Broken Fence

2. Broken Fence: Thousands of people must walk past this fence between November and January each year to visit the seal breeding colony at Donna Nook Nature Reserve in Lincolnshire. I wonder how many have noticed it or considered it as a photographic opportunity on their way to the seals or in the rush to se the animals? I did just that on my way to the see and photograph the seals and got some very funny looks form those passing me as I was knelt next to my tripod with my camera trained on a piece of tatty old fence. I got some funny questions from fellow photographers as the passed by, “aren’t you doing the seals one asked” when I replied “that I would do later” he shrugged, hefted his large telephoto lens over his shoulder and walked away shaking his head. He never saw the potential for making what I think is a pleasing image, but perhaps he was not in the same mind set as me. I saw the potential, but knew that to make the most of the subject a different approach was needed – I visualised the final image as a lith print recoded on infrared film. I used a second hand battered old Olympus OM4 for infrared photography it was always loaded with Kodak high speed infrared and I had it in my bag that day. Sadly I dropped this camera into the sea from Flambrough Head, East Yorkshire and I still miss having it.