I Love Old Woodworking Machines & Sawmills & Sawdust &………
Anyone who follows our Facebook page knows that I have an emerging passion for photographing old woodworking machines. So being one half of Makers Bespoke Furniture, I find it more than a little exciting every time we get to go to a sawmill, or a scierie as it is known in France. We use a few sawmills to supply the sustainable oak for our bespoke oak furniture. But the nearest and the one we visit most is Sarl Carré at Marans, just outside Segré.
Click on images for enlargements.
Every time I go, something always catches my eye. At first glance with sawdust everywhere, cobwebs, rusting machines, it can seem like disorganised chaos. Anyone would be forgiven for thinking ‘nothing to see here’. But somehow I seem to notice when the light falls in a particular way or the contrast of peeling machine paint against orange rust. Even the most unworthy of corners can be visually stimulating to me. The more untouched the better.
I have no idea what I am doing!
I am no David Bailey, so I have no idea what I am doing with a camera technically. As an art student, I had a few lessons in black & white photography in the dark room, but even then I had no patience to learn the technicalities. Way too boring! I was far more happy outside scouting for a scene that would capture my imagination. A battered old skip on a building site with the dawn light making it look angelic and beautiful. The Flea Market in Bath with characterful stall holders with weird and wonderful artifacts. Food for the senses.
To see the results then, took a little time. But even with a camera on my humble phone (an Honor 7) it is actually not much different now. I can’t really tell whether any of them are OK until I get back home and look at them on the big screen of the computer. But over time I have managed to capture some pictures that I find really pleasing. Some of them have totally surprised me.
Lame détendue : A relaxed saw blade
Woodworking Machines & Sawmills : Photo Fodder
Our social media accounts are always hungry for new posts. And I am in turn always searching for inspiration for those posts. I have learned over time that these are the kind of pictures that our followers are interested in – furniture and wood working enthusiasts alike. Anything related to the story behind the making of our furniture seems to be devoured. Our own workshop and bespoke table photos are hugely popular on Pinterest. Despite this obvious approval, I still find it quite amazing that my fascination can turn into something that anyone is at all interested in.
And in the spirit of generosity, I am pleased to share some my Marans wood yard photos (so far) with you in this post. Do let me know what you think!
