Street - Dark Alley

[Lesley Jones]

There was a very real story behind this one. On a bitterly cold winter's afternoon, we made our way up to Camden Town. It was under the pretence of a break, but I was keen to try some "proper" street photography. I forget the tube station that we needed, but it was closed due to an incident, so we got off a stop early and walked. As we approached the market, there was a police tent inside a taped off area and we heard a young man had been stabbed to death.

I felt sad and numb at the same time. We weren't allowed to use that side of the station, so pedestrians were being directed through this alley next to the indoor market. I've never been very good at sorting out my thoughts or feelings, but when I saw this unfolding in front of me it seemed to sum it up very well...

 

[Rense Haveman]

Beautiful, very nice composition and light!

 

[Pete Askew]

Even without hte back-story it's a wonderful image Lesley. As Rense says, the composition and lighting are great. And the wall / ceiling lights balance the whole very well.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Look at all that lovely reflected light!

How did you meter this one Lesley, do you remember?

 

[Brian Moore]

I'd like to know the metering, too, Lesley, if you don't mind. Its a wonderful composition and so full of movement and story. The "alley" reminds me a bit of a tenement close (rhymes with "dose" as in dose of medicine) the Glasgow area. The close was an entry to a tenement building. The closes tended to be painted in gloss paint. Some were tiled, too.

 

[Lesley Jones]

I didn't do any special metering - in fact, I didn't get much time. The guys were walking in front of us and I just leant against the wall. I only remember a little voice inside my head (beware the voices) that told me to wait a few more seconds before clicking the shutter. I'm an old film user you see and I rarely take more than one shot. Stingy might be another word for it.

I've long since learned to trust the metering on my OM2n. I did a "bulb" shoot on a freezing beach one day, but I thought the cable release wasn't working. The shutter opened, but wouldn't close when I wanted it to. I almost got cross with the camera when I realised I hadn't set it to bulb and the camera was happily metering away. Every frame was perfectly exposed. If it had been down to me, not one would have been usable...

Actually Brian - do you know Glasgow? I have one taken in Paddy's Market in the east end, just before they closed it down. I'll dig it out in a minute

 

[Ronald Atchley]

Really like this Zooey. Your edit is spot on with both Dark Alley shots
but this one has much more feeling for me.
With all that goes on in London, I'm glad I had you to protect me on
our tour
Ron

 

[Ralph Thornton]

I like how the light reflected off the walls draws my eyes forward past the two people right to the doorway. Good work!

 

[Brian Moore]

Actually Brian - do you know Glasgow? I have one taken in Paddy's Market in the east end, just before they closed it down. I'll dig it out in a minute

I'm from Rutherglen, just outside Glasgow to the south. (Although I were just a lad when my parents emigrated.) Would love to see that fotie of Paddy's Market.