click photo to enlarge
The history of these islands is written across its face and is still visible in the planning, buildings and monuments, landforms etc, wherever you go. In fact, heritage is big business in the UK and one of the main attractions to holidaymakers who live here and who visit from other countries. However, there are many people who care little for castles, cathedrals and quaint cottages, but who do value the transient qualities that Britain offers: such things as popular music, style and fashion.
I was reminded of this the other day as we walked through Shoreditch in London. This isn't a part of the city I know very well, but I have photographed there before. On this occasion we came upon a shopping development that didn't exist last time I visited, but which sprang up very quickly and opened on 3rd December 2011. It's called Boxpark, and the reason it appeared almost over-night is because it is made of shipping containers. Sixty shipping containers to be precise, stacked two storeys high and five rows wide. The "facades" are painted black and have glass door/windows. The development, that describes itself as "the world's first pop-up mall", fronts Shoreditch High Street, has a five year lease, and consists of units selling mainly fashion. Most of the traders are independents with, it appeared to me, a few containers housing well-known labels seeking a bit of "street cred". I'm no follower of fashion, in fact I'm pretty much anti-fashion, but I'm very much for innovative, visually interesting ideas such as this.
It became a subject for one of my photographs not for the "architecture", though I may return and try a few such shots in the future, but because of the photo-shoot that was taking place on the pavement outside one of the units. A few men were modelling clothes and being photographed by a couple of photographers. This was providing street entertainment for, not only passers-by and this passing photographer, but wandering St Patrick's Day revellers too.
photographs and text (c) T. Boughen
Photo 1
Camera: Canon
Mode: Aperture Priority
Focal Length: 85mm
F No: f7.1
Shutter Speed: 1/80 sec
ISO: 500
Exposure Compensation: -0.33 EV
Image Stabilisation: On
