I first came up with the idea behind ¼ Mile Project back in January, so why has it taken me so long to get it started?

The answer is a bit tricky to admit, but I feel it could only be down to “Fear Of Failure”.

Yes, I have CFS and I am a house husband of unbeleavable ability , but the ¼ Mile Projects whole intention was to give me a way to keep taking pictures that fitted in with my limited energy and time. The next drive behind the project was to be able to gain access to situations I wanted to document, my community. How do you get interesting pictures about what is happening around you and not become an annoying paparazzi?

Well, through being unemployed and trying to find my way back into working shape, I thought I would use my skills, and try to keep it simple. My main skills are people based and I have an ability to use a camera.

I’ve not worked for nearly a year now and my brain has switched off from cares of the working world, to more simple things, or should I say more immediate/local cares. I smile and say hello to people everyday whilst I take my son to school, I blether with the staff at the local shop being polite but also interested.

Interested?

Yes interested, this is my community, this is where I have chose to raise my family. This is where I will most likely live untill I die (barring a lottery win ).

I was struck with a great disbelief when I realised just how much I had let my concerns travel so far from what is important to me. Nothing is more important to me than my family and where I choose to raise them. The place I call “Home” is not just bricks and mortar it is within a community which is part of my home town, Dunfermline.

The enviroment that surrounds me and the people who inhabit it are no more important than any other, but it is where I can help. I haven’t the wealth or the energy to travel to Africa to try to tell someone elses story. For my children to live here and gain wisdom, I want to do what I can to help the local enviroment and the people in my community.

This all sounds very grand but let me be clear, I am only one person. I have zero money to spend on this project and I don’t have a car to travel. All pictures will be supplied in digital format on a CD or if someones doesn’t have a computer I am willing to make a DVD that can be viewed on a Television. Hopefully the project might recieve some type of funding and support to enable it to continue, but that is a long way away at the moment. It is time to get the ball rolling though, to give people a chance to use the  ¼ Mile Project.

So what is the deal, how do you apply?

I am willing to take professional quality pictures for you, of what ever subjects you want, for free. It could be portraits to celebrate your childs graduation, or portarits of your kids or pets. It could be to document a building project that you are working on or you may just want to have nice pictures of the roses in your back garden. All requests will be considered and have a chance to get free pictures taken.

Where’s the catch?

All I ask in return, is that you allow me to take pictures of your life, for the same amount of time that I took pictures for you.

This will give me a great chance to document the people and events in my community, it will give me a chance to show and teach my children a greater sence of community.  One thing I have always liked about West Fife and Dunfermline is that most people when you meet them are friendly and interesting, but I only found that out by getting out there and letting on to people. By striking up a conversation and being willing to listen, I felt I was a part of something, I found a place in the community and also my country.

I fear now that too much of life is gleamed from inside our own 4 walls. We view the world to often via the internet or Television. We have enough information to sate even the most rabid of appetites, piped directly to our door. Are too many opinoins being formed and we’re not even crossing our own doorstep?

As for the delay in starting ¼ Mile Project, the “Fear of Failure” is fairly easily explained. How could I call myself a photographer if I can’t even give away my skills for free!

If you would like any more information about the ¼ Mile Project or have something you want pictures taken of, please feel free to contact me.