Thursday, August 16

Photos from the Bestival festival, 2018


After taking a short break from festival going – my last music festival was Reading 1993 – I had the chance to go to Bestival at short notice a couple of weeks ago. The festival was running from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th August, and followed on from its sister festival, Camp Bestival , the week before.

Based on the Lulworth Estate surrounding Lulworth Castle in Dorset, the festival looked like a short hop from my home in Weymouth, which would allow me to commute in. Four days of good weather were forecast.

So, leaving my tent at home, I took the train and shuttle bus, and had a look at the opening day on the Thursday afternoon. This turned out to be mainly a recce day for me. A lot of activities and areas were being set up, and – as a 50-plus year-old man – I was already wondering if I was getting a bit long in the tooth for an event that’s popular with uni students. Unlike Reading 1993, neither New Order nor Trumans Water seemed to be on the bill.

I was interested in photographing the event, and could see straight away that the papers would be full of great or serviceable photos of bright young things in sequins and glitter, and long-lens photos of music headliners on stage. I couldn’t really compete in that arena.

So, how could I make sense of this festival – both to enjoy and to photograph? I came home on Thursday night and took a look at the festival website and Wikipedia entry.
There was a promising section on the festival website called It’s Not All About The Music. OK then, I’ll avoid photographing the music, especially as everyone else will be doing that… I’ll photograph all this other stuff. I noted down a few terms and ideas that interested me, including this year’s festival theme, Circus, and returned for Saturday and Sunday… 

Thursday afternoon. Things were being set up, and this was mainly a recce day for me. Here's some practising on the high wire. This year's festival theme was CIRCUS.

On to the Bestival weekend. Two pianos with accompanying people in the Ambientland area.

Not medical emergencies but festival-goers paying for the intravenous vitamin drip experience.

Yoga in the Slow Motion area. "A whole arena dedicated to reenergizing and rebalancing, from mindful running and meditation to re-centering yoga, disco dancing and restorative therapies."

Gazing in wonder at a mysterious hut in Ambientland.

Blossom in front of the Utilita power tree (a USB phone charging point and DJ booth).

An ancient, imaginary proverb says "a peacock is always just out of reach".

Couple with parasol in front of the USB charging tree.

Umbrella and litter pickers in The Lawn area - a genteel bit next to Lulworth Castle.

D&F Bros Grand Indian Circus after a performance next to Lulworth Castle, with the Love-Bot robot in the background.

The entrance to Caravanserai "An arcadia of vintage caravans, wurlitzers, objets d’art and alchemy, Caravanserai is a cocktail-fuelled hedonists’ paradise, filled with brain-warping delights, raucous gypsy-bathed madness, popup circus performance and fat brass-powered beats." With two stages, a bar and toilets, you could probably have spent the whole festival in this enclosed area...

Generic revellers shot. Thanks guys.

Hula twirling while watching a performance in the Caravanerai.

Fire engine as communal fancy dress.

A huge disco ball and The Big Top - the Bestival festival's second stage.

Relaxing outside a tent in The Lawn area.

Umbrella, tent and helter-skelter at Bestival.

The Batala Samba band

A large illuminated leaf in Ambientland.

Relaxing in the wooded area of Ambientland.

Tightrope rehearsal

Tightrope performer and son.

It was four days of almost continuous blue skies and heat, so trees were suddenly very popular.

Taking a break from some sort of golf-related activity to watch the main stage at Bestival - the Castle Stage.

Photographing the D&F Bros Grand Indian Circus

Tightrope walking in the atmospheric Caravanserai area in the evening.

Free water and Bestival officials rocking the B&Q look.

Heading towards the exit. End of the day, Sunday...
Next up - photos from July 2018. Or maybe a compilation of my photos from the Melplash Country Show.

Thursday, August 9

Street photography from June 2018: Weymouth, Bath, Bournemouth, Bridport and Swanage

Twelve photos from June 2018, in strict chronological order.

Photos are from Weymouth, Bath, Bournemouth, Bridport and Swanage. Clicking on photos may start a slideshow or give bigger versions, depending on your set-up...

Weymouth beach, funky slush, cone, seaside street photography

In the city of Bath - cones, bench, wheelchair

In the city of Bath. A man walks past the Rebecca Fountain, erected by the Temperance Society. It carries the inscription "Water is best"...

Waiting on Bournemouth station.

A small dog in a deckchair on Weymouth prom. Seaside street photography.

At the Bridport Food Festival. The stall of B8 Bubble Waffles.

On the way from Bridport to West Bay (and vice versa)

Weymouth M&S lost boot scenario.

Weymouth. A pair of swans raising cygnets react to a passing dog. This was In-Public photo of the month for June.

A horse on Weymouth prom.

A busy scene on Swanage prom. Seaside street photography. Rubber ring.

A couple relaxing in deckchairs on Bournemouth pier. The beach was busy...
Next up - at Bestival festival...