COBBLER'S PAGE By Brian Asquith (Librarian) When
planning a holiday recently I got to thinking how countries are
presented to tempt us into taking a break. Publicity
in the holiday brochures from travel agents rarely give information
other than type of beach and hotel. Some of the more specialist
companies now give more details if you are looking at Lakes and
Mountains but whatever the brochure, the sun always shines. Apply to
the Tourist Board and you will get information about the attractions
on offer presented in such away that on arrival it can be a shock to
discover the reality. We
see London portrayed in glossy brochures as full of sunny welcoming
ancient buildings, The Tower,Tower Bridge and the Houses of
Parliament, but fine as they are to look at the experience is marred
somewhat by traffic pollution, noise, rubbish and beggars. This is not
to say that London is worse than any other city in the world. From
what we read and hear visits abroad can be comprised of heavily
guarded hotels and sorties out in air-conditioned coaches to keep the
visitor safe and controlled. The independent tourist as shown on TV
holiday shows seem only to touch the local culture in a similar way.
The traveller using local transport, buses or trains, does come into
close r
contact with the people although language can be a problem and things
are not always what they appear to be. When we visited India we found
one village where we stayed far from being the idyllic backwater we
thought had local mafia-type operators running various enterprises but
of course we were blissfully unaware of this until an English speaking
local put us in the picture. So
we travel whatever and wherever getting the 'experience' and, being
photographers, expose film in considerable quantity. Nowadays more and
more people are doing the same and with tape in video cameras
recording commentaries at the same time. (I find it fun to listen in).
And what are we photographing? Usually
what has been photographed time and time again pointed in the right
direction by the Guide book. Nothing wrong in that, after all it is
our experience first-hand we capture. But by our collection we reflect
brochure land of sun and gloss. We all want happy memories of our
holidays so there's no point in recording the rubbish strewn streets,
or worse pigs grubbing about in the rubbish strewn streets, the slums,
the beggars, the tatty, the worn out cities in the pouring rain. Let
our pictures be of smiling people in perfect settings. It maybe the
wrong picture or the least part of the picture but it's what we want
to remember. We
went to Ireland and spent ten lovely sunny days which must be the luck
that comes from being married to a part Irish lady. We walked and
walked the West coastal mountains from Westport to Galway and finished
with a couple of days on one of the Aran Islands and a walk across the
Burren. Ireland is well marketed as an holiday destination. Dublin has
tourist buses doing a sight seeing round, while on foot one can take
the litery or the historic trail and whichever one chosen end up at
the Guiness Hop Shop for a pint and a tour. The
natural beauty of the West is stunning; the Aran Islands have an
unusual landscape with miles of stone walls; the famous Cliffs of
Moher with hordes of tourists from the coaches parked at the
information centre trekking the 100yds to pose right at the edge of
the cliff to have their pictures taken then climbing the steps to the
tower to get the best view of the cliffs. Hundreds of pictures taken
in a day, millions in a year. People from all over the world taking
back their memories and snaps. Me? I was looking for the odd angle on
the walls protecting fools from the cliff edge. Of course I took the
same snaps as the rest after all I wanted it as it is as well. I
also wanted some pictures of ruined crofts and crofts with thatched
roofs not easy in the part of Ireland we travelled as they have been
replaced by nice bungalows. I did eventually find a ruined farm on the
Burren and spent time composing pictures. The point being that I
wanted Ireland gritty and romantic but it looks all clean and well
kept, white houses, gnomes in the garden, flowers galore on the Burren,
lovely people, sunshine and fluffy clouds, just like the brochure
said. I wonder what my snaps will be like. LIBRARIAN'S
THOUGHTS At
the AGM I proposed that the Club continues to stock the Library and
offered the following list of books that I think will be of interest
to members. They are the more expensive books for two reasons (1) They
are more specialist in the topics they cover. (2) Full of information
one likes to have access to but no to want to own. In fact a library book. I
have had the `Planning and Producing Slide Programs` out of our local
library, its an excellent Kodak publication. The
rest of he list comprises of:- Planning
and Producing Slide Programs, Photo Chemistry Color and Black &
White, Understanding Exposure,Focal Guide to he Law Photographic, I
have also had suggested, Photographic Cook Book. I have a full set of Darkroom
Technique`s Specials. These are made up of past articles from that
magazine. We have a subscription for it from America. Some of the
stuff is very technical and way over the top but the Specials are
good, I would loan them to any club member. Titles are:- (1) Photographic Process. (2) Mastering B&W Photography. (3) Perfect Colour Printing. (4) Controlling Colour Photography. List of contents on application. |