Ghost Town! Street Photography in London (with @Roman Fox)

[@snapsbyfox]

The photo with the flower is my fav no doubt.... so sad and perfectly captured

[@maximreed9029]

instablaster.

[@snapsbyfox]

A few comments flying around suggesting that Gareth annoyed me or something and I looked pissed off..... please note I have a permanent pissed off face. Even when I smile I look like I just stepped in dog shit. You will get used to it 😆

[@elliottg.1954]

Enjoyed this, Gareth. Thanks for all the pointers.

[@GarethDanks]

Glad you enjoyed it! cheers for the comment :-)

[@Lorenzo_Melocchi]

Very nice job it's a pleasure to watch such a good pov street photography video. Good luck 🤞🏻

[@GarethDanks]

Thanks a lot! really appreciate that!!

[@ianhargreaves9226]

Morning Gareth still catching up with some of your videos sad to see London this way great documentary photos nice to see roman I follow him as well I've started street photography still a beginner as we've discussed I only use my mobile as don't want to carry stuff a trick I've learnt is if you see something and they've spotted you put the phone to your ear as though your talking to someone they walk passed then take a shot ...

[@RM831BC4E4]

Loved the Vlog, My favourite out of the bunch was actually from the scene you worked but will return to. Reflections, but one that was turned at and angle with Roman in the bottom left third and the zig zag green effect to the right. Richie

[@gally.streetphotography]

Thanks Gareth. This has wet my appetite for my visit next Tuesday. Have a hospital visit but will be walking and shooting between Kings Cross and Guys. Cant wait :)

[@paulhills1967]

Thanks for this video. I really enjoy hearing your thought process and I appreciate your honesty in saying when and how you "messed up" a shot. Looking forward to your next video.

[@healthilysceptical4501]

Good, intelligent, sensitive video Gareth. Personally I prefer work which has a bit more to say than "This is pretty/aesthetic", though, of course, the two can go together sometimes. There are so many "street photos" with a person/shadow against geometric buildings. But we humans do like stories, and there are plenty of important ones to be told. Reminds me of that old TV series: "There are a thousand stories in this city, this has been one of them." It's interesting that when Brandon Straton shifted his focus to people's stories rather than just their images, Humans of New York became so popular. I'm afraid that Roman didn't come out of this very well, complaining that he couldn't get anything, that you were taking so long, weather not good, etc. You found something important and enjoyable. You're quite right to think that such photos will be of historic interest. Well done.

[@mikeswoods]

Good video and as said below, its sad that we live in such weird times. Really liked the shots through the pub windows, that in itself tells the sadness of the situation. 📷👍

[@jbairdexp]

I enjoyed that one mate. I thought it was a interesting approach to photograph the inside of the closed shops. Nice one. :-)

[@GarethDanks]

Hey J! thanks man.. well there wasnt many people around so it was my safest option haha. thanks for watching mate!

[@douglydiate7575]

It's good to see you on the streets again. For me street photography is where you excel. Looking forward to part 2. When lockdown finishes I'm heading straight to Bristol for some night street photography.

[@richardburrows8044]

excellent thought provoking video.

[@GarethDanks]

Glad you liked it! appreciate that!

[@antonoat]

Always enjoy your films Gareth, never seen London so empty, glad you got some photos and made the most of it. Stay safe buddy. Will check out the blog, cheers.

[@TheGazmondo]

I was surprised to find how much I enjoyed this video, not been into London since lock down, thanks Gareth. So strange seeing my favourite familiar place looking so bereft. I felt great empathy with your views on the aesthetic, so that’s why I feel so at home !

[@cotswoldphotographers]

Really nice video Gareth 👍 Roman is such a nice chap and Natacha and I were fortunate enough to meet him by chance last February at the 3streetgallery exhibition in London. Just by chance he was there along with Pierre Lambert so got the opportunity to meet them both and a massive bonus considering we were there for Sean Tucker and Mo Barzegar. Just need to meet you now 👍😉

[@GarethDanks]

Haha. No way. Yeah I went to that exhibit too. Really cool. Be great to meet you Too mate. One day I’m sure 😊

[@Conan500]

Cool collaboration. Good to see you team up with Roman! 👍

[@raymondpenalver7095]

Was so great to see you back doing street photography again Gareth it's been far to long, can't wait for part 2 !!!!!!

