Bet Lynch is waiting for a taxi with a fag on the go at the back of Debenhams

A month or so ago I ventured out to get myself a new pair of glasses from the optician. I had by that time got into the habit of taking out my street photographers camera, the Ricoh GR III and I was glad I did. When waiting for a taxi back home I sat down at the pick up point behind the old Debenhams store in a place called 'Area D.' Waiting there also was another lady who to me caught my eye as a great subject to photograph. She reminded me of the character Bet Lynch from Coronation Street played by actress Julie Goodyear all dressed in her faux leopard print jacket and leggings clothing and having a cigarette, with a shock of blond hair. I asked her if I could take her picture and told her what it was for, she agreed and asked if I wanted her to smile. I said she did not have to smile if she did not want to and just carry on have a smoke. So she did and I snapped away till a black SUV pulled up in front of her. Sadly as I got into my taxi leaving her sitting there still, I failed to get her name I regret that. I should have asked her but was taken up by the excitement of the shoot.

I live currently in a town that people are on the most part very friendly and will just break into a conversation at a moments notice. Two points in case was a man in a wheelchair who asked me for a lighter so he could have a smoke? He then told me that he was looking forward to leaving the hospital and going home to play his Elvis records. The Hospital / G..P..s we were both in at the time had no radio and certainly no record player. So I sat and listened to him while I waited for my taxi, where he went on to say that he found out that his lodger had stolen the record player and sold it while he was away. To his dismay. He genuinely sounded remorseful for it and it dampened his excitement at leaving the Hospital. Then there was another occasion when I was standing outside SAVERS waiting for my wife to go buy some house hold products/ When this lady just came and stood next to me and announced that she had been to Majorca that year with her girl friends and just how much see enjoyed it. So much so that she wanted to go back again. Once again cigarettes were involved and as soon as she had finished her fag and stubbed it out she said her goodbyes. Why she thought I needed to know about her holiday puzzles me, but I guess she just wanted to tell someone, anyone ! and get it off her chest. I didn't mind and so just stood there quietly taking it all in.

This is the kind of town I live. Random strangers will just spark up a conversation with you at the drop of the hat about anything. You would not get that in a big City like London. You would get arrested just for looking at someone on the underground the wrong way. At the end of the day I like it when the locals do stop for a chat, that's why it is a pleasure to photograph them and add them to this street photography site.

God bless this town and its characters.

The Ignored …..

One of One of the things about street photography is that you get to interact with all types of people. For good or for bad. Since photographing the two homeless brothers Lee and Adam, I have become more aware of the people in the streets, the mostly ignored people.

And so it was the other day when I made another visit into town to get some pictures framed up that I came across two members of the Jehovah Witness and a member of the homeless, Maisey. The two couple that were from the JW's were in their sixties if I were to guess and came across as very friendly. I asked them if I could take their pictures, telling them about the website and why I wanted to include them on it. They were both up for it and stood by copies of their magazine the Watchtower. Now opinions on religion and spirituality aside, I quite admire their persistent crusade to save our souls. They stand there … mostly ignored … in all weathers because they believe in their cause. They are also subjected to random abuse from members of the public, which can not be good and still manage a smile despite of the cold weather and reception so respectfully I would like to thank them for allowing me to take their picture.

Also ignored and often abused by the public is Maisey, another member of this towns homeless people. She asked me if I could spare her a pound, to which I said yes, but only if you allow me to take her picture. At first she was hesitant which is understandable, but when I gave her my business card and told her about the website she seemed to grow in stature and confidence. In talking with her I got the feeling that virtually nobody even notices her as she and many others have all dropped through societies cracks. The local Council and Government don't help them, and they are largely left to fend for themselves. Blending into the background … ignored.

As I have said before, I do not have the answer to this, and aware that this website is all about steer and a brief glimpse into another life we could all so easily fall into. So yes I did give Maisey her pound, in-fact I gave her the content of my right pocket in loose change. It was not much in the great scheme of things. But I would never miss it and she looked hungry. I wish Maisey the best and hope things improve for her. I shall keep and eye out for her when on the few occasions I go into town.

Speak again soon ….

Lee and Adam

On a recent visit to town the other day, we happened upon two of the towns homeless people Lee and Adam are brothers and between them have been living on the streets for over two decades.

In conversation they explained how with a mixture of family tragedy, substance abuse and bad luck they had both fallen through the cracks in society and now found themselves sitting in the doorway of the old Co-op bank. Long since closed down. I asked them if I could take their picture for this website on the understanding that I tell the people of this town that not all homeless are bad people. I can do that. And they allowed me some shots.

