Doorbell in brick wall, Clough Hall, Newnham College, Cambridge, England

It’s hard to know what makes a balanced photo, or a good composition. I suspect “sense of balance” varies from person to person.

I print a selection of my images onto namecards, which I like to give out to people I meet. I’m tempted to print photos like this because I enjoy them - this is a brick wall with character, a door with personality, a doorbell of unknown potential. Yet I suspect these interesting studies of the psychology of a building would be neglected in favour of “the tourist views” - why choose a bit of brick wall when you can have the whole building with lawns and flowers? Maybe I’ll print one, just to see how long she is ignored.

Yesterday, I was reminded of a poem by William Henry Davies:

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?

No time to stand beneath the boughs,
And stare as long as sheep and cows;

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass;

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night;

No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance;

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began?

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

I envy people like WH Davies, and harbour a desire to become a “super-tramp”. My favourite philosopher is Diogenes of Sinope.