[@GarethDanks]

Thank you mate. Yeah be up by Monday I think 😊

[@johnhawkins1606]

"it's not about a pretty photo" he says while an Anne Summers shop looms in the background....made me smile.

[@GarethDanks]

haha.. i wish id spotted it!! i miss load chatting the camera!

[@josephthedafty]

It's got to the point that I'm even jealous of the Travelodge! Quality stuff as always mate.

[@billrankin]

Traveling to do photography is not breaking lock down its your income mate, Im doing 200 miles a day travelling daily but I'm on my own doing landscapes, wildlife & woodlands so not really interacting with anyone, distancing and take my own food.I got stopped once no issues at all with the police. Im up at 530 am and travelling North about 120 miles in morning. Keep it up mate good video.

[@ianhamer4294]

Loved the first 2 shots mate. Keep smiling as things can only get better.

[@adamturner7040]

Really enjoyed this one mate, considering I'm not a big fan of cities or street photography, and it's got me thinking as I'm due to be working in the centre of Edinburgh next week, I may take the little Z50 and the 16-50 for when I'm out on the daily exercise

[@waynemorton6120]

For a moment there I thought that Harry Enfield had taken up street photography - but alas no...it was Roman. Enjoyed the vid fellas.

[@ChristineWilsonPhotography]

So different to when we were there late 2019 , we've just go into another 5 day lock down here in Melb

[@oursvista]

Hi Gareth, great work as usual. You should consider starting a Patreon during this time as that could be another source of income

[@StewartChambers]

Good to see my old haunts. Feels like a long time since I last took a camera to London....actually feels like a long time since I did any street at all.

[@GarethDanks]

Hey Stewart.. sad times! hope we can all get out again soon!

[@theunsunghero9]

So Gareth, what did the fox say?

[@petercordingley927]

Hi Gareth, great video., Does shooting pictures through glass windows like the pubs and cafes in the video create any issues on the way you set your camera settings. I just wondered if it is sunny outside yet your subject is quite dimly lit, how do you compensate for that?

[@laurelb8372]

Same here in Aus when people told to work from home. Kind of eerie. On plus side capture empty scenes to tell the story.

[@david_keating]

I think it's important to document specifically during this weird time anything that tells a story about the way the world is right now, these images hopefully will show historians what the human race was going through and not having a candid element will almost concrete the realism of life today. Photographs of empty bars and restaurants is probably more important than a human element wearing a mask. Great work as usual Gareth.......I reckon the next time you are in London Roman will be lying low, curtains closed, phone switched off 😂😂

[@jonhermannsson9231]

Nice video as always Great shots. Nice documentary of the 2021 Other photographer should have had a mask

[@keliu5821]

Love the scene & photos of 11:50, those mirrors from ceiling

[@davidellinsworth22]

Great to see you out and about. I've never done street photography before, even though I find it fascinating and watch about twenty such channels. Would love to give it a go though

[@Ian-sv7py]

Great images, thanks for sharing Gareth, it really shows the sadness that is amongst us at present

[@SUTU6000]

I learn a lot from you, thanks bro

[@ivanosrin2126]

How do I get your magazine Gareth ?

[@GarethDanks]

Hey man. Jump over to f8.garethdanks.co.uk buddy 😊

[@GaryGough]

Excellent as always G. Such a shame seeing the place devoid of people, and all those businesses closed, really sad. Looking forward to part II 👍🏻👍🏻

[@LeePelling]

Im no street photographer but i really liked that, think its important to document this awful time and you did a great job of that. Looking forward to the second instalment, nice one !

