So the winter is upon us and a lot of you out there will be missing the balmy longs summer days, with coastal beach fun, BBQ;s, lazy Aperol Spritz afternoons in the pub garden - sun hats, funky sunglasses, skirts and shorts combined with sandals and trainers, cafes and restaurants where you can sit outside in the courtyards with friends, a glass of wine and exciting street food, performances in parks and festivals galore.
Me, yes I miss it a little bit but from October onwards, this is my favourite time of year.
You see, I’m a light, shadow, contrast and silhouette junkie (all in technicolor) - I love that gorgeous shy sun that makes a brief appearance every day (if you are in luck) but if you happen to blink you might miss it. Its rays, rising over the Thames at about 9am and then bathes Trafalgar square with its golden light that you can then stalk through the streets of Soho and the West End.
The way the sun creates the walls of deep black shadows, cutting streets and areas in halves like day and night where people and objects get a natural almost studio light treatment and showcased against the negative space.
Nothing makes me happier than chasing this elusive glowing creature of the sky through the streets, like a matador but instead of a sword I have my trusty camera. At one point last week at Oxford Circus we must have been at least five photographers taking part in this sport. You have to be quick as a weasel this time of year though as by 2pm it is game over.
Setting the scene and cast my net to see what walks into my viewfinder. I have found by slowing down and stand still for periods of time I get better images. On my way through Covent Garden the other day I noticed that the afternoon sun had made a beeline for a corner in the back of the market where a steady stream of people paraded through. I must have been there for a good 40 minutes and took several hundred images as the sun slowly moved and changed the scened and then suddenly disappeared behind the buildings. I was pleasantly surprised when looking through them later that evening that I liked more than one and I think that was from being there for a long time and working the spot and changes of light and shadows.
Street photography for me as I have mentioned before is quite solitary and by wandering the streets I destress, get the natural exercise of walking, mindfulness and it makes me forget those sometimes fraught and stressful periods we all go through at times.
But saying that - there is another side of street photography and actually Instagram that I really rather like. The to my surprise rather social side - with the several protests, marches, and events that have filled this autumn I have been introduced to and befriended a lot more local and sometimes from further afield street photographers.
A lovely, enthusiastic and positive community with small egos that cheer each other on, share tips, areas to shoot in and the best time of day. Mind you there are always exceptions to all this but luckily I find those quite few and far in between.
Communal photo walks, visits to museums, exhibitions, coffees, kind words and hellos as we cross paths or stumble upon each other on the different corners and streets of London. it’s been great to put faces to names as many have only been Instagram handles and prior we have only chatted online, liked and commented on the daily postings.
With all this fun as well as challenges going on I was also very surprised and flattered to be asked to join Going Digital London to do a regular Street Photography walk workshop. I’m very pleased to have the first one under my belt and it was incredibly positive and fun to do, a bit wiped out from the nerves and many steps but worth each and every one of them. The feedback was really positive and moving forward I will be offering one to one street coaching as well as the group walks.
www.goingdigital.co.uk/photography-courses/london-workshops
To mention only a few of the talents out there that I have either bumped into or walked and shot with of late @samantha_french_ @bellajane @hueyraw @christian.cross_ @zackwebb @krisaskey @jennieblythephotography @j2.bee @mariapage @spicy.meatball @simonking_v @joshkjack @nicofroe @jovisleigh @monkeymuesli @curtis_peacock @mtorki @jamesrayres @samvholt
It’s a small world and I like it.