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Chichester Canal
Jul13

Chichester Canal

I loathe this weather. I'm not a hot weather person. I'm really, really looking forward to my trip to Norway in six weeks' time. It can't be this hot in Norway in September. It had better not be. It's not good weather for street photography when it's like this. The light is very bright and the shadows are very dark and metering on the camera is an ever-changing, bloody nightmare. But worse than that is the skimpy clothing people wear (and I can't blame them, of course, because it's hot as I might have mentioned). It's bad enough in less sweltering times swinging your camera someone's way and risking that glance or stare with that withering look of revulsion behind the eyes (if only everyone could understand it's art (ish; your opinion may differ), not perversion – the lament of the street photographer) but when you've got to fight the voice in your head that keeps saying "that's a fairly good shot with a decent story behind it… but that skirt is very short and tempers are even shorter and someone will probably punch you if you take it" then it's a thousand times worse. So castles and other buildings and canals and beaches and events with plenty of shade and playing with the new EF 24-105L IS USM lens are the order of the day for the moment. Stupid weather. Google+: View post on...

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The Force
Jul07

The Force

You know it was a good beer festival when you look back at some of the photos taken and realise most people – yourself included, at the time – were far more interested in drinking delicious ales and ciders, chatting with friends, and getting burnt to a crisp under a relentless sun rather than pay attention to the local Jedi group who had turned up just to demonstrate through hovering sticks how the power of battle stations was insignificant next to the power of the Force. Google+: View post on...

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Public Displays Of Affection
Jun22

Public Displays Of Affection

It's interesting to see the different ways in which people show affection or react to public displays of affection while on the street. Here we have a couple who are madly in lust with one another and who couldn't care less who sees them. And why should they? Good for them! And there to the right is James who feels a little differently about things. James looks absolutely mortified. But then, James is being followed closely by a small, black, wheeled robot proclaiming its love for James in a shrill, electronic voice. James has probably been tinkering with the robot's emotion circuits and is now paying the price. Oh James, you silly person! #StreetPhotography   +StreetPhotography curated by +Maria Roco  and +Tatiana Parmeeva  Google+: View post on...

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Embrace
Jun15

Embrace

This happens a lot. This happens more times than you might imagine. "Excuse me, miss?" is how it starts. Or mister, sometimes. But not this time. "Yes?" She's hooked. There's something about him that she finds intoxicating. I don't know if it's his eyes. They all have these intense eyes. Or it might be his lips. I've seen people stare at them before. I've even heard it might just be some sort of pheromone. I don't know about that. All I do know is that I'm immune to it which is why I'm here. And I know she's a goner. "Can you form a teapot?" How many times have I heard this now? I've lost count. It just sounds so innocent. Of course she can form a teapot. Everyone can form a teapot. We're all taught it at school but have you ever thought why? Who even uses a teapot any longer? And this knowledge, this pointless knowledge will be the death of her. "Sure," she says, hesitantly, and then with more conviction, "here's the handle." She places her hand on her hip. The two of them are close now and it's difficult to tell who's moved towards whom. "And here's the spout." She's lost to the world now. As she's admiring the crook in her arm and her twisted hand he's leant in, dislocated his jaw, extended his teeth, and clasped her to him. Frozen shock, stifled pain, a shudder, a stiffening, and then it's all over. So much horror. There's a taste of hot metal on your tongue. You never get used to the tangibility of the blood in the air. I really don't know why I agreed to spend a year documenting Chichester's street vampires. Google+: View post on...

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A Filthy Habit
Jun07

A Filthy Habit

If I had my way it would be banned entirely. Sure, you can't do it in public buildings or workplaces now but that just sends them outside, and outside is the nice place. Why are we letting those people befoul the nice place? Ban it outright is what I say. And yet it's often photogenic too. It can make the difference between an okay shot and a slightly-better-than-okay shot. It adds interest; the revolting is often the most interesting after all. So I watched him, one of them, one of those people, and I waited. He looked guilty as he reached into his pocket and took out a packet. He unwrapped it and discarded the clear polythene into his bag; he'd dispose of it properly later. Shielding it all with his hands – shielding it from the wind or from the gaze of onlookers who might not approve? Who can say? – he took in a mouthful and some painful pleasure flashed all too briefly across his face. I grimaced but snapped a shot anyway. Vile, vile, vile. I just don't see the attraction in it. Sucking the brains from fieldmice through a straw is such a filthy, filthy habit. Google+: View post on...

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The Cone Of Shame
May25

The Cone Of Shame

"I feel like an idiot." "You're fine." "I look stupid." "You look fine. Trust me." "No. I really look stupid. Everyone will stare at me." "Nobody will pay you any attention. They've seen it all before. Hell, they've seen far worse." "You're just saying that. I look stupid." "You don't look stupid. Please, can we just go out?" "I don't know if I can cope with people staring at me all the time." "They won't notice you. I promise." "You're just saying that." "Look, I'll stick a transparent cone around my neck and nobody will even see your shoes." "You'd do that for me?" "Let's go." Google+: View post on...

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