Diaries of a photographer (and a van)...Part 8

2/2/07

11:55 - The genious of my location is that I am equidistant between England and France!

Came to Dover yesterday to photograph the White Cliffs, which appear in the top 10 landmarks list. Yesterday I walked along the top of the cliffs and photographed them from that perspective...today, I got a round trip ferry ticket (I am not allowed to get off!!!) so I could shoot them from the sea - the view most people probably get of the cliffs.

Its funny really, its a good 3 hour round trip or so for 20 minutes of frantic photography to get a good glimpse of the cliffs as the boat machines over the chanel.

Stayed in the Guf last night...first time on my own. Found a spor in a village called St Margarets on Cliffe. There is a car park by a war memorial, very secluded with sea views. Even managed to do some night shots while I was there, most productive.

I think the major project is finally taking form. All the locations I have visited so far (Eden, Brighton Pier, Houses of parliament, White Cliffs and Stonehenge) have got me excited and I can now really see the potential of my concept.

I thought the white cliffs would be really hard to do - bit they fit the bill perfectly. They are marred by an almost constant view of the large and very busy port. The cliffs themselves are big, long and white! Quite picturesque I guess. Perhaps they are the landmark that has most confused me thus far. Are they really more impressive than any other cliff or is it the connotations with war and returning home that allow them to find themselves in the list? Its funny the things people choose to nominate as a favourate landmark - is it based on aesthetic or their symbology to our culture and history?

Nearly in France now...at which point I go back again!!!

I have seen no blue birds over the White Cliffs of Dover, who know, tomorrow maybe? Just you wait and sea!

12:11 - The vibrations seem to indicate we are nearly there!
I remembered something else interesting. When I was buying my ticket, the old man was curious as to my round trip with no stop off in France. I explained I wanted to photograph the cliffs and he commented on how the weather wasn't good for it. That sums up my project - people want to and expect to see landmarks in glorious subnshine, clear days and a picturesque view. But that is not the true picture - the landmarks are frequently drab, seen in poor conditions and not as impressive as the postcard would suggest.

13:20 - I love the way all forms of transport invent their own terminology for things...and always choose amusing phrases or words. 'Alight' has always been a favourate of mine as why can't they just say 'get off'.
However, a tannoy announcement moments ago gave me a new favourate...'muster station'. What an amazing term! 'Muster', what is that about? And combined with 'station' you know your in for a treat.

The ferry has left Calais and I am homeward bound, in impressive time! One concern is that the beast has turned around! You can't get up the front of the ferry either and so the view as we approach Dover may not be so good. Still, perhaps a different perspective will be a fruity perspective.

I am passing the time with my new games. One is called 'Friend or Foe' where I work out if people are french of english ;)
The other is called 'Truck your luck' and involves indentifying the lorry drivers! Its easier than you think as it can be done by viewing the portions of food they get! Massive pile of chips = trucker, normal plate of food = tourist.

Oh..the fun I can create!

13:40 - Humans think they are so clever with tehir big boats and muster stations. We have conquered nature. But it is other forms of nature I often come to respect for the way they play us and use their initiative.

The seagulls, for example, are following the ferry in quite large numbers. They fly alongside - easily matching pace and amass behind the boat. I was wondering why, then figured that the ships swell must churn up the sea life, perhaps brign fish etc to near the surface. A patient gull can await their moment and reap the rewards. Now thats as clever and shows as much initiative as building a boat does it not?

Its funny how we create things to enhance or improve our lives, but the impace is always much wider reaching. The sea gulls get a hefty feed off the back of the boat! We affect far more than we realise and often in much simpler and smaller ways than we anticipate.

Mum told me that the Eden project is over run with Robins - they will nest anywhere and are brave bastards and the biomes provide no predators but lots of prey...so they flourish! Natural instincts triumph and adapt.

14:01 - I'll level with you, I am bored now! Ferrys are quite dull really, especially when you don't get to get off and its just straight back again!
Taken a few digital shots on board, but alas - I cannot afford to use film in the mamiya for non project shots as I am getting through film at an alarming rate! This degree is going to financially scar me for life!

To rub salt into the wound - I saw a snack dispensor and went for the chocolate treat that is a Kit Kat. Alas, the machine is broke and the Kit Kat emerged as a mass of molten chocolate! I knew I should have gone with P&O.