I am always nervous of photographing people, it seems so intrusive. I do sometimes ask and I’m happy to not take their photo if they say no – of course. But actually asking can be awkward, embarrassing and often just too late, the moment has gone.
This little girl was part of a wedding – she wanted to be in the bridal procession but was not allowed to be. Her mother and grandmother spent quite a few minutes trying to restrain her, but she eventually escaped. There was a big crowd watching!Here she is – running for freedom.Here are the bride and groom with their families having formal photos taken.She looked so sad but such an enigmatic face and expression, i daren’t ask, I knew she would say no. I tried to look as though I was photographing the shrine buildings but I think she saw me, I feel sorry for that.What a distinguished looking gentleman, i think he might have wanted to be photographed, he wandered around in the temple grounds, adopting rather posed stances. i was too slow for tis one, its slightly out of focus.Peaceful moments in the grounds of Odawara fort in the late afternoon sun.These two spent quite a long time trying out different poses with their stuffed rabbit, trying to get just the right selfie. I deliberately caught them between poses.A school group were practising and then performing a song with actions, to make a video at Odawarra fort, – they were accompanied by 4 volunteers dressed in traditional costume. The teachers welcomed us to take photos. The children were thrilled and wanted to see the images we took.In the street where people go to parade in costumes (Cosplay)I saw her and I asked if i could take her picture, she was terribly shy but her friends encouraged her, then she broke into this gorgeous smile, and performed the ubiquitous hand gesture.This lady seemed reluctant to believe she was no longer 20 but kudos for the style!The Beatles got everywhere didn’t they?! Loving the matched colours though.Shibuya station, one of the busiest in Tokyo, there’s a bus station right outside where guys in uniform with LED lighting tracks in their jackets and red sabres, orchestrate the passengers into queues and then usher them onto the buses, finishing with a bow to the bus driver!I came across this man in a side street in Yanaka, Tokyo, he seemed to be making a plan of street services, he spoke no English but I managed to ask Shashin? which is Japanese for photo! He happily agreed, whilst fighting the wind from whipping away his drawing.This girl was absorbed by her mum’s phone, she had just a minute before, been taking a selfie, big grin on her face. Sadly I was too slow and also a bit reticent to photograph a child.I asked her just as she moved the poster from in front of her face, held up my camera and pointed, she nodded, I clicked!I took this in Odawara at the fort. He had dip-died his dogs ears! One pink one orange, he turned away and took up the exact same pose as the dog – irresistible.On holidays and weekends lots of young people wear full kimono clothes and visit their local temple.
Our group waiting for the tutors to arrive with the hire cars. Shades of the “Usual Suspects” A bit of attitude going on as well though.
Toulouse Blagnac airport, new terminal. Ingenious wood slats behind the glazing panels filters the sun but lets in plenty of
light.
The approach from the plane into the terminal, none of that grey bland utilitarian style here, it is perfectly functional and the yellow is joyous.From the outside you see the slatted wood but not the coloured glass dots that are placed at crossing points.Simple glass barriers along the walkways are half-painted in a delightful maritime blue, a sort of abstract beach scene perhaps!None of those hideous hard plastic chairs here, just soft red comfort.Even on the sunniest of days the light inside is soft with no glare – a calm space, just right when waiting to board a plane.Vertical tube lights hanging over the stairwellWooden slats punctuated by circles of coloured glass at the crossing points. A subtle reference to stained glass windows maybe?An unusual gateway to a school, water-jet cut out lettering in Corten steel.
Castres
The weir in the river, looking like an abstract oil paintingRiver-side living – cantilevered balconies at every level
Classical references in this old chapel.Some more Corten steel cut-out lettering, this time the letters have been fixed on supports in front of their corresponding gaps.Ripe for an abstract linocut print maybe? The formal gardens at the Bishop’s Palace by the river
Recently I spent a week in South Wales, St David’s Cathedral is a very special place, I last visited more than 30 years ago in the pouring rain, it looks gorgeous in sunlight, though the deep purple of the stone stands out so much better in rain.
St David’s Cathedral
Tombstones leaning against the perimeter wallStained glass window
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