Really interesting question Dougald, I feel the same way about the danger of too much visibility. That reminds me of Barry Lopez's thoughts on how to be a good elder, I think in his book Horizons. He talks about how when you hang out with indigenous elders they are very humble & circumspect. It's almost like bragging itself is a mark of not-realness. But then that's the opposite values to the world-at-large, especially right now. My instinct is that how we conduct ourselves has a lot to do with it
Hello Dougald, long ago, back in the days of everything unplugged at the Royal Festival Hall, I put together a book for myself called the Convivial Camera. Now, in the heat of Summer, my thoughts come back to those times and your continuing presence in the background of my life. And something that might come out of this gathering in September 2026. I wonder if there are people who would like to meet each week to talk about the ways we photograph, write and make our own books. People who have come to feel an affinity with some of the ways Ivan Illich and John Berger have introduced us to ways of thinking, seeing and writing. Our local library at Swiss Cottage has given me a space to use on Saturday afternoons. I've called it a 'learning cafe'. This summer I have felt exhausted and have nearly given up on co-ordinating the learning cafe. But it would be lovely if some people could come along to bring new energies into these Saturday afternoon gatherings. People who wonder about ways of seeing and convivial tools… and photography, and writing, and making our own books.
What an interesting question… it makes me think about what the answer would be if you had too much of something else. We know the place for excess food is in your neighbour’s belly. I wonder what that principle looks like? And I know you’ve already been thinking about it with your image of the old Swedish coaching inn maps pointing to the next place along.
I think you already do a lot of this (we who smile as we meet another ‘Friend of Dougald’ with readily open arms).
Another lens: excess power from solar panels on a sunny day gets sold back to the grid (except in Australia where you’re charged for the excess I think!).
And I suspect keeping the excess at bay may need you to lessen your interest in certain areas - I can see that your wide-angle lens of the world means that almost anyone who crosses your threshold will be holding something that fascinates you. So if there are more people turning up, you might need to learn to find more of them uninteresting :)
Thanks for always showing up with integrity and curiosity, Dougald. I enjoy learning from your example and interacting with the wise, kind people you attract. You’re showing us how to live into new stories.
Thank you, Dougald, for this thoughtful reflection. I was especially struck by the idea that the goal is not to gather ever-larger audiences, but to cultivate deeper relationships and communities where people can learn, grow, and support one another. In a world that often measures success by visibility and numbers, your reminder that "enough" can become "plenty" is both refreshing and liberating. Fr. Kidus, From Ethiopia
Really interesting question Dougald, I feel the same way about the danger of too much visibility. That reminds me of Barry Lopez's thoughts on how to be a good elder, I think in his book Horizons. He talks about how when you hang out with indigenous elders they are very humble & circumspect. It's almost like bragging itself is a mark of not-realness. But then that's the opposite values to the world-at-large, especially right now. My instinct is that how we conduct ourselves has a lot to do with it
Hello Dougald, long ago, back in the days of everything unplugged at the Royal Festival Hall, I put together a book for myself called the Convivial Camera. Now, in the heat of Summer, my thoughts come back to those times and your continuing presence in the background of my life. And something that might come out of this gathering in September 2026. I wonder if there are people who would like to meet each week to talk about the ways we photograph, write and make our own books. People who have come to feel an affinity with some of the ways Ivan Illich and John Berger have introduced us to ways of thinking, seeing and writing. Our local library at Swiss Cottage has given me a space to use on Saturday afternoons. I've called it a 'learning cafe'. This summer I have felt exhausted and have nearly given up on co-ordinating the learning cafe. But it would be lovely if some people could come along to bring new energies into these Saturday afternoon gatherings. People who wonder about ways of seeing and convivial tools… and photography, and writing, and making our own books.
What an interesting question… it makes me think about what the answer would be if you had too much of something else. We know the place for excess food is in your neighbour’s belly. I wonder what that principle looks like? And I know you’ve already been thinking about it with your image of the old Swedish coaching inn maps pointing to the next place along.
I think you already do a lot of this (we who smile as we meet another ‘Friend of Dougald’ with readily open arms).
Another lens: excess power from solar panels on a sunny day gets sold back to the grid (except in Australia where you’re charged for the excess I think!).
And I suspect keeping the excess at bay may need you to lessen your interest in certain areas - I can see that your wide-angle lens of the world means that almost anyone who crosses your threshold will be holding something that fascinates you. So if there are more people turning up, you might need to learn to find more of them uninteresting :)
Lovely chewable question ❤️
Thanks for always showing up with integrity and curiosity, Dougald. I enjoy learning from your example and interacting with the wise, kind people you attract. You’re showing us how to live into new stories.
Thank you, Dougald, for this thoughtful reflection. I was especially struck by the idea that the goal is not to gather ever-larger audiences, but to cultivate deeper relationships and communities where people can learn, grow, and support one another. In a world that often measures success by visibility and numbers, your reminder that "enough" can become "plenty" is both refreshing and liberating. Fr. Kidus, From Ethiopia