1 minute read

COVID London - Charles Ashton ARPS

from RPS The Decisive Moment - Edition 19 - May 2020

by Documentary Group, Royal Photographic Society

from RPS The Decisive Moment - Edition 19 - May 2020, page 94

Article from: RPS The Decisive Moment - Edition 19 - May 2020

Eagle Hunters of the Altai Mou...

In March the COVID-19 crisis was building. I suspected the lockdown was coming and headed to London to document what turned out to be the last day before life dramatically changed. I found a city with tension in the air. Some people were wearing masks, some were dashing around making efforts to keep their distance. Others continued pretty much as usual.

It was a sunny Monday and, clearly, there were far fewer people around than usual, driven by apprehension rather than guidance. I arrived in Paddington, took the Underground to Aldgate East, walked up Brick Lane and then to St Paul’s before crossing the Millennium Bridge to the Tate.

I chose these locations as they are my usual haunts for street photography, and I have images of the same locations in normal times for comparison. I chose monochrome as I felt it represented the mood of the day and suited the strong lighting conditions with lots of contrast and shadows. I aimed to give the viewer a street level view that captured the edgy atmosphere of the day.

This article is from:

RPS The Decisive Moment - Edition 19 - May 2020

by Documentary Group, Royal Photographic Society