mmmyeahnice.com: Photography Archives

Thanks for looking

This is the front and back of one of a series of photographs that I will leave on public transport later today. I took quite a few Polaroid images of traditionally 'nice' things like clouds, flowers, tree blossom etc. What I am trying to do is to make people think about the beauty of this world by showing them something they might otherwise not see during their busy day working in London.

I am troubled by these workaholics - they seem to get up, go to work, come home and veg in front of Eastenders. They take little time out of their lifes to appreciate life itself - they need enriching. Maybe by taking a different route to work for example, take in the new route and all it has to offer. Try to notice things, little things like the way a pavement slab has cracked - try to find beauty in it.

Hopefully by sliding little reminders of the world in places you wouldn't expect them I hope to interupt their lives with something beautiful. I don't know if it will work - probably wont ever know, but I don't need to. I just hope I have made someone appreciate that blossom. I have left my contact details on each photograph on the off chance people want to leave comments - thanks!

Posted by Chris Copping at 01:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (26) | TrackBacks (0)

Flash-gallery

Click for big-o-vision!

Vaguely inspired by something I read, I decided to start a 'flash gallery' in the street, similar to the idea of flash mobs. Starting with a single photo of the shop at the end of the street (just off Carnaby Street, fact fans). I placed it on the pavement and waited patiently for inquisitive people to start looking. I was hopeful people might even pick it up but that wasn't to be, in fact, with just a single Polaroid on the floor it wasn't often people even glanced at it at all. A few had more than a second glance and for them I was waiting patiently to snap them with my Polaroid. As each person was photographed I had my little assistant place the image on the floor, slowly building up a collection.

About half way through traffic slowed up, plus I was getting cold, and so I decided to relocate to just outside a cafe where I could enjoy a nice cup of tea too. Nearly all of the pictures were shot from the hip/under a table etc so not to disturb the 'viewers', so a few are oddly framed. The point wasn't so much to take nice pictures but to document people’s reaction.

I also picked up on the argument about anti-consumerism, the last two rows show this the best. They demonstrate how shop windows are nothing more than advertising and attention can be easily subverted by placing something 'better' near where pedestrians would otherwise be looking in shop windows.

My little flash gallery was born out of the street and existed for just that moment...

Posted by Chris Copping at 04:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (17) | TrackBacks (0)