How Many, Many Things They Call To Mind
There is but a short time to enjoy the cherry blossom before the petals start to fall and the glorious sight of streets lined with these perfect pink puffs fades. Sakura is the Japanese word for the cherry blossoms. It has its roots in a word that mean both bloom, and smile or laugh. The pictogram for this word incorporates a symbol for an open mouth which is rather what I was doing when I took this - delighted at the sight in front of me, knowing that the only way to return to it was with this photograph. (Title from Basho Matsuo)
At The Going Down Of The Sun
31st December, 2019. I watched as the sun dipped down behind the hills on the other side of the Clyde, which were themselves obscured by a bank of fog that distorted the horizon line. The water was only bothered by the gentlest of disturbances and the light reflecting on the surface was in turns slate grey, turquoise and gold. The air was cold breath brushing softly, but with bite against my face. I wanted to be submerged, not in the water but in this expanding universe where alchemy was at work all around me. More than anything I wanted to take it away with me, wrapped in shiny paper to open again and again. So I took a photograph. This I know. This I do not remember.
(Title from Laurence Binyon - For The Fallen)
Aphantasia ii
The sight of the flower beds causes a moment of joy. It’s almost too much to take in at once. There are lots of one particular flower in all shades of pink and cream that seem to hover in front of me. I’m delighted. I start photographing because I want to hold on to this pleasure and with each click, I slice off a layer of the experience and lay it down on a sensor knowing that like a pinned butterfly it won’t ever be the same.
Aphantasia i
There was dappled sunlight and rushing water and the rock I had chosen to sit on was wetter than I’d realised. It was warm but the water stirred and freshened the air. I wanted to get my feet wet.