Hotel World (I), 2012
Hotel World (II), 2012
Hotel World (III), 2012
These shots were taken on Kingsway, London, UK.
Hotel World is a novel by Ali Smith. It was published in 2001.
Not that long ago, I started reading Hotel World but got waylaid and didn’t go back to it. That was a mistake that will soon be corrected.
Here’s what it says on the back of the book: “Five people: four are living, three are strangers, two are sisters, one is dead. Hotel World takes us through a night in the life of five people’s very different worlds. It’s luxurious for some, but a long drop for others. Cash or credit? Ali Smith’s innovative and extraordinary new novel checks us in to the smooth, plush world of the Global. But is it really the kind of place you want to spend the rest of your life in?…Forget about room service. This is a life-affirming book about death, a death-affirming book about life.”
Here’s the first paragraph and a bit:
Woooooooo-
h0000000 what a fall what a soar what a plummet what a dash into dark into light what a plunge what a glide thud crash what a drop what a rush what a swoop what a fright what a mad hushed skirl what a smash mush mash-up broke and gashed what a heart in my mouth what an end.
What a life.
What a time.
What I felt. Then. Gone.
In our house, this book can be found: dining room, left-hand bookshelves, fourth shelf down.
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RIP Huw Lloyd Langton
* * *
Thank as always, John and Deanne and Terry for title shenanigans and Richard at CK Ponderings for being a super-cool collaborator.
wow, what striking photos!
Thank you so much!
Reblogged this on Javmode.
Brilliant, Richard, how you’ve captured these private public moments. The second shot is stunning.
Thanks, Chris. That’s a very nice compliment.
Sounds intriguing !!!
Yes, indeed – it’s on my list now.
Great post, hotel world III – I worked at that hotel, Chancery Court. A stunning place, the people who worked there were from all over re world, super stars every one
Thanks very much, Marcello. I’ve known a few people who’ve worked in hotels and they’ve all been great fun. Chancery Court looks like a good one.
An engaging set!
Great, glad they grabbed you Elena! Thanks very much.
As usual you mange to capture something in a photo which might escape others – is she just tired, is she in despair, is she fed up with waiting? Great pic!
Then the ghostly second picture – but who is or are the ghosts? Maybe the reflection is of a real person and the huddle of figures are from another world?
And then the guy in the third photo, he somehow seems really optimistic, jaunty and excited about whatever he is off to do!
… and thanks for the intriguing mention about the Ali Smith book, I’m going to look that up!
Thanks so much, Lois. I’m really glad you like them – it’s really nice to know the photos are doing something.
Wow that second shot is fascinating.
Ghosts layers. Somehow it fits the excerpt so perfectly. All terrific images, though.
Thanks so much, Karen. Yes, the second shot was a must-take – it was one of those moments where I was across a road and desperate for the lights to change so I could get in closer.
Very nice captures! The blind side of cities – to the person. Telling pictures. And the book sounds very interesting, too… hmmm!
Thank you so much, MJ! Yes, Ali Smith is brilliant.
Sounds like a riveting read – love photos like this, they call out how alone we are amidst the hordes, how we have all felt at one point or another whether we admit to it or not…
Yes, she’s great, Ali Smith. I’m really glad you like the shots. Singly they’re quite different – but I saw them together when I was trawling through some stuff and thought they worked well. Thanks for the interpretation – spot-on.
Oh my goodness! I have gone from feeling very much like the woman in the first shot wanting to disappear into the miasmic reflections of the second but wishing I had the energy of the third to walk away. And book into a hotel!
Ha, ha! Thanks, Patti!
Despite their origin of everyday people on the street images, these photos are strong on their own but considering them in the context of hotel world given them even greater impact… the question I thought of was – do they want to check in, or out?
Great, thanks for this, EllaDee. Very good question. I’d like to think the answer’s in Ali Smith’s book (so I’m going to read it) – the more I think about it the more I think it’s a great title.
For the duration (20 months) of a work project a decade ago, I lived in a 5 star city hotel 4 nights a week… I’m familiar with that hotel world! The book intrigues me so I’ve added it to my Goodreads list.
Great images, Richard! 🙂 All tell a very strong story in themselves – the distraught woman, the lone traveller with dozens of people (literally) on his mind, and the pedestrian weighed down by his demons…
Hey, thanks, Richard! 🙂 I’m really glad you like them (and that they do something).
Definitely – your images always do! 🙂
The second one. Yes, that’s my favourite too.
Thanks, Ashley – I think there’s more density in that one.
I like both of these, they both seem so sad Richard, I like the emotion portrayed in the images.
I’m really glad you like them, Leanne. Yes, I went for emotion over geometry in these as a reaction to my last post – glad they work in some way.
Well done, mate.
Thank you so much, Antonio! Glad you like them.
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I agree with those who’ve mentioned the 2nd photo. It’s reflection, right, and not a bracketed or manipulated image? Because it looks like it could be. Either way, nice work.
Yes, it’s a reflection in a bank window. The only manipulation was a slight tweaking of the contrast. Thanks very much!
Nice set of images. They all tell a story.
Thanks very much, Cardinal. That’s exactly what I want to hear! 🙂
Mostly the first shot but also the next 2 – impulsively made me played “I wonder why” (Dion & Belmonts) from youtube – I wonder why, I did… ‘hahaha’
Very well captured… 🙂
Thanks so much, Drake! 🙂 I shall check that out…
Great shots. I like the different moods in these and the clever use of reflection in the 2nd image to great a spectral figure
Thanks very much, Stevie. I’m really glad you like them – yes, that was one lucky shot.
“Hotel World II” is such a strong image. The contrast in how the subject behind the reflection compares to what is reflected is quite simply – AMAZING! There is such an incredible narrative within the image itself. I love this image very much. Another shot that belongs in your book of bests.
Thanks very much, Terry. I’m really glad you like “II”. That’s a great idea…maybe for the other blog…thanks!
I like the different emotional tones in these images. The first is agonizing in a way. I feel her fatigue and tiredness. The second has a dream-like surrealism to it, layers, and stylistically it is very interesting. The last one is almost whimsical (although that could also have to do with the way you ordered them). It has a certain adventurous spirit to it. But also a feeling like the memory is still a few steps away.
I kind of chose them because they all have an emotional heaviness to them, although the man in the third shot seems to be shucking it off. I’m really glad you like them – and thanks for such an interesting analysis.
Evidentemente en la primera toma, captaste un momento complejo en la vida de esta persona, y sabe Dio si el chico de la segunda no tendría problemas peores, también esta preocupado ¿no?, el tercero decide como decimos aquí “a mal tiempo buena cara”, ¡fantásticas!
Yes, I think that’s pretty spot-on – and yes, the brave face or “What the heck?” Thanks very much!