Teamwork

 I am going to work with a group of like minded photographers on the theme of 'Connection'. Each of us will produce a piece of work about our connection to Suffolk. This will include eight photographs and a written piece about our subject. Our group will be led by Gill Moon, a professional photographer and publisher. Each participant was chosen from a number of photographers who had shown an interest in the project.

Our first meeting was a zoom session where we were all introduced to each other and Gill explained her thought process about a topic on Connections. We all chipped in with our ideas and another meeting was made for February when we would meet in Woodbridge and talk through our own ideas for the project.

My connection to Suffolk was going to be about insects and if there was a place for them in todays society. My first idea was to photograph insect/insects with an iconic building in the background such as the Orwell Bridge or Felixstowe docks. 

I did a rekey of places that I thought I could use and I would return to them when the season was right for insects to be about. I worked on this idea for a while but the insects were not obliging. In fact there were few insects about in the first quarter of this year. At the same time I was writing a draft copy about my subject. At the next meeting in April I took along some photos and explained the problem I was having. It was agreed that I should just photograph the insects but still use my basic idea for my writing.

                                                                                     

During May and June I spent many hours out and about looking for insects to photograph that I thought would be suitable for my project. Although there were butterflies around there were very few other insects. I really wanted to include some beetles but these were very illusive. I had four images that I was happy with but that still left me four more to find.

At the same time I had also re-written my piece about insects and adjusted the wording around man-made structures. This I emailed to Gill, and also my artists statement to be included at the exhibition. All eight images had to be submitted by the end of August ready for Gill to set out the book ready for publishing. I continued to photograph insects for my next four images and decide on the four below.

Besides my work with the team I also spent a Sunday afternoon in September with the local Bug Club, talking about bugs and then showing them how to photograph bugs. I printed some of images which I displayed in the church for the harvest festival where insects and their importance to us as humans was to be included in the harvest festival at the beginning of October.

On the 5th October, our last meeting was held at Gill's house, where each member of the team was presented with a finished book and a group photo was also taken. Discussions took place about the exhibition and how much the prints should be priced at. 

Our Book

My Statement for the Exhibition

My Written Piece

There are thousands of minibeasts lurking in the undergrowth, hidden in the crevices of tree bark, buried under shingle and stones, and even in the corners of our sheds and garages. Most of these go unnoticed by us humans as we rush about our busy lives. But, did you know that 60 % of UK insects have been lost since the start of this millennia? It is with this in mind I ask, 'do insects have a part to play today'?

Indeed, they do. They help maintain a healthy soil. They pollinate flowers and crops; recycle nutrients and help control pests. Without insects' life would not exist as we know it today. I therefore wonder why we pay so little attention to these amazing creatures.

Can humans with all their modern structures and amenities help turn the situation around and live in harmony together? I believe my three illustrations show that they can.

The Orwell Bridge

I hear the thunder of traffic as it journeys along the A14, across the massive concrete structure of the Orwell Bridge, all unaware of the beauty and stillness far below. The River Orwell lies dull and murky with rubbish around its edges. Where I stand, below the bridge, surrounded by hedges, trees, grassy areas where brambles and wild flowers flourish, bees are buzzing, and butterflies are moving gently on the breeze. A beetle scuttles away under a rotten log, all going about their business. This area is a haven for wildlife, nature undisturbed despite human interference.

Felixstowe Docks

Above the giant, lumbering cranes, the many multi-coloured metal containers, and the constant noise and droning coming from the Port of Felixstowe, a butterfly perches serene and silent on top a purple teasel while white and common blue butterflies fly around us.

Landguard Point, with its shingle beaches, wildflowers, marram grasses and the many bramble bushes is now a nature reserve which attracts many insects and birds. A far cry from its original purpose to transport supplies to the ships during the various wars.

The Stour, Sudbury

As I leave the car park behind me, I head towards the meadows by the river stour. Walking along the path with the trees, shrubs and wildflowers I can hear the birds singing and butterflies are fluttering around on the gentle breeze. Nearing the river, bees are busy collecting pollen from the creeping thistle flowers while soldier beetles scurry around. All this beauty and I am only metres away from a busy, market town. I ask myself why these little creatures mean so little to so many.

My three examples show that humans and insects can live alongside each other, but we can do more by having insect loving plants in our gardens or flowerpots and shallow water vessels for insects to drink form. We can encourage others, especially our children to take notice of what wildlife is around them and how to preserve it. What you do might seem a tiny gesture but times that by 70 million others in the UK. and it becomes a colossal amount.

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