Although it might not always seem like that, I’m actually quite shy. It seems like I’m always shy at the wrong place at the wrong time… but anyway, with regard to photography, the shyness rears its ugly head when I see something really nice in someone’s garden or even outside it. Say for example, I’m driving along and notice some beautiful flowers growing in the roadside ditch in front of someone’s fence. Technically, the ditch is not their property so I could easily stop there and photograph the flowers. But naayy… the thought of the people in the house, seeing me muck around with a camera in front of their garden, scares me off. I could of course just walk to their door, knock and ask politely if I could photograph outside their garden. They would probably think I’m silly even to ask such a thing… what can I say?
So with this in mind, I got into a very embarrassing situation today. I had read in the local newspaper about a lonely small homestead just a few clicks from where I live. I have been thinking about going there for ages, but never got around to it until the article reminded me. It also said in the article that there are no permanent residents in the house, even if the place was well kept which hinted to occasional use. But this was perfect for me, no people! I wish… I had only managed to get out of my car when another car drove to the garden. My brain feverishly calculating my options, I concluded that it’s better if I speak with them rather than just drive off without a word, so I asked if they lived in the place. Nope, but his uncle just bought the homestead. Aha, I thought, it was not his house but his uncle’s… so would you mind if I looked around a bit? Not at all, please go ahead, he said. Situation thus cleared, I took my camera and set off to photograph a beautiful rowan against a blue sky. Then I heard another car, and thought it best to check the situation again. I walked back and was greeted by a friendly dog. with an older man behind him assuring me that the dog was not hostile. Well I wasn’t worried about the dog, but the man – he was quite obviously the aforementioned uncle! This was too much for me – I got into my car and drove off without saying another word. Just couldn’t force myself to stay there to explore the place when the owner was present. I mean, what were the odds that they would throw me out? Nil. There wouldn’t have been any problems at all, had it not been for my inability to communicate with people in surprising situations! Hmm… better make that ”communicate with people”, full stop.
Suffice it to say that I’m no social animal!