Retirement

I filmed for a day in the Police Horses' barracks in the north of England, it was great! I know nothing about these huge animals, almost intimidating. I was getting close to one called Redburn with my big camera on my shoulder and he started back and snorted loudly. But his buddy Dobey was fearless, and would shove his snout right in my lens.

It's funny how each horse has a personality, like dogs I suppose. Dobey was great, really cheeky and curious. We filmed these two because they were retiring after fifteen years serving the police, and followed them in their horsebox (a big truck that fits four horses) to the south of England where there is a large stable grounds in the middle of two valleys. A lot of police and military horses retire there after years of service. All day it had been raining miserably, but when we arrived the sun magically appeared as we edged through the country lanes. Upon entering the grounds the bushes cleared and there were horses everywhere across two valleys. There were high winds, and the shadows of the clouds sped downhill and then uphill again. All the horses had blankets over their backs to keep them warm, and grazed. Two groomed each other. It was horse heaven.

Edwardians in Colour

Rosario and I have been hooked by a new documentary on BBC4 about a wealthy stockbroker called Albert Kahn of the late 19th Century bought one of the first colour photographic camera. Subjects had to stand still for wseveral minutes in the photo, and each plate cost a small fortune to produce. He was so enchanted by the medium that he bought multiple cameras and sent photographers around the world, documenting what he wanted to capture in it's moment, to illustrate the differences in world society and to promote peace among men. He started sending his photographers out in the early 20th century, shortly before the Great War.

The documentary reveals how he captured hundreds of civilisations on the brink of war or deprevation as a consequence, also in the midst of an industrial revolution. The photos are amazing. And the documentary is the best thing I've watched in ages.