London Calling #1
by Ira Shander
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$200
Dimensions
11.000 x 8.500 inches
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Title
London Calling #1
Artist
Ira Shander
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Fifty one years ago I set out with a map and a prayer to find Camden Passage in London's Islington section. I got on a big red London Transport bus with no idea where I was. Started out from Tottenham Court Road near the British Museum and hoped for the best. As luck would have it a drunk sat down next to me. He was pretty well lubricated for ten in the morning. And not much help. He finally stumbled off and the regulars banded round and apologized for his un British lack of manners. With their kind help and concern I got to my stop with good directions. On the way I stumbled upon this row of early nineteenth century houses on St. Peters Street. I looked this row up on Google Maps. Today one of these homes is going for one million six hundred thousand Pounds.
Uploaded
August 10th, 2020
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Comments (4)
Luther Fine Art
Congratulations! Your fantastic photographic art has been chosen as a Camera Art Group feature! You are invited to archive your work in the feature archive discussion. There are many other discussions in the group where you can promote your art even further more.
Ian Good
Nice one Ira. I don't recognise the street, but those cars are very familiar from when I was growing up.
Ira Shander replied:
This is St. Peters Street in the Islington section of London. Near Camden Passage Flea Market. The cars are probably resting in a landfill or reincarnated as washing machines in St. Petersburg, Russia. Thanks for commenting Ian. From an Agfa slide.
Kathryn Jones
Excellent work, Ira! I used to be able to see The British Museum out of my office window, when I worked for The University of London School Examinations Board in Russell Square and quite often went there during my lunch break. Bad luck with that drunk! I would have changed my seat, if it had been possible. These houses remind me of those in Fairbridge Road in Islington, where we used to live. The thought of how much they cost nowadays does not really surprise me, but it does horrify me.London was great from the career point of view, as I love working for the University, but bringing up a family in areas like Islington with its high level of criminality was another matter. When the opportunity presented itself, we moved to Essex and commuted in to give our children a better chance. I would not mind going back for a visit, except that all the people we knew have either passed away or moved away, but I would never want to live there again.
Murray Rudd
Congratulations on being featured in the FAA Group 'Off the Beaten Path.' To ensure your feature remains available over time, post your featured image(s) in the Group's 'Thanks for the Feature / Image Archive.' l/f and p if you allow pinning (www.pinterest.ca/tendrelimages/off-the-beaten-path/) (I love wandering the back streets and courts of London - must have been such an evolution to see over the decades)
Ira Shander replied:
I remember someone telling me (1969) that the area was a bit dodgy. On present day Google Maps, Islington looks gentrified and tidied up. But I really don't know. We have many old neighborhoods in Philadelphia where millennials move in and fix them up. They get tax abatements for 10 years. As soon as the kids are ready for school they move to the suburbs. I like the area around the British Museum, and Russell Square. And have to say I never felt unsafe in London. When Corona virus is under control and travel is possible I hope to see more of England. Or at least more than London.
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