It’s been an emotional week. After a good few years of grumbling about it I made the decision to get rid of the big green van (BGV).

Ultimately this is a very happy liberating decision – but lets face it the BGV was legendary. It has been part of the family for almost a decade and myself and my boys have had some amazing trips in it.

On a trip to Harris one year we pulled off at Glencoe to spend the night and in the early morning I kicked the back doors open and the three of us sat with our feet hanging off the back as we watched dozens of deer walk through a misty landscape passing right by the van. Some coming within a few feet of the van slowly grazing and looking at us it was one of many magical moments we shared in the BGV.

In recent years the boys have become too big to top and tail on what was basically a shelf and having the studio at wasps now gives me a much more productive space to work from as I progress my collodion portraits work.

The van might be gone – but my determination to take collodion to the streets remains strong and the cycling collodionista and his baby plates will be ready to roll soon.

The bike is built and running well, the 5×4 camera is converted and making lovely baby plates, the trailer sourced and serviced, the downsizing of the chemical process is nearly sorted and the darkroom is well – getting there! Watch this space – but for now a wee moment to remember the big green van!

BGV