Always carry a camera.
You never know when something interesting will happen.
I try to carry a camera with me every day, no matter where I am going. On those rare occasions when I haven’t had one, I have really regretted it when I saw something amazing.
This weeks article is a little different, there is very little writing, but rather a lot of pictures.
I had the idea for the topic, so I looked through my hard drives to see what scans I had of prints (I always work that way, I really don’t like scans from negatives). I was looking for images that just wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t habitually had a camera with me at all times. These are the images I found;
I was taking the children out on a steam train when they were small and we were waiting in the station when another train came in on the other side. I looked out to see if I could get a shot of the steam at the front, and this boy briefly put his head out. It wasn’t the shot I wanted, but I knew instantly that it was better. Olympus half frame.
I went to visit my mother in law and she had let someone park a caravan in her drive. I looked out of the window to see the cat checking it out. Pentax ME Super.
Taking a short cut on my way to the darkroom one day, I saw this rubber thing in a puddle. It seemed to be crying out for help. Contax 137MD Quartz with a cheap zoom lens.
On a visit to see a photographer friend in Glasgow I was killing a bit of time by looking round the city. The shadow looked like black lace. Contax 137MD Quartz with a cheap zoom lens.
On a visit to Brighton to see my sister in law, the family were shopping so I went looking for interesting locations. Pentax ME Super.
On a family walk in the woods after heavy rain, I looked over a small bridge and saw amazing patterns of silt where the river had backed up. As I framed up the shot a dog came into the frame making it look more surreal. Rollei B35.
I couldn’t resist this shot on a farm visit with the kids. ‘Ewe not well, feed herbs’ just looked like ‘you not well?’ Pentax ME Super.
At one time, a few half life sized garden statues were stored behind a garden shed, but in full view of the road. I was immediately drawn to the juxtaposition with the huge tree. Pentax Spotmatic.
Another one that appealed to me because of scale and incongruency. Liverpool. Kowa 35.
On a visit to Pontefract where my old friend Porl Medlock had recently moved, he was showing me round when we passed these signs. Pentax Spotmatic.
At the local farmers market, the mats by the door were always kicked around. On this particular morning, the early sunlight cast interesting shapes that divided them into shapes.
In a local town not far from where I live, this house was situated in a long terrace of middle class houses, looking bizarre and fascinating. 92 Wessenden Head Road, Meltham. Pentax Spotmatic.
Seen at the side of a country lane in the open countryside. Pentax Spotmatic.
I was walking through town with a camera and a small flash to do a quick shot for a friend. I bumped into these two (Jim Power on the left and Kevin Alderson on the right). I don’t know if it was a stag night or just larking about, but they were more than happy to be photographed. Pentax ME Super.
On a holiday in France I got bored with sitting on the beach, so I wandered off looking for interesting rocks. I was rewarded with this head shape. Pentax ME Super.
On a walk with some friends I noticed this small group of sheep running towards the wall. I quickly climbed up and had one shot as they passed through a gap. Yashicamat 124G.
In our small town there are events every couple of months. This was the local food festival and I was trying out a new (to me) Olympus XA2.
No dumping, we want to keep the place looking classy! Pentax LX.
Exploring some lesser known country roads near to where I live, I found a run down farm with a number of home made signs. Pentax ME Super.
Approaching a road crossing, this writing was urging me not to look at the girls legs. Nikon F3.
Seen in the floorboards of an old building where I used to run a gallery. Pentax LX.
At a car boot sale, someone was selling random letters from a shop sign and had arranged them to attract people’s attention. Olympus XA2.
Shop window displays are often of interest to me and especially junk shops. Nikon F3.
On my only visit to Bolton in Lancashire I spotted this ugly plastic display of a bag of chips eating itself. The disinterested woman sat next to it added to the grimness of it all. Nikon F3.
Seen in a back street of Brighton many years ago; The shadows of a bay window with writing made with Windolene cream paste, slanting across a bare shop interior made a wonderful abstract. Rollei B35.
When my dog sat down in the car park near this arrow, I was immediately reminded of the phrase; the dogs bollocks. (the bee’s knees -the best). Pentax ME Super.
On a car journey I had to stop to let the dog out on a patch of grass for an urgent wee. As I lookd across I could see this old lady walking up towards the bilboard. I got myself in position and fired off one shot as she passed. Three maidens (count them). Yashicamat 124G.
Two plastic snowmen from the local Christmas lights were stored in an old building near to where I lived. They patiently looked out of that window for months. Pentax ME Super.
Three pairs of legs, all going in different directions. Seen in Falmouth, Cornwall as I was on my way back to the car park. Nikon F3.
So there you have it, 30 images that would have never happened without me carrying a camera every time I go out. On most occasions the camera doesn’t get used, but it’s there when I need it. Quite often these simple scenes are not very compelling at first and I wonder about ‘wasting’ a frame on them, but as a rule I don’t walk away from picture opportunities. If you only get your camera out on special occasions, or holidays, or photo group walks, you are not going to have many opportunities to get interesting shots. What equipment you carry is completely up to you, I prefer film over the phone, but there are more ways than ever to photograph the world these days.
Stay curious, open your eyes and notice the world. Good luck with your shots.
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Andrew Sanderson May 2025.
I find that carrying a camera everywhere alters the way I look at things, even if I choose not to make pictures. Some lovely smiles in the mind here that remind me mostly of Tony Ray-Jones.
Wonderful post and lively photos. Definitely worth to have your camera with you all the times.