Sunnyridge Farm, the parents’ farm, is one of those places that I used to take for granted for doing photography at. Our family went there on weekends and holidays, and then my wife and I lived just down the road from there for nearly a decade. It never occurred to me at the time that I may not be wandering the area with a camera one day.
AB, 2024-10-11
Kirriemuir, AB, 2024-10-11
It also never occurred to me that my friend Ray, who I occasionally enjoyed photographing the farm with, would not be here to enjoy it with me now. I really did expect to preceed him into the grave given that he was always much healthier than I. That’s how I found myself going solo on Friday evening and feeling a bit of pressure. Pressure to record what memories I still can for my wife who grew up on that farm and for my daughter who also grew up there. The parents are aging and it feels to me like the farm will be sold sooner rather than later.
Kirriemuir, AB, 2024-10-11
Kirriemuir, AB, 2024-10-11
There was also pressure to shoot to Ray’s standards since it was his camera I was using. I don’t really feel that these images are up to snuff, but they were what I had the time and energy for. I worked remotely from the farm that day and I was pretty much done by the time 5:00 pm rolled around. I headed out with a camera and what I got was what I got.
Ray wasn’t with me in person, but it always feels like he’s with me in spirit when I’m using his rig. If he was actually somehow there, I hope it had meaning for him. It was a good reminder to me to be thankful for who and what you have, because what you love never lasts long enough.
Images courtesy of Ray’s Canon EOS 7D and 17-40mm EF L USM f4-5.6 lens he bequeathed me.