[@GarethDanks]

Thanks so much Lee!! much appreciated mate! yeah horrendous to see!!

[@CraigPitts]

I need to get myself some work in London, was meant to go in December just before we were put back into lockdown, so bored of the countryside now! Haha, good shots mate, hope you're well!

[@GarethDanks]

Im hoping to be there twice a month! if the client will commit!! :-)

[@judylindo6874]

Follow Roman and found you...Roman needs to be more patient and more polite to you :) Enjoyed your story, well not the story but your capture of it. great job of documenting it..

[@2e0hpi]

It is sad to see and not been out much myself and had to sell my x100v but luckily I have just bought another and keeping this one but hard times ahead

[@GarethDanks]

why did you sell it mate? thanks for the comment :-)

[@2e0hpi]

@@GarethDanks sadly we had to move house then a marriage spilt m8 been a hard few months but starting to get better 🙂

[@GarethDanks]

Oh wow. Sounds horrible! Good luck mate

[@2e0hpi]

@@GarethDanks yep can only get better moving forward and look forward to posting some images to the group in due course 🙂 staysafe and look forward to part 2 🙂

[@Pablo260492]

Nice and cool video

[@GarethDanks]

Thanks so much mate

[@bcremin1]

I'm disappointed in you Gareth, Aperture Priority ;) We expect you to own your settings :D haha Great video - looking forward to pt 2

[@aminmotin]

Hahahah, he's selling out, Ben! F8 and be there!

[@francisschweitzer8431]

The green wall was a challenge. I think you hit it with the extreme Dutch Angle @ 12:02 and the next one @ 12:04

[@GarethDanks]

the green wall upset me when i saw the footage back home and the umbrella guy walked past it without me grabbing him against the green wall!! i was gutted! haha

[@markjagger7139]

Very sad indeed Gareth, some great images of a scenario that’s happening all over the UK.

[@yhyh1011]

thanks!

[@ericrjennings]

The fact you have to explain your travel is sad. Messed up times were are in. Nice photos.

[@tomislavmiletic_]

Subscribed to both of you 🤣🤣

[@aminmotin]

I know you're a people person so it must have been especially difficult when there were so few people about. Honestly, seeing London so empty is quite shocking. Nice for you to get out onto the streets, but obviously nothing like it is under normal circumstances. I've had to reschedule 4 trips to London from last year, when lockdown started again. I don't even know yet whether I'll be able to get back there on the rescheduled dates. Very eerie to see your street shots so devoid of people. Very dystopian and apocalyptic feel to everything, but glad you managed to get out for a bit of a wander!

[@GarethDanks]

hey Amin.. thanks for watching mate.. yeah i was shaken up initially.. Chelsea was far busier so i assumed parts of the city would be ok.. Very weird. And yes i miss people big time lol

[@marksnellingphotography]

Really thought at the beginning you were going to use the love heart on the window and frame someone in it walking on the street .. Great video as always Gareth.

[@WraithCalling]

I am considered essential so I have been working steady since this all began. They few times I have had the opportunity to get out and about the streets have been empty.

[@Nayson]

I work in NW1 and am out and about with my camera most days when I'm on my break. It's getting to the point now where I'm used to the city being so quiet but it's still incredibly sad. Seeing Bar Italia, which is famous for always being open, closed is still heartbreaking.

[@GarethDanks]

I can’t imagine seeing it like that a lot. So upsetting.

[@Nayson]

@@GarethDanks Yep. Though if anywhere is going to bounce back then London is the place, there's still an insatiable desire to go out amongst most of the population and London is a place where people flock to. I've seen people dancing the tango at 9pm on the South Bank, buskers in Piccadilly Circus and full beer gardens in Marylebone over the last couple of months. I feel a bit odd walking around on my own with my mask when so many other people are either stuck in their homes or just out not giving a damn but my other option is to sit in a stuffy staff room breathing in other people's air so I'll go get my steps in and grab a few shots while I'm out.

