William Austin-Lobley Photography

Here is an update on my ongoing photographic project, Fenland.

Initially, I had a rough gauge of getting out once a month to gather images for this project. Since the first blog post, I’ve managed four sessions, accumulating over 200 photos. 

Thanks to the catalogue of images I have available to reflect on and revise, I’m learning more about where this project is heading.

Evolution 

There’s no such thing as a project without a vision. But that vision has to be open to evolution, and that is what’s happened with Fenland. As a writer, I am well versed in the idea of a project evolving under its own steam and feeling like I am just along for the ride. 

However, with this being my first large photography project, I am fascinated to see how that plays a role here. 

Part of this evolution is that now that I am giving it my time, The Fens rewards me. As a featureless location, it’s the more minor details that I am learning to appreciate and understand. 

There are no events, no vista, but hundreds of tracks spiralling around the fields, like memories of activity. When the sun hits them right, they provide an embossed texture to the once-plain fields. The horizon line is miles away, and points across this span—telegraph poles, windmills, barns—can play and interact with each other, distorting distances and perspectives. 

This play, between small details in front of me and small details on the horizon, shows the real character of The Fens. It’s exciting to discover, and I can’t wait to see what I find next. 

The logistics

There have also been two logistical changes. One is that I’ve reduced the area I’m covering. Rather than aiming for the whole of The Fens, I’ve stripped it back to the Fenland District. It’s still a huge area, but it’s much more manageable. So far, I’ve covered many northern areas, particularly around Thorney and Wisbech. Soon, I’ll switch to the south, an area I am less familiar with. 

The second logistical change is the time of day I am shooting – this isn’t a project for shooting at any hour. As I pointed out in my first post, the roads in The Fens aren’t lined with footpaths and crossings. I spend a fair amount of time teetering along verges and nipping in and out of laybys. I find that between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. is best; after that, commuters and haulage make the roads dangerous. Saturdays are fine; Sundays are better. 

Preview

Here are a few taster images of what I’ve collected so far, but we’ll have to wait and see if they make the final cut.