Take Off: Air Pogo, street photography in Kendal, Cumbria
I had set out from my Highgate studio at lunch time and, as usual, I had my camera with me. It was a sunny day and as I got closer to the centre of town, I could see that it was busy with locals and visitors enjoying the warm weather. There is a noticeable difference when the weather is good, especially during school holidays.
I had taken my camera with the hope of seeing something interesting to photograph, and as I crossed Stricklandgate I noticed someone using an air pogo stick. With the height of each jump, they were managing to get a good distance from the ground so they were easy to spot. I started to walk more quickly because I wanted to get the shot before they stopped. I managed a couple of photos and in this particular image I especially like the juxtaposition between the boy on the air pogo stick and the dapper gent walking past with his dog. The cyclist adds another mode of transport into the mix too.
I decided to use the image for the front cover of my book 'In The Frame' which features some of my black and white street photographs taken in Kendal, Cumbria. It's a real mix of humorous, serene (some of the photos are landscapes without people), thoughtful, and quirky images, such as this one. I chose to use only black and white photos throughout the book because monochrome images remove distractions for the viewer; in the air pogo photographs, there is a lot going on in the background, in terms of colour.
The boy using the air pogo was with his parents. Perhaps the images I took that day capture the family's day out. The energy, fun, location and sunshine, all experienced on the day, in one, split second shot. I like to think so.
