The clocks went back last night and we're trapped in the darkest part of the year. I hate this. I thrive on light, and on winter weekdays I only see it at a distance through a classroom window. But a weekend walk in the sunshine always restores my sense of well-being.
Today, I wandered round Belfast's Cathedral Quarter with my new Daguerrotype Achromat lens and no particular plan apart from to see what thoughts emerged and to try to make a set of images that belonged together.
The sun was low, and shadows and reflections soon caught my eye. It's an area of the city that's both grubby and elegant, and it suits the style of this vintage reconstruction lens. Gold, black and deep blue appeared everywhere.
As seems to be the case every time I take it out, my amazing-looking brass lens caught people's eye too, and I had several conversations with other wandering photographers about it. I'm trying to use it in a thoughtful way, for imagery that suits its history and style, and these old streets are perfect for it.
At one point I heard a flute band passing down Royal Avenue and I kicked myself that I was too far away to take photographs. I'd love a slightly blurred collarette against one of these turn-of-the-century buildings.
It would make a great counterpoint to St Patrick's Church in Donegall Street, one of my favourite city centre churches...
I looked for frames in the architecture, low gold light, small unexpected details. A bit of happenstance, a bit of integrity. Typical Belfast.
