Images from the Edge of Life (or … Castlerock, Coronavirus, a Camera and a Canine Companion)
Castlerock has been a very special place for my family and I for quite some time … but it’s become even more special over the past 13 weeks, weeks that have been very difficult for a lot of people all over the world.
We have owned a caravan here for six years and I have seen my grandchildren grow and develop their own love for this place, as we have been able to help them build friendships and memories that they will hold onto for a lifetime.
The 2020 season had only just started for us when this thing called Coronavirus, that seemed something far away, suddenly became very close and a wee bit frightening.
As I have a serious heart condition and my wife is a nurse, we were concerned that I would be in a potentially life-threatening situation if I caught Covid-19. We decided that I would self-isolate in Castlerock, with all the necessary permission and approval.
Here I am, 13 weeks later, and a small ‘project’ of taking a few photographs every day and posting them on Facebook, has grown into something much more. For me it was simply a way of making a personal record of this very unusual time … I had no idea that people all over N. Ireland, England and much further away including Australia, would be waiting every night to see the day’s photos … no pressure!
I wanted to simply show Castlerock as I have seen it each day. Photography is ALL about the light … and I have been so fortunate to have been taking photos in some of the warmest, clearest light over the past weeks. I determined on 16th March when I started, that I would get out with the camera no matter what the weather was like, but like the light, and the good people of Castlerock … it’s been kind!
As well as the response locally and much further afield to the photos … I have been deeply touched by the kindness of friends here in the village, some I knew before and many I didn’t but whom I now count as friends. I was given the opportunity to be included in the ‘Castlerock Cares’ community response, which was a hugely kind gesture … and I even had a certain gentleman from the Community Association phone me one particularly windy day to let me know there was a kite surfer on the beach that I might like to photograph!
I’ve had so many comments about ‘doing a book’ or ‘having an exhibition’ and while I know I want to do something with the photos, I’m just not sure what or how? There are well over 1500 that I’ve posted on social media. Castlerock is all over Facebook and Instagram!
Please enjoy the photos, and it’s my sincere wish that they are a means of showing off the wonderful, unique place that is Castlerock. To see them in the context of people’s comments and memories, check: facebook.com/ivan.skinner1 and facebook.com/tinmanphoto/
Obviously, all images remain the intellectual property of Ivan Skinner, Tin Man Photography but I have given permission for Castlerock Community Association to use them.
If you maybe saw me on the beach, at the Barmouth, along the road, up Black Glen or The Moors or anywhere else with a camera and my ‘wee dog’ (my daughter’s Shih Tzu, Holly who was my companion for the last 13 weeks), well … now you know what I was doing!
Keep safe and enjoy the photos!
Ivan Skinner