November 2015 – Barry Willis Photography

Vive la France

In the wake of the horrific, barbarous terrorist attacks in Paris last Friday night, I wanted to add my voice of support and solidarity for people of France and especially for the bereaved families and those still lying wounded and fighting for their lives.

Quite frankly I was struggling to find the words that summed up my feelings of outrage, anger, defiance but also my hope in humanity… and then my 15 year old daughter penned these few lines:

You think the more suffering you create
the more names you tag onto your clickbait
the more damage you do to the history of our states
the more fear you’re going to initiate?
you just watch.
you just watch as a planet we unite and negate
your so called sacred death toll in the name of a god who you claim would wish this upon us.
I bet if there is a god out there they’re looking down on their children in shame
and asking what part of their scriptures did you use to incriminate
for the sake of your own sick lust for a ticking mortality rate
I bet he’s asking what the fuck it’s all for
to dominate?
to dictate?
or just for the gratification of extremists manipulating the vindication of religion like some kind of namesake
but terrorism has no religion.
terrorism has no race.
terrorism has only the xenophobes and the brainwashed and those blinded by hate.
Pray for paris.

Marianne Willis, age 15

When I’m not taking photos, I’m taking photos

About a year ago I got into cycling in a big way, bought a titanium frame road bike and officially became a MAMIL. I try and get out at least one a week for a long ride, usually on Sunday mornings. A couple of weekends ago I awoke to a crisp, sunny November morning and headed out on one of my regular rides around the hills of Surrey and Kent. The combination of early morning light, low mist and autumnal colours was so spectacular that with every twist and turn of my ride I was presented with another photo opportunity. These are a just few of those moments caught on my iPhone.

Serendipity plays its part

Back in April 2015, for the second year running, I was commissioned by WARL to shoot a set of images for Abbeyfield Care Homes. The client wanted to promote the positive side of sheltered accommodation by producing a set of optimistic images with a bright, natural, real feel.

We cast the models, recced the locations and the shoot dates were set. On the second day we were shooting at a location in Radlett, Hertfordshire. Far from being put out by the disruption of a film crew descending on their home for the day, the residents were amused and interested with what was going on.

For the last shot, we wanted to set up a group shot around a piano in the living room. As the crew were setting up, I got chatting to an amazing lady called Elcy Sagen. Sadly Elsy had lost her husband six months prior. As we got chatting it was clear that she had lived a full and accomplished life and still had a twinkle in her eye. As well as running her own dental practice and speaking nine languages, it just so happened that she was also an accomplished pianist. It didn’t take much to persuade Elcy to be in the photograph and she captivated the models, crew and residents alike with her playing.

I was really happy with the photographs from the session and finally declared, “it’s a wrap” for the day. However one of our models, Gabby Fraklin, was so blown away by Elcy’s playing that she flung her arms around Elcy and they spontaneously started to dance around the living room.

I grabbed my camera, called the assistants back on set and was able to capture these final joyous shots of the day.

# serendipity