Sunday 19 April 2009

Accidental Cows


Aren't cattle amazing? Big, picturesque, slightly frightening and full of beef and milk. And they're always inquisitive. So many times they have come lumbering into my shots to see what I'm up to, to give a shuffling, snorting opinion. Out in the fields last week the local lads immediately hove into the viewfinder when I thought I'd photograph a wooden footbridge over a ditch. I gave up on the bridge and waited for them to arrange themselves into a hawthorn-bordered pose instead. I've collected so many Accidental Cows they could easily be another book. 'Freisian The Moment' a friend thinks it should be called. The One and Only Daughter and I did present the idea to a marketing girl at Express Dairies some years ago, but all we got was a blank stare and the visuals promptly lost. It was such a good idea we thought. I've got them in front of the Kilsby Tunnel ventilators, standing around chewing the cud with Jodrell Bank in the background and creating a bovine slant on Arthur's Henge in Cumbria. I once walked quite a distance to photograph a yellow Railtrack Stoneblower on the Dart Valley Railway in Devon from across the valley. And before I could get anywhere near where I wanted to be, I was followed. See above.

14 comments:

Philip Wilkinson said...

Curious is right. I was one a member of a group that crossed a big Gloucestershire field to have a look at a long barrow. The friesians in the field joined our group (outnumbering us more than a little) and, when we went up on top of the barrow to admire the view, surrounded the mound in a furry ring. They lost interest when we came back down and headed for the gate again.

Diplomate said...

That top pic is a belter. Charming beasts and not a bad word to say about anybody.

Mel said...

Peter, I say go for it. Assemble away; the right time will come to you to publish. I think it's a fantastic idea, and right in line with your other projects! I'm not just saying this because 12 years ago, when driving across this ole country of mine and back again on average of twice a week, I had a very similar idea! ;) Cows across America, or somesuch. They're ubiquitous in a country setting, and yet also add presence and reference to the landscape. City folk don't get enough, I'm sure! Here, let me do your market research for you. Found this on the internet:

Deep thoughts


Question:

It is said that every day you will see a cow. How many cows can you see?
By singwell-is off researching a lot Asked Feb 28 2007 3:04AM

Answer 1,by Tani62 on Feb 28, 2007 at 3:16 am Permalink

None today, and none tomorrow I expect, I live in a city. I drive past some horses on the way to work, but no cows.

See? Cows are one of the hot topics on the internet at 3 am... and the citifolk are definitely starved of them.


;)

Peter Ashley said...

Thankyou for your encouragement Circe.

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