Deflated

November 20, 2023 fishyfisharcade2 Comments

This wheel kinda looks like how I feel at present. I seem to be having a lot of trouble finding enthusiasm for anything, even things I enjoy, on a regular basis. I don’t think I’m depressed or anything, just that I can’t seem to find the energy to do stuff. My attention wanders but never really settles on anything, just drifts from one thing to another, not gaining any real benefit. I’m finding it difficult to focus on things, both at work and at home.

It’s not a permanent, 24/7 thing – sometimes I feel better, but it’s noticeable enough for me to be giving it thought. It’s especially frustrating because, sometimes when I have free time to do something I’d like I end up doing nothing, which is a big disappointment. Free time is something I have in limited supply and to waste it is not good.

I’ve started to wonder if I might have Long Covid or something, as these symptoms are often associated with that condition, but I don’t really have any of the other signs. Or maybe I’m just getting older.

Olympus OM-1N, G-Zuiko Auto-W 35mm f/2.8 & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 @ 20° 9mins.

Taken 9 September 2023.

Film photography · Medium Format · Photography

Fish pulley art thing

November 19, 2020 fishyfisharcade2 Comments

At the northern end of Woodhouse Washlands, close to the old route of the A57 road, this piece of public art sits beside the footpath. Next time I pass I’ll look to see if there’s a plaque or something with information about it, but I’m presuming its part of the winding equipment from one of the old, now gone, collieries that were nearby at Beighton and Orgreave. It now has the outlines of multiple trout cut into the wheel. I’m not sure if the concrete base denotes part of old mine workings – the sites of extinct shafts are sometimes capped off with large slabs like this.

Yashica Mat 124G & Ilford HP5+. Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°.

Taken on 10 October 2020

35mm · Film photography · Photography

Feeling dejected

January 27, 2018 fishyfisharcade1 Comment

The week before last, the app on my phone had promised sunny conditions. So, looking forwards to some nice, low winter sunshine, I made plans to go out with my camera at the weekend.

Unfortunately, when the Saturday came, the skies outside showed nary a sign of the sun. I was feeling pretty dejected, and considered just staying home and reading, but in the end decided to go out anyway – the app was now showing “light cloud”, so I decided on a trip to Linacre reservoirs, a location not too far away and which I’d not visited before. If nothing else, the walk would be nice, and I could use the visit to recce shots for better conditions.

When I arrived, the “light cloud” had turned to sleet, which further dampened my spirits, and I sat in the car for five minutes considering whether or not to pay for parking, or to just go home. While I did this, I took the following picture from the car window as I liked the look of the chunky tyre in the mud.

In the end, I paid to park and had a very enjoyable walk, and managed to get several nice photos despite the dull and damp weather.

I think the key sometimes (probably ALL times) is to just enjoy things for what they are, and not to get hung up when they’re not the conditions you hoped for.

Olympus OM-1, F.Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 & Ilford HP5+.

Taken on 20 January 2018