As life goes by…..

Sometimes, when life gets in the way, we need to take a more pragmatic approach to gathering images. I try to record something worth keeping every day, but sometimes, time is a challenge.

And that is why I have found a few vantage points I can visit often and rapidly; the tow-path of the Thames and Brompton Cemetery are both a short cycle from home and provide wonderful people watching spots. (I have a couple of others too) If I don’t have the time to find greater human variety, let it walk on by and I will harvest: It is, for me, all about the human story, the location becomes a theatrical set.

I pack a few lenses, my lunch and usually a bottle of something toothsome, and take a couple of hours out of my day when the weather is set fair.

Do people object? Not so far. And what is there really to object to? I follow all legal rules, the camera is sitting in plain sight, on its mini Gitzo tripod (an absolute gem of a product) and life parades by. Beautifully.

My simple task is to capture it as best as I can. I have used a variety of lenses to help me. Wide angle Summiluxes at full aperture deliver effectively, and capture the big skies that I enjoy. The Zeiss 15mm Distagon is also a gem for such operations. It’s depth at full aperture is ideal when set at 2m on the focus ring. It is perhaps a slightly lazy technique and does inevitably deliver similar images, but the people, dogs and bicycles are all different and make the story.

Is it stealing? Well some would say so. I would say it is documenting life, hopefully in an interesting style. The images attached to this article illustrate what I gather and I believe are a decent record of what has been an amazingly hot summer. Yes, I do accentuate the skies in post, why not?

And finally, as mentioned in my June ramble, the 2025 TLS virtual exhibition plan. Sadly, due to funding challenges, there will not be a 2025 actual exhibition. We hope to reinstate that in 2026. For this year we invite all TLS members to submit up to two mono and two colour images digitally. These can either be digital images, or scans of prints or transparencies, all accepted happily as long as the images were taken with Leica cameras and or Leica lenses.

The best images will be shared on the TLS website. And the best of the best will be acknowledged with trophies for best mono and colour pair and a trophy and prize for the best overall image submitted. Full details of how to enter will be issued in the September magazine, all entries to be received by October 14th and winners announced by November 14th.

I would welcome any enquires, all emails answered: chair@leicasociety.uk

All images © Giles Johnson