'A quite pint', a photo from London, England

Photographer's Note

Another shot from the sixties.
I used to spend every weekend in London taking pictures with my Leica 3g plus tri-x rated at 800ASA.
At the end of the day I walked along the river Thames toward Kew bridge. Feeling tired I decided to pop into a riverside pub for a drink. At the bar I spied this elderly man with his pint. In a panic I stuck my camera on the bar top, wound on the frame and rapidly fired off a shot. I was at the last frame on a 36 roll. The last frame ! A quick estimation of distance, about 15 feet ! Wide open lens at f2.8 and shutter at about a quarter second. All the way home I was wondering what was on the last two frames. ID11 developer and a wash and fix and I could have a quick look at the negative. They were very thin ! If you look from the emulsion side and turn the negative in the light you can see a positive image ! It looked OK! In the enlarger the first shot was badly blurred ! The last shot was OK ! For me it's one of my best shots probably due to the circumstances !

peter1892, JVS, Jangalbaan has marked this note useful

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peter1892 (1681) 2006-09-22 17:08

For such an old image it seems to have survived quite well! The old pub reminds me of a lot of older establishments here in Ireland & also in the UK - the kind of pub where you can still enjoy a quiet drink. The expression on the old guy's face is great, if somewhat sad (or maybe just pensive). Sometimes the best shots are taken quickly, without time to 'think' about it.

Polonaise (5802) 2006-09-23 0:20

Man o' man!!!!!!
I'll be back to explore your gallery further. Much further, Christopher.
To study. To LEARN!!!!
To enjoy the class of it.
Have a great WE, pal.
THX
G.

ndb1958 (9289) 2006-09-23 2:35

Hi Christopher,
one more of these old and wonderful shots. That old guy's expression is great and I like so much these people in the mirrow behind him. Indeed, a great shot.
Have a nice weekend,
Nino

russte (0) 2006-09-23 15:41

Hello again Christopher, as I've written before, these wonderful images appeal as much to the historian in me as the photographer. I could spend hours looking at this shot. I imagine the pub near Kew Bridge has long gone but, through your image, the pub and its regular live on. His expression is priceless. And then there is a wealth of detail in the fixtures and fittings of the pub, from the mirror with its portraits of a landlord and his customers, to the collection of bottles of Carling Black Label in the foreground (a test of my childhood memory!). Magical. Stephen

Aurus (0) 2006-09-26 19:00

What a candid shot of true London pub life!Portraiture in black and white is the absolute to my mind!This makes me think of a story I am in the works of writing...Considering this amazing photograph's age--I think it has survived these past 40 years beautifully.I look forward to seeing more of your work.

JVS (556) 2006-10-04 8:22 [Comment]

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mlopes (494) 2006-11-22 19:14

I think i've just found your gallery today!!! how impressive this old shots of your, this is photography at it's best imho. Congratulations.

voightlanderfan (0) 2006-12-02 5:29

Exellent mood here, splendid composition.

Steph.

Jangalbaan (2) 2007-01-31 20:49 [Comment]

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Glint (6171) 2007-05-27 10:11

hello again Christopher,
if this was Salford, that would be my uncle Bill. Mind you, my Dad never liked caps. he used to say, you only need a cap to give you something to doff. And he was not a cap doffer.
Bev