In England

In England, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

In England

Yesterday I splashed out and bought Don McCullin's In England, a collection of pictures by the world class photographer. As well as going to war zones in far off lands he also took stunning images of places closer to home. Inspired by what I saw I thought I'd post my take on the same issue.

Gaining access

Once again the internet allows us access to learning material that was once the sole preserve of those attending elite universities. In this case it is a lecture on journalism and conflict held at the university of Berkley with Don McCullin, Catherine Leroy, David Leeson, Jonathan Schell and Micheal Cerre.

One of the things that gives me most pleasure when taking pictures is street photography, a vague and amorphous term which covers any number of situations. Basically, it means taking photographs of people you don't know in public settings. It's kind of scary as pointing a camera at strangers can generate any number of reactions, not all of them pleasant. Still, I enjoy the idea of capturing just a taste of everyday life and, if I'm really lucky capturing what the brilliant photographer, Cartier-Bresson famously called "the decisive moment", a gorgeous slice of exquisite reality.



But for me an even greater challenge is street portraiture, i.e taking a close up shot of a complete stranger whose features are compelling. It's not something I do lightly as you have to be bold and up front. No furtive paparazzi shots taken with a telephoto lens at 300m. No, this means walking up to complete strangers and asking to take their photo. It goes against all my inner instincts and gives me no end of worry, yet the pay off is that I've been able to take some wonderful images of people.



The other good point about such an approach is that you avoid treating people as if they were some exotic yet dangerous animal in a safari park. It's a chance to depict another person's humanity, no matter what their circumstances.



In this I've been inspired by the work of Don McCullin who photographed some of the world's most violent conflicts. whenever I feel apprehensive about approaching someone I just say to be myself,

"What are you risking? "

In essence, nothing. Certainly nothing compared with the risks McMcullin took in order to get his images.

Learning more

As you've probably guessed I've been enjoying the freedom to wander Bristol on foot and just take pictures of whatever catches me eye. It has been a real education to see the city and neighbourhoods I grew up in with a different eye. One of the challenges I set myself was to take more street photographs. To prove that I could do this in England as well as Greece. For some reason, partly personal, partly cultural I feel more inhibited about pointing a camera at complete strangers here.







There are major differences in the way people way react to the camera. In Bristol people shy away from it, avert their face, change the direction in which they are walking. On the other hand in Thessaloniki, people mostly ignore it or give me a curious stare and then wander off. On the other hand most of the people in both countries say "yes" when I ask if I can take their picture, something I never would have expected.


I came aross the work of the photographer, Don McCullin, which as been a real revelation. As well as doing amazing work as a combat photographer what really struck me was his images from Britain as a documentary photography which are, if anything even more powerful.




As a result I have been trying to copy from his approach and visual style. Different times, different techniques but still there is so much that I can learn from this.

Click here to listen and read an interview with McCullin.