EVERYTHING I SHOULD HAVE SAID THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU

There are some moments in life that really play on your mind for no real reason.  One such moment was when I was out walking along the canal. At certain points there are rustic wooden benches placed on the towpath in loving memory of someone who had passed away and most of the time you pass them by or occasionally sit on them to admire the view. On this particular day the sun was shining and I’d gone for a walk when I found a fresh bright red rose left on the wooden bench. It’s rare to see this but is not particularly special or outstanding as I don’t know the person who the bench is dedicated to and neither did I see the person who laid the flowers. However I took a photo as I had my camera on me and the image has stuck with me. 

Someone must have come along with the flowers to pay their respects and possibly sat for a while talking out loud. Maybe even saying things they never got to say or just sitting silently...who knows. The fact that the flowers were there in the first place shows that this person mattered to someone and they are greatly missed.

Physically it’s just a flower left on a bench...but it’s not just that. It means the world to the person who left it. My image is just a photograph of that flower on that bench but perhaps it will mean something different to every viewer. 

Either way every now and then it’s nice to be reminded that sometimes it’s the little things that matter the most.

CHRISTMAS MARKET MAGIC

Recently I’ve discovered a fantastic little market bustling with arts, crafts, antiques and handmade food and drink, the atmosphere on the cobbled streets is amazing. So on a crisp winters morning I ventured out, camera in hand to explore the Treacle Market.

  According to local mythology Macclesfield is sometimes called Treacletown because of a centuries old tale of an overturned treacle wagon spilling its load all over the cobbles. The idea being that you can still find usual things lying on the cobbles of Macc’s street that is the premise of this wonderful market. Big vats of Paella are gently simmering in the open air, the smell of freshly brewed coffee floats on the wind, earthy vegetables are piled high and vintage clothing and antiques adorn the stalls around the streets. It’s the perfect photographic opportunity.

I chose to take along my 50mm 1.8 prime lens to get a bit of practice and hopefully capture the day in a different style. The lens has a fantastic depth of field and is able to blur out the backgrounds leaving the foreground in sharp focus and clarity. The 50mm is fixed focal length lens and so as a photographer you physically have to move around to get the right composition without relying on a telephoto zoom. It’s hard work but very rewarding as the shots have a different feel to them.