Diaries of a photographer (and a van)...Part 11

02/04/07

14:44 - Ooop North! I've broken my record of furthest North in England by getting to Stafford area (what a Southerner!). Well, I have been to Glasgow, but thats Scotland so it don't count.
Stopped for lunch and discovered a nice services! M5 North (Stafford). Lovely stuff. The toilets glisten and have flowers and everything. the Midlands knows how to do services!
I think there are more lorries on the M6 than anyweher else in the world, bonkers.

Blackpool is the destination today, classy. Not sure I will have time to shoot it today so may just get there and park up. Blackpool Tower is 3rd on the list though - lucky Hannah got me to check as I thought it was the pleasure beach generally and that would be disaster to shoot the wrong place!
Quite excited about the Northern leg - a whole new world!

03/04/07:

10:38 - The smell of cheap dougnuts is wafting along Blackppol beach. This place is like Brighton gone wrong! An old school sea side resort properly stuck in time.
Stayed in a place called Clitheroe last night, 30 miles from Blackpool, but high on a hill overlooking the moors. Finding a nice spot nearer to Blackpool proved impossible, it was a nice stop though, amaziong views but a very early start due to a) joggers and b) a desire to get doine here and drive to Newcastle to stay this evening.

Donkeys, Donkeys everywhere. A man in a van is arguing with the donkey gang, brilliant.
Plan of attack today is to walk along 'the golden mile' shooting the geniusly tacky buildings and then go up the tower...get in!

11:58 - So I am guessing Blackpool is like our Vegas, just in a run down and more English way! Its tacky but done in a tacky way, not an over-the-top-so-gets-away-with-it style like Vegas.

Its a funny time to visit here as its out of season so everything is undergoing repair and 'improvement' for the summer. I think the strangest thing about the town is its all about the amusements, there really isn't much else here!
Done a good stint of walking the promenade and so its getting near to tower o'clock. Probablye xhausted photos of the tower in the background etc, but fairly condfident I have some interesting shots.
They drink beer early up here, I'll give 'em that. Plus everyone has a brilliant accent compared to down South and they all look harder than me!
Looking forward to my Blackpool fry up - bet it will rock!

12:36 - That's it - I have hit the pinacle of my trip! Sitting in the balcony at Blackpool Tower, over the ball room watching them dance! It is literally a scene from Peter Kay! Lots of serious couples dancing and a bloke on the stage playing a white organ! Nor just any organ though, this plays dances in a fairground stylee! Plus the player chats inbetween each tune, I think I could stay all day!
Alas, its too dark for photos in here I think.

13:36 - Back in the ballroom after a trip to the top - it was a good view and all but bad for photos! To be fair the inside of the Tower isn't all that. Kind of what you would imagine, so I best make sure my exterior shots are good enough as the ones inside certainly wont be!

14:15 - Fry up done - the mushrooms were 1st class.
Think my Blackpool trip is probably nearing its end. I am feeling rather knackered and wary now and not sure how else I can represent the Tower.]
Feel a bit deflated at not getting any good stuff in the tower itself. Bit of a prat as you need permission to use images from inside, I should have got permission and taken the tri-pod to get the ballroom etc properly. Sometimes my own fear and nervousness costs me dearly! Still - its the tower as a landmark I came here to capture and I hope I've done that OK.
Feel a bit pushed for time too. If I can get to Newcastle today, shoot it Wednesday, travel to Edinburgh Thursday and shoot it Friday and then go to Hannah's mums for Saturday or Sunday to drive home Monday ready for school Tuesday!!!
Its a shame I don't have longer so I could do a second trip to all these places as often the re-visit is more productive.

04/04/07:

10:45 - Thats more like it! Sitting in the sun under the watchfull gaze of the Angel of the North.
Blackpool was interesting and everything but sitting here is one of those moments when I know why I am a photographer and I know this project is interesting!
Yesterday, for one of the first times, photography felt like my job. An early start, shooting from about 9 till about 5 - it was hard work, especially as the Tower proved harder to photograph than I envisaged. A good job mind, I aint complaining.
It got to a point where Blackpool was doing my head in and so at about half 4 I decided to drive to Newcastle ready to get a full day at the Angel. the drive was spectacular, accross the lake district and the pennines. Original rugged picturesque - rolling gnarly hills, small fields penned in with proper stone walls and more open space than I have ecer experienced in the UK before, it was beautiful.
I stopped for the night in Clitheroe area, in a pub car park actually! I asked if it were ok and they were fine provided a pint was bought and that pint was the most satisfying drink I've ever had due to it being such a long day! Really looking forward to today.

12:11 - Some days, I am just a lucky bastard! Everything comes together by chance and a potentially great picture is the result!
I was shooting the Angel from a nearby estate when I saw a helicopter going rather near the sculpture. I dahsed back and low and behold a helicopter in the field right next to the Angel. Its a promotion of an air ambulance by the look of it, complete with press and a crowd - all in the shadow of the angel! What better chance for an unconventional and unique image of this landmark. Fluke and luck freak me out sometimes! Too much good fortune for one day.

13:08 - The helicopter excitement is over! It has taken off and left us. It was called Harold I think! Heard a few people call it that. What a shit name for a helicopter - its not very hard is it? (sorry to any Harolds!).
It was rather funny all in all - amuzing how excited people get by choppers. I was more interested in a bloke and his toddler, Peter. All Peter wanted to do was play, all Dad wanted to do was take photographs with hilarious consequences of the kid running amock whilst his father shouted at him and issued hollow threats like "I'll take you home!". No you wont, your more excited about seeing it take off than Peter is.
So, whats more fascinating and visually appealing to see - a huge amazing sculpture...or a huge amazing helicopter. Tough call, tough call.

TO BE CONTINUED...