London: a matter of contrast
We jump up forty years and this is contemporary London. Still the same area, just across the Eurostar station, St Pancras. Things have changed. We could be anywhere. London, Paris, what difference does it make when you eat junk food ? But the difference is also visual. Here I am using a digital camera, almost no grain. Everything seems sharp although it is shot at night. That would have been very difficult with film. High speed color Ektachrome was not so good. Color balance was very approximative. Negative film might have been slightly more satisfying, but anyway, I don't think I would have even thought of shooting at night unless I used a tripod. And that would have made the picture decision entirely different. Here, I passed in front of this place and somehow made a snapshot in just a fast gesture. Not even thinking that it would not work. So the contrast between the film photographs taken in the 70's is significant of not only a change in society, but also a change in the technical tools, which induces a change in subjects to be considered for a picture. Is it any better, more interesting ? I have no answer. One thing is certain : I would never go into such a place for food, even if I were hungry.