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This was taken at Bristol Zoo. I'd gone to take pictures of the animals, and came back with, almost exclusively, pictures of people. So much for 'Watching the Animals', eh? : )

This was a deceptively busy walkway, but I managed to grab a couple of shots while sitting on the opposite bench.

Update:

At The Zoo : Watching The Animals is the image which, in significant part, provided the catalyst for the renewed enthusiasm in my photography.

Last year it made the finalists [and was featured in] The Independent Photography Competition. Then, this summer [2008], after being nudged by a good friend, I entered two images [among 1000s] into the Tate’s Street Or Studio competition, and it won through again. So, for a few weeks in the summer, you could see this image on show in Tate Modern! And, if that wasn’t surreal enough, in November it was projected to a size of about 15feet by 12feet for the official Street or Studio : A Photobook launch in Tate Britain… with the Turner Prize candidates through one adjacent archway, and a Francis Bacon retrospective the other… just bizarre! : )

Here's a link to the Tate's photobook: www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/387768

Tags:   candid journalism humour documentary monochrome the little dog laughed TheBest At The Zoo : Watching The Animals Tate 100 ArtCafe Nige Ollis WPDPeople

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It almost made me a little sad, watching these kids playing in the water feature in the city centre. It made me reflect on the simple joys and innocence of childhood days past, of being in the moment, amongst the whoops and yelps of a fleeting summer day. Where did all that time go?

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Tags:   thecitynoise streets peoplewatching kids documentary city child Childhood Days Making A Splash Bristol Harbour Festival ArtLibres Masterpieces of Photography Nige Ollis

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I couldn't catch the conversation, but when I took my coffee break, this old charmer had the young lady eating out the palm of his hand. : )

Oh... and finally: 2 days of voting left... I'd really appreciate it, if you feel the inclination, if some of you wouldn't mind checking out my 15-shot portfolio here: www.onelifephotos.com/portfolioView.php?artist=WillGortoa and voting in the competition. Thank you, kindly. : )

Tags:   Clifton village Cafe Culture The Charmer time thecitynoise street peoplewatching people mood monochrome bristol candid availablelight

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6 of 10 : A deviation from my usual city-based norm with a short coastal series following the blissful sojourn to the deserted beaches of Pembrokeshire.

The more I worked on this one, the more the incredible light began to seemingly turn it away from being a photograph and into a Banksy mural! Hence the tongue-in-cheek bracketed cycle title.] : )

Tags:   Painting With Light tide sea sand peoplewatching pembrokeshire monochrome life girl environment coast availablelight beach wherethelandmeetsthesea

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A slightly new style; partially unseen. I’ll always enjoy the raw, candid street shot, the quiet observer. I think that’s something that suits my natural eye. And, occasionally, some people have noted the apparent confidence associated with this form of photography. Oddly enough, though, this is considerably more outside my comfort zone; actually asking random strangers for a street portrait.

This was the very first person I saw yesterday, standing at the corner of the supermarket. Immediately, I just liked her face. She was waiting for her arranged ‘community lift’, to get her shopping home.

She thought it was all very strange that I wanted to take her picture. I told her she had a beautiful face. She laughed quietly, “Maybe thirty years ago.” I asked her to pretend the camera wasn’t there and we chatted while I took a few images. It surprised me how content it made me feel… just a few minutes, talking to a complete stranger. I hope she felt it, too.

I expect there will be more like this one. Although, I somehow doubt everyone will be quite so accommodating!

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Tags:   A Quiet Dignity streets portrait photojournalism peoplewatching monochrome life documentary city bath availablelight woman Life in seven pages theface

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