everyone wants to be immortal

Things change. Things stay the same. I took this picture more than 10 years ago, on Adderley Street Cape Town. This guy and a friend were huffing glue from a brown paper bag, but stopped to ask me what I was doing. He had a sad and beautiful face, and asked if I would take his picture. While he was posing he told me that they lived on the street. They didn't ask me for anything else. I don't remember his name.

Cartier-Bresson

In honour of his birthday today. A photo I grabbed at a 2003 exhibition of his work in Paris. Yes, I did get told to put away my camera immediately, but sometimes quick shots are the best.

35mm Contax with Zeiss 50mm f1.4 back in the silver halide days.

Digital has made me a better photographer, but I do sometimes miss the excitement and fear of seeing the film when it first comes out of the developer tank.

heart of stone

Even though it isn't true anymore, one day I will publish a book of photographs of sculpture entitled "I only love women with hearts of stone".

I met la Jeune Tarentine in 2003 and was entranced as long as I could stay with her. Even with the evidence of chisel marks on the plinth and her slightly stylised facial features, it was hard to believe she was not about to take a breath and roll over languidly. She may be 99 years older than me, but she will stay heart-achingly lovely long after I am dust and and can no longer remember her.