Due to extenuating circumstances a couple of weeks prior to the Coronavirus pandemic and in due course, the lack of work prospects, I suddenly found myself with an abundance of available time.  Not one to be idle, I started working on a variety of projects, some long intended to be tackled.

 

Throughout the spring, summer and autumn, I spent a fair amount of time doing landscape clearing.  Initially, I had not planned on clearing out as much of an area as I did, however, I am amazed at the accomplishment of what I did.  Perhaps needless to say, I amassed a fair amount of woodland debris collected in to multiple piles.

 

While undertaking this project, I contemplated doing a series of photoshoots with a model interacting with a bonfire.  I was partially inspired by Samhuinn, Beltaine, various folklores & mythologies as well as subculture genres and related fire dance themed artworks.  While formulating the concept for this theme, I explored, not so much the use of fire throughout history, but moreover how integral bonfires have been and continue to be to civilisation.

 

Bonfires have been used as central gathering places for people from all societies and cultures all over the world for many tens of thousands of years.  They bring together kin and community, forming bonds between all who bask in its light and warmth.  Throughout the eons, many religions have come and gone; and long before modern religions or politics repurposed & influenced gatherings, bonfires have been and continue to be a symbolic centre piece for celebrations and festivals.

 

About This Photograph

The above photograph is part of a limited series.  It was a tricky photoshoot to conduct which involved constant maintenance and monitoring of the fire while ensuring safety.  I initially planned several photoshoot sessions, but had to cancel a couple photoshoots due to safety concerns from it being too windy.

 

By the very nature of the ever changing characteristics of fire, I had to use a high ISO and in manual mode, I was constantly having to make adjustments to both shutter speed and aperture, though I deliberately kept to a wide aperture ensuring a short distance depth of field.  While I was hardly concerned with grain effect caused by high ISO, which actually added character to each image, it also gave rise to unwanted digital image artefacts.  During post-processing, eliminating artefacts took both time and patience.