Poor wretch - must have a cold bummy!

...from a photographer's notebook

Detail from "Jack-in-the-Cone?- a Bath Moment" ©2014 Steve Ember

Do, please, forgive the lack of ultimate sharpness; the image above is detail from a larger image that was, in turn, a tiny crop from a quite wide street capture, taken last November in Bath England...

During that first visit, I enjoyed shooting not only the classical architecture of this inviting town, which traces its history back to the Roman Empire, whose legions built thermal baths here, beside the River Avon (although they, no doubt, had a more "Romanesque" name for it), but also greatly enjoyed capturing the lively street ambiance. 

One of the many pleasures I derive from my photography is the "discoveries" that sometimes jump out at me while editing the results of a shoot - little smile-makers that I may have missed while shooting, but which my camera certainly did not.

Here's one I hope will make you smile, as it did me this afternoon.

While editing my images shot along Abbey Street, my eye was drawn beyond the comely lass to the huge ice cream cone protruding from a shop window, and the even more curious chap who seemed to be springing out of the ice cream, like...umm...a Jack-in-the-Box!

As I zoomed in on the attractive couple who'd just passed by that window, it seemed to me she was saying, with a wicked, playful lilt in her voice, "Poor wretch - must have a rather cold bummy!" Naturally, she may well have been commenting on the architecture of the nearby Pulteney Bridge, or telling her companion they were going to be late for their train back to Paddington...but I think I'll go with my first impression!

Anyhow, I was inspired to work up "Jack-in-the-Cone? - a Bath Moment," as a new Photo Note Card design for ice cream (and street capture) lovers everywhere.

And, next visit, I must stop by that shop on Abbey Street, and see if the ice cream is delectable as the unique window display suggests ;-) 

©2014 Steve Ember

Rush Street, 2 AM

...from a photographer's notebook



Usually, looking through my photographs makes me smile, as it brings recollections of favorite places, fondly remembered travel experiences, or the quiet joy of capturing a very special work of nature.

But sometimes a photo gets made simply because it’s “there” and, through the photographer’s eye and sensibilities, it can’t not get made.

Such was the case one late night in Chicago in the middle 1980’s. I was walking back to my hotel after a late dinner and some jazz along Rush Street.

Fortunately, there was still some high speed fim in my camera from some shooting earlier that night, which allowed me to capture this fleeting but, to me, very poignant “nightscape.”

© 2010 Steve Ember

Rush Street, 2 AM, from an Ektachrome transparency, is available in matted and framed prints in various sizes and will be joining my line of Photo Note Cards.