Keep Out!

Now the summer is here it’s great to get back out on the bike/skates/running shoes in the sun to try and burn a bit of the fat off I put on over the winter (I am a fair weather exerciser!)

My plan is to jump on the bike at least once a week for increasing longer rides locally, taking a light camera kit to build both stock and maybe “art” images along the way. So far I have been heading north and east but Sunday I headed west; toward Littlehampton.

The South Coast Cycle route heads inland just west of Worthing but I thought I would ignore that and try to wind my way along closer to the sea. I soon found out why it heads inland; the coastal area between Ammering and Littlehampton is full of private estates all declaring no public right of way. I am all for privacy but not even having bridleways through the estates near the sea?

No Fun!

This sign is right next to the beach, beside a wide strip of grass. As I walked my cycle along the path with the sea on my left and 6ft high walls on my right I could not help feel that allowing many of those things would not cause a problem. All the houses nearby had big gardens but I’m sure the children growing up there would much prefer to picnic and play by the sea..

There were many of these estates and “Keep Out” became the theme of my ride. I could not help but be drawn to this “No Trespassing / Way In” sign combination..

Trespassers / Way In

Down by the river (on the west side of Littlehampton), there was a different reason for keeping out; the bridges and walkways were just too rickety..

No Admission

All in all, 3 hours in the sun, 25 miles covered and a new batch of stock.

Business and Pleasure

It’s an old adage that one should not mix business and pleasure but I’m not really sure it applies to photography.

On Saturday night I left my family at home (as I do many weekends) to photograph K T Tunstall (and support) at Brighton Dome.

The Pictish Trail

First the support (Johnny Lynch / The Pictish Trail; very entertaining ). Having shot a the first couple of songs I relaxed at the back of the venue with the other photographers discussing upcoming acts and commissions.

K T Tunstall

Next up was K T Tunstall. Her show seemed to have more of an “edge” than shows in the past (looking at photos going back I think thats true).

K T Tunstall

She sounded really great and I have to say it was another of the gigs where I would have really liked to stay longer. My only disappointment from the evening is I did not manage to get a good iPhone crowd shot. (I got an iPhone for christmas and since then I have been trying to take unusual quick views of the audience and pit at every gig).

Sunday evolved like most Sundays along the coast, (although I started with editing the night’s before shots);  A nice breakfast followed by a walk along the front (in the feeble attempt to walk off the eggs, bacon etc). As aways one camera is over my shoulder as we walked down Worthing’s to “Splash Point” which has recently been re-developed.

Splash Point

I captured this image of children playing in the mist/fountain with a small rainbow; a nice joyful editorial stock shot.

So you see, my work life and private life totally overlap, for me business IS pleasure (and visa versa in fact). The key is commitment, enjoyment  and balance…