Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Camden in the rain (4)
If the title is strange then I have to explain that I ran a series elsewhere called 'Camden in the rain...', which had got to number 3. Alternatively, this could be called 'the service economy'. I shall be away from tomorrow evening until Monday so no commenting for a short while.
Permalink / posted by and copyright of John Ellis : 1:48 PM
Comments:
He looks wet, fed up and a bit surprised at the camera.
The sandwich board has an interesting message, a Thai-Chinese Vegan meal, you don't see those every day!
The ordinariness of the Green man on the crossing appeals too.
We get a few of these kinds of sign holders around here. Usually for “rug sales” for some reason. It looks like a thankless task, standing there for hours holding onto a sign and, I suspect, it’s a product of various by laws preventing the usage of ‘fixed’ hordings. For me that is what the predominant message of the image is. "Why is that person standing there holding that sign? Why couldn’t they just tie it to the railings or something? Poor chap with his ‘Just Juice’ in the rain." A picture that makes sense in the current context but one that might baffle viewers in 50 years time depending upon how things change by then.
Not just thai chinese vegan food, but ready in 30 seconds!
I think the sign under the green man adds a nice touch of humour. This chap looks like he is about to venture some ungentlemanly suggestions. I guess in some parts of London sign holders get fed up with being photographed. Perhaps not in damp Camden though.
To me, the expression on his face is the picture. Miserable day, miserable job and someone wants to take his picture. A gem. I think the 30 seconds refers to the distance to the restraurant. The background, although cluttered, adds to the story.
Great capture of expression to match the climatic conditions. Lots going on in the background but there's more in front that keeps my eye from straying too much. The play with the green man adds a further dimension - the opposing direction of the arrow on the sign and the green man. On day's like these perhaps we all would like to be somewhere else...
John Jo said: "A picture that makes sense in the current context but one that might baffle viewers in 50 years time depending upon how things change by then." We've just been to the 'Making history' exhibition at Tate Liverpool, which features documentary photos from 1929 on. In some ways, one could say that various aspects of the pictures didn't make sense but, for my generation at least, the continuum was evident. If you're saying that life will be immeasurably better and he won't have to be doing this then I'm not so certain that there won't be something unpleasant going on!
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The sandwich board has an interesting message, a Thai-Chinese Vegan meal, you don't see those every day!
The ordinariness of the Green man on the crossing appeals too.
I think the sign under the green man adds a nice touch of humour. This chap looks like he is about to venture some ungentlemanly suggestions. I guess in some parts of London sign holders get fed up with being photographed. Perhaps not in damp Camden though.