You know, when I think of going on a trip, I think first, I think, of which cameras to take. I know, that is a lot of thinking and other thoughts do cross my mind. On a recent trip to England and Wales, I thought I would take lots of photos and take lots of photos on film. That just didn't happen. Most of the trip was in a car, and the roads in rural Wales (that is kind of redundent) are simply not conducive to pulling over and taking a photos. I wanted and planned for my previous experience as a Country Today photographer, but what I ended up with were snapshots.
Snapshots are fine, I guess but these ended up to be pretty pictures without conveying any real sense of place. That is fine--I was more looking for experiences than picture to put on a wall and experiences were certainly had. Driving an SUV on very narrow curvy roads may have been an experience that shaved a few years off my life. I think I said some very bad words on several occasions. The weather was good, at least for October in the United Kingdom. Company was great and no one was left at a rest area or sent to the Ruislips, to either East or West Ruislip. The beer was as usual fantastic. My camera monger in Portobello had a camera that I wanted and could afford, and accommodations were great, except for way too many stairs! It was verdant (green, too!) and vibrant and the sheep and dogs were cute and photographically cooperative. Without a doubt a very good trip.
The serious work of finding work with a steady paycheck continues and is ramping up. I interviewed this week so I have at least a 12.5% chance of that turning out positively. Those are decent odds, I hope. It is easier to focus and settle down on task in part because of necessity but also because of the weather. Single digits with a wind chill so it feels like December, but we still haven't had much measurable snow. We will see what adventures the new season will bring.
