This is a bit of a teaser, to introduce my Artist's Challenge (basically - I am just worried that no one will enter!).
I started on Sunday, to explore a part of my town that I don't know at all well - apart from having visited the largest Sikh Temple in the UK outside of London a couple of times, which just happens to be in Queens Park. I was struck then, by how divided this area seemed to be from Bedford Town, separated along the River by a railway bridge that you have to duck down low to walk under. There is a complete change of character between the two sides of the bridge.
Today I approached Queen's Park from another angle. Again there is a strong physical separation between town and Queen's Park. It is a long bridge walkway that runs alongside the road bridge over the railway.
Now if I had been more like the photographer - Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen - I would have had no trouble at all in asking the two beautiful cheerily chatting Pakistani ladies who did an amazing job of brightening up this bridge with their colourful attire - if I could take their portrait. Being me, and being as yet unfamiliar with Queen's Park, I let them walk by and took this.
But that's OK. After all, Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen did live in the communities she photographed and earned the trust of the fellow residents. Which feels highly significant.
I haven't forgotten you all - just otherwise engaged with commitments and have three days catching up to do now.
took some shots of people at the beach yesterday but was too cautious trying to shoot from the hip and wasted it! cut off people everywhere! will try something soon though, lucky i have a beach
Do you choose an artist and just do one like they do? You could pretend you don't speak English and touch them gently on the shoulder, point at your camera and incline your head with a smile?
Great lines, shadows, and like that vanishing point. As for your "worry button"? I would like to think that 365 was an adjunct to your life and not just another worry.
@kali66 yes you are lucky to have a beach for all sorts of reasons. Sorry to hear about the chopped off people - I don't have the option of shooting from the hip with my small camera it would look ridiculous strung round my neck. Wishing you better luck next time.
@maggiemae Your suggestion amused me - the ladies may well have been unable to speak English themselves - over 50% in the area do not. I'm not quite brave enough to employ the tactics you suggest.in any case. The idea is to draw inspiration from the chosen artist and emulate their style in some way. I'm not sure that the artist I have chosen would approve of the shoot and run style!
@ethelperry words of wisdom from you Ethel. I must bear that in mind and not let it become so. It's not so much a worry as a frustration when I don't have the time I would like to feed back to others as kindly as they do for me.
A very cool shot, Helen! As the others have commented, wonderful lines! I am not participating in the Artist's Challenge but I did check it out and I followed your informative links for Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen. I enjoyed reading her biography and viewing some of her work. Great choice! :-)
