Mile 0 The Source 1236'

Mile 0 I have decided to photograph the length of the River Aire. To do this, I take inspiration from Yan Wang Preston who photographed the length of the Yangtze from its source in the Tibetan Plateau all the way to where the Yangtze meets the sea. Hearing her speak about her journey, I reflected on my own local and home river, the River Aire and realised with some shame that I had no idea where the River Aire actually goes. Or where it begins, even. I knew it travels from left to right on the map and ends up somewhere near Hull. I consider photographing the whole length a necessary education.

The Yangtse, at 6200 km long breaks down nicely for a project photographing at strict 100km intervals. The Aire is 92 miles long and a mile at a time, the job seem fair. Fair? Well, doable with a plan and some resolve.

Asking around where I should begin and opinions vary. There are several ways of thinking about a river’s source. The visible water that feeds the watercourse furthest from the river's mouth is often decided as its source. It might be where a glacier becomes meltwater or a hillside spring or patch of soggy ground where molecules coalesce into a thin trickle. 

Mile 0

The furthest such point for the River Aire appears to be above Malham Tarn and on the 1^st of May this year I went to look for it. The longest measured stream was bone dry (hmm … intermittent) but further around the Tarn I followed a damp stream bed and at its head was a muddy but wet pond. This is where I took my photograph for Mile Zero and I am committed to it. It is the sort of beginning that arouses controversy and already, friends and colleagues have offered alternative views for my consideration. Truth be told, the 'source' moves around according to the weather conditions. In wetter weather, other springs will be active.

The marsh before Malham Tarn