Capturing the Moment

Having homes in the same village by the Nene that we all love, Lindy and I were having a coffee with Michael and Shena and, inevitably, we were talking about theCafe and, in particular, ‘Bolden Images’.

For no particular reason, as we discussed creativity, well-being and ‘earning a crust‘, Michael murmured something that made me think. Now aware of my particular love of the camera, he posited the question he had asked in another context: ‘What would have happened if JMW Turner had a smartphone?’. My immediate response was to show him one of my pictures, which seems to remind many who see it of one of LS lowry’s works.

That kind of comment is, as I now know, typical of him; his mutterings started me off on my own particular track, and I found myself looking at my career, or rather our careers, because Lindy and I had always worked together. The fact is that we loved making our living as wedding photographers. In those early days, it was wonderful to turn up late morning in beautiful settings and use our expertise to help lovely ladies and elegant men take up their best pose in lovely places – often, churches and gardens.

I had the authority of a professional, and they listened because they wanted that which only I could give them on that day. We loved using our expertise to create memories that they could treasure and share, and we got paid for it: we ‘earned our crusts’ and had fun doing so.

Then times and technology changed, when tastes and expectations were also changing. First cameras and then the dreaded smartphone meant that nothing was the same during what had been those few moments on that very special day. Suddenly, the bride could be photographed having her morning tea, taking a shower, dressing and then emerging for the ceremony and the celebration; the ceremony itself became but a part of the whole day – or longer. Meanwhile, the groom could endure the same process – what had been challenging but an event managed by a trained professional using specialist equipment had become an informal diary – with photographs and movies (with sound) of an entire day. Moreover, that record could be continued through the honeymoon and onwards through life’s journey.
Thus, reverting to Matt’s topic for a moment, even in my little world, the skills and technology required for today’s market demands changes in education, technology, attitudes and business and with that comes new opportunities.

But every challenge offers an opportunity if properly dealt with, and these days I am free to wander and revert to my lasting love – well, after Lindy of course – ‘capturing the moment,’ and what better place to do so than the Nene Valley.

I thoroughly enjoy wandering around the countryside with my camera. When I do so, I see and capture things which a lot of people miss. I would encourage any and all to go out for a walk, but do look and listen. If you take the time, it’s amazing what you will notice, but do not forget to look up and down!

That said, it’s interesting; these days, no one even notices if we stand snapping with a smartphone, albeit often a ‘selfie’ in which the individual appears as a part of what had been, moments before, a pristine scene. But when I walk with my camera and favourite telephoto lens, it attracts attention; sometimes, it even makes people suspicious as to my motives and purpose. Interesting, don’t’cha’think? Perhaps we might return to Michael’s analogy of JMW Turner with a smartphone?