Walking

Experiments in creativity: Pram Cam!

/ The Magpie at Midnight / 2 Comments

In the novel I am working on at the moment one of the characters is a YouTuber and I had been thinking about having a go myself, partly for research and partly to get back into film making. However I was finding it difficult to know what kind of films I should make as I didn’t think the sitting and talking to camera format would work for me.

A few weeks ago I wrote about the YouTuber and psycho-geographer John Rogers and how I had been finding his videos inspiring. His videos involve a narrated walk and while  I would not be able to replicate his kind of carefully researched walks as I don’t have time, I did think a kind of ‘walk and talk’ format would be worth trying. Walking and thinking has been part of my creative process for a long time and this feels like something that fits with the work I’m already doing. 

I have since bought myself a cheap sports camera (a Dragon Touch 4K – this is the model if you are interested (affiliate link)) and have been experimenting with ways to attach it to my pram. So far I have managed to go for a walk with the camera at South Norwood Country Park, which I know relatively well, and have edited a film out of that footage. It includes a kind of rambling narration which combines thoughts about the location, a bit about me personally and some thoughts about my novel.

And so (drumroll please!) I bring to you Pram Cam! I have set up a YouTube channel under the umbrella of Magpie at Midnight Films, and my first film is now up. I think I’m going to be able to put up about one film a month, which isn’t a great deal of content by YouTube standards, but realistically all I have time for at the moment.

I would really appreciate it if you would have a look at my video here, and consider subscribing to my channel:

 

Thank you for reading. I also make art. You can see things with my designs on at my shop here. Could even treat yourself if you wanted to. Just saying. If buying art is not your thing, but you would like to support what you see I also have a Patreon Page here.

Lockdown recommendation: John Rogers on YouTube

/ The Magpie at Midnight / Leave a comment

We aren’t really in lockdown in the UK any more, (although more local lockdowns do look likely) and I am guessing that many people reading this blog may be getting out and about much more. However, I wanted make this recommendation anyway because I’m not really venturing out very far at the moment. It feels like Corvid – 19 is lurking close by still, and combined with the effort involved in looking after baby magpie, I haven’t been feeling that confident to go out. My guess is that there may be a few people reading this who are in a similar situation.

I have really been enjoying watching videos made by John Rogers on YouTube. What he does is quite simple, but very effective. He takes long walks in and around London, and takes a camera with him. As someone who used to walk a lot before my pregnant and the lock down, I have really enjoyed ‘going’ on those vicarious walks with him. While out walking he talks about different interesting buildings, and the history and culture of different places on his routes. He has a website here and you can visit is YouTube channel here. 

Regular readers of this blog (hello!) will know that I’ve been working on a novel for some time (provisionally called Feeding Jasmine Valentine – watch this space for more info). Some of that novel is set in East London, and I’ve also found his videos to be particularly helpful from a research point of view while I’m not able to get around most of London myself that much. His videos have been helpful reminders of the feel and texture of the place. I particularly like the video above about searching for Leytonstone’s lost lido. It is particularly interesting to me as someone who loves (and misses very much) swimming out doors.

Walking has been one of the things that really helps me think things through, but towards the end of my pregnancy and in the first few months after Baby Magpie’s birth I wasn’t able to get out so much. I am, joyfully, just beginning to build my legs back up now. But I am thinking about trying out something similar here on Magpie at Midnight, except in South London, with a baby and a pram. As we moved into the area quite recently I think that a little walking project may help me get to know the area a bit better, although I doubt very much that I will be able to replicate the richness of the research the John Rogers does at his channel. Still, I’m going to see if I can kit myself up in the next week or so with some appropriate video/ audio equipment an have an experiment with things. Watch this space for more news.

I also make art. You can see things with my designs on at my shop here. Could even treat yourself if you wanted to. Just saying. If buying art is not your thing, but you would like to support what you see I also have a Patreon Page here.