“A day in the life of a” – 83 and counting

A few years ago, I set about putting together a project that encompassed the everyday lives of creatives that live and work by the Cornish coast. At the time of the projects conception, I had no real idea whether my idea might work or even where it might take me.

In the first instance and those early days, it was all about me searching out these individuals via social media and through their other creative on line feeds. One of the key elements I wanted to secure when shooting the projects content was that each of them that I documented was done so different to the other. By doing that I hoped I’d avoid repetition. I have to say the start of it all it was a slow process and I did question myself whether I would amass enough content to drive interest socially. As I progressed, interest certainly grew and I was lucky enough to get personal recommendations from those I documented. I felt that was the best route as the project grew and soon I was inundated with booked future shoots. The project grew at that point and there was no stopping me.

My commitment was endless and the drive behind it all was the opportunity to shoot these creatives and capture them as I saw them. Often my camera that was directed towards them took them of guard but for me that was the best way to capture them.From Time to time, these creatives often commented on how well I’d captured them which was immensely gratifying and I felt I must be doing something right.

However, for me something was lacking within the early days images. I started in the first instance shooting some digi and there lay the issue as I saw it. Digi just wasn’t doing it for me. It had to be all film as Ive always felt film offers so much more of the documentative front.

Now, shooting 35mm and medium format full time on the project raised my game and added that other element I was looking, grain and depth.

The first life I documented way back was Tim – A day in the life of a surfboard shaper. What made him so easy to shot was the fact that the camera loved him. No dressed shots here as such, just pure Tim and his skills

As I progressed through the years, I became amazed at the number of creative individuals I documented and from all walks of life. Mark the violin maker for example. I had this vision before I met Mark that he worked in a little old shed in his back garden surrounded by dusty wood and old school tools. That was certainly far from the truth. His place of work was clinically clean, a place for everything and pristine floors

The project at one point seemed to favour us blokes but that balance I was looking for came later as the ladies of the world arrived such as Kitty. A day in the life of abstract artist – Kitty was another one of those creatives that the camera loved so shooting her was a dream

Soon a stream of female content followed alongside us chaps which balanced the project out nicely. From a Silver smith to a carver, from a basket weaver to a marquetry artist, they kept coming

Out of all of the content Ive shot on this project, I don’t have a favourite and I take each one on their own merit. It still amazes me as this project unfolded and continues to do so, just how many creatives live and work in this beautiful land that we call home, Cornwall. Im a great believer that living by the coast inspires us all.

www.adayinthelifeofa.co.uk
www.rickdavy.co.uk

Im a documentary film photographer and passionate about all that I shoot. Living in the beautiful land that I call home, Cornwall

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