I’m usually inspired to write when I’m on trains and planes and I’ve written some of my favorite ‘meanwhile’s‘ in exactly those situations. It becomes a little harder when you’re driving to feel inspired but as I drove back home from the south of England the other night that’s exactly how I felt… inspired.
I waved goodbye to my Mom and Dad who live in a 14th century village in Essex. The houses lean over the narrow main street that leads to the village church that still has a place to leave a horse, should that be your chosen mode of transport to church. As usual they stand at the foot of their drive way and wave until I turn the corner. I give one last wave out of the window before turning, a full arm stretched wave. I quickly scan the rear view mirror and see them doing the same, then they’re gone from view.
I have a long drive ahead of me as I chase the setting sun toward the horizon in a race I can’t possibly win. The roads are clear and quiet, what few cars there are speed along, the drivers right foot pressed firmly on the accelerator charging through their tunnel vision in a hurry to get from A to B. They pay little attention to the surrounding fields or rape and corn that stretch for miles and look like a patchwork quilt when seen from the air.
I’m not speeding, I feel no urgency to get home. I’m gliding along, letting those in a hurry rush past me like water rushing over a rock in a stream that has no plans to move along with the flow of its surroundings. This road cuts its way westward through the sprawling English countryside, carrying cars like blood-cells to and from arteries. But tonight for some reason, despite being the driver I feel more like a passenger, not in this car, but in this greater journey for which no map can prepare you for the roads ahead. It’s a strange an almost lonely feeling, but oddly one that I enjoy.
A small dark cloud moves in-front of the sun and the sky fills with the trails of sunbeams striking lines outward from behind the cloud. In a sudden and unplanned move I turn off the main road and into a small lane where I stop my car. This is the last sunset I’ll see today so I’m going to take the time to witness it. Leaving my car behind with the drivers door still open such was the haste of this momentary change of course, I clamber through a field waist deep in a bright yellow sea of flowering rape. And then I stand there and look across at the setting sun. Watching it slowly make its way to faraway places like a ship on the horizon, fading away like ripples on a pond, and feeling like I could be the last person on the face of the planet, like I was being granted a glimpse of the heavens.
A while later and back behind the wheel, clouds congregate in a darkening sky, gathering in number like delegates for a meteorological event. The dull rhythmic sound of my windshield wipers sweeping unexpected rain from the view ahead tries to cast me into that near hypnotised state that can so often entrance a driver. I lean forward in my seat and look out at the sky marvelling at how rapidly the weather has changed it’s mind about this evening. But as I sit back in my seat and ready myself for a long and boring drive homeward through the rain, it stops, just as quickly as it started.
As the clouds begin to slowly go their separate ways nature decides to return color to this evening with one of its favorite crowd pleasing gestures, a rainbow. Its arc spectacularly crowns the landscape like a monument to all creation, or a magical bridge to a place so breathtaking that if it were possible for a person to go there they would surely never return. But like many of natures most delicately beautiful creations its ephemeral existence leaves me, and others on this road, little time to admire it.
I continue my journey under a blanket of dark blue clouds above which stars are taking their positions for the night ahead like musicians taking their place in a vast orchestra about to give another well rehearsed concert performance. Headlights appear in the distance then slowly pass me on the other side of the road. I’m playing some mellow music on the stereo which is backed with the familiar sounds of cars swooshing past from time to time. The trace of day gently fades with each passing mile and the sky becomes a deep shade of blue.
There’s still a long way to go on this journey.
Wrote the following comment on May 25, 2005 at 7:32 am
I’m actually very pleased with those pictures too. The top one is my favorite, but the ones on the highway do kind of catch the mood. You really should listen to the track I link to as well. It’s an MP3 and it’ll give you more of the feel I think. It’s a spacey kind of mellow track, but if you’re on broadband it’s well worth a listen.
Wrote the following comment on May 25, 2005 at 9:00 am
Hey Megan. If you mean this picture, then I can tell you I took that in Grand Central station in New York City back in 2002. I have a big version of that hanging up in my house. I didn’t know the girl sat down at the information desk, but when I saw her I thought to myself “I’m having that shot!” As for doing anything special on the highway pictures. You know all i do is set the camera to auto because I know it will leave the shutter open for a second or two to get enough light in. But then because I’m going so fast there will be a huge blur too.
Wrote the following comment on May 25, 2005 at 9:23 am
What beautiful scenory. I must have started to day dream…..
I used the 1st pic as a wallpaper… i hope you don’t mind.
Wrote the following comment on May 25, 2005 at 9:24 am
Of course i don’t mind if you use it as wallpaper. I’ll make any of my pictures available to you all as wallpaper. All you need do is ask.
Wrote the following comment on May 25, 2005 at 11:04 am
Thanks for taking me with you on your drive. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Love the photos too!
Wrote the following comment on May 25, 2005 at 5:03 am
BEAUTIFUL! I felt like i was there! xx
Wrote the following comment on May 25, 2005 at 5:33 am
Sweet!
Wrote the following comment on May 25, 2005 at 5:48 am
those pictures are amazing! i love them. especially the ones at night on the highway(i’m guessing).
Wrote the following comment on May 25, 2005 at 7:36 am
lol i tried. i really tried to listen. but im on dial up. and that’s slower than Dubya finding those WMD…
Wrote the following comment on May 25, 2005 at 7:47 am
question: on your simon jones photography (which i also adore. you’re super talented, and you suck just because i want to be a photojournalist when i “grow up”), you have a picture where it’s blurry, and there’s this circle thing with someone sitting in front of it. where is it? sorry to be a pest, but that’s what happens when you advertise. lol, thanks
megan.
Wrote the following comment on May 25, 2005 at 7:48 am
lol one last question : do you do anything special to make your night highway photos come out like that?