INFORMATION

General Information

During the year 2000 D J Clark built a visual record of the Lancaster & Morecambe district using photographs and information submitted by those that feature in the pictures. The project was conducted in association with Lancaster Museum and has been archived for future generations to look back at the district at the turn of the new Millennium. For more information on the project visit the information page. If you find a caption is wrong or there is a fault with the page please e-mail D J Clark.

Date: May 26th 2000
Location: Various Locations

Photographer's Diary

BBC Music Live

I had been watching adverts on the BBC for the past few weeks but never
thought it might apply to Lancaster. As a passing thought I logged on to the BBC
website and put in a search for Lancashire. 180 events this weekend came up
and I began to regret logging on at peak time. At the end of 18 pages I had
a list of events in Lancaster that would keep me busy all weekend. I
selected a few and made a couple of calls.

The Millennium Concert - Ashton Hall

I didn't hold much hope for this one. The light in the Ashton hall is very poor and it was likely to look very similar to the last concert I photographed there. I was right, not too much to go at, but the organisers seemed thrilled I was there. I shot a few films, not holding out much hope for a winning picture. Bored after the break I slipped off making excuses about other events.

I kept changing my mind walking to the car in the rain. Home or more ? More won with the hope I might get a free day on Saturday, so I went to the Yorkshire House to catch an alternative music event. Walking in the greeting could not have been further than that at my last appointment. Following the music I forced my way through a smoky room, full of leather clad, body pierced humans. "Is the band upstairs," I asked one of the more gentler looking beings. I received a solemn nod and I went through to a small room with little to no light full of people sitting about, mainly on the floor. I made my way to the band wondering how I could get a picture in the dark, without blinding everyone with my flash and killing the atmosphere. Thankfully the guitarist saw me and put on a single light giving me just about enough light for a few frames. The music, I can not describe, but the fans seemed to be enjoying it.

Walking out after a few frames, I made my way down the stairs back to the bar, where four girls were playing table football. This was the frame I missed. More from fear than anything else, as eyes followed me out. I wish I had taken the picture it was wonderful.

Back to the car and onto one more gig at the Gregson. Once again I had made no arrangements, so just pushed in, past the ticket people looking like I belonged. This was a gentler affair, Folk type music with a young but professional looking audience.

I shot a few more frames, once again frustrated by the light, or lack of and headed out only to be caught at the door. Two beautiful young ladies wanted more details, who was I and what were the pictures for. I was tempted to stay and chat but gave them a card and told them to check the website.

I stopped for a Chinese Take away on my way home and crashed out with a beer on return.

Saturday 27th May - The Drummers

With a good day behind me, this was to be a photography free day. No such luck, I had forgotten one Music live event that had caught my eye and that was a group of Drummers in Dalton Square. I wandered down at the right time praying the sun would stay - the forecast was poor. The sun did stay and I made a few pictures. It was not the best event, but a frame will make the final cut for the web site.

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