Welcome back to one of the most mismanaged blogs on the internet. Over 30 days have passed since my last post, you’d think I would have had something to either say or show. Now I think of it, what about the thirty nights? It’s as though nothing has happened, but of course a lot of water has gone under the bridge. The world continues to turn regardless, I carry on documenting, regardless.
Restrictions for Covid are slowly unravelling here in merry old England, loosening up a little. We’re adopting an outdoors lifestyle according to the governments masterplan. If you’ve ever been to a pub and sat outside with a pint on an April evening I can tell you that after five minutes things aren’t that merry. You soon lose all feeling to your feet and hands, that “Stiff Upper Lip” British thing soon becomes a reality as frost bite sets in. However, we were able to meet friends for a walk at Lacock Abbey and my sister in Budleigh Salterton, I also met with my eldest daughter plus two of my grandsons in Bath and my friend Kev at Caen Hill Locks. That’s the most we’ve travelled or seen anyone in four months. Here’s some from all that…Oh, I got the opportunity for some Street Photography in Bath as well and we’ll take a look at colour versus black & white conundrum, which has a very simple answer.
Before we move on to some Street Photography proper, I must mention that during the last 30 days there’s been some news. Putting to one side the drama and uncertainty of Covid, there was the death of HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh at 99 years old. What a life he led. Okay, lots of gaffes on his travels, a little cantankerous perhaps, but I believe a remarkable person. My brother-in law used to be in charge of Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh and he confirms that the Duke was one of the good guys, that’s good enough for me. I don’t think I could be described as a Royalist, I’m not that fascinated by them, however I recognise their unfaltering service to the country. I’m not including the self proclaimed “publicity shy” couple currently residing in California with that statement by the way! I’ve seen Prince Philip a few times in the flesh as it were over the years, in fact 25% of the population can lay claim to that. I watched the televised funeral at Windsor Castle in St Georges Chapel. I felt for the Queen and remembered the times I’d been in St Georges Chapel. In the early eighties we would go there on Christmas Day. A couple of Bobby’s (Police) on duty, a few commoners wishing to go inside and join the Royal Family for a Christmas morning service. It was a different time and one in which all the Royals were together. On one occasion I recall standing on the end of an aisle as the royals filed past at the end of the service. Now, although I say I’m not particularly a royalist, when the backdoors opened a slight breeze drifted through, the Queen walked past literally inches away and a chill went down my spine. Of course that could have been because it was a bit nippy with those doors open! The rest of the family went by, Prince Charles looked me in the eye and wished me a Merry Christmas, I looked at Princess Diana in the hope of a similar response, she looked the other way. Clearly I have that effect on women!
Two quick sessions in Bath for some Street. I’ve joined them together in an attempt to make a half decent one. It’s busier now the shops have reopened and although it’s too cold for an evening pint, the daytimes have given us some warm, sunny weather. My first session was planned around dropping my wife into her Bath office close to the Royal Crescent, I had around an hour and a half to get in as much as possible. I was a man with a mission, excited to be out shooting again and committed to make every second and shutter release count. I walked down from the Crescent and came across a lady who volunteered to pick up litter. I chatted to her for 20 minutes. She told me that doing the detail work (the council do the main litter picking) helped her live in the moment. She does her Tai Chi first and then spends two hours picking litter. The topless guy in the background must have been a leftover extra form “Bridgerton”. They’re always filming something in Bath, on my second trip they were recording a new series or film of “The Invisible Man” from the book by H. G. Wells. I spotted him through the old carriage, clearly visible. Must be easy to film invisible people, they should have been there a couple of months ago when I tried to shoot some Street, I couldn’t see anyone! All fascinating, however the clock was ticking…
So I continued on my first session, now at some pace. It’s not ideal to rush with Street Photography, there needs to be relaxed concentration. Focussed, but casual, observing, but not desperate. I quickly whipped around the usual haunts…
Not long until my time was up for this first session and so I made my way back towards the car with the intention of shooting in Queens Square for the remaining 30 minutes. Once there I saw some boule players on the pitches. Hold on, who’s this sitting on a bench? A guy with one of those Ricoh GR’s my friend Jeff Chane-Mouye is so expert at using and consequently breaking. Of course I wandered over and spent 30 minutes chatting to Karl Budd. Karl has recently moved to the area, a nice guy and so Bath has another Street Photographer. I’m sure we’ll bump into each other again. I took a quick snap:
I seemed to spend most of time on this session speaking to people, a pleasant way to spend your time, but not particularly conducive to actual Street Photography . A quick snap of some girls taking photos of the blossom and I was done.
Session two was more of a silent operation, no long chats, just knuckle down to some photography. It’s the same routine for me and I suspect for you, no need then for any detail. Instead I’ll answer the age old question: “Black & White or Colour? It seems most photographers go through this little conundrum. Torturing themselves relentlessly as to what to post on social media. Often you’ll see a post of a shot in both and that question posed: Which one? Heralding lots of comments about which is best. I’m fairly certain that at the end they’ll find a 50/50 split of opinion and that should tell them all they need to know. It’s subjective to begin with and really just go with what you think is best. You’re never going to get a definitive answer from other photographers, only from yourself. I’m happy to mix them up too, as you’ll know from reading my blogposts. I do the same with say Instagram or Facebook. I rarely post just one shot, it’s usually a little series and it’s a mix. YouTube the same on those slideshows I occasionally post. I really don’t think it’s important. I was recently featured by “Photographic Mercadillo”, I was deeply honoured to be amongst some very fine photographers that they feature on the page. They requested some photos of my choice. I was advised all Black & White or all Colour, I sent both. There was a comment I read from one of the shares of their post. Someone had written something along the lines of: “really fine black and white work, not so much the colour”. It didn't bother me in the slightest. If I was to continue to shoot photos of my children in black and white then I wouldn’t be growing as a photographer. One of the reasons I took up Street Photography was to get away from that to some extent. We all need to be creative in some way and sticking to familiar territory is always going to stifle that growth. Additionally Street has helped me expand my repertoire for when I do shoot family portraits or weddings. I look at it all with a different and much more educated eye than I ever did before. To finish here’s some from that second session, there are those the work in Colour, because that was what I was looking for and those that are best in Black & White. I’d already made that decision before I released the shutter. Arguably there are those that don’t work at all! The short answer is: Do what you like.
As always my sincere thanks go to anyone taking the time to read this blog.
All images can be opened by clicking on the thumbnails and are taken using a Leica M with Summicron 28mm Lens fitted.
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