Saturday, January 21, 2012

Dead Pigeon


I couldn't believe it -- of all the places in London to go on my last day of photo class, we were assigned Borough Market. I'd just been there the day before with Liz and Sally! Oh well.

The teacher told us that it can pay to find a quiet spot to linger with your camera and observe. In other words, you don't need to be running around all the time. Just sit and be attentive. (Very zen!)

I took that advice. As I was eating lunch at the market, I saw a flattened pigeon in the road nearby. I got interested in the ways people responded to the pigeon -- some pointed, some frowned or made gross-out faces, some laughed. Many people didn't seem to notice it at all.



I sat with my camera and photographed people and their reactions. I wound up with 17 shots, which you can see on Flickr here.


One oblivious guy managed to drag his suitcase right through the dead bird, as did the woman with the beige bag, behind him. (Why would someone bring a suitcase to Borough Market?)

5 comments:

mouse (aka kimy) said...

hilarious! a la candid camera!

oy, it looks like more than one suitcase might have pigeon guts on it!

wonderful approach to the assignment....fantastic series...love the expressions on a couple of the blokes faces!

Reya Mellicker said...

Completely brilliant, dark, funny and artful all at once. I am in awe!

Linda Sue said...

what a lucky spot you chose! It's a great story! And I guess since the pigeon is so very dead, running it over another few times will not increase his deadness , job well done! Love these shots!

Ms.M said...

How macabre. Sad for the pigeon. When ever I see a dead animal I just wish someone woul clean it up. Though you did get some great reaction shots.

Ms. M

Barbara said...

I can't imagine how anyone could roll a suitcase over a dead bird. I can't even drive over a dead squirrel without trying to miss hitting it again.