General Information
During the year 2000 D J Clark built a visual record of the Lancaster &
Morecambe district using photographs and information submitted by those that
feature in the pictures. The project was conducted in association with Lancaster
Museum and has been archived for future generations to look back at the district
at the turn of the new Millennium. For more information on the project visit
the information page. If you find a caption is
wrong or there is a fault with the page please e-mail D
J Clark.
Date:
August 25th, 2000
Location: Forest Hills, Hazelrigg
Lane
Photographer's Diary
August 27th - Jewish Convention and Forest Hills
I had first noticed a conservative Jew and son walking to Passover the previous
Friday. Then another group in Morecambe at the Carnival. I found out there was
a convention at the University and I tried to contact the organiser without
success. Every other day I would take a drive up to the University to see if
there was an obvious picture, one time walking around. But there was no clear
opportunities. I had photographed religious Jews in Israel when living and working
there and I knew they did not take kindly to being photographed. While awaiting
the opening of the Digital Festival I had taken a stroll in Town and found a
family wandering the streets, the kids blowing bubbles I calculated a picture
ahead of them waiting for them to cross the street in front of the Town Hall.
I was spotted and they changed direction.
I was beginning to feel unsure about the moral ground I was occupying. These
people clearly did not want to be photographed, but the convention had flooded
the City with these wonderful characters and I felt a duty to record it as part
of the project. I was beginning to wonder if God was playing a part in my frustration.
Having given up the hunt I went out to play Golf with my brother at Forest Hills
on a warm Sunday afternoon. The round went well for me, and as we drove out
a group of three men sat on a bench on the second tee. I have made it habit
to always carry a camera, but this time I was in my brother's car and in the
rush to grab my clubs the camera had not made the trip. As soon as we got home,
I jumped into my car and headed back to the golf course with camera. I was due
to photograph their the following week so thought I could go under the guise
of course photography.
On arriving the men had moved, but a golfer told me they were up the hill. As
I walked towards them, I met Colin Newsham who was cutting a green. He told
me the families spent much of their time on his land and he had tried to ask
them to move on several occasions. The men spotted me in conversation with Colin
and took flight. I followed, all the time feeling something was wrong. As I
reached the top of the hill, I shot a few frames as they hurried across the
fairway, jumping a fence into the next farm.
I returned to my car feeling guilty as sin and stopped a courting couple from
the convention as they moved towards me. I asked them to apologise to the men
on my behalf and to tell them I had not intended to frighten them.