Things are broken
Perhaps photography can help ?
Lives in a van. Bimbles with a camera. Often pointing his pixel box at scruff. Has been known to run long distances. Would consider cake as a form of payment.
Recovering.
Welcome
Hello, and welcome back to another week behind the lens of Nigel, a photographer who travels full time in his silver VW campervan. I’m currently writing this update somewhere north(ish) in rural France. I say ish as of course France is a big ass country, and this is now the 5th year (4th full time) that we have made the journey south. Despite the familiarity with the route (although we change it slightly to discover new areas along the way), I’m always surprised just how long it takes to drive down through. Big ass indeed.
Turns out, spotting, and then shouting out ‘Frenchman with a baguette riding a bike’ certainly helps the miles pass quicker. I think Nicola is wining that competition 4-2.
The plan is to reach northern Spain by Tuesday, and then spend the following 6-8 weeks heading west. And yes, coming all this way in a campervan, in winter, and then sticking to the north coast, does seem like a bit of a mugs game. We have, however, done the middle and south so much that we wanted something different.
Of course, remind me of these words in a few weeks time when I’m complaining about the wind and the rain - should have stayed in Scotland :) At least they have decent whiskey there.
Thanks again … and as usual .. Happy Pixels …
Extracts from a creative journal
2nd January
A new year, full of possibilities and potential. At least that’s what they tell you on those guru podcasts. Instead, mine has started full of confusion and self doubt. Despite the obvious bonus of seeing friends and family, I don’t particularly enjoy coming back to the UK, or at least being stationary while here. Bad habits, which don’t need much persuasion, rise to the surface, and it takes quite a bit of willpower (of which I’ve been lacking of late) to keep them under control.
A walk with the iPhone. Village boundaries slowly creep towards each other, like two armies destined one day to fight, for-sale signs at the ready. Green belts being overrun by immaculate tarmac drives and Musk-mobiles. An area I used to slowly plod while watching buzzards soar, now locked behind picket fences. Disapproving eyes peering out from twitching floral curtains.
This village is broken.
3rd January (part 1)
Leave Nicola at the train station. Away to the big smoke. I was tempted myself. A winter walk around London, perhaps even a few hours kneeling at the temple of Fujifilm. Sadly the trains have been replaced by buses, which in themselves are mostly being replaced by horse and cart; at least it looks that way with huge DELAYED notices everywhere.
Instead I settle for a dander along the fens. Nowhere near as frosty as I had hoped, but still an enjoyable couple of hours with the GFX and its new partner in crime; the 100-200mm. Ooff, I think I’m going to enjoy this one.
Pretty sure I’m being chased down by a pack of angry wolves, and start to look for a tall limb to climb. Soon realise it’s a group of about 6 Roe Deer bounding across the fields. Wonderful to witness, especially from my vantage point up this tree. Not quite sure how I managed to get up here, or in fact how I’m getting down.
Send cake !
3rd January (part 2)
A bimble into Cambridge. It’s only 3 miles, but you tell folks are you going to walk, rather than get the bus, and they look at you as if you are about to pull a knife on them. More play with the iPhone. I’m enjoying this. The simplicity. The images don’t amount to much, but it’s more about the practice of photography. My eyes continually searching in the shadows.
Walking, as well as the obvious health benefits, also means I won’t succumb to one of the many potholes that litter the road. Pretty sure I saw a mini disappear down into one never to be seen again.
This city is broken.
5th January
A light dusting of snow, although not as much as I had hoped, but enough to get me up early doors with the X100T. I love this camera, although I’m amazed it’s still going. Was sure 2025 was going to be her last, however I reckon there’s still pixels left in the old girl yet.
A few images made I’m quite happy with, although the Mallards, as usual, are laughing at me. I mutter under my breath that it’s crispy duck with pancakes later.
A walk in the woods. Peaceful. Slight crunch of snow under foot. I spend a bit of time watching a buzzard being mobbed by a couple of Jackdaws. Winter light illumining their plumage. Wildlife is good for the soul, although I’m sure glad I double checked the spelling there as for some reason soul had become soup.
Spot a couple of teenagers in the bushes. Perhaps doing some kind of field study. Getting at one with the natural world. Nope. They are smoking pot. In fact if you look closely enough, the shrubs are littered with them. All in pairs. All sharing a quick joint before School.
This country is broken.
10th January
I’ve been playing around a bit with AI to see if it can come up with a recipe for either my iPhone, or one of my Fuji cameras, that replicates (or at least gets close to) a Holga. I have an actual Holga somewhere in the storage unit, and was considering buying one for the next few months of travel. Nostalgia, however, can only get you so far, and it would be a challenge, bordering on the impossible, to get the films developed while on the road. Instead, I’m trying to see if I can some up with something digital, and you know what. I think I’m getting close.
Of course, I can hear the purists now all saying no chance. Nothing like Holga. And that’s okay. This is my journey, remember, not yours.
14th January
A frosty bimble around Cambridge with the cameras. The city awakens. Birdsong mixed with Bin Lorries. No sign of students. They are most likely still in bed, their own or each others. Anyone’s guess.
Darkness gives way to light
Blues shift to gold
Dawn in the city
The GFX has even made an appearance, and I spend an hour or so enjoying dawn break over the River Cam waiting for light. There’s a bit of mist hanging over the water, and I even manage to come away with a couple of frames that may survive the inevitable cull later. In the meantime the X100T continues to point its lens at the more interesting bits of life.
Turn down 3 attempts at getting me in a punt. At those prices I could probably buy my own yacht along with a fully stocked beer fridge.
Meet Batman on the backs. Or at least that’s what he told me as he rushed to his next lecture. No sign of Robin, just the odd Starling or two. At least they aren’t laughing.
Half way though January already, and we still have no idea if we are heading south or north. It’s time to make some serious decisions and formulate a plan for the next few months.
But that will have to be a story for next time.
Latest vlogs
Join me on in the flat lands of the Cambridgeshire fens as I start to play with a little present to myself.
And the first part of a little relaxing bimble around Cambridge with the Fujifilm X100T.
Twelve Now Available
As I mentioned last week, my annual collection of Twelve is now available, and you can download a copy (Free) at the link below. In that link you will also find copies of the last few years as well.
The week that was (1st - 7th Feb)
A few images from this particular week down through the years.
Thanks so much for allowing me a few moments of your time. I hope you have enjoyed my words and images. If so, a quick share amongst your own community will help spread the word.
The other corners of the internet you can find me
Bimbles, my quarterly magazine
The Diary of an X100 camera ..
My portfolio (undergoing a major update)
And if you really enjoyed this newsletter, you can even consider throwing a few pennies into the tips jar. It helps most with diesel costs for the van to keep me on the road making images.
Lovely selection of photos, Nigel, as always. I particularly liked the Holga preset and look forward to seeing more of those. Good luck with your journey south to warmer climes.
This was a nice read! I enjoyed following along and looking at these images.