#26 Brick Lane Man

Feeling tired after a very stressful week at work, I headed out to Brick Lane last Sunday in hope of a bit of street relaxation as I call it. I was hanging around the Vibe Bar with my best mate people-watching but wasn't really feeling it. Then I saw HIM. I thought Warrick Brown straight away., a character in CSI for those unfamiliar with the name. 

He agreed to pose with a big smile, happy that someone spotted him. His mate tried to run off saying that he saw me and knew I was going to ask him before I even approached him.

I asked them what they were up to. My model responded with a laugh 'My mate wants to pick up some girls.' It's funny that he said that because he was the one who chose my business card with a photo of a stunning model while his mate went for a BMXer boy. 'I am worried about you, mate.', he said.

#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.

#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!

#17 Jason The Cabbie

One cannot have a blog about Londoners and not include a Black Cab driver. Now I have always known that to become one you need to pass 'The Knowledge Test', which demands you know every little street within 6 miles radius of Charing Cross. But I never knew that each driver gets their unique number and will get in trouble if not wearing the badge. If they lose it, they need to pay for a new one and will be given another unique number.

Meet Jason The Cabbie. I saw his polishing his cab in a side street getting ready for a busy Saturday night. He was happy to oblige when I asked him for a photo. He was rightly proud of his shiny cab. 

Did you know that a black cab driver can never refuse a fare under 6 miles? 

Did you know that drivers who have passed The Knowledge Test have been scientifically proven to have bigger areas of the brain associated with memory?

#15 Another day, another lesson

Yesterday was a day of a lot of walking and not much shooting with a very inspiring conversation about lighting.

I find setting up lights in a studio fairly easy. I usually shoot because I have a photograph in mind and set up the shot with the idea in mind. Street is different. You shoot where and when you stop someone. All you have at your disposal is the natural light and a strobe or two, if you are lucky. And just like with everything else my mind goes blank when I am faced with a stranger. 

Is beautifully lit photography down to talent or training? I believe it's a bit of both. I get ideas, I can appreciate a beautifully lit photograph but I need to train my eyes and I need to get my brain to be more aware of the light, angles and possibilities. To be honest, most of my strobe work is pure guesswork or relying on safe, well-tested set-ups. Sometimes a fellow photographer will point to a photograph saying 'We need more light here.' and I stare blankly not seeing anything. I guess it's time for some eye training.

I am planning on spending the next few weeks going over my favourite strobist books and photographs as well as a few fashion mags too and working out how the light falls, how it works trying to improve my awareness of it so that next time I am on the street before I shoot, I will notice where the light is coming from, I will know what I want to achieve lightwise and I will be able to give light directions to whoever is assisting me to ensure that strobe bring my idea to life.

Yesterday I photographed the eldest of three brothers. I enjoyed meeting them. I saw them outside Old Spitafields Market. It turns out when they are not working, they spend their Saturdays cycling around London. How cool is that?!

The first two pictures are shot with ambient lighting alone while I used a strobe at 5 o'clock for the third one. I like the ones lit by ambient lighting as much as the one lit by the strobe hence the whole lighting entry today.

#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

#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.