Is it over?

Quite an intense, weird, unsettling, odd feeling, taking down all the photos and moving out of Kindar House at The Crichton, now that Spring Fling is over.

I first came up with the idea of an interactive photography event last September.

It was then pitched to Spring Fling, who embraced the idea.

I then had to find a venue big enough to stage the event, and be indoors in case it was raining (there was never any guarantee of the hot summery days we ended up with), and was relieved and delighted when I was able to secure a place at the Crichton.

Then there's been the headache-inducing planning out how to create a scene with 40+ people in it, while photographing them one at a time, so that no one would be blocking out anyone else.

And of course all the fears and worries that it couldn't possibly work and that utter humiliation was the only likely outcome.

Across the Spring Fling weekend itself, it has been full on talking, explaining, sometimes persuading people to join in despite their initial hesitation or reluctance, as well as discussing the stories behind various photos on the walls, and photography techniques with people who love their cameras.

When we finished last night, it hadn't really sunk in that it was over.

But today, as Maggie helped me pack up everything and move out, I was suddenly overwhelmed with it all.

You don't always realise just how much drive and energy you are pouring into something until it stops.

For months this event has been looming on the horizon, and then for 3 frenetic days I've been in the heart of it.

And now, suddenly, I'm not aiming towards it anymore. It's done.

And it feels so odd.

However, it's not completely over. Now I have to edit all the photos together to create the final image(s).

I haven't even been able to look at them yet.

There's always the possibility that the camera might have decided to focus 2 foot in front of every shot I took and everyone will be blurred.

I hope not, but an exhausted brain will often feed us our worst fears rather than exciting possibilities.

Meanwhile we have the funeral of an old friend to attend on Thursday, the start of a photography commission on Friday, and the podcast to prepare for Sunday. 

So it won't be until next week that I'll properly be able to see whether all the effort that went into creating the event, has given me enough useable material to take it to the next stage and produce the "Crowd" image of everyone interacting with everyone else, even though they were all photographed in isolation.

Fingers crossed...