#42 Sam The Lifeguard

This encounter had a touch of Darcy scene since I saw him coming out of the sea with his board and I really liked the concentration on his face and the red and yellow colours at play. He was a little hesitant when I asked him to pose and went to check with hi supervisor if it was ok to have the lifeguard RNLI logo displayed but there were no objections. Excellent since I think their logo should be promoted to encourage everyone to donate money to their charity as they do very important work saving people's lives at sea even if most of my peers think of Baywatch as soon as anyone mentions lifeguards.

Thank you for taking a break from your important work and posing for us.

#41 Fishmonger

Fish anyone?

When wandering around Weymouth looking for sailory looking types to no avail, Disco Stu walked into this fishmonger's shop located right on the quayside. I followed him in and asked the gentleman pictured below if he would be kind enough to pose for me. He quickly agreed. 

Unfortunately, as soon as Daz, my lovely assistant, pulled out the strobe the shop started getting crowded so we waited. Finally, one last couple who were looking at the fish looked at us and asked us if we wanted to shoot him now. They were happy to wait. Obviously, as soon as I pointed my camera at him, his mate came out from the back and called him over for something. He turned around and shouted 'Not now. I am being made famous.' I managed three clicks including the test shot before the shop got crowded again so couldn't do anything about the umbrella reflection. 

I must say he was the most patient and easygoing bloke ever. Thank you for that Mr Fishmonger.

#40 One mean stare

There he was sitting on the bench by the sea with his wife enjoying the sunshine watching the holidaymakers walk by. Sadly for them they were leaving that day having spent a week in Weymouth in rain. When I asked him to pose, he agreed straight away. His wife was a bit more reluctant enquiring how the photographs would be used. They were both lovely elderly couple, however, as soon as I pointed my camera at him, he put on this mean stare. Loved it!

#39 The End is Nigh!

This lovely elderly gentleman was handing out leaflet 'Religion or Salvation' from his Evangelical Church. Disco Stu offered to take his leaflet if he agreed to pose for him. Stu took his photo and I asked if he was kind enough to pose for another shot. A big no, no usually as you don't want to double-up street portraits with someone but I really liked the look of his face and couldn't resist. He was very patient with us waiting for us to sort out the lights in bright sunlight.

#38 Londoners On Tour Continued

Weymouth is a beautiful seaside resort. Perfect for those quite weekends away when you just want to crash by a bit of water and enjoy a drink. It's undergoing major renovation this year getting it ready for the Olympics next year. What I love about Weymouth is this true seaside town feel candyfloss, donkey rides and soft sand.

This chap was sitting on the quayside having a couple of drinks with his mate. They clearly did not fit in with the elderly crowd around. He was cheeky and tried to get me to shoot his mate instead of him then asked for a phone number of the model on my business card. When I told him she was married, he said he didn't mind. Cheeky!

#37 The Londoners On Tour

I've been wanting to shoot more elderly people but in London the elderly are always in a hurry or petrified of strangers so you can imagine how thrilled I was when I arrived in Weymouth to find the whole sea front full of the elderly keen to pose for a shoot. 

This lovely lady was chilling outside her beach hut, which was covered in paintings of rather well-endowed mermaids. She said these were painted by a friend of hers. We had a good giggle about them and she opened up the doors for us so that we could admire them in all their beauty.

#36 Roll-up girl

Now that exam marking has finished and the school is out for the summer I can do more street again. However, one from February for today. I saw her rolling up her cigarette and simply loved her look with the graffiti flowers in the background. Her date returned when we were wrapping up the shoot and looked at us half-stunned half-puzzled then looked at her and said 'I can't leave you unattended even for a moment then?'

#35 The return of straight from Japan

This is another lovely victim of my afternoon walk with David Gibson and the rest of street photographers. I saw her walking with her friends and loved her style. She quickly agreed to pose for me while her friend took out a camera and started filming me photographing her. Just another day on Brick Lane then.

#34 Milk can lady

Had a fabulous afternoon with a group of fellow street photographers at a photowalk with David Gibson organised by London Street Photography Festival. We were making our way through Brick Lane when I noticed this young lady with her milk can. She was more than happy to pose for me and explain that she doesn't usually carry a milk can with her but she found it abandoned on a wall and decided to adopt it. Lucky some! Not a brilliant photo technically but I was in a rush.

Did you know that the word 'dairy' comes 'from an Old French term, dey, meaning maiden. A dairy, in other words, was the room where milkmaids were to be found, from which we might reasonably deduce that an Old Frenchman was more interested in finding the maid than the milk.' (extract from At Home by Bill Bryson)

#33 Half-Italian, half-moustache man

Some time ago I was strolling the back streets of Columbia Road and spotted this guy manning a beautiful lace stall in someone's back garden. There was something fascinating and slightly surreal in him standing there surrounded by old-fashioned baby clothes with lace finish. Sadly, the owner of the stall didn't let us shoot him there so I asked him to step outside. He was quite friendly and happily told us about being half-Italian, working for an Italian company and about his tache.

#32 "Don't think or judge, just listen."

Took my camera bag out for a short photowalk at Columbia Road Flower Market. Well, let's be honest I headed there for the best triple chocolate brownies at Lily Vanilli. The sun was out and the street was heaving with people and buskers. Two lovely ladies were playing a bit of blues when I noticed this lovely gentleman listening to their music. I loved the intensity with which he listened. I asked him if I could snap him, he smiled and nodded. I took a few shots and moved on leaving him to enjoy the music.

Jill-e for Canon camera bag has passed the test. Loving it! So comfy and stylish to carry my gear in.

#31 Jenna

Remember when a few weeks back I suffered a major rejection Friday? Jenna was the one who helped me recover from that when I hit the streets the following Sunday. I saw her across the street waiting for a green light to cross the road. She had a lovely smile and I loved her hair. I waited for her to cross the street. A quick question 'Will you pose for me?' and equally quick reply 'Of course.' It was easy. I was back in the game!

On another note, my Jill-e bag arrived today! So excited! I get to test it on the street tomorrow!

#30 Vas Karpetas

Top tip: 'Some people are everywhere.'

Meet Vas Karpetas, happy-go-lucky soul running Tommy Guns hairdressing salon.  He was sitting outside his salon drinking beer with his mate. He was bemused by the request but happily obliged. He has a beautiful and incredibly expensive collection of road bikes and loves his tattoos. I seem to bump into him all over London these days. Some people are simply everywhere.

#29 Embracing life is a choice

I saw her as I pushed through the crowd of Brick Lane. She was working on one of the food stalls surrounded by people. No chance of asking then. A couple of hours later I noticed her having a break so I approached her stunned by her beauty. She was quite reluctant at first but in the end I think Pola's enthusiasm won her over. Snap! The photo was taken. 

As we were walking away, Pola asked me why I hadn't shot her the week before. Honestly? I didn't notice her then. I guess it's all about being in the right place at the right time with the right frame of mind.

#28 Blonde

Still busy with exam marking but took a short break and headed down to Columbia Road Flower Market. I love the place in the early afternoon as it begins to wrap up. Last minute bargains, florists shouting, people strolling slow through the street. I spotted the blonde when she was purchasing a tree. Loved her look, the lace top, the lippy, the shades. She was more than happy to pose. We started talking photography. It turns out she uses her 5D Mark ii for videos.