Street Portrait (for and of Pierce) #1, 2013
Well, I’d spent about an hour trying to photograph birds in flight – don’t ask. Anyway, thwarted, hassled and with a crick in my neck I headed back where I should have been in the first place. And the first person I saw was Pierce. So in thrall to my quiet desperation about the lack of bird action was I that I walked straight past him. It took a while for his image to sink in. Yow! And then I was back there. Pierce was really good about letting me take shots of him (about ten) – these are the best two. Thanks very much, Pierce! Hope you like your pictures.
Street Portrait (for and of Pierce) #2, 2013
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If you want to see all the street portraits to date in one place, go here: http://tfipmremix.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/london-faces-remix/
The Future Is Papier Mâché 
Damn! In picture #2, I’m curiously peeping at sky’s reflection, just in case….No birds there too..
Yes, don’t know whether they feel the cold, but no bird action (well none I could capture). Thanks for dropping by Arjun – love your work!
Very nice. I prefer the shot in black and white. If it weren’t for the phone on the table, it would be hard to date that first image. I like his posture in that shot and the position of his hand. I also like his belt buckle.
Thanks very much, Melanie. Yes, I agree – the B&W will be going on the other site, but I liked his hair too much to not post the colour:). The first shot was very much a capture and all the better for it.
Great shots, Richard!! I do also prefer the b&w and the detail of the blackboard is great. In some way, it fits with the image: “Everything is made fresh, on site, daily” (irony??). 🙂
Thanks so much, Santi! Yes, it’s funny how surroundings “comment” on subjects. No intention there on my part.
so incredibly fab!
Amazing shot Richard. Don’t know which I like better.
The B&W has a timeless beat flavor to it. It feels (to me) like William Bourroughs, Kerouac, Ginsberg, Corso and Gysin are just out of frame. All planning their next adventure. Uber Cool.
Thanks so much, Terry! That’s such a cool comparison – thanks for that – I was seriously obsessed with the Beats for awhile – perhaps it’s leaked into my photography:)
Very cool, Richard.
I like the air of (studied) nonchalance in the black and white, the tones, the composition…
But, like my ‘Sandra’ the colour tells much about Piers: the colour of his hair and clothes lend a softer feel which I like very much.
Thanks very much, Ashley. Yes, it’s really interesting how the two tell a different story – I think there’s more vulnerability in the second shot – and I wanted to show what a great colour sense Piers had.
I love your Street Portraits.
Especially when in black and white.
It always feels like you got the essence of the person in the photo.
Such nice work.
Cheers,
Laura
Thanks, Laura! That’s a great compliment – thank you.
People sitting still are often a lot better than birds in flight, and Piers is a great example! I think I prefer the casual b/w image, but they’re both great! 😀
Ha, ha, yes! Yes, the B&W is the better shot, no doubt 🙂 No longer struggling with your theme 🙂
Hehe… I had a brainwave after your last comment too! 🙂
Great! I was OK once I’d put away the dressing up clothes 🙂
Hehe… Now THERE’S a photo I’m intrigued by! 🙂
All copies have been destroyed 🙂
Hehe… 😀
Both excellent-so relaxed, beautifully composed, and full of expression.
Thanks very much, Elena. That’s very nice of you to say.
B&W calls up nostalgia. Since I am not a photographer is it taboo to delete the phone? Love it!
Ha! The thought hadn’t crossed my mind, but now you mention it…I may have a go. Thanks very much! Glad you like it.
Great portraits. Love the tie out of his suit jacket!
Thanks so much, Chris. Yes, it’s such a humorous form of rebellion – quite brilliant!
They are both great and you’re right, each one tells a different story. I like the beat comparison – young and full of possibilities.
I’m wanting to ask about the birds…?
Funny, some flew across my last post – and I wasn’t even looking for them!
Yes, they flew across your last post and how! I adore that shot, Karen. Ah, the birds I was after were for a terrible idea I had for the latest collaboration with Richard. Anyway, no birds and I came to my senses and ditched the whole thing.
Funny the beats came to mind also and then reading down the comments..beats. Something about the chalkboard in back..made fresh daily.
I think the Beats must be pretty much ingrained in my imagination (I was obsessed with them for years) – I wouldn’t be surprised if I just “recognised” a look and took the shot for that reason. Yes, the sign works well in this shot. Thanks very much, Dohn!
These are great shots. I like them both for different reasons. The B&W, to me, is the very definition of street photography. The subject is very interesting and seems completely unaware of the process…very natural, relaxed, great body language. I like that the phone is there, it adds immediateness, reducing the ‘moment frozen in time’ feel, reminding us that Peirce could get up and leave at any moment.
Thanks very much, Alex. That’s a great compliment and you make a really interesting point. I’ve been mulling over the phone – someone suggested I remove it, but I think maybe its presence helps create a bit of tension between nostalgia and the present or something – if I took it away, the shot would maybe collapse into pastiche.
These images remind me of something you might see in a movie, he looks almost like he has been caught out of his time.
Yes, it’s interesting – a few people have said he looks like a Beat, but there’s a bit of the Johnny Rotten circa the first PiL album about his look I think. Or maybe a French new wave movie. Thanks, Leanne.
¡Ese tinte en su pelo es genial!, tiene un aire relajado como si lo fotografiasen todos los días ¿no?, ¡genial Richard!!
Ha, ha, yes! He was very natural in front of the camera. I think he’s going places. Thanks very much, Manoli!
[…] This week, amongst others, I found absolutely intriguing Mr Guest’s January 13th post titled Street Portrait #48 (Pierce), and his January 16th entry Street Portrait #50 (Peter). While you’re there checking […]
Great shots, though I think I prefer the black and white. A relaxed, but unforced, portrait and I like the framing which includes the black board and table.
Yes, I think the B&W is far and away the better shot too, but I couldn’t resist posting the colour to show Pierce’s hair. It’s got a certain Bowie-ness to it that I wish I could achieve. It’ll never happen – Angie Bowie, maybe.