Category: W11

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MYLDN 1961 – Notting Hill Carnival? In July?

ok, so you might be wondering why the hell have I been looking at pictures of the Notting Hill Carnival in July? It’s a good question. It is not because I have a time machine and zipped four weeks into the future so I could document an event ahead of time so it fitted in better with my schedule..but holy shit, how amazing would that be? No, the truth is slightly more basic. These shots were actually taken in 2022 but I took a major dive right after which lasted for about a year and a half (yes, that’s a big dive) and so I was never able to go thru the shots and share them. Until now. I looked at them recently and it seemed such a shame to not at least get some of em out in the world so here they are. The way I see it is, if you capture a wonderful moment, but then no-one sees that moment, was there any point in capturing it in the first place? I would argue possibly not.

That was the Sunday

The modern way is to get photos out as soon as is humanely possible following an event. If it takes you more than a week or so to get them out you might as well not bother. Everyone has already moved on. Most documentation in this era is shared in real time, in situ, almost instantaneously. Laters is just too late. I don’t take photographs on my phone so this is not option is not available to me but even if it was I wouldn’t do it. Why would I waste time sharing my experience with other humans who aren’t even present when I could instead be fully present? Yes I am still looking down a lens but I am in totally in the moment. It makes sense to me to process and post photos in your down time but younger generations would undoubtedly not agree.

mebbbe not the best place to take baby out for a stroll
That was the Monday

I couldn’t attend last year’s Carnival because I still wasn’t in a good way but since then have been climbing the mountain of recovery (not quite at top yet but I can see the summit) and have my sights firmly set on Carnival 24. It felt weird to miss a year and so will be glad to be back in the thick of this magnificent event and returning to my usual position to document the Disya Jeneration sound system and its crowd in all its glory, which I have been doing since 2007. But as I will be taking my usual summer sabbatical and not posting in August you might have to wait a little while to see the photos. But is that such a terrible thing? Does immediacy always win? I think photography takes a while to distill, like a good wine (not that i know shit about wine). It needs time to ferment and needs distance from the present before it’s full impact can be felt.

So I wish you all a lovely rest of summer and I will be back in September…

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MYLDN 1960

Anyone looking to cast “Boris Johnson – the early years”? Look no further. I bet the real Boris has the exact same tat too..you know it.

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MYLDN 1958

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MYLDN 1957

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MYLDN 1952

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MYLDN 1950

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MYLDN 1949

Ok, I accept, its a pretty sketchy service this week..that’s me hiding my face of shame..not actually obvs..I’m the one taking the photo of this rather extraordinary looking gentleman..who has clearly seen one too many Spidey movies..

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MYLDN 1946

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MYLDN 1945

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MYLDN 1944

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MYLDN 1943

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MYLDN 1941

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MYLDN 1940

take 2 – soz managed to somehow post b4 without actual photo – kinda essential in a photo blog some might say..

p.s thanks to me mum for spotting the omission and informing me x

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MYLDN 1939

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MYLDN 1932 – Portobello Market innit?

Market folk this week. Portobello Rd would be nothing without the market and the people that are a part of it. The Market is like the coral reef that attracts all the fish. It generates an entire ecosystem around it. Not that you see many fish shopping on Portobello Road..or anywhere else for that matter, they’re not known for their consumerist tendencies or the ability to live outside water if we’re really getting down to it..ok, maybe this was a bad analogy. Truth is I spend a lot of time watching a live cam from a coral reef in Honduras as find it very relaxing so have clocked up so many man hours I think it’s starting to infiltrate the way I see the world (you can see here if you like that sort of thing, altho think evenings only if in Europe, the fish gotta sleep sometime right?).

Anyway nautical comparisons aside, the market is not only a beacon for tourists it is also the lifeblood of the local community. It has created opportunities for them to make a living and generates a ton of business for the area as a whole. It is now busier than it’s ever been and on a Saturday is almost like a mini festival as giant hoards descend upon it in search of..umm, the perfect photo opportunity.

Have spoken to a lot of the market stall holders who say that often the tourists, who are the bulk load of their footfall, mostly just take pictures and don’t buy anything except for the touristy London trinkets like the man above is selling which seem to go by the truckload. This seems a bit sad to me because you can get that shit anywhere but I guess if there is demand there is supply. And who am I to talk about people who just take pictures? Honestly, glass houses mate..

You can still find lots of amazing random unique stuff on the market but for me, as you can probably tell, it is the market stall holders themselves who are the real attraction. They really are an amazing bunch of characters. Old school cockneys, members of the local Carribbean community, immigrants from all cultures and even Chelsea type poshos. Just as the coral reef attracts all types of fish (yes we are back on that) so does the lure of the market bring all manner of men and women.

Most of the transient population of Portobello are there for recreation but the foundations of which everything is built are the traders and they work hard for a living. They have to get up at the crack of dawn, and peddle their wears through rain and shine and have to be always on their game to catch the passing fish (yes one more, why not?) so they themselves can survive. Spare a thought next time you strolling down..

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MYLDN 1931

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MYLDN 1930

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MYLDN 1929

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MYLDN 1928

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MYLDN 1927

Funky fashion this week. There are a lot of people out there, especially round here, that have their own unique style, their own specific brand of me, carefully curated and presented with intent. Lots of mini micro fashion decisions on display. And yet despite everyone’s attempts to be original you do see essentially the same styles regurgitated over and over with slight variation..no matter how specific someone looks they always seem rooted in a particular look or fashion tribe.

No matter how outlandish, most combos have been done at one time or another..but I can honestly say I have never ever EVER seen anyone with a haircut like this. Not once. Not ever. I mean possibly in the 18th century or in a french patisserie but never walking down the street. I honestly don’t even know what I am looking at, but I am utterly mesmerised by it and in genuine admiration for the sheer moxie (still watching boardwalk empire). And yet when you see a hairdo this bold you generally have an equally bold outfit but the rest of this guy is pretty normal. Anyway hats off to you mister (and some might say you should wear one) you have broken the mould. You are one of a kind.

Actually someone else who is one of a fashion kind is this magnificent dresser, Jama Elmi who I have featured on this blog before (see here) Back then I called him ‘loud suit man’ cos I didn’t know his name. We have since chatted a few times. He is an explosion of colour and has a seemingly limitless supply of brightly coloured suits and his outfits are always spectacular.

He is a ray of light and brings joy wherever he goes. He also has to be the most photographed man in West London by a stretch. Over the years I have built up quite a collection of him myself whilst a good friend of mine, Sylvain Seresin shot a whole pop video around him and he is even currently the subject of an entire exhibition at the Muse gallery on Portobello Rd (on till tmrrw if you in the hood)

And he doesn’t just look good, he is also a lovely human being. He exudes a positivity that is actually incredibly infectious and always leaves you smiling. As a person who is veering more and more into all black (cue Unlovable by the Smiths)

I find it very impressive that anyone has the spirit to constantly embody such upbeat attire. And unlike anyone else you feel he is wearing this stuff not just for himself or the attention but for the happiness it will generate in others which is a very rare impetus in people’s fashion choices, possibly unique.