#86 Strawberry Blonde

Strawberry blonde I spotted while on my way back from Columbia Road. She kindly dropped her flowers and posed for me. Thanks!

#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.

#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.

#25 Black Beauty

Another one from yesterday. I saw her walk past earlier but didn't stop her as she was too far away and Brick Lane was quite crowded. I was lucky enough to spot her walking back and approached her in the middle of the road. She was happy to pose and I nearly got run over. The car was beeping behind me, she kept laughing that there was a car coming and I still aimed and snapped a couple of shots.

#24 Dougie Wallace

After a couple of weeks of marking exams, I managed to hit the streets again. And a fabulous day it was. Finally, the sun came out after a very very gloomy June.

I was walking back to Brick Lane with my best friend Pola and headed over to Columbia Road Flower Market to see if Jules was having her photo taken there. I saw this guys walk out of the cafe and sit down with his beer. I loved his colour coordination. He was more than happy to oblige when I asked for a photo. He asked me if I wanted his camera in the picture. "What you got there?', I asked and he showed me his beautiful Fuji FinePix x100. I recognised the beauty straight away as I've been lusting after one for a while now. He then told me he was a street photographer and his show 'When I Grow Rich' was opening on 7th July as a part of London Street Festival. I couldn't believe my luck! I already made plans with a couple of mates to attend the opening party so to bump into the photographer like that! London is a funny town.

Meet Dougie Wallace.

#23 Cool dude

This one was taken on my first street outing all the way back in February even though it still feels like February here now with all the rain.

As we were walking up and down Portobello Road, I noticed a bunch of boys wandering around the market checking out girls. I thought 'Hm... should I stop one of them?' but did nothing about it. There were so many people around to stop, they always felt a bit too far away to approach and someone interesting was always closer. The day was coming to the end, I was busy chatting to a stranger I stopped when someone else in our group approached one of the boys and started taking their picture. The setting was perfect. That crack in wall, the setting sun so I asked one of the other boys in the group to pose for me or maybe it was Emil who said 'Why don't you take a picture of one of the others?'.  I don't quite remember but I do remember that they were French.

Whenever I look at this picture, it reminds me of Leonard Cohen's 'Anthem'. 

"there is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in'

#22 The best bagels in town!

This lady together with her twin brother runs Columbia Cafe on the Columbia Road. They are very popular with the flower sellers of the Columbia Road Flower Market as they are the only cafe open at 5 a.m. but that's not the only reason why. They serve the best bagels in town. Yes, I know most people think that Beigel Town in Brick Lane is the best bagel shop in town but really if you look at the delicious choices on offer in Columbia Cafe, you'll agree that they are the winner. Not to mention the friendly service and this lady's smile that brightens up your morning. She always has a kind word for everyone and a bit of a joke if you need one.

#20 Musician

I stopped this young gentleman in the middle of the road even though I could see he was struggling with his bags. I just couldn't keep my eyes of the red case. I was fascinated with its vibrant colour in the middle of a rather dull road. 

As it turned out, he was on his way to a music competition. His band reached semi-finals and he was on his way to take part in the final round of audition in the hope of winning a recording contract. I felt bad for stopping him knowing he was carrying a heavy load but he was super friendly and chatted with us quite happily. I later posted his picture on flickr and one of my mates recognised him. They work together. London is such a small world.

#19 Tourist from Sweden

Emil was the one who spotted him and nudged me 'Why don't you ask him?', so I did. He was a little impatient waiting for someone. He said he'd spent a fab week at a conference in London and chose to spend the weekend here too. He was heading back home to Sweden the next day. I liked his smart casual look although he was difficult to capture as he was fidgety. I knew I only had a chance to take a shot, maybe two.

#18 Lily Vanilli

Sometimes you just get lucky! When shooting in Columbia Road a couple of Sundays ago, we got stranded by pouring rain. While we waited in the courtyard off Ezra Street hoping for the rain to stop, we found ourselves in a way of a lady running out one of the cafes there. You can imagine how pleasantly surprised we were when it turned out she was running to us with a bunch of delicious cupcakes as she felt sorry for us standing in the rain. I love random acts of kindness like that.

Meet Lily, the woman behind Lily Vanilli. And what a bakery it is! They use old fashioned tools that have been in one of the bakers' family for over 30 years. They bake for Harrods, Elton John and many many more names. You must try their cupcakes when in Columbia Road. They are beyond delicious!

#16 Skater boy

A few of you will know that I have a soft spot for skateboarders having taken my first lessons wearing flip flops from Rodney Clarke! In my previous school I ran a skate club allowing skaters a safe place to skate and helping disengaged students back into education. Check out the video about the skate club project I ran here.

Do you like the background? I saw this purple wall and started looking for a character that would go with it. I didn't have to look for long. Meet the skater boy. There he was on a doorstep of a skate shop in Covent Garden surrounded by his mates. He was happy to oblige despite the fact that his mates were mocking him. By the end of the shoot he laughed that he now knew how his mate felt. It turned out one of his mates there with him was the face of Puma in their 2010 advertising campaign. 

#14 Things get out of hand

Top tip: 'Sometimes things get out of hand. Run with it.'

I spotted this beautiful girl getting out of a cab with a bunch of friends. They were all very merry. When I asked her to pose for me, suddenly her mates joined it and started striking poses. Not what I was looking for but I took their picture anyway.

