Moments of the streets
In search for my lost inspiration (or with tickets to Chelsea Flower Show), I went to London, one of my favorite cities.
Crossing Old Father Thames, on the Golden Jubilee Bridge with it´s two lanes for pedestrians fencing in the railway tracks, we where slowly pacing towards Charing Cross Station, when wifey made me aware of this gentleman walking the railroad. I managed to get three exposures, this the best I think, as he is rather nicely situated within the structures.
You’ll find one of the most exciting places to bring your camera for a street hunting in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, more exactly in Brick Lane. It runs from Aldgate, through Spitalfields, ending in Bethnal Green, all of course genuinely placed east in the city.
Brick Lane has been an ethnical melting pot for a long time. In the 19th century it was made up mostly by Irish People and Ashkenazi Jews, but nowadays the Bengalis have more or less taken over as the largest group of the area, reflecting in its copious amounts of nice curry houses.
This picture was taken as I leisurely strolled the street in the direction of Bethnal Green. I think the lady in the alleyway captures the pulse of a modern city spot on. And, remember, no matter which religion is right for you, one thing’s for sure. Always keep your telephone ready!
As we all know, a lot of people have dogs, which of course needs to be taken out for their daily walks. And some of us have other pets. Myself, for instance, have had the utterly pleasure of shearing my life not only with a dog, but also amidst two cats, and even if they unfortunately no longer are with us, I will always look back with gratification for being owned by them (!)
But a pet is a pet I imagine, no matter which one you prefer, and they all need a little bit of TLC. This particular picture was captured as the lady in question took her selfie stick out for a stroll in the middle of London. So we all have our darlings. Personally I still prefer cats, but at least she doesn’t have to bother about cleaning up after them…
Isn’t it something nostalgic about this picture? I get a certain ‘old times’ feeling when I watch it. Somehow, it reminds me of scenes from a long past time, with fewer people on the streets, and hardly any vehicles at all.
Actually it’s not old, and it’s from a place which isn’t acknowledged for its lack of either people or cars. It’s captured just in the middle of London, about 100 meters from Piccadilly Circus, normally a place bustling with traffic, and crowds of people hovering in all directions. But this is taken on Christmas Day. And with public transport suspended, the tourist stream, if not exactly sparse, at least significantly lesser than usual, and the traffic uncommonly light, this is what remains.
Nice isn’t it?
Bethnal Green is one of my favourite spots in London. With a population of something in the region of 30 000, of which approximately 40% of Bangladeshi descent, and the rest being made up mostly of Africans, White British, Somalis and Caribbeans, it’s a bustling place, packed with green grocers and curry houses, churches and mosques, nice pubs, shops, and even quite a posh restaurant (Typing Room).
Having walked form Aldgate, following Brick Lane through Spitalfields, I turned right at Bethnal Green Road. In a split second I was about to jump on a bus, and standing there undecided, I was somehow angry with myself for not doing so, as I had been out for quite a while and my legs where killing me. Having watched the bus disappearing down the road, I was heading for the Tube station, when I glimpsed this scenery behind the window of a local florist. Luckily I didn’t need to be cross at myself for letting the bus slip away anymore!