Doing A Street Beat

It’s a strange, strange world we live in, Master Jack; it’s a very strange world, and I’ll never go back.  Don’t take my word on lyrics; I make them up all the time. 

 It is through living that we discover ourselves, at the same time as we discover the world around us.” ― Henri Cartier-Bresson, Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Modern Century.

Many purist photographers believe monochrome is the only way to express emotion. Still, I believe that seeing the world in colour adds natural vibrancy, especially for those who are not colourblind.

Every week I make a special trip to the Ansie Louw building, right there on the opposite side of the road from the taxi rank. This is where I take my recycling bag, filled with the week’s paper, plastic and glass, and a few odds and sods we no longer need.   The people who work there are all physically disabled; the degree of their disability is immaterial, and this is where someone who’d like to work and fend for himself can find gainful employment without being humiliated because of various labour rules or regulations.  Here you can make a difference according to your abilities.

A cheerful bunch of people who always rush to pick up my bags, with huge smiles glowing with pride.  I hope this shows the strength of community bonds and makes you feel connected to local stories.

Tolerance in the South African context is a debatable subject.  One minute we’re like a rash and the next we wouldn’t touch the same person with a bargepole; it all depends on the cause.  For months, a senior citizen has been living in his Volkswagen Beetle in a parking bay on one of our busiest streets right in the CBD.   The police even check on him every evening; friendly shopkeepers and homeowners offer him their facilities, feed and probably clothe him too.  He’s as happy as Larry. 

How he gets away with it is beyond understanding.  He pays no rent, no parking fees, no municipal taxes, no levies or charges; he’s not bothered by load shedding, the quality of the programmes on T.V or the latest news in Nepal.  Unfortunately, he was out on a walkabout today, so I’ve only got his car to show.  He’s a bolshy old bugger so in a way I’m pleased I missed him.  Will get him on another day as I’d love to ask him whether squatting in a public place is legal!

The guy with dreadlocks was happy to do the Riel, a dance, for me. His smile was infectious, and he really is photogenic. I had to oblige him and take a photograph of his friend too; he was guarding his earthly possessions, what we’d take to be recycled.  One man’s cast-off might be another man’s treasure.

Autumn is a good time for a renovation, as seen by the painter abseiling along the walls and spires of the Moeder (Mother) Church; I thought they looked grand, like spiders spinning webs up and down the walls.

To tell this story, I kept my digital darkroom uniform, but each person’s eyes still shine with their own light.  It’s these unique features that remind us of our shared humanity and can inspire empathy in you.

Finally, I made a quick stop at the Public Library, and I'm happy to report it's abuzz with people reading, studying, getting information from the librarians and computers.  All was quiet as it should be too! So uplifting and promising.

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