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16th March 2011
Seedy by brizmako

Seedy

photo 75
An old profession
Trawling outside a strip club
All fish are keepers.

I took this pic a few nights ago when I was happy-schnapping around the city after work. That night I wound up uploading the Pie Face image. This is the prostitute with nice legs that I mentioned in that pic’s rambling, hunger-induced soliloquy. I’ve uploaded it tonight because of this article & photo gallery in today’s Brisbane Times:

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/fortitude-valleys-violent-nightlife-captured-20110315-1bvix.html

Fortitude Valley is the area where the young police officer was assaulted while I was tending that radio channel (see http://365project.org/brizmako/365/2011-02-27 ).
Comments
Great candid Alan, out trolling for prostitutes are we? OMG totally kidding but, I wouldn't be caught dead in an area here where we have working girls after dark! Great neon!
posted March 15th, 2011  
@semrants That waseth a quick sleepeth! ;o) This is actually the big pedestrian mall in the middle of Brisbane City and it's quite safe despite a preponderance of dickheads and louts to collect in groups and fight each other. I came out of a little laneway here and shot this with the camera upside down hanging on to the battery grip. Took a set of 6 shots then waddled off for greener pastures...the pie shop up the street, as a matter of fact :-)~
posted March 15th, 2011  
@semrants Oh, I should add street prostitution is quite illegal here. This young girl is taking quite a risk of prosecution and (more importantly) harm.
posted March 15th, 2011  
ahhh, I see. Here usually we only see prostitutes in the slum areas. Glad you're staying safe and eating pie!
posted March 15th, 2011  
She might just be out looking for a pie shop too :-) Love the row of signs.
posted March 15th, 2011  
Nod
Just reading all the posts make me laugh :-)
I have a plan to visit red light district to take photos...just not sure when :-)
posted March 15th, 2011  
@Cherrill Perhaps I should have offered her some of my pie? :D I've never noticed how many signs Brisbane has on display before last week. It's quite gaudy compared to some older capitals around the world.
posted March 15th, 2011  
@viranod This is me trying to emulate you, Viranod :D I'm sure I'll get a little bolder. The sex industry here is very hidden away in legal brothels and lone practitioners in their own homes. I have heard stories of the open hedonism and exploitation in Thailand's sex districts. You're bound to have a field day.
posted March 15th, 2011  
(smirk)
posted March 15th, 2011  
Nod
@brizmako ha ha OK. Well, I am still planing on the camera and how to take pics without the pimps beating me up into pulp !
posted March 15th, 2011  
Re reading all the signs now...........got this tune in my head........'Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl.........'
posted March 15th, 2011  
Nod
@Cherrill Love it :)
posted March 15th, 2011  
@Cherrill HAHAHA! I didn't think of that one. I was humming "Walk on the Wild Side"...
posted March 15th, 2011  
'Then he was a she.'..............LOL That's a good one too! 'and all the girls go do bedoobe dooo!'
posted March 15th, 2011  
Great capture! I love street photography. Seems like there is not as much of that on this website as I had hoped, although I love the site anyway!
posted March 15th, 2011  
Wow-interesting part of town.
posted March 15th, 2011  
Great colours - colourful stuff.... love the 'lady of night' detail!!!
posted March 15th, 2011  
Nod
@brizmako ha ha ... I am still listening to Lou Reed...
posted March 15th, 2011  
great Neons, cool scene. Love it!
posted March 15th, 2011  
great catch so to speak - was in the Valley just last night - alas for some great Vietnamese food
posted March 15th, 2011  
I just watched the slideshow on the link you posted and was amazed, in Britain we have a problem with binge drinking and doctors and surgeons were in the news yesterday condemning the government for not doing enough to make alcohol more expensive etc. I never thought Australia would have similar youth drinking problems. those pics remind me of my youth worryingly. As for the working-girl, good luck to her, not a nice profession.
posted March 15th, 2011  
I love that you've captured that slightly extended leg with the showgirls sign. Very photojournalistic (is that a word?) Anyway, great photo...
posted March 16th, 2011  
Seedy indeed - that Showgirls place is really seedy given it's right in the middle of the mall. You captured it well though. BTW, I've tried Pie Face a couple of times - not bad at all :)
posted March 16th, 2011  
From Brisvegas (aka Adelaide Street) to Seedy - street scenes are wonderful, both picturesque and thought provoking.
posted March 16th, 2011  
Very nicely put together (your photo that is). Like the whole composition. The one reason I cannot emulate your photos is that I need my sleep. (no other reasons of course)
posted March 16th, 2011  
I like how all the signs could make up a good story - just add a few words .. Ugg .... showgirls ....rush ....... discount souvenirs, I hope the showgirls are not ugh, and customers don't need to rush to the doctor to get some medication to clear up the "souvenirs" of the visit to this part of town ...
posted March 16th, 2011  
@28thyear Cheers :) It was a proper click-from-the-hip shot, too. I've picked up quite a bit off this site from photographers like @viranod and @seattle. Of course there's others, too, but those are the two I follow daily and learn from the most.

@chewyteeth It must be an Anglo-Saxon thing, dude. The alcohol-related street crime here is out of control, although that's not the official State Government / QPS stance on the issue. I don't speak for either of those bodies, only make suppositions based upon my own experiences (that's a disclaimer, Dave) :)

@girlincamo I will *totally* take 'photojournalistic' off you, Terri. Cheers :D

@pizzaboy The team I was working with at PHQ the other night did a pie run to, you guessed it, Pie Face! I dripped soooo much gravy on my trousers it was almost pornographic! Om nom nom 8-O~

@swilde I don't think you have any problems taking photographs, Sue. The only reason I take so many night shots is that those are the hours I work, exclusively. I sleep for a few hours in the morning then mind the baby all day while the wife is at work. I also ramble when I get tired...oh...

@lbmcshutter That. Is. Genius. I would have NEVER pieced that little snippet together like that. Good work :D

And sorry everyone for this bulk reply. I've been busy for most of the day/night getting today's contribution ready for upload. Thank you, all, for coming and checking out my picture and commenting like you have. It's very flattering that you take the time :)

@denisedaly @thebluegnu @sparkle @peterauliciems @icedvovo
posted March 16th, 2011  
Dude.. I love the vast space you created here, the solo figure & the store marquees gives it great perspective!! AWEsome image!!
posted March 16th, 2011  
Love the juxtaposition of street signs...ugg...showgirls...rush...discount souveniers...priceless! In NZ we have some of the most liberal laws regarding prostitution in the world (which I am all for) but there arent the huge trafficking and child sex problems we have here in Cambodia where even carrying a condom is illegal.
posted March 17th, 2011  
@keithdavid Thanks, Keith :) There's a fairly big crop on this, too. I shot from below my hip and upside down holding on to the battery grip and it was a bit wonky.

@palusami I had no idea about the restrictions on the sex trade in Cambodia. You hear things about one or two other countries in the region and assume it's across the board. Have you ever slipped across the border to Vietnam? That's one of the very, very few places in the world I'd like to visit one day. There and Cuba and I'd die happy :)
posted March 17th, 2011  
been to Cuba twice.... AMAZING!!
posted March 21st, 2011  
@keithdavid Dude, that's fantastic! Is there anywhere you can recommend for a long-term stay? I'm thinking of taking a writing sabbatical there one day. Of course, I'd have to pack the GT up to take along as well...can't ride to the local bar for a rum & coke without a bike ;o)
posted March 22nd, 2011  
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