Conversations with a Forest (part 3)

I've been back to the forest in all weathers - walking, sitting, thinking, filming and snapping. Now I have a 5' film for Conversations with a Forest. Out of this footage and research I have enough ideas for several years of interesting projects.

You can watch The Sigh here. If you like it please share it with friends.

Not being a 'proper' professional film-maker I lack knowledge about how to establish an effective workflow. Not that it matters too much. I begin with ideas and concepts along with various pieces of imagery in my mind and from my walks which then need to be realised as lens-based projects.

​One thing I did was to mix colour imagery with monochrome, to differentiate elements of the narrative. I'm sure there's a rule somewhere about that sort of thing. The sound comes and goes as the project develops, as do the words, spoken or written on the screen. As with many art forms there comes a point when you see the living work, the organism, as complete unto itself. Rather than go into a long essay about ideas I thought to share some of the text I wanted to include in the film, along with some stills. I will say however that most of my conversations with a forest end up in confessions, apologies and remorse. We haven't really looked after our forests very well if the truth be told.

you have no need for words

and yet you are a talking book

you ask for nothing

you the cryptic host

and me the guest, the parasite

your toppled elders have the priest's ear

inviting apology, remorse, confession

with a sigh