It’s becoming increasingly difficult to come up with titles for these blogs. Generally I sit for a couple of minutes until something springs to mind. Some titles offer an insight into the mechanics of that mind, not that we would ever want to delve too deeply into that mess. A random title, but luckily what I laughingly call a brain grabbed an extremely relevant one. Apparently it’s something we all should be doing, the practice of mindfulness. I’ve been doing it for years, although I didn’t realise it. Anyway, it’s easier said than done when we look at what’s happening in the world around us. Hold on. That’s what mindfulness is, taking in the world around us. That opening shot doesn’t represent a religious context to this blog, it’s just one from last weeks visit to Budleigh Salterton when I was being mindful. Besides, if I was forced by gunpoint to pick a religion it would be Buddhism, even then I’d be very sceptical. Failing that I’d follow the ideology from Pi Patel in the book ‘Life of Pi’ and follow all religions. Just to be on the safe side, there’s enough out there and so one of them must be the right one. There is a lot going on in this world currently and mindfulness makes a lot of sense, but how can we manage it amongst the barrage of propaganda coming at us from all directions.
I’m leaving Covid to one side, good to be able to say that, and instead let’s touch on the Russian/Ukraine situation. Those shots above are of Russians peacefully demonstrating against the ‘Special Military Operation’, or War to everyone else, at the doors to Bath Abbey. The only thing smaller that Putin’s brain is his penis says one protest sign. Agreed, although the caveat is that I’ve witnessed his very small mind using huge military force, I am unsure about the size of his other weapon. My brother-in-law has met Vlad. The Russian despot was flanked by two military/naval officers with armbands containing keypads for inputting the nuclear codes. Putin was staying a couple of nights and it was a condition that the nuclear boys had a room next to him as they always do. I wonder whether they could shed any light on the size of Putins allegedly microscopic penis. Maybe, and I surmising here, they have a bit more insight than we think. Could it be that Putin can only get an erection when in the presence of the two ‘rear admirals’ and considers the power he yields. Of course I don’t know this and need to be careful what I say because we already know that Russian spies like to visit Wiltshire. They come to admire Salisbury Cathedrals lengthy spire ( way bigger than Putins) and sometimes accidentally poison any dissenters they may come across whilst on their ‘weekend sightseeing trip’. Here’s Louis in Budleigh Salterton last week organising an air strike and a few ICBM’s, It could have been directed at anywhere, probably his sister.
As is usual on a Friday evening I meet my friend Kev for a beer. We speak of many things, mostly it involves how and when are we going to get back to Las Vegas. He’s a wise man, not always totally sensible, but nonetheless and on occasion he talks a lot of sense. Sometimes we speak about relationships and he reminded me of that great quote: “The Battle of the Sexes will never be won, there’s far too much fraternising with the enemy”! I told him about the Russians protesting in Bath, how they got a lot of support from the locals including me and that I spent some time chatting with them. They were happy to be able to have the freedom to express an opinion and protest, unlike their comrades in the Motherland. Typical of Russia not to allow any protests, no freedom at all, I said. Kev replied “Yes, but we weren’t free to leave our houses not too long ago, had we wanted to protest or even go out for a beer we’d be in trouble with the police”. He’s got to let go of those crazy and illogical Covid restrictions that were inflicted upon us, but he has point, we could have been living in Russia. We discussed the nuclear threat and whether we might see Russian Tanks trundling through the streets of Bristol. We agreed that when the Russian’s T-14 Tanks roll down Colston Avenue and SU fighter aircraft perform victory rolls above us it would be fairly certain that the U.K. government would still be considering whether or not to press that big red nuclear button…Too late I’m afraid Prime Minister, I have the Kremlin on the phone, apparently we’re now an Oblast.
It reminded us of the 1980’s brilliant comedy series ‘Yes, Minister’. We find that the politicians don’t govern the country, the Whitehall civil servants do and the exchanges between the fictional Prime Minister (Jim Hacker) and civil servant Sir Humphrey are hilarious. The real Prime Minister at the time was astounded by the accuracy it depicted. I remember an episode where Prime Minister Hacker wants to know why he doesn’t know the secrets being kept by the Foreign Office. That’s simple Sir Humphrey replies, the Foreign Office policy is to keep everything from everybody. Hacker remonstrates that surely somebody must know these secrets, but who? Oh, another easy one to answer Prime Minister… The Kremlin.
