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On That Famous Thoroughfare

I always seem to find that when I’m at a bit of a creative low with the photography, I just walk in a different direction and I stumble across gems like this.

This shadow of The Ritz’s sign stopped me in my tracks. So I started taking some shots with people in the frame. Then a guy rushed past me wearing a hat, but I wasn’t quick enough.

So I waited…and waited…then finally a very well dressed couple came walking towards me. The gentleman was wearing a hat with a pipe too boot! So I plucked up the courage to ask if he would pose (his shadow) in my picture. I’m quite pleased with this one, as you can probably tell. I did give the him my URL (I really should get some cards printed) so if he does visit I hope he gets in contact.

Anyone guess where the title is from? No Googling.

34 Comments

  1. superb shadow shot!
    I don’t know about the title…

  2. i do now [sorry had to google] :-)

    wow a gem is right. Well done for spotting it, for having the patience to wait around for the right addition to your photo and then having that courage. Well doen all round.

  3. mr sherlock holmes right there!!! what a gem indeed. wicked!!!

  4. a brilliant shot
    something tht everyone would recognize
    but yet without seeing the building physically itself

    nice idea too…

    is wonderful how idea for photography pop out at the most unsuspected time

    cheers!

  5. Having just posted a week of shadows I have to say this is far and away better than anything i did. I am impressed by your set up and getting the guy to pose for you is fantastic

  6. great shadow shot.. very effective

  7. I totally agrees with you about walking in a different direction and seeing new things from a different point of view!

    Nice photo!

  8. great shadow shot, very good concept, me likes

  9. Wonderful. Really, really good one Mark. Well done for asking the man to pose.

  10. Amazing, simply brilliant.

  11. Craig

    Fantastic shot Mark. Just shown it around work and the concensus is that you should offer it to the Ritz (for a fee obviously!)

  12. that really is brilliant … the shadow of the sign is nice, but the addition of the pipe smoking guy adds some mystery!

  13. Awesome shadow work.

  14. a corker. an absolute corker.

  15. Incredible shot, Mark. Couldn’t be more perfect. This guy totally fits the bill!

  16. good choice to post it on b&w.. Nice contrast..

  17. Jem

    Awesome shot Mark! Love it :)

  18. Fantastic shot! ; )

  19. Nice, very creative! I’ve never considered doing anything other than shooting the Ritz sign directly.

  20. Rob

    Cracking shot, would’ve been a cool shot without the gent in there but that just makes the photo

  21. Right on Mark, this is great! I also love your account of the story behind getting this shot. I love how you chose to stay around and wait to see what else would present itself. I mean, you couldn’t have asked for a better subject! A pipe? Fabulous! Oh, where’s the title from you ask? Ha, as soon as I read it, I had Vincent Price’s voice and dance come to mind… “Putting’ On The Ritz”! ;)

  22. But Mark there’s no smoke coming out the pipe and there’s far to much shadow in the corner, call yourself a man of the lens !….. OK, OK, its a great picture I admit it !

  23. JD

    ooh very nice indeed.

    A hat and a pipe! what are the chances (are you sure you didn’t just go buy some and then set the camera up with a timer???)

    I truly am impressed, wish I had the bottle to approach more people, I hate missed shots :(

  24. oh, another fantastic juxtipose! And what a great idea to shoot this as a shadow – sort of noir style. I think the shadow works much better than the direct shot here.

  25. this is such a great photo, and well worth the time waiting for the passer-by. i’m so jealous of this one i’m practically green!

  26. Wow…amazing photo.

    Wish I had your courage to ask people to pose. It really makes the photo unique. Would make a great bookcover or movie-poster!

  27. Its a wonderful shot! I like it a lot. As for the title, I have no idea. I googled it and this link is number 7!

  28. Holy smokes! FANTASTIC STUFF!!!

  29. Excellent composition, very good photo.

  30. Excellent composition, very London :)

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