SIDEBAR

Carpe Diem!

8 comments
Jan 10 2013

Carpe Diem – seize the day! This phrase, introduced to me by Charlie Waite, is popularly translated as ‘seize the day’. Why is this suddenly important? Well before this Christmas I was, totally out of the blue, hit by a heart attack. It arrived unnanounced and resulted in my having a quadruple bypass. I received excellent care and am now on the road to a full and successful recovery.
Nevertheless, the trauma of the whole episode brought me up short.
When I came out of hospital the phrase and its meaning suddenly came into very sharp focus for me. I had been given a ‘body warning’ or, more in the venacular, a kick up the arse. My body had issued me with the warning and the excellent treatment given (and continuing to be given to me by the NHS) had responded in a very positive way to that warning.
What has this got to do with photography? Well, in a way, very little, possibly, except that I no longer hear myself debating whether to go out with the camera or not – I just go! From now on if an opportunity presents itself to grab some really good shots I will take that opportunity by the scruff of the neck – I will ‘carpe diem’!
Every day has become so precious – I love photography, I love the natural world. I do not intend to waste time cogitating. I will go out and I will take full advantage of every chance I am presented with.
(I may need some more computer memory though).

This is a winter afternoon on Penarth Pier near my home. I cannot walk for miles (yet) but this was an opportunity so I took it!

Penarth Pier on a winter afternoon

  1. Derek Cummings 

    I knew you had been ill Nick but was a shock to read you have had a heart attack. Health really is one think we take for granted. I myself suffer from emphysema meaning I too cannot walk far. I even use a mobility scooter if in places that I can use it to make things easy. After all camera gear and all we need can weight a bit. Like you I don’t think should I. For I may not have the chance tomorrow so get the camera, jump in the car and off I go. Penarth Pier. Been down there a few times taking images. A lovely place to be. All the best for a swift recovery. And for a good photography year for you.
    Derek.

  3. Alec Stewart 

    Carpe Diem! Robin williams quote from Dead Poets Society if I am not mistaken, Ok someone else may have got there first. But nevertheless we should all take your advice Nick and get out there and enjoy our hobby/work.I know it wont be long before we are climbing that summit Nick.Great to see you back on form and taking life by the horns.

  4. Paul Harris 

    Hi Nick

    Shock to hear about the heart attack but good to hear that you are up and about and in a positive mood.
    Carpe diem indeed !

    cheers

    Paul

  6. Lynne 

    Nick, hope the positive journey continues. I am a big advocate of carpe diem. I always intended to work my @rse off, then really enjoy retirement and go round the world. However my mother and grandmother started with dementia at 68. If I leave enjoying myself until retirement, I might not get that long to do so – at least not in a self determined way.

    This hit me rather hard last Christmas. 55 hour working weeks have disappeared, we have moved house and have a refurb project in our new one, we went to New Zealand and I am putting (labelled) images I like – which now include more “people” – into books to share. This has the added bonus of being an “external hard drive” for my memory if it happens to me… Carpe Diem, and Nil illegitimi carborundum!

  8. Barbara Fleming 

    As you say ‘seize the day’. I am so pleased that you are feeling so positive, that is the most important thing. Photography is the one thing you can still do how ever ill you are, keeps the mind going even if the body is struggling. . It is a wonderful picture of Penarth pier, I know it well, the winter light is so beautiful, always a good time to get the camera out. Keep the mind busy Nick, you will soon be back to your ‘old’ self.

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