Quarterly Series Theme - Jan/Feb/Mar 2024 - Street

[zou]

Something new to play along with, I'm setting a quarterly theme for a series of pictures.


Unlike the other theme threads this is not about single images, in this challenge I am looking for between 3 and 5 images, with the starting theme of 'street'. It is entirely up to you whether you post them as you go, or just when ready. You can interpret this as street photography, urban images, abstract, whatever, so long as there's a genuine link to the word 'street'. You can present the images with a description/narrative, or without. This thread is the place to post not just your images, but any discussion. If you want to ask others' opinions/views on image selection, all good. In the usual format, a purely subjective winner is chosen who then gets to set the April-June theme.

The intention is that falls somewhere between other theme threads and exhibition, even a bit of appraisal perhaps. Finding personal projects and working on them is a great way to develop critical thinking and self-appraisal, as it isn't just about "does the image work?" it's also about whether it sits alongside the others in the series. Discussing/reflecting on why they do/don't is a useful exercise for creativity, I think.

Who's in?

[peterob]

Dec 26, 2023 20:06:53 GMT zou said:

Something new to play along with, I'm setting a quarterly theme for a series of pictures.


Unlike the other theme threads this is not about single images, in this challenge I am looking for between 3 and 5 images, with the starting theme of 'street'. It is entirely up to you whether you post them as you go, or just when ready. You can interpret this as street photography, urban images, abstract, whatever, so long as there's a genuine link to the word 'street'. You can present the images with a description/narrative, or without. This thread is the place to post not just your images, but any discussion. If you want to ask others' opinions/views on image selection, all good. In the usual format, a purely subjective winner is chosen who then gets to set the April-June theme.

The intention is that falls somewhere between other theme threads and exhibition, even a bit of appraisal perhaps. Finding personal projects and working on them is a great way to develop critical thinking and self-appraisal, as it isn't just about "does the image work?" it's also about whether it sits alongside the others in the series. Discussing/reflecting on why they do/don't is a useful exercise for creativity, I think.

Who's in?

Sounds like a good idea.  Way outside my skill set but I'll give it a go.  

[Kath]

Definitely 'in'. I feel like I need the challenge that presenting a series requires. Thanks Zou!

[dans]

Excellent idea Zou! I'm in. 😊

[zou]

Should also say, in case it isn't clear, that you can and absolutely should post work in progress, before narrowing down, if you wish. The point is really the process, if you get my drift.

[Kath]

I'm sort of thinking out loud here so feel free to ignore ramblings. I think for a series to work (for me...this doesn't need to apply to anyone else), it's better if I have a purpose/theme to the shots, besides it just being 'street'. So that means thinking about what I want to show or say with the images. With that in mind I went out for a quick walk yesterday to see if anything inspired me. It was all purely speculative but it prompted a few trains of thought which might lead to something.

I started by shooting the street where I live.  At this point I was thinking about the absolute hodge podge of architecture involved, but also of the businesses that are on this street - also a bit of a random collection.


240103-James Street Architecture-004 by Kath Polley, on Flickr



240103-James Street Architecture-003 by Kath Polley, on Flickr



240103-James Street Architecture-005 by Kath Polley, on Flickr

Helensburgh has everything from very grand homes (I delivered a gift voucher to someone just before Christmas whose home was so large and swish that it had two front doors and horse box in the drive larger than my living room) to council and navy homes as well as emergency housing for the homeless.  So one possible avenue would be a documentation of the architecture.  My street is slap bang in the middle of an area rated as the second worst for indicators of multiple deprivation.  We score a 10 for access to services and 1s and 2s for employment, income, health and education.  

[zou]

I agree, and the stage I'm at is narrowing down options. Shall I just focus on things seen/found on the street, road markings, or perhaps potholes? Whichever, I'm feeling drawn to detail rather than wide images, so that's the first key elimination in my narrowing down process.

[Kath]

Once I'd had my fill of my own street I went uphill slightly and turned right onto Princes Street (two princes, not one princess).  I took a shot of the bus shelter in the distance all aglow because of approaching car headlights and was minded of some of Kate's shots.  I didn't want to copy her, but as I came closer I realised there were reflections of the Christmas lights in the panels, so I lurked and took a few shots.  This one doesn't include the woman's reflection, but I did get some where the person was mirrored in the bus shelter.  I like this one though because she's a bit of a local celeb...she organises the volunteer 'elves' who put up the lights every year.  She doesn't know it but she once called me a keyboard warrior because of something I said on my own Facebook page which the Helensburgh Advertiser chose to publish.  I've had a rocky relationship with the local paper ever since.



240103-Princes Street Bus Stop-001 by Kath Polley, on Flickr

At this point I was considering a project based on reflections or people interacting with the street furniture.  We have an abundance of street furniture since the council put its CHORD project into action.  It's almost impossible to get a shot for instance of the local church without including multiple street lights, benches, bins and so on.  In fact I was then reminded of the recent bin debacle.  

