Tag: street photography

Chinese Takeaway

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I haven’t shot in Chinatown for a while, and today was a great opportunity to bring a group of enthusiastic photographers from the City Academy Documentary class, as the sun was shining and the weather was warm. It always brings a smile to me to see tourists eyeing the strung up roast ducks and chickens in the restaurant fronts, as well as more weird and colourful delicacies like chicken feets, squids and offal hanging off steel rack displays. I even saw visitors smelling large spiky durians that cost as much as they weighed.

Boat Race Day

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First raced in 1829, the 162th annual Boat Race between the rowing clubs of Oxford and Cambridge Universities was held today on a cold but sunny Easter Sunday, on the River Thames at Putney Bridge. I live close by, so a quick walk upriver got me there. The race was won by the Cambridge team, overtaking Oxford at Hammersmith Bridge.

InstantLondon : Westminster Cathedral

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Spent some time at Westminster Cathedral in Victoria this morning. Today is Maundy Thursday, the first day of the Easter celebrations covering the three main events called the Easter Triduum. During the last two weeks in Lent season, all statuary and crucifixes in churches are veiled in purple cloth, a ritual practice since the Middle Ages. The traditional colour for veils is purple, a colour that represents penance and humility.

Normalisation

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Well, Obama shook hands with Castro in Havana today. The US national anthem is played over and over in front of José Martí’s memorial in Independence square. Historic day indeed, as President Obama is the first US president to set foot in Cuba since 1928.

The people of Cuba long for a better life with less restrictions, to travel and run businesses. Only 90miles from US soil, young Cubans hang out on the Malecón sea wall in the evenings, to cool off, but mainly to drink, sing and just chill with mates.

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I brought a group of keen photographers to Cuba in 2011 to photograph Havana and the countryside. The Cubans are warm and friendly but in a wary way. The service industry is patchy and the food is only average (apart from several amazing restaurants) but the music and smiles will charm you.

Take a look at what our group photographed in 10-days here.

100 Days

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Just 100 days to the Brexit referendum, on June 23rd. The public is getting informed by polls and opinions from both sides of the campaign. No one really knows what the effects would be for Britain if there was an ‘out’ victory.

InstantLondon : Dearly Departed

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Brompton Cemetery, Fulham

One of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of London, the Brompton Cemetery was first opened in 1840 and houses over 200,000 burials with some 35,000 headstones, mausoleums and simple plots. Some parts are overgrown with hedges and creepers, making it a favourite for photography and movies. It is located right next to Stamford Bridge the home of Chelsea F.C. One can’t help imagining the souls of the departed bearing up with the roar of the stadium as the home team scores each time.

One-horse race

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This chariot-trike bike is such an amazingly simple design that can bring tons of adventure to young children. It reminded me of the 70s Chopper with three gears and the extended handlebars which I had. I used to do wheelies on it and race my brother around the local streets after school. But this trike is even better, it has no handlebars, instead, to make turns, it has a pair of leather reins controlled by the child as he or she pedals.

Promenade, Menton, Alpes-Maritimes

Le Café Marly – Paris Review

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Been looking through my archives this morning searching out my past Parisian images, after seeing a brilliant image of the Eiffel Tower in the snow, with a military-geared young couple racing towards the photographer in the foreground, taken by Lee Miller in 1944.

I have photographed a lot of Paris, since 1999 to 2003 and several other shorter periods later on, in fact, my second exhibition was held at the Light Gallery in London in December 2004, jointly with my friend Andy Craggs, with our Parisian images in tribute to Cartier Bresson who passed away earlier that same year. I think any ardent ‘street’ fan would safely put hand on heart that he or she was once inspired by HCB’s amazing work, in no uncertain terms. In any case, HCB would stand high up on the list of the greatest photographers in the world, in terms of inspiring new artists to taking up street photography.

This image was taken at the famous Le Café Marly on the Rivoli, by the Louvre in 2001. It is a ‘must see’ spot for any Paris visitor as it affords a grand view of the glass Pyramid, set amongst the amazing historic site.

I hope to post more of these Parisian images, as I find them.