Winter is here

I’ve spent most of my online life in photography forums. I’m a visual person and most people don’t post headshots on their profile pages. I totally understand why and respect their privacy. I think many people are taking refuge from Social Media and it’s pervasive invasion of privacy. I’m slowly building relationships with people on Permies but it’s a lot harder with out seeing a face. Well, here’s my face from 2016.



I was part of an online learning community and we given the challenge ‘self portrait’. At the time, HBO had just launched season 7 of Game of Thrones and the advertising material included headshots of the main characters in icy blue with the tag 'Winter is here'. As a big fan of the books and TV show, I felt inspired to come up with my own take and added both fire and ice.

Soon after I joined Permies, I decided to post a picture every week. I used to do this as a photographer, talk about my work to an audience of photographers. I wondered if it was the right thing to do here. There are many reasons why I love Permies, one of them is the permission to do what you like, so long as you’re not a dick. I try and stick to outdoor, nature images for some relevance.

After a week or two, I started adding a summary of my week, as close as I get to an online journal. I’m packing a lot into my life at the moment, so stopping and reflecting helps to ground me, although I’ve done more of that this week than most. I hit a couple of milestones - 100 posts, 3 months of PEP which lead to a frank post and discussion on my addictions. I guess I’m what could be described as an over-sharer. In summary, Permaculture, Permies and PEP are the healthiest of all my addictions, so that’s a good thing! I maybe slowing down on PEP but that’s not through boredom or lack of a new target - I was motivated to get BB60 and PEP1 is out of reach. Instead, I need to be a little less chaotic and hopping around like a mad rabbit! And besides, winter is here and it’s damn cold in my garage workshop.

Very impressive headshot! You definitely hit the mark for theme objective. I love it when others share pictures. I am a very visual person who loves the experience of seeing through the eyes of others when looking at photographs. I also don't get out much so it's a bit like having a window to the outside world. Thank you for sharing your creativity with everyone.

I think it's pity you gave up on photography, Edward, thanks for sharing your achievements with us. I'm much more a 'point and shoot' photographer and give thanks for digital cameras.

Nancy Reading wrote:I think it's pity you gave up on photography, Edward, thanks for sharing your achievements with us. I'm much more a 'point and shoot' photographer and give thanks for digital cameras.

Thanks Nancy. I haven’t exactly given up. I’ve stopped buying and obsessing over gear. I’ve stopped stressing about why my pictures won’t sell. I’ve stopped feeding the Facebook / Instagram machine and the destructive soul crushing it creates. I’ve stopped the eight, ten, twelve hour Photoshop sessions. I’ve stopped taking pictures I think other people will like. I’ve stopped fretting about the 100,000 images I haven’t even filtered once.

I still take pictures, on my iphone, that I like. I will pick up the big camera after I move - NJ sapped the last ounce of creativity!

FYI - I’ve visited Skye many times. As a kid I lived in The Boarders and our summer holidays were spent hiding behind rocks or sand dunes, along the West Coast from Arran to Mull, Skye to Cape Wrath, trying to get out of the wind! I’ve driven from my house in London to Sligachan in one day just making last orders. Red Cuillin was my favourite beer but had to be drunk on Skye, in the winter after a day in the mountains! And Colin Prior was a massive early influence on my photography - I’ve had his prints on my walls most of my life. Landscape Photography was something that alluded me for two decades. Mr Prior has a singleminded addiction that trumps all of mine combined. Oops . . . Guess that all need to come out - right back to reality, it’s Friday and I have a house to clean!