The Cucumber Season
August. To many, the month means pleasure, happiness and relaxation as they flee the country and head off to rows of pre-poured cocktails next to their beach lounger on the Costa Del Swank.
To photographers and journalists across the land, it signifies the beginning of..
(cue lightning strike)
..the silly season.
When this annual news-drought hits the modern media, the real failings of the rolling news system of BBC News 24 and Sky News begin to show. There are days in London when nothing happens. That might seem like an overstatement but truly nothing happens. Its terrifying that I can be sat in the AFP office with rolling news in the background, repeating the same three stories for eight hours solid with no visible signs of mental collapse from the presenters-bots. Due to a mixture of Parliament and the Law Courts not sitting, with everyone else of note heading to the beach, the phenomenon has been known since the end of the 19th century. Thankfully, I can draw solace in knowing that it’s been the bane of people in the media for decades and all over the world.
As I shot my load too early in the season (steady on..) by photographing the contents of my wallet for future business and finance stock images, I’m then left at the mercy of organised PR events (such as the exhibition of odd inventions shown above) and the mystical Gods of breaking news.
I remember being quite surprised at the suggestion that the only reason certain very high-profile murders got the coverage they received was due to a lack of anything else to cover. When you pay attention though, it soon becomes clear that when the news channels and media outlets repeat the story of Kerry Chip-shop’s breast reduction or the boy who was stung by a jellyfish, they’re simply itching for a juicy murder/scandal/disaster. This year has been saved on the international media front by the Georgia situation and the US elections but the domestic news is still floundering in nonsense such as the court case over who owns the rights to sell replicas of the stormtrooper helmet.
I do think we should adopt the German name for the silly season though. “Cucumber Time” has a far more amusing sound to it.
My Liege! It sure has been the ‘cucumber season’. I been checking the wires and NOTHING interesting has been happening. In hindsight, maybe a good thing. However, it’s now September and of course, it kicks off again next week. You know the drill: divas aplenty; Record labels using all means possible to still copyright; offering sacrifices to the ‘pr gods’ for photopasses! Ahh, joy of joys! Hope you & missus having a good time in Cuba.
You’re in Cuba? I would advise against wind surfing at the moment…
Yeah, it was quite an experience. Just got back last night. I’m baffled why the travel agent didn’t tell us about the included “Hurricane Ike fun-ride” that came as part of the holiday. Very strange. They didn’t even offer us a commemorative mug afterwards either..