THE PARK LIFE IN COLOUR
Louise McGinley
It is September and the late warm Sun falls over this well visited Glasgow Park– a haven for local Wildlife, home to 50 hairy Highland Cattle, along with the well-established escape artist bunnies that just refuse point blank to be house pets. I spent many hours here with my camera because it contains everything I love to photograph - botanicals, animals, and people.
The Park holds interest for me throughout the year and, each Season on repeat, I decide that THIS one is my favourite. I pass the tiny sprouting seedlings in the greenhouses, cheekily trying the locked door, before resigning myself to peeking through the glass instead and attempting some impressive contortion techniques to not get caught in the reflection while my camera clicks. I spot a sleeping bee and sneak up with stealth, I get down on the ground beside a low hanging squash. My knees are always dirty. I aim to capture and depict in my images how the scene makes me feel–a sense of calm. A quiet pause for breath.
This is my first camera and I am learning everyday. I opted for a mirrorless camera, the Fujifilm XT3. I haven’t regretted my choice. An array of beautiful interchangeable lenses are on my wish list. Most of all I hope for a zoom lens in order to capture the wildlife that can’t be lured with the supply of nuts and seed. They sit quietly in the shadows, unnoticed by the humans, while I attempt to capture those otherwise lost moments. But for now, while I learn, my prime lens works hard for me.
This article first appeared in PRISMA, Issue 9.