Sunday started with a trip to the re-cycle depot , I’ve been defering the “Plastic Bottle” chore forever and a day , today was the day !
My good re-cycling deed was rewarded with the first “photo -op” of the day , it wasn’t a masterpiece but it made me smile , a bit of Dutch tilt and fill flash ensured the first shot of the day was in the can. I’ve no idea how this escaping doll scenario came about or who set it up but it got me off to a unexpected start !
I knew that my next task was a big ask , I stick twenty quids worth of fuel in my car every Sunday and have done since Adam was a lad , like most folk in the UK I was unable to access fuel at my nearest petrol station last Sunday , thankfully I didn’t have to go too far to find a Petrol Station with fuel and a £20 max limit !
I made a few pictures of the “No Fuel” signs for my files , adopting the Dutch tilt again and beginning to think that the current climate of national chaos might inspire a State Of Britain sequel , in fact it might just be another chapter , the UK mayhem is a continuous phenomenon !
Not to worry , large coffee portions were available ?
I had planned to go into town and look for a few Street shots today but my fuel insecurity led me to take a peaceful walk along a local river instead , I couldn’t justify the thirty mile round trip for a short Street Photography session !
I hadn’t walked this bit of the tidal River Severn for years , it was the perfect antidote for the uncertainty of my everyday life , this was all about the walk and my thoughts, rather than the photography, although I was accompanied by my camera .
I was taken by the erratic movement of the reeds as they danced in the wind , calling out to be photographed !
I was without my tripod but that didn’t stop me trying to capture the movement in the landscape with a slow exposure , hand holding a 1 / 15 th of a second shutter speed would have been a big ask for me back in the day but modern cameras possess various “Anti-shake” technologies that make shots like the one bellow possible , it’s all “Sorcery” to me …
This view reflected my mood perfectly …
As I walked back towards my car and the madness of my everyday I thought about the times when I had made this walk with my Old English Sheepdog , they were better days, definitely happier days …
I spotted a leaf that reminded me of Matt Stewarts “Smiling” Leaf , I couldn’t resist making a personal version of this Street Photography classic , I noticed that my “Smiling” leaf appeared to be suffering from a busted lip , probably caused by a punch up at the petrol station , typical …
Same old , same old …
Back to the chaos tomorrow , it will all kick off again …
It’s all becoming a bit tedious really , I wonder if that doll managed to escape …
Smile with a busted lip , 2021
David Barrett shot the pandemic crisis during 2020, The Testing Times project is coming to a end, hopefully ? It can be seen by clicking above .
The State Of Britain series is complete, it explores everyday life during the Brexit era and gives visual insights into British identity, aspirations and post-truth uncertainty .....
Check out the new UK Street Shop on this site to buy the print of the month , other Prints, Walks & More …
He is based in the South West of England .