On 16^th March 2020, just as Covid 19 was beginning to become more than just something that was happening in other countries, I made the decision to self-isolate in our caravan in Castlerock. This was due to a serious heart condition which made me vulnerable and, at that time, because of concerns about possible treatment if I contacted the virus.

The decision was made in consultation with my GP and my wife Gail, who is a nurse. I travelled to Castlerock on the day before St. Patrick’s Day, fully expecting that Gail and the family would be joining me before Easter … we had no idea that I would spend the next 13 weeks on my own in Castlerock, apart from my daughter’s dog, Holly!

As a photographer, I brought my cameras and gear, thinking I might get a chance to take a few landscape photos, something I hadn’t really dome much of before. As it got dark on my first evening alone, I went for a walk, in the rain, with the camera … and took some shots of the little cottage at the entrance to Black Glen.

This felt like something of a dark time, with everyone feeling a bit anxious and unsure of where we were going with this whole thing. In order to try to counteract this, I decided that I would walk every day while I was there … and to commit to taking a few photos every day whatever the weather and whether I felt like it or not.

Over the next few days, which grew into weeks and even months, this little project became something consuming. I posted some photos every evening, sometimes just a few, sometimes more, on my personal Facebook page. Then, each Sunday evening, I would select the ones I liked best and post them on my Tin Man Photography page.

Two unexpected things happened.

Firstly, I soon realised that the photos were attracting a lot of attention, people seemed to like them. Firstly friends, then many others, were waiting for them each day and each week, were liking, sharing and commenting at great length, suggesting that the photos were somehow helping them in a difficult time … that was encouraging and amazing to me! They were even shared quite far overseas, and people remembered happy childhood holidays in Castlerock. I was even, in mid-June, re-united with an old friend from school that I hadn’t seen since, through the photos. We had coffee in Castlerock after not having seen each other for 42 years!

Secondly, I began to be spotted around the village, the man with the camera and the wee dog! I also experienced the kindness and generosity of so many people in Castlerock, some of them involved in Castlerock Community Association … which is where the idea of this calendar came from! I will always be grateful for their kindness and support.

It was hard to choose just 13 images from well over 3,000 that were taken, edited and posted, so thank you to everyone who helped by choosing their favourites!

Keep safe … and enjoy the views of Castlerock, a beautiful place in a difficult time!

Ivan

You can see them all on:        facebook.com/tinmanphoto/   .