Some of the stuff in the debate on Photographic Freedom reminded me of these two, or at least the session (I use the word loosely) that they came from.

I had been waiting for my wife at a corner, on the edge of street market. I was stood there camera at the ready, it accompanies me most places these days, but I was chastising myself. “I real photographer would be out there among the… “ I can’t say bustle, because it was getting dark and they were starting to pack up “… getting some shots in”. But I stood there, a little self conscious, but not enough to put the camera away. The stall nearest to me was a florist and one of the assistants was doing his utmost let everybody in town know there were some bargains to be had. However there weren’t many punters about and he gradually started a bit a banter with me which focused on the camera. But I still lacked the nerve to point the camera at him until he eventually popped an obvious pose and something of a verbal invitation. So I was off, I did get some interesting expressions but they’re all poor quality due to my poor technique at f3.5 / 1/25s. Bizarrely the best one was at 1/15s, perhaps I tried a bit harder.

When my wife turned up I drew her attention to the flowers, which were a real bargain as they were selling them off at the end of the day. The sort of opportunity you only get if you’re either wise enough or lucky enough to be there at the right time. A bit like photography really.

This got me a lot closer and I got the shot of him on the right. It’s better quality because it’s up to 1/60 and it catches him in full flow. But it’s too close, totally lacking in context. In absence of any other shots, you wouldn’t have known he was a stallholder had I not told you.

In the mean time I got the one of the lady on the left. She’d been hovering around for some time, lacking any apparent purpose. She just suddenly declared, “Take my photo”. How could I refuse when she popped this pose? Context seems irrelevant in this instance, I don’t know about you but I just love the expression.

The photo’s may have been lacking, but I learned an important lesson, which in truth may only have hit home when Caroline talks of taking the time to engage with people.

So as one of the other lads said, “You should really come down on a Saturday, the colours are amazing”; yes I really should, we’ve started something now (and I stress the we), who knows what’ll come of it.

Shot location - Mount Bromo - East Java - Indonesia taken : July 2007

Taken December 2004 at Mapledurham Lock on the Thames.

"Water falls in the U.P. of Michigan. Bond Falls"

The famed George Washington Bridge (Known to locals as simply, "The GW"), as seen from the Palisades in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

Started photography 3 years ago with an oly C-4040 graduated to an E-1 3 weeks ago. Looking for any comments to improve my B/W works.

Used a polarizer on the end of the lens for a little more effect.