355                            Passing commuter trains

We're told that the next couple of days are some of the busiest on our creaky rail network. Yesterday Sheffield station was eerily quiet; there were seats on the 1753. Usually it's a struggle even to find somewhere to stand. Maybe everyone's ignoring the snow and recession and flying off to Torremelinos.

Out & about - Traffic, M62/A1

sb008748              Normal traffic queue, M62/A1 junction        

On a cold wet day the matrix signs offer helpful information. During busy days these are normal queues on the M62/A1 junction in West Yorkshire. Today we have late season snow storms and BBC News reporting broken down lorries and long delays.

In the window - Three wise Monkeys; Sheffield

sb010304                          Wise monkeys in a window; Sheffield

We'v just had a week of unseasonably warm weather here in Sheffield. More late summer than late spring. Window displays have just rejigged to get vests and shorts in the window; this was yesterday afternoon. Snow was forecast for the hills. My daughter and I had big sweaters and scarves in the city centre.

Passing scenes - Toy Train

sb010278   Toy locomotive; Aldwarke

Thankfully this is not the latest commuter locomotive for South Yorkshire. This friendly chap actually sits outside the South Yorkshire Transport Museum.

Noctilucence - Near Shoreham Street; Sheffield

sb008014     Near Shoreham Street; Sheffield

A quiet alley between two buildings. Nice and safe, just walk towards the light.