[@TheIMobile]

I think you missed a shot at 10 minutes the Ann Summers models. Great video though and very sad state of affairs

[@GarethDanks]

haha.. i missed more than a shot haha

[@fredbloggs545]

"10 minutes the Ann Summers models" Your comment made me excitedly skip to 10:00, boy was I disappointed!

[@tonygreenwoodN10]

London is now effectively "inside out". The West End and the City almost totally deserted but the suburbs really busy (in a lockdown compliant/socially distanced way) as so many are working from home or looking after kids not in school (or trying to do both at the same time!) - strange times!!

[@JVSwailesBoudicca]

I do wish you luck , it must be a tough time if you are not getting any help from UK Gov. The first shot really does tell a story and its an excellent shot. ......

[@GarethDanks]

Thanks so much mate.. yes im hating things atm.. as are a lot of small business'

[@petersmitham8273]

Issue 4 is a crackin’ issue......buy it now!....in fact buy two and give one to a friend!....😘🇬🇧📸🌈💉🦠

[@desgardner7169]

I am of a age where it is unwise to go out, I loved going into town with a camera but that came to a halt 12 months ago, such is life of the virus and the idiots who say its not real. Rant over, thank you for taking us to London and how strange was that with hardly any people in your video, but you got some pictures showing just that, I enjoyed London the last time I was there and hopefully soon it will be back to normal.

[@paulddb1]

I'm of an age too, Des. Been at home for a year. Great that Gareth has taken us on a lovely trip.

[@morrisbagnall2690]

It's horrid mate. Manchester is the same Gareth and I'm sure the other major cities in the UK are not any different. I had an optician appointment in Manchester, got there a little early and couldn't bring myself to take pictures. I was simply too overwhelmed by the scarcity of activity and humanity. I'm glad you were able to find the creativity in the bleakness and share it with us.

[@LiMaDemi]

Man in the first picture is Georges Brassens with Jacques Brel and Boris Vian. A real famous picture in France

[@GarethDanks]

Ah really. That’s interesting. So the owner knows his photography then.

[@feydinmanagementconsulting7603]

Very sad indeed ! Courage...the game is not over yet. We are courageous old European nations!

[@GarethDanks]

something needs to happen FAST!

[@darrelwalters]

How ones attitude has changed from the first lockdown !!!

[@correctaperture]

Sorry to hear your only source of income is KZbin right now Gaz. Get in touch with me and I should be able to.put some work your way over a zoom talk.

[@GarethDanks]

Thanks so much!! was it you i had an email off today?

[@sergeantcrow]

£30 a night ! That's good...

[@Dan-jg7zl]

What you banging on about only using black and white in sunny conditions. You know nothing dude.

[@atomikmaster1]

Thanks for documenting a once powerful city being crushed by an overreacting out of control regime.

[@GarethDanks]

Yeah man. Horrendous! No end either

[@fredbloggs545]

Yeah because 100,000 people dying in the UK is just a conspiracy to stop people going to the pub, yes? Your ignorance is astounding.

[@atomikmaster1]

@@fredbloggs545 Fred turn off the TV 📺 and clapping for the NHS cause a celebrity told you to. Do your research open your mind and stop drinking the coolaid of trusting the government that is controlling your obviously mainstream infected brain. Truely sad that people follow without question. Sad for you. I truly am.

[@fredbloggs545]

@@atomikmaster1 When you can't visit your mate in hospital dying of COVID then you can talk When they put him on a ventilator, then you can talk. When two days later you are arranging a funeral with his brother, then you can talk. He was healthy and 29 years old. Until you have done all that, you can STFU about something you clearly know NOTHING about.

[@atomikmaster1]

@@fredbloggs545 Fred that's a wonderful story cause it's on the internet I'll believe it! Did he die of CV19 or with CV19? Cause you willing to share such details. One day when you have done the research and stop clapping for the NHS and paying the BBC to spoon feed you BS we can exchange facts and war stories.

[@richarddelasota1812]

It is always sad to see the consequences of sheer idiocy.