With the silliness out of the way and her other friend in the doorway letting everyone in, I asked for a quick snap of her alone. She quickly moved to the side to the metal curtain and posed. You could tell she has done this many times before. I got three photos before she ran upstairs to continue with the party.

#13 Two for the price of one

Top tip: 'Want to boost your street confidence? Bring a friend.'

I headed out for the streets with the lovely Lady Velo today. After delicious dinner at our favourite dim sum place, we strolled down the Carnaby Street. I stopped this lovely lady below then encouraged Lady Velo to pick someone to go up to. First there was a gentleman with a hat but she was a little shy about asking someone who wasn't alone. Then we spotted the second lady battling with her bike and I suggested she asks her for a photo for her blog and she did! The lady said 'yes' and you can see her picture below. I fixed her bike so really at the end of it everyone was very happy. I hope Lady Velo uses the picture for her blog as I took the shot but she was the one who asked. 

Stopping strangers is so easy when you are not alone.

Lady #1

Lady #2

#12 Can I make a mean face?

Top tip: 'Indulge your subjects.'

There's an after party club located in old public toilets by Old Spitafields Market. It sounded slightly surreal when we heard the loud music beats in a middle of busy afternoon street so we came closer to explore.There was a bunch of smokers (thank you smoking ban!) hanging outside.

This chap watched me with interest as I shot another bloke but went all timid when I asked him for a shot too. Suddenly, he was full of excuses 'I don't look good. I'm not photogenic. I have been partying since last night.' but he gave in in the end and asked if he could make a mean face. It was a giggle snapping him as he tried a number of mean faces. He also asked me if I'd teach him photography since he just inherited his grandfather's Pentax. We invited him along to one of our street outings.

#11 Kathrine The Designer

There are many ways of asking someone for a photo. I find that complimenting people with a big smile often works best. I will usually go up to a person and say 'Hi! I am Tyla. I absolutely love your (insert what attracted my attention to them). We are a bunch of photographers doing street photography. Would you mind if I took your photo?'


Before I even read Emil's invite on London Strobist (mentioned in post #2), I saw Clay Enos' video (see below) about shooting street portraits and was immediately fascinated. He gives plenty of useful advice on how to stop people and how to speak to them. I find his work shown here inspiring.

Meet Kathrine. She grabbed my attention with her clothes. Every detail of her wardrobe was carefully designed for effect. When we started chatting, it turned out she is a designer swapping London for a seaside town. She had the coolest business card too.

#10 Peace!

Top tip: 'Listen to their stories.'

This lady stopped to watch Emil photograph a couple sitting on a kerb. While waiting for the guys to finish off their shoot, we started chatting and she told me all about her life, her stint as an actress, her hippy days in 70s, her memories of the protests she attended, the abusive relationship she was in with a guy she met in a pub nearby and how proud she was when she managed to leave it behind. She was one of a kind! The guys ended up waiting for me while I stood there listening mesmerised by her stories. All of which were directly related to the place we were standing in: Portobello Road.

#9 "Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet."

Absolutely fantastic day out yesterday. Despite the rain, I managed to get a few really fab street portraits and plenty of 'yes' responses. Rejection blues truly over and forgotten.

This is Gemma from South Africa. She has now lived in London for 11 years. She was standing by Truman Brewery waiting for her friend. I really liked her look. Stylish girls on bikes rate highly in my books.

I spent the afternoon wandering around Brick Lane with Emil, who as always was kind enough to share his expertise. I mentioned a couple of entries before that when I am faced with a stranger, I simply forget what I know about photography and rush into snapping. 'You need a method', said Emil. 'I need a list.', I replied.

Here it is then written down so I don't forget:

1. Set the camera exposure to match the ambient light.

2. Take a test shot.

3. Review the test shot and direct the strobe (choose the ideal angle, power and distance from the subject)

4. Take another test shot and adjust the strobe not the camera settings.

5. Take three or four photographs varying the angles and composition each time.

6. Remember to breathe!

Thank you Emil.

#8 Natalya

I met Natalya on my worst rejection day ever. Yes, it was worse than that Friday with Sosij I talked about yesterday. Some days are brilliant for street photography and others not so much. Some days you won't be able to find anyone who catches your eye, some days almost everyone will say 'no' to you and rush past you and some days all the people you meet will enthusiastically accept your offer. I met Natalya on one of the 'no' days. We kept walking up and down Portobello Market. The place was heaving with people and yet I couldn't see anyone who would grab my attention. Every now and again someone would give me a glimpse of hope that I have found just the kind of personality I'd like to shoot but then they'd say 'no' and walk away. We ended up standing by this red wall sharing our admiration for it as the perfect background (yup! photographers have some exciting conversations at times) when I saw Natalya walk towards us with that touch of swagger that shows confidence but not yet arrogance. I was happy as hell when she agreed to have her photo taken. When she emailed me to ask for her photo, she described herself as ' that Eurasian chic'. It made me smile, not sure why. It just did.

You'll find that most people will say 'yes' if you stop them when they are not in a rush or they are heading on the night out well-dressed feeling good about themselves. The perfect place to start looking for your first stranger is at your local market or park where people tend to stroll around in a leisurely manner. Busy high streets especially on a Saturday afternoon are not the best of place to look for a stranger to stop. Too many people rushing to do their shopping, families juggling bags, children and their toys. If someone's on the phone or in a rush, the chances are, they won't be in the mood to stop. However, asking doesn't cost anything.

I'm off to Brick Lane today to hopefully beat the rejection blues. Wish me luck!