Bristol Continues To Give

The behance gallery of July's personal work is here.

I am somewhat startled by Bristol and its inhabitants. To use the local parlance, there is a very chilled vibe here, and barring one occasion (more later), I've been allowed to work, and when I've needed to ask, I've been encouraged. For this I have happily traded images. But it's rare that I have to ask as the way I shoot, in general, is to frame a shot and then to allow someone to walk into it, or through it. This gives me a sort of permit, because unlike me

taking a picture of someone, that some one is walking into my picture. It's a subtle difference I know, but one that is important to me because to be frank, I'm a coward. I tried one day to go all Joel Meyerowitz on this lovely city and it didn't work. I had a run in with someone who thought I needed to ask for permission, and... well, it didn't go well and I walked away with my pride a little damaged, completely unable to continue to work that afternoon. I learned my lesson. I've now reverted to my usual M.O. and I'm happy again. Fortunately, most of the time organic matter isn't really necessary.

My Fuji X- Pro3 continues to impress. I have now, I think, finally got it set up in a manner that I can just pick it up and work with it. So happy am I that I picked up another so I can work in the way I've worked forever. Two bodies, two lenses. This gives me (obviously) twice the options and it's helpful for me to pivot around my most commonly used lens, with a longer or wider lens on the second camera, depending on where I am working and what my mood is. Having shot Clevedon a week or so ago I have now settled on a project, to document these lovely English seaside resorts, with their evocative names: Westward Ho, Lyme Regis, Budleigh Salterton, Skegness, Cleethorpes.