A Photographic Walk

Today was a walk in the park.  A delightful day of taking photogaphs of  some the people I encounter in my daily life.  As Bruce Gilden says "I love the people I photograph. I mean, they're my friends. I've never met most of them or I don't know them at all, yet through my images I live with them."

After explaining my “365 Photographic Challenge” all the participants were eager to have their photographs taken.   I think their delight is visible and all they wanted to know was whether the photographs would be published in the local newspaper, which was also on sale today. 

Unfortunately I had to dash their hopes of local stardom but they brightened up when I told them I have a website and the photographs will be published there.  The hope of “celebrity” status was quickly latched onto, so who knows I might have taken the first photograph of a future star.  Wouldn’t that be amazing?

My day started with a visit to the upholsterer, then to the laundry service, after which I had to have my car filled with petrol, there I always have a delightful visit with the attendants as Jannie, one of the attendants is a keen and very good photographer.  Today he showed me his recent landscape and sunset photographs; he certainly has the eye for light, colour and composition.

The car guard, Samuel Snyders, who has his strip in Church street is intelligent, streetwise with a good tongue to match. He struck a good pose to show off his tattoos.  I missed his wife,  she’s a character who seldom  lets him get the better of her.  Glib and full of spite and malice they make a fine team. Fortunately they have the ladies from the Bible Study group praying to keep them on the straight and narrow!

Bradley, the fruit seller was very keen to do a bit of marketing,  he didn’t miss a beat and even sold a carton of apples while we were negotiating.   He’s a long way from Portland, amazing where some T Shirts end up!

Whether it was a parking attendant or one of the men on the huge garbage truck, they all laughed and seem pleased to have their photographs taken.  What I found most fascinating was that everyone has access to the Internet, showing a keen interest in my project and promised to "google" me.  

Although I did have some challenging times this was a good day.  Lighting wasn’t always perfect, it was a cloudy sky but very bright, I had to overexpose a notch when a cap or hoody was worn which blew the skies out.  

Once the motorcar was up on the hydraulic lift I managed a quick click of the examination.

“It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter.”- Alfred Eisenstaedt  I admit my French is poor, how I'd love to greet  D Harry with a friendly Bonjour!

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