You often hear it said that most of us are a pay check away from homelessness and in this day and age more than ever with the cost of living and after 13 years of austerity. I have been lucky. I have always ended the day with a warm bed to sleep in and a full stomach. Many, like Lee and Adam have not been so blessed. It would be too easy to spout of hollow wishy washy, liberalisms on the homeless, but I honestly do not have the answer for this most pressing social problem. I wish I had.

Things don't look like they are going to get better for the brothers, even with them being on a program to clear them of some of the substances they have taken to numb themselves against their predicament. They seem like two descent people. I was glad we met them and helped them out a small bit in their long and cold days. So the least I can do is tell the world that not all homeless are bad and not just walk by them.

Crowds ?… What crowds !

I do not very frustrated the other day when I wanted to create a series of images showing people walking. I had seen it done and it is where you photograph from a very low angle and capture peoples legs from below the knees. It works as a picture and looks good if done correctly. So picture this, I am sitting on my stool opposite the fruit and vegetable stall at my local market, just ready to get that picture. The only trouble was is that there was virtually nobody around. This was 11.30am on a Saturday morning in the centre of town. So where is everybody.?

Turn the clocks back to about 20 years ago I can remember a thriving market place and town with people everywhere. But now they have all vanished. This is the sad realisation of just how the internet and big companies named after South American river, get to gobble up everything. But then it would be too easy just to blame the internet on its own, it takes customers to shop and we nearly all of us a guilty in this. I regularly purchase from the internet … it is so easy and saves putting myself through the pain of walking which I do not like doing due to ill health. So we all play a part in this and with every purchase we make online, we shove the blade in deeper. It it all means 'NO' crowds for me to photograph. I don't know what the answer is over this one and I wish it were not this way but now the genie is out of the bottle and we all indulge with online shopping. A conundrum for our times.

Talk soon ….

Gear and discretion

I have read up a lot of books (well, looked at the pictures!) about street photographers and the craft of capturing a picture that is not posed and natural. A lot of people now use their camera phones to get the shots, but as I do not have a smartphone and find the things intimidating. Then I shall have to use a camera. And there in lays a problem ….

If I go out with my big Nikon camera and lenses, firstly there is the weight of all the gear. Then secondly Its hard to remain anonymous in the streets when you are wielding one of those great cameras around without causing a fuss with someone good exercise in that folie was when I once went photographing the neon lights in Soho, London. The minute I started shooting a local picked up on it and was confronting me aggressively. He demanded my camera, but I never gave it to him and cleared out of there just as his mates were all turning up. A lesson was learned that day.

In pre-digital times al lot of street photographers used more smaller cameras to do the job like the Leica M6, which is a superb little camera of pure quality. I would love one of them or its offspring, but my budget does not stretch that far. Instead I choose to use another tested make of street photography camera called the RICOH GR series. Its made in Japan by parent company Pentax and is a sweet little camera. At a distance my RICOH GR III looks just like a smartphone and nobody gets nervous or twitchy when I hold it up to take the image. You see from what I have learned its not about being furtive and hanging around kids playgrounds with a camera … its more about catching that moment in time of everyday life, without fuss or bother. It is not always easy to do as someone still might object (like the man sitting outside the barbers shop I mentioned in my previous blog entry), so in that instance I put on a friendly face, try to explain myself and give them a business card with my website address on. This normally pacify them. Fingers crossed. So in summing up as a photographer it takes a summing up of whether the picture is worth possibly getting your arrested or having your head kicked in for the fun of it? It boils down to common sense and good judgement, and cardinal rule, never to be broken …. Do not photograph children.

Thank you and talk again soon. x….

First Steps …..

Thank you for dropping by and checking out my websites blog page.

I had great fun in creating these street photography images after first reading up on the subject. As well as being inspired by other peoples work. Now while I don't live in a really interesting place to photograph like New York, I can still find inspiration from more local locations. Also it is a way to get out and meet new people. On a recent day out I met a old Scottish lady who asked after me because I was sitting by the side of the road having a rest from all the walking. She was lovely and we sparked up a conversation about what I was doing and that she had seen me taking pictures of the traffic crossings. I also asked a young man sitting on a chair outside a barbers shop if I could take his picture as I thought it would make a great shot. He said he did not understand English but when I showed him my camera he understood. The shop owner came out and enquired what I was doing and after clumsily explaining, and worrying if they would take offence they agreed. Although I don't think the man in the pictures really liked the intrusion and at one point gave me the stinky eyed look of death. Still I was right all along and it did make a half way decent image.

So with this blog I shall update when ever I post to this site, as and when I can get out. It will not be every week, but as regular as I can make it.

So welcome to my website and blog …. thank you for stopping by..

Talk soon ….

Lujon Rael