Sometimes Things Don't Go The Way We Plan
This year hasn't quite gone how I planned it and instead it has been blighted by illness and injury. Ongoing achilles issues have kept me off of the hills and fell and floating crystals in my ear drum kept me out of the studio as they seriously affected my balance. It has not been a fun time, but now I'm rehabbing my achilles, my balance is back and I'm very much back to enjoying life, the nature along my favourite river walk and being back in the studio.
I've picked up a new hobby in my absence. I have a deep love of black and white photography and am often found using my phone to take photos of nature, or vistas that inspire me. After trying for a while to get to grips with photography basics with my phone, my husband managed to find this Fujica for a tenner in Todmorden market. Miraculously, I popped a battery in it and it still works. It's a great little camera for learning on. The Rolleiflex is entirely Lee Miller's and Dora Maar's fault. After further reading and researching online, it seems to have been the tool of choice for many other trailblazing women too. I'm in love with the ability to shoot film without having to cover your face and retain the connection with your subject. It feels much more present and intimate than a phone. It's also so beautiful just looking at it and holding it brings me great joy. I have shot a few reels with it and am looking forward to seeing what comes back.
This year Hand & Treasure took place on the same weekend as a ultramarathon I had agreed to crew for She Strides. Cue a mad rush to train my husband how to manage my stall while I awoke at denial AM (3:45) to grab a bite to eat and make my way to Heptonstall for kit check and sign in. It did give me the ability to experience the dawn chorus before many a soul had even stirred. It was quite the experience.
As if all that wasn't enough I even managed to squeeze in finishing off this piece and printing some before Hand & Treasure. I shall not deny that there were quite a few late nights and a rather sore hand at the end. You can find out more about The Ancient Woodland Is My Home here. I may do a different edition in the future as I have something special in my head.
Well I hope that your spring has begun better than mine did and that you have managed to take some time out in the beautiful weather we've been having. Remember to try something new just for the sheer joy of it too.