Topic: 1950's London

[Paul Mitchell]

I am now the proud owner of this superb print. The original image was made by my (and Leon's) good friend Vic Attfield way back in the 1950's using his Rolleiflex. I scanned this negative and quite a few others for him and have admired it ever since. I could have printed it out myself but wanted Vic's interpretation of it. It's quite a lot darker than my original scan and has certainly enhanced that feeling of mystery.

[Late Developer]

Wow.

That is a great photo.  It almost looks like a film set from one of the moody British films of the day.  I have a tendency to scan (or shoot digi) scenes and post-process too "light" - something I'm trying to eradicate as, if it was taken in the dark, it should look authentically dark.

This photo has light that is perfectly balanced between the external pub "lamp" which lights the building and the figure and the light emanating from the pub itself - which suggests that the figure is isolated (or is isolating himself) from the crowd indoors.

I love the shadowy buildings in the background. Just enough light to see them but dark enough to leave them mysterious. 

I wonder if the location still exists?

[Indofunk]

That is indeed lovely!

[Adam Doe]

That photo is great!

[monkowa]

This is fantastic!

[Aksel]

That´s art! Thanks for sharing.

[irv_b]

I can only say WOW!! And I still don't think that expresses how good I think