MORE THAN A PHOTO
I took a familiar trip into my local woods this morning…
I arrived with a sense of anticipation and purpose to make the most of the fleeting, ephemeral weather conditions. It’s a bright but brisk morning, misty with a fresh feel to the face. I’m moving quickly through the damaged floor of the deciduous wood, now bare of its once thick foliage. I’m conscious of the need to move fast and away from the passing glances and distractions of the nearby country road, keen to remain as anonymous to human life as possible and avoid disturbing nature’s tenants around me.
Broken branches crack and move beneath my boots. The wispy grass carpet underfoot looks smooth until you walk through the detritus; the decomposing bark and twigs crack and pop. I worry not as it is already consumed by the season. Winter has taken hold.
I finally find a spot to unleash my rucksack. I focus my efforts for an hour or more. Camera, trees and the mist occupy my attentions. I love this first period of time at a location but find it rarely produces the best from me. It’s a funny thing, it’s almost like this initial process must be passed. I’m there, composing in my mind constantly, moving around a little - but not too much. Sometimes I make an image, sometimes not. Either way it doesn’t matter - I just need to absorb my surroundings. After a while, the solitude is blissful. So is the first sip of tea from my flask for that matter. I soon move further into the dense woodland. It’s so quiet. The birches, free of foliage, are like towering pillars, all with unique character. The fresh breeze wafts gently through the gaps .
There’s more movement too. Two large deer make a run for it as they hear my size nines crunching through the undergrowth - I stand rigid and watch, but clearly I am happier to see them than they are me. As per normal, I exercise great care and precision to stick to the paths; not all are forged by humans, the odd fox hole catching me out. The fox stays securely sheltered; only his smell gives him away as I pass by.
An hour or so passes.
The morning air remains cool. The sun is breaking through the heart of the mist as the bare birches bask in their newfound warmth. In their excitement, they reflect their approval and give me enough side light to point my camera at. The mist is not so keen and finds itself struggling to maintain its grip - I am in heaven as the reflective blue hue lifts the background just enough to fire off a few frames and to reward me for my efforts.
I know it’s nearly time to go, but I sit a short time and watch with awe as the rooks swoop and flock with social grace. This display soon becomes more frantic as they begin an overhead duel with a bird of prey, which is clearly intent on robbing their nests for his next feed. At times the noise is akin to a squadron of Spitfires battling to keep the homeland safe. I smile as their collective spirit wins the day and normal service resumes. Peace reigns in the air and the rooks return to guard their nests.
The trees are warm, the deer find solitude in the woods, the fox safely waits for the canopy of twilight, and I …? Well, I am content - for me and for my neighbours of nature - whilst remaining grateful to the fading mist. Like me, it will return!
AB.
“Only when I experience do I compose - only when I compose do I experience”
Gustav Mahler (composer )
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