Macfilos Weekender with Richard Alton
It was my 50th birthday – and a Monday morning. I got out of bed, ready to go to work, only to find a blanket of snow outside. The BBC were enjoying themselves, reporting the heaviest snowfall in London for 18 years.
At the time I lived in Forest Gate, east London. And with trains and buses not running, the only way to travel was on foot. As the crow flies, it’s about 10 miles to the West End of London, so I put on my boots and set off, with my Leica and plenty of Kodak Tri-X film.
Staying off the beaten track, I found this snowman in Fortune Street, just north of the Barbican. By himself he made an appealing picture, but I was hoping for something more. So I waited – and this is what I got.
As Monday mornings go, 2nd February 2009 was a good one. I thoroughly enjoyed my hike and the photography came as a bonus.
Camera used – Leica M3 with 50mm Summicron (circa 1960)
_____________
Good to hear those who go that extra mile in adverse weather conditions to get in. Nice image too.
That might be the same year one of my staff rang to say they wouldn’t be in owing to heavy snow, even after I’d pointed out that my journey passed his front door.
We had similar experiences, Dave – like the first arrival of the day being the secretary from Chelmsford, with the ‘locals’ rolling in later.
Wonderful reaction. Well worth the walk in the cold and well done.
Thanks, Richard – it did feel as though I’d made my own luck that day.