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Museum and has been archived for future generations to look back at the district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:
June 30th 2000
Location: Leighton Hall
Photographer's Diary
30th June Last Night of the Proms - Leighton Hall
I kept changing my mind about this one. They were happy enough to let me take pictures but I was going on holiday for a week and had booked two nights at the Manchester airport Hilton on a special offer before the holiday. The first night was the Friday the same as this concert, plus I had already shot a prom at the University. I kept changing my mind but in the end decided to give it a go.
I showed up late and as expected the ground was covered with festive union jacked picnics all over the place. I wandered and shot some pictures but had some very negative reactions. "I'm from the paper" seemed to work best and I was allowed to shoot the odd picture. Then the action started as people pushed forward to the stage to wave their flags to the music. It was then I thought I had made the right decision. I shot quickly mindful that the fireworks would start any minute when disaster stuck, my film got jammed and I panicked madly. At that point an old friend I had not seen for months tapped me on the shoulder "fancy seeing you here". I had to be rude and give my apologies but time was not on my side. I decided I must open the back which I did, loose some film, un-jam it and then work quickly to reshoot what I could. I did this at breakneck speed and then the fireworks started. It was barely 10 PM and not really dark yet, but I dashed to the back, picked up my tripod and shot as quick as I could just guessing the exposures. As the last firework exploded I jumped in my car and drove off mad that I had ever bothered.
The next day I was too anxious that I had lost the best film and went to a one hour processor to see the results. As it turned out it was not too bad.