The Toddington People project has been brewing for a couple of years now and put ‘on hold’ because of the Covid pandemic. The idea is to record a little piece of history for the county Record Office in Bedford by recording how we all live, look and work in 2022. Rebecca and Russell Swift kindly agreed to be my first subjects!
If everyone is as kind and “on the same wavelength” as Rebecca and Russell were, then my project will flow like a dream. When I explained the project, the immediately got it and saw the value of it.
I first got to know Russell last year when his vintage moped spluttered and broke down outside our house. I remember walking across the road and having a chat. He explained how “the mixture of red wine and eBay” had led him to buying the moped, a curious contraption which looked more bicycle than motorbike. The engine looked almost an after thought as it was bolted onto the frame and powered the front wheel.
More recently I saw Russell again and asked if I could photograph him. He immediately agreed to be in the project but said I should call at his house to make the arrangements. And so I did.
With Russell and his wife Rebecca being professional musicians, it was easy to identify some kind of prop. They were so easy to work with as we together worked out the best place for the photographs to be taken. In the end we went for a couple of places in their house but I think we all agreed the shot involving Rebecca’s piano was the best.
Things on top of the piano were simply there, no arranged especially for the photo and I think this adds to the authenticity. The light was simply from a window behind me, so no horrible flash at all.
The thing about being in my Toddington People project is that you have to nominate someone else. Rebecca has duly given me a name of a new comer to the village and sounds absolutely ideal!