I'm sure we can all admit it to some degree, but COVID changed us all. Lockdowns, parties behind closed doors (No.10), illness, deaths, the world got scary for a good while. We did the vaccinations, we travelled around wearing masks, and the numbers haven't stopped, people are still dying from this virus at the same rates, but we just don't talk about it anymore.

The real effect this has had on me has been my loss of motivation to do anything that requires me to leave the house. Sure, we're travelling a bit more in the camper (which is still for sale by the way), but that doesn't feel like I'm actively doing anything other than working from a smaller space and maybe eating out a bit more. What I'm really struggling with is going to gigs to photograph them again, which I have to say, I did enjoy doing on Saturday night for Chordblossom. In fact, I combined my two past times, one for travelling about in the camper and the other, for actually using my camera gear. Parking up on Exchange Street, just off Corporation Street in Belfast meant I could be within walking distance of the Oh Yeah Centre and stay the night, for free as there are no charges after a certain point and you can stay for free on Sundays. So... Guess what we'll be doing more of in the future?

Klyda4 piece indie rock band from Belfast. The shoot itself was okay, but the lighting wasn't great, to begin with, has to be said. The front lights were set to orange, which made the performers look like Umpa Lumpas, so I had a word with the guy who was handling the sound and it seemed he was also taking care of the lights, he gave me a grumpy nod to change them, which he did to a low level white. Not a great improvement overall, but at least workable. Lighting is so important for gigs, especially for the photographic end of things. Sometimes you have to work with what you have and sometimes you have to avoid venues altogether because of the shocking way they're lit, I'm talking about you Sandinos!

Chilling between acts Cloakroom Q and Susie Blue I did manage to have a catch-up with Susie, who I haven't seen on stage since 2018 at Stendhal, not to say she hasn't been on stage, just that I've not bumped into her since then. She'll be in Derry performing next week, unfortunately, I'll be in Bulgaria then, so won't be able to catch the show again.

Shoot over, I packed up and wandered back over to the van with the full intention of flying the DJI Mini Pro 3 drone around the night skies of Belfast. I checked flight restrictions and nothing was overtly showing as a high risk (airports) warning. However, there's a blanket no-fly zone that my drone would not overwrite or give me authorisation to fly in. Absolutely gutted! I wasn't too far from the Albert Clock and that was my intended photographic target, but alas, it wasn't meant to be. So, I put all the drone stuff away and settled in for the night with a few beers that had been chilling in the fridge and ordered myself a takeaway to be delivered directly to the van, in the car park. Within 10 minutes I was chomping down on a Hawaiian Burger with Garlic Fries. You've got to love cities for their food delivery offerings, unlike where we currently live, little to no choice other than an Indian or Chinese takeaway.

Anyway, where was I..? Ahh yes, back to getting motivated. Once I'm back from my travels to Bulgaria and London in the next few weeks, I will be making more of an effort to get out there again, I even activated my photography Instagram account, if you fancy following me on that, just for an outlet to post some post-gig images. Right, time I got sorted with prepping the van for our next 3 day away adventure. Of which I have no clue as to where we're going, but who cares, so long as we're actually going.