The party on the hill

The party on the hill, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

This guy was trying to get people to dance at the Party on the Hill, Bristol. I asked if I could take his photo while he complained about how so few people seemed to dancing or enjoying themselves.

Drawing to an end

My holiday is drawing to an end and soon I'll be going back to Greece. Once again there will be uncertainties about work and money as there always are at this time of year. I suppose I've got used to it, though I do not feel comfortable about the situation.

Anyway, the impending end to my summer break has made me bolder and bolder about what I take photographs of. Knowing that time is limited and there are not going to be many second chances I've been swallowing my shyness and been taking pictures of all and sundry. Airbourne BMX riders, artist displaying their latest works, people absailing in the shopping centre(?), tourists walking in the shoes of pirates, man mugged in the street and lots more. Pictures will follow,

In the streets

The last couple of days have been hectic and I seem to have seen so much on my walks through the city. Film crews making costume drama, Tibetan protesters, homeless disabled people wandering the streets, weddings, weird art galleries, concerts, bikers en masse, belly dancers performing, drunks and addicts and the whole swathe of human drama and excitment.

"A moment of respect, for the Don"

"A moment of respect, for the Don", originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Michael Corleone: Where does it say that you can't kill a cop?
Tom Hagen: Come on, Mikey...
Michael Corleone: Tom, wait a minute. I'm talking about a cop that's mixed up in drugs. I'm talking about a - a - a dishonest cop - a crooked cop who got mixed up in the rackets and got what was coming to him. That's a terrific story. And we have newspaper people on the payroll, don't we, Tom?
[Tom nods]
Michael Corleone: And they might like a story like that.
Tom Hagen: They might, they just might.
Michael Corleone: [to Sonny] It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business

The Godfather

Man in trouble

Man in trouble, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

I was walking up Union St when I saw this guy passed out on the pavement outside the travel agent's. Most people seemed happy just to negotiate their way around him and so I went over and asked if I could help. He was blindly trying to re-insert a catheter so I thought that maybe he was sick. I called for an ambulance and stayed until there was nothing else I could do.

The irony of the situation was that I had been discussing a similar situation with abusker whose picture I wanted to take just minutes before this.

At the faire

At the faire, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

http://www.theatreofalchemy.co.uk/

These guys were going around the Bristol balloon Fiesta and when I saew them I stopped ans asked to take their picture. We chatted for a bit and when I turned round I realised that there were about ten other photographers behind me taking pictures as well.

Taken as part of my Flickr 100 Strangers project.

old school

old school, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Taken while wandering down Corn St, just outside the Registrar's office where civil weddings take palce. I saw this guy taking pictures of the bride and groom as they waited their turn to get married.

Bristol peace vigil

Bristol peace vigil, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

"The Bristol peace vigil meets Monday - Friday 5.30 - 6.30pm Saturday 3 - 4pm at Bristol city centre, opposite the Hippodrome. Please come any time you can."

Bedminster dreams

Bedminster dreams, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

East St, Bedminster. Also known as the Boulevard of Broken Dreams.

Well, I'll say one thing for this place, it's not dull, which is definitely a step up from when I lived here permanently and thought that I would die of boredom. I managed to see a car accident, another man being dragged semi - comatose out of the middle of the road in a drug/alcohol induced stupor (don't worry he revived soon enough), got propositioned by a woman who I don't think was collecting for Friends of the Earth and saw a fight. Not bad for a three hour stroll at midday.

When most people go on a photowalk they usually have fluffy animals or historic sites in mind. For me things usually turn out a mite differently

In the centre

In the centre, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

As usual I managed to see various stuff on my walk around town, including a shop lifter bolting out of a record store followed by an employee who seems to have done his in - service training at an Olympic level sprinting facility. The thief jumped on a cycle and dashed down Union St narrowly missing pedestrians at the bottom who were crossing the road. Still, like I said the guy chasing him almost caught him.

The Ambling band

The Ambling band, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

www.theamblingband.co.uk

People I meet

, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

I took this guy's picture last year when I was last in bristol and when i saw him again in the cente I asked for another pic.

When in England

You know you're in England when;

- it's 14c outside, raining and the guy in front of you is wearing a hoody, raincoat, Bermuda shorts and flip flops.

- anything, and I mean anything can be turned into a sandwich. Sushie sarnie anyone?

- the TV is full of chefs cooking wonderful dishes whilst the audiences stuffs themselves with crisps, pot noodles and microwaved hamburgers.

- your umbrella has not left your side for weeks and it's July.

- you go to a demo and it's so quiet you think you've joined a funeral procession by mistake.

- whatever media you choose to use and abuse has exactly the same stories, just in a slightly jumbled order.

Down the pub

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.