i can see a star!
Is it time? #1
Observing our home's progress around the nearest star using 'The Wheel of the Year' as a solar calendar.
Time's passing is marked using the familiar solar events of the equinoxes (around 21 March and September) and solstices (around 21June and 21 December) and the less familiar cross quarter days of Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasa and Samhain. On each of the eight, I spent the day photographing wherever I happened to find myself, selecting one photograph per day to show the passage of the year.
- Winter Solstice, 09.39, 21 Dec 23 - Dungeness, KENT
- Imbolc (Candlemas), 10.34, 1 Feb 24 - Brixton, LONDON
- Spring Equinox, 13.31, 20 Mar 24 - Marlow, BUCKS.
- Beltane, 09.16, 1 May 24 - Crystal Palace, LONDON
- Summer Solstice, 04.58, 21 Jun 24 - Ayot ST Peter, HERTS.
- Lughnasa (Lammas), 15.44, 1 Aug 24 - Chepstow, MONMOUTH
- Autumn Equinox, 14.55, 22 Sep 24 - Maidenhead, BUCKS
- Samhain (All Hallows), 10.05, 31 Oct 24 - Brockwell Park, LONDON
( - ) Christian nomenclature
A dev of the project can be found HERE
L > R
winter solstice
09.39, 22Dec23, Dungeness, Kent
imbolc
10.34, 1Feb24, Brixton, London
spring/vernal equinox
13.31, 20Mar24, Marlow, Bucks.
beltane
09.16, 1May24, Crystal Palace, London
summer solstice
04.58, 21Jun24,
Ayot St Peter, Herts.
lughnasa
15.44, 1Aug24,
Chepstow, Monmouth.
autumn equinox
14.55, 22Sep24, Maidenhead, Bucks.
samhain
10.05, 31Oct24,
Brockwell Park, London
Show
I displayed the work in Brockwell Park's Walled Garden in South London on the Shortest Day of the year, the 2024 Winter Solstice. At the centre of the Garden is a circular fountain with a low metal fence around which eight benches look towards the water feature. I hung one picture opposite each bench inviting visitors to sit and contemplate the passage of the year whilst they might first look at the photograph and then view the garden's resting state, the activity of clouds, the way light falls on the garden itself.
I spent one hour on each bench observing the light and photographing each picture.
Sunrise: 08.04 / Sunset: 15.53
winter solstice
08.05, 21 Dec24
imbolc
09.00, 21 Dec24
spring/vernal equinox
10.03, 21 Dec24
beltane
11.07, 21 Dec24
summer solstice
12.01, 21 Dec24
lughnasa
12.59, 21 Dec24
autumn equinox
13.56, 21 Dec24
samhain
14.57, 21 Dec24
And the very next year...
SOLSTICE
04.56, 21 Jun25. Hatfield, Herts.