Steel City Snapper photography
35mm, medium format and large format film photography (with the odd bit of digital every now and then…)
Shades of the continent in this scene of two gents sat in front of this Spanish deli. People sitting outside cafe’s and restaurants isn’t unusual in the UK – especially since covid-19 hit – but this one really looks the part.
Perhaps some tapas
Maybe some cafe con leche
Watch the world go by
Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.
Taken on 19 August 2021
It’s one of those days again where it comes around to blog writing time and I find I either don’t have much to say, or am uninspired by my recent crop of pictures. I take my hat off to anyone who can produce interesting pieces of writing at, well, the drop of a hat… 🙂
Not a hirsute man?
Then use the cover of hats
To hide the sun roof
Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.
Taken on 19 August 2021
The shed-like structure in the middle of the street in this photograph is a cabmen’s shelter, one of thirteen remaining in London. The shelters were originally constructed in the late 19th century to provide drivers of hansom carriages, and later taxicabs, with a place to take shelter and get food and drink. Laws at the time forbade taxi drivers from leaving their vehicles unatended at taxi-stands, meaning they could find it difficult to eat hot meals or shelter from unpleasant weather. Parking elsewhere would mean having to pay someone to look after their cab while they were away from it for fear it may be stolen.
The Cabmen’s Shelter Fund was set up to construct shelters at major cab stands, with the buildings containing an attendant who would serve food and drinks from a kitchen (which could also be used by the drivers themselves). There were also seats and tables to accommodate drivers inside the shelters.
Drivers can enter
And find sustenance within
These cabmen’s shelters
Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.
Taken on 19 August 2021
A few pictures from the West End of London today, all made with the little Olympus XA3. Nothing especially planned or carefully composed as I was there for a couple of days with my wife, so most pictures made were grabbed whenever the opportunity arose.
Sounds of Pet Shop Boys
Might be evoked by a walk
In a West End town
Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.
Taken on 19 August 2021
Not that one.
This is an arcade in London’s Soho district. It’s been there for quite a long time – it was certainly there in the early 90s, and I expect it was there for quite a while before then. The ground floor is filled with gamblimg machines and is for over-18s only, but the entrance on the left leads downstairs to the videogame goodness for all ages.
Follow the noises
The sound of the underground
Of pixels and sprites
Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.
Taken on 19 August 2021
I find that I’m often drawn to photograph scenes like the one in today’s post. I’ve not tagged them in such a way as to be able to find them easily, but I’m sure that if I look through my archive of photos that there will be many that bear close resembalnce. It’s not an original composition – looming walls on either side of the frame drawing and leading your eye towards the vanishing point between – but it’s one that always appeals to me.
In urban canyons
This photographer sets out
In hunt of pictures
Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.
Taken on 19 August 2021
I wonder how many people attempted to traverse the private road before the owners decided to not only put up a sign, but also furnish the gate with its own custom wrought-iron version as well?
I guess one of the downsides of living in a picturesque tourist town is that you get lots of tourists, some of whom might be somewhat over-reaching in exactly which parts of the town they can explore.
Keep out of this place
It’s not free to be explored
It’s private you know
Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.
Taken on 16 August 2021
A couple of fast-food vans. Feels like an apt choice given I’ve had fast food for my lunch today (well, fish & chips from a chip-shop anyway). I’m also absolutely knackered as well (not from eating the fish &chips!), so it’ll be one of those concise posts today. I’ll still write a quick haiku though. Only a few more months until I stop inflicting these on anyone who happens to read the blog. I’m gonna stick out the full year of them though!
Fish and chips for lunch
And very nice they were too
Eaten in the sun
Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.
Taken on 16 August 2021
I’ve noticed that the numbers of people still wearing masks has declined in the months since it ceased to be compulsory and instead became a recommendation in England. There are still plenty of them about, moreso in shops and other indoor spaces, but there’s a definite reduction. I still tend to wear mine when indoors (not at home, obviously) but have found myself forgetting more frequently of late. Previously the fact that the majority of the people around me were wearing them would act as a reminder and I’d quicky don my own, but with fewer to be seen it can be easier to forget, especially if I’ve been going in and out of various shops, continually putting my mask on and taking it back off again.
Forgetting my mask
Is becoming more common
As rules are withdrawn
Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.
Taken on 16 August 2021
This photo was made on our first visit to Bakewell in almost a year. I last visited back in October last year. I’d planned on going out again when the autumn colour kicked in properly but the country was thrust into a series of “tiers” based on Covid-19 infection rates and I was unable to travel beyond our local area.
While it was nice to get out there again on this day the weather wasn’t the best, being dull and rainy while we were there. I shot twenty frames with the XA3 and got a few nice pictured despite the conditions, including this one looking up the River Wye.
I was very busy with work and sorting our cat out after his recent accident, so stumped up to have this and another roll lab developed to save me the time.
A trip to Bakewell
On a dull and rainy day
Can still be quite nice
Olympus XA3 & Ilford HP5+. Lab developed in Xtol.
Taken on 16 August 2021
Steel City Snapper photography 