When the new pavements in the town square and seafront were installed, they also provided cemented in silver bins.  Quite stylish.  Utterly useless.  They were thin things which didn't hold much and there was plenty of room for the gulls to swoop in and drag out pizza boxes and chip wrappings so the whole town looked like a rubbish tip.  For months and months there were moans and squabbles about the useless bins - insufficient in number and too small.

The council's response has been to buy and install a shedload of large black plastic bins.  But not instead of the silver ones - in addition.  So consequently I reckon we must have the highest number of bins per capita anywhere in the world.  The other week I took this shot of the seafront.  There were several complimentary comments and all I could think was 'But can't you see the bins?'  


231230-Snow-Helensburgh-Looking Back-002 by Kath Polley, on Flickr

So my next thought was a project, a bit tongue in cheek perhaps, that uses the bins as subject matter. Possibly including some abstracts of things reflected in the surface of the bins:


240103-Bin Reflection-001 by Kath Polley, on Flickr

Or less abstract but still not showing what they are really:



240103-Colquhoun Square Church Tree bins-002 by Kath Polley, on Flickr

There are a couple of issues with these.  The Christmas lights won't be up forever (although I think the ones in the trees stay on till March) so it may end up a bit repetitive.

I did wonder about mapping the days getting longer by going out at the same time in the evenings and tracking the effect.

Basically I've taken a shedload of photos, some of which I quite like but i dont' know what to do with them.

[Kath]

Oh, yes, there were a couple of other subjects floating around too.  It so happened that as well as the local head elf, I also photographed someone else I knew.


240123-Clyde Street Palace by Kath Polley, on Flickr

The woman in the blue coat is the mother of the childminder I used when my youngest was small.  She adored my daughter who has very fond memories of spending time with her.  I didn't realise it was her until after I'd taken the photograph and they were behind me. The perils of not wearing my glasses.  She was always extremely carefully dressed - very well presented if you know what I mean.  Hair and make up always done.  Shoes polished.  Nails perfect.  I am assuming that's her husband because I don't believe I ever met him.  If so, he's not the person I'd have imagined her with.  I like the contrast though.  He looks like a typical bloke, practical outfit, not really caring.  I like how she's all dolled up in a fancy skirt and heels walking past the chip shop.  I don't know how many folk I know I will manage to snag in the three months but maybe they don't have to be people I know.  Maybe I just photograph examples of the local population.  Maybe I'm overthinking this.

[Kath]

My last port of call, as it often is, was the pier.  

We have a fancy new swimming pool where the old car park used to be.  The area where the old pool was has been flattened and cordoned off while the council decides which developer's bid they like best.  Chances are it's going to end up as a supermarket and/or an hotel.  The pool, including the necessary flood defences (it was built on an area that flooded regularly) has cost upwards of £23 million squid.  To claw back the overspend the council has so far reneged on their promise to create greenspace and reinstate an area for a the skatepark.  Many people here wanted the pier to be upgraded so that it could be used again by The Waverely.  It's currently closed to marine traffic and the repairs to the pier were not included in the original budget.  People are angry.  Tensions are high.  Even more so than over the bins.  My own thoughts are that it was a lot of money to replace the pool basically like for like.  Yes the building is newer and smarter  than the old one was but the old one had a baby pool and an adult one, a viewing area and a gym.  Which is exactly what this one has.  The public wanted slides/flumes a wave machine, something other than the basic set up we had before.  We do'nt have it.  Also the pool looks out onto the carpark, not the sea.  The gym looks out to sea, but the windows have big bars over them to protect the glass from the wind so I don't imagine you can see all that much.  

Anyway, much as I think it was a colossal waste of money, it does make for some interesting pictures.  Perhaps I'll keep phtoographing the area and see what develops in the time we have.



240103-Helesnburgh Pier Leisure Centre by Kath Polley, on Flickr



240103-Helensburgh Pier Leisure Centre Carpark-001 by Kath Polley, on Flickr



240103-Helensburgh Pier Leisure Centre Rain Lights by Kath Polley, on Flickr



240103-Helensburgh Pier Clyde Rain Lights by Kath Polley, on Flickr


Of course another possible theme could be the bloody rain. All over my lens. I usually take a flannel or something to try and keep the lens dry but was stuck using my gloves which was clearly not very effective!

[dorsetmike]

Views from a bedroom window

[dorsetmike]

[dorsetmike]

[zou]

I had hoped to have had something to share by now but the 'rona has got in the way again.

This is an older image but one which got me thinking about things found on my road.

link

[peterob]

I'm not sure how this theme is going to turn out for me.  Had a walkabout today but not inspiring.  Too many people getting in the way.  

I did learn that trying to hold a non-stabilised camera at arms length, and almost knee height using the LCD screen tilted up, at 1/15s does not result in sharp images - even though it should be able to hold it steady.  Fuji X100V.  

Anyway - I thought this odd - an eco-vegan butchers' hair stylist.

DSCF0915.jpg by Pete, on Flickr

Edit: it was a few doors down from:

500 gins

DSCF0914.jpg by Pete, on Flickr