You would be mistaken if you thought I was taking all this lightly. I’m not, it’s a coping mechanism and my way of insulting Putin, a little propaganda. It’s well recognised that he’s places great importance on being a mans man. The size of his penis and suggestion of homosexuality don’t fit into that myopic view he holds. It’s pretty clear the Ukrainians are going to be mostly on their own if they’re looking for any real help. The U.K government works very much in the same way as every other government in the world. Their own interests come first and muddle their way through to achieve that. There won’t be a no-fly zone or any boots on the ground, no membership of either the E.U. or NATO.
Right, this has absolutely nothing whatsoever to with mindfulness, but it might do.
Here’s my advice and honestly, take it with a pinch of salt if you like. We need to know our limitations. There’s only so much negativity we can take, therefore it’s reasonable to suggest that we limit our exposure to it. I found myself on Reuters and the BBC’s live news feed constantly, update after update, no one needs that much information on a war. I was getting more reconnaissance than the bloody generals of Russia and Ukraine combined. That was the route I chose to escape the Covid doom and gloom. When they announce the ‘Four Minute Warning” I expect to miss it. For me it also means that five minutes per day on Facebook and Instagram is more than enough. I’m already operating under that policy and so it’s an easy one to maintain. Essentially we need to lighten up a little, don’t take ourselves too seriously. Make others laugh or at least laugh at yourself as you attempt to. I can’t remember what I was saying to these photographers, but recall thinking that they were most likely laughing ‘at’ and not ‘with’ me.
Mindfulness is all about living in the moment, noticing each and every detail. If you’re a photographer you already do that and if you’re not then time to pick up a camera, no matter what it is, DSLR or Smartphone. Get out and observe, in no time at all you’ll find yourself in a state of relaxed concentration. The daily troubles and strife will be forgotten as will the natural, albeit futile, desire to control everything. It’s recognised practically everywhere that if you suffer with Anxiety or Depression then exercise will subdue in part some of those awful feelings. You can begin to break the vicious cycle. I walk the dogs every day in the fields and believe me you don’t have to try being mindful. You just are, your eye is drawn to the beauty of nature, the ground under foot, the sky, wildlife and the changing seasons. Remind yourself that neither the future or past actually exist, only this precise moment, that single breath. Yeah, yeah, I don’t have fields or dogs, I live in a city mate! I hear you and that’s even better, time to begin street or documentary photography.
You’ll be in the moment, to the point where 1/1000 of a second makes all the difference. Once the shot is gone it’s well and truly gone, move on and forget it. You’ll find yourself noticing all those ephemeral changes in the light, the gestures, expressions and the human condition. Plus, and it’s a big one, you’ll be exercising. I regularly clock up four or five miles walking around Bath or Bristol without even thinking about it. Just click whilst you walk.
Or pick a spot and sit for a few minutes watching the world go by…
Every photo in this post was made during the last 10 days, the good, the bad and the ugly. I can report that my thoughts during these trips were positive, importantly I wasn’t thinking about anything else. If you’re reading this and for whatever reason are unable to get out then instead do some form of yoga (if you can) or stretches and afterwards sit as still as possible. Breathe in for a count of 5, hold for 2 and breathe out for 7. Repeat for a couple of minutes. Start taking a look at your surroundings, the textures, colours, note where the light falls and shadows form. Take some photos.
You can’t let the crap get you down, self pity isn’t the way forward. Take each day as it comes. You remember how I said earlier about not taking yourself too seriously. Here’s a couple of photos as proof of how to do it. Firstly I was watching my dad, sister and children walking along the other day and mentioned how it reminded me of one of those evolution of man poster. My sister jumped to the back straight away, she wasn’t worried about appearing foolish, it made me laugh. Secondly. Can you remember being a child? Take a hint from Louis, he doesn’t care, just enjoys himself. I’ll add after that shot he got changed into his Rugby gear and went on to absolutely slaughter the opposition in his match. Now, where’s that dress and heels I keep for these occasions when I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed…
As always my sincere thanks go to anyone taking the time to read this blog.
All images can be opened by clicking on the thumbnails and are made using a Leica M with Summicron 28mm Lens fitted.
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