People still don’t really know about Edge Village, the surrounding countryside - or the forest, which is ancient, huge (the largest free public access place in the south east) and famous for Winnie the Pooh and his mates. People scratch their heads when I tell them where I live and even those who are half an hour’s drive away, in Lewes, usually barely register the place and mostly haven’t been there. If it weren’t for the Steiner school and college, which does continually attract incomers, no-one would know about it at all. I could go for walks in any number of places, get myself completely lost and feel quite sure that no-one would be likely to pass by. I keep this idea in reserve for when things get too much. But what often sustains me when things do get too much is this idea that I live on the edge of a wild place, but it is a wild place where I feel kindred. Even when I can’t actually get out into it, I know it’s there, the forest, just close by.
The bluebells are everywhere now, in a week or two the bracken will have obscured them. I still haven’t got the hang of my digital camera and don’t seem able to capture the exact quality of light, may have to take on board that taking photographs isn’t going to be my thing but am tempted to get a digital photograph for idiots book before giving up.
14 comments:
Beauty is healing, maybe not physically, but otherwise . . . this tugged at my heart strings today :)
Willow, as far as I'm concerned that is a fine result :)
Well I think it's a lovely photo and gives me joy to look at, so thank you
Your picture is fine. You've inspired me to photograph the blue squills--that's what I think these are. Lucky Signs to live near such a wild place.
For myself, I know when I'm in need of refuge or respite by one of the images which presents itself inside my head by default: that of being in a clearing in the forest, chopping logs.
It's the combination of the place itself and the straightforward activity associated with it.
So there are resonances here, not least the knowing it's there.
If I were to offer any advice regarding the photographs (you have posted up many fine ones, in my opinion): for one thing you'll never get the exact quality of light. The best will be a cipher, a mere facsimile, sometimes a beautiful one.
But - some of my own photos which I like have been taken whilst pointing straight at the sunlight. I'd just say try such things and see if it offers anything interesting.
Cusp, and this is another fine result - thanks.
Mim, I've never heard of blue squills before. I am undecided about whether these are the proper English bluebells or whether a bit of the Spanish hybrid has got in. I think there is a bit of both.
Trousers, before I came to live here I carried forest images in me. I might even have been to that same clearing and seen you chopping wood - in which case you have probably been in one or two of my poems.
you'll never get the exact quality of light - yes, I need to take this on board - but I do need to learn about the different settings and what that can do. A certain Ms Mr showed me something when she visited but now I can't find it. And she was rather wizard with her little camera.
I would love to find a place to escape to. Living in the city there's just too much of everything from people, traffic, constant noise, CCTV cameras or whatever. I haven't even seen bluebells, such is the endless concrete and pavement. Just the sounds of people and their activities and feeling trapped in a box. Scream!!!!!
But it is so nice to see and hear about where other people are. A little bit of virtual respite. As I read your post, I could smell the coolness of the air and the scent of the bluebells, and the sound of silence. Interrupted by some birds singing.
Good to have forest nearby.
Looks gorgeous.
I am in the city but thankfully have a lot of green around me. I couldn't survive otherwise. And only 40 mins bus ride from the beautiful Fife coastline, where my parents now live. Bluebells rule, they remind me of my childhood.
Digi, I too get a lot of vicarious satisfaction from seeing other landacapes (including urban ones like yours) that other people inhabit. But yes, I feel very lucky to be here.
hi Zhoen,
hi Collin,
it is gorgeous and I feel lucky.
NMJ, I do love being in Scotland, the wildness of it, so different to this southern landscape. Haven't been to the Fife coastline though.
The weeds are growing damn fast too!
Tell me about it, Kahless!
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