I’ve been messing around with a little bit of IR Photography recently. Not entirely sure if I’m doing it right, or if I’m just using the IR filter as a very red ND filter. Oh well, I’m enjoying it.

I found myself on a walk today. Normally, when I go out to do photography, I will use the time to catchup with an audiobook, or a podcast. This walk was slightly improvised. I had to drop a bag off at a leatherworker for repair (an entirely normal thing to do), and had convinced myself that I wasn’t going to go for a walk. The leatherworker pointed me to a forest, and as I had my camera gear on me, I decided to go for a short mile-long walk. At about mile five of my short, mile-long walk, I had a fictional conversation with my photography lecturer, Brendan, who I had imagined I’d bumped into.

We (or I) spoke about my relationship with photography, and how it had changed over the years since leaving university. I reflected on why that was the case. As I mentioned in my previous blog post, though I still love photography, I don’t think I have the time to give the hobby (and that is what it is to me) the time that it once had. Then, I feel guilty that I’m not committed in this as I was when I was at University.

I spoke in my last blog post about slowing down, not shooting on film anymore, and not having time on my hands. I further reflected today, that one of the great issues with doing photography is (like anything) you need to break down barriers for it. That will involve bringing out a camera more often, even if you don’t think there will be anything worth while. It can also involve making a darkroom accessible, so it isn’t a grind every time you want to develop film. It is also giving it space to breathe. I take better photos when I am by myself, and I need to find the space to do that.

Since the last blog post nine months ago, I’ve taken four photos that I’m happy with. That is because I haven’t given myself time to take any photos.