The PhotoJournal
A (mostly) gear-free photo blog. Photo Essays and Long Form Photography Stories from Ireland and Around the World
A terrible start to the year (photographically speaking)
This has been a weird year for me. Photographically speaking. It’s nearly the middle of June, and yet, I’ve taken far fewer photographs than I normally do. Months of relentless weather and the mental fog that comes with living through an anxious, uncertain world have all taken their toll. In this post, I look at how distractions, self-doubt, and even a frustrating gear issue gradually chipped away at the simple urge to go out and shoot. Along the way, I get distracted by broader cultural issues, including the uneasy role AI is playing for many of us, but I do bring it back to photography and why it matters now more than ever. It’s quite philosophical, honest. Oh, and there are some photos too!
Shooting the Sunrise on New Years Day Didn’t Quite Go According to Plan
Every year we like to get up early on New Year’s day and head to the beach to watch the first sunrise of the new year. It’s a little ritual to start the year, but unfortunately, it hasn’t always gone exactly according to plan. Last year, we couldn’t actually get to the beach, because of a strict covid lockdown, as it was outside the permissible distance. This year we did get there, but instead of a glorious sunrise, we were treated to stormy seas and winds. Not exactly what we were hoping for, but it led to some cool photos anyway.
After a rather bleak and dull start to the year, it’s always nice when the grey world of winter springs to life. And while Spring has its own charms, things really explode into vividness once summer hits. I have always been fascinated by flowers and plants, not necessarily from a “nature” point of view, but by the wonderful colours and textures of the natural world. I guess the designer and artist in me just won’t quit.