A Walk Along the Thames and People Along the Way - The Reader and His Bicycle
Epic Sunday Morning Walk (continued)
I sketched out a simple map today, of the portion of the Thames Path I walked, and its bridges, as a reference for you and for me. I hope it helps!
Six Down, Thirteen to Go
By the time I’d got my coffee, six bridges were behind me: Wandsworth, Battersea Railway, Battersea Bridge, Albert, Chelsea, and Grosvenor Railway. From last week, I knew I had thirteen more to go!
I made my way past Battersea Power Station and saw this fascinating building. Haven’t a clue what it is: flats or a hotel?
I passed many boats and barges moored along the river’s edge. I’d admired the figurehead on this boat last weekend, but because of the rain, hadn’t noticed the unusual posture of her twisted legs. I’m glad I passed by a second time!
I paused to say hello to Father Thames:
Making my way toward Vauxhall Bridge, I turned a corner and it happened again. You tell me this scene before me wasn’t crying out for me to capture it!
This is literally what I saw when I rounded the bend. I had to interrupt his reading, the second photogenic reader in as many hours. There was no way I could pass this up!
“Excuse me. I am doing a photo project called ‘Readers’ [I actually am] and it doesn’t get much better than you right here. May I take your photo?”
He gave me a look of mild surprise, smiled, and then kindly agreed.
“Just go on about your reading.” He obliged. Because I didn’t feel rushed or like I was disturbing him too much, I took the time to frame him with my camera camera, not my phone camera, and I gave some thought to my settings and then composed the shot. I didn’t have to edit this photo at all except for some minute cropping and I really like the colors and composition. I think it came out pretty good!
I thanked him, he looked up and smiled at me, and then continued with his reading. I forgot to ask him what the book title was - that’s not like me. I must have been a little bit discombobulated.
Lessons for Me
People will generally be kind and acquiesce when I ask them if I can take their photo.
If they are smiling and kind when I ask, I have a sense of calm and can frame and compose and take a bit of time with my settings which may just mean less post-processing on Lightroom later. Kindness is key. I like kindness, even if I’m interrupting what they’re doing.
If they’re not very nice or I feel rushed or like I’m inconveniencing them (hearkens back to past nurse-physician interactions, I think), I’ll just snap the shot with my phone and likely be more dissatisfied with it and have to do more editing later.
I hear that some of the phones nowadays are as good or better than my trusty ol’ Canon. That’s okay. I’m happy for their owners. But, there is just something about photography with an actual camera and the combining of art and beauty and geometry and science that’s just missing for me when I only use my phone.
That being said, the best camera is the one you have with you. I’m super-grateful for the ready-at-hand-ness of phone cameras!
We’ll keep on carrying on soon!
Oh, thank you for the maps! I’m one who really appreciates them. I’m beginning to like London more and more; must visit at least once. It’s on the list.
Thank you for braving another photo of a stranger; you are always polite, I’m sure. Don’t let someone else’s grumpiness deter you, please.
The Thames is the heart of London, and the reason the city exists at all. It is a sadness that as London expanded it turned its back on the river. But walking the bridges is the best way to see London. Have you read about the Watermen? They are the reason there was only one bridge, London Bridge, until relatively modern times. Great tips about taking photos of people.