A Walk in Comber…

Photography should never just be a profession or occupation.  It should be a passion – for when the photographer loses the passion for image-making, just for the sheer joy of making an image, it is time to put the camera on eBay.

There is great satisfaction in going to a town or village or landmark or area, and just making images for no other reason than to make images!  When I indulge my passion for photography, I like to use film, to shoot with my Nikon F100, and to shoot in Black and White.  I like to develop those images in chemicals myself, at home, at the kitchen sink, using methods I learned many years ago.

Last week, I took a walk through Comber, our nearest town, just 5 minutes  from Ballygowan, and shot a couple of rolls of film.

Here’s some of the photographs:-

I particularly like the composition of this shot – the juxtaposition of the flag, war memorial, and spire make a lovely curve, leading the eye to the Gillespie Monument.

Comber High Street, reminiscent of the town’s industrial past, rows of terraced houses with the Andrews Mill building in the background. (The mill is now housing)

Situated in the Church of Ireland Churchyard is the Andrews Mausoleum, – the burial place of many of the famous industrial and shipbuilding family.

‘Comber Potatoes‘ are a protected regional brand.  Waxy, tasty spuds, with a unique taste, and one of the reasons why I have had cardiac intervention!  On a BBC programme to announce the award of the regional product award, a local farmer was asked for a serving suggestion.  His reply was, ‘Plenty of butter and salt!’

Comber is situated at the point where the River Enler flows into Strangford Lough.  Out towards Newtownards is Island Hill, one of the many islands in the lough.  The island is reached on foot by a causeway, and on the day I visited the tide was well out.

Here’s small section of other images…