One of my interests in photography is capturing the ordinary in extraordinary ways. It is fascinating to see the ordinary facets of life around us from unusual perspectives. For example, there are billions of flies in the world – they are generally regarded as a menace and an irritation and yet they perform a critical role in cleaning up nature’s mess. I took time out recently to try to capture some images of flies in my garden in Surrey, England. The challenge was to photograph them actually flying. I used my trusted Canon 1D MkIII with a Canon 100mm Macro lens and ring flash. Continue reading “Capturing flies flying”
Its in the Eyes – Images of degradation
[Note: A selection of charcoal images is now available for purchase and download from the Image Market – HERE.]
Whilst on a development mission in Mozambique, in the relatively remote Sofala Province, I was struck again by the immense impact of the practice of charcoaling. All around was a haphazard devastation which no doubt grew insidiously, tree by tree. The challenge is how to capture the underlying tragedy of what was happening. I took a number of images but decided that the mood is best conveyed in sombre monotones. The starkness of the landscape is captured in high contrast – the drama of what is happening is reflected in the eyes of the children of Metuchira.
For information on charcoaling, see the Blog Post entitled Charcoal and deforestation
The images can be seen in the Season Images Gallery.
Charcoal and deforestation
[Note: A selection of charcoal images is now available for purchase and download from the Image Market – HERE.]
If you travel virtually anywhere in rural Africa you cannot fail to notice a growing environmental crisis – deforestation caused by charcoaling. All households have basic energy needs which have to be met in the preparation of food, heating, boiling of water and other requirements. Traditionally these needs have been met with the use of fuelwood. With ever growing urbanization throughout Africa, fuelwood is not an option – the vegetation is just not available in urban fringe areas. Other options of electricity, kerosine and LPG gas are beyond the affordability of the vast majority of the poverty stricken urban fringe populations across the continent and so charcoal has become the only possible choice. Continue reading “Charcoal and deforestation”
African Development
I have spent all my working life in Africa. This has taken me to 24 different countries, working in water resources management (and taking a few hundred photographs along the way). One thing you learn early in this type of work is that if you can’t ‘go with the flow’, you shouldn’t be there! Things seldom work according to plan. Everyone who does such work has a pack of stories to tell – you can read some of mine in Category 3 – “Travel experiences in Africa”.
I hasten to note that although many of these experiences lay bare the ubiquitous low level chaos which bedevils most of what happens on the continent and is also part of its enduring charm, it is the people who really count. Across the length and breadth of Africa you will find the very best of people, soldiering on against all the odds. The first story is “How to catch a flight from Abuja.”
Hello world!
This is my first entry and my debut into the world of Blogging.
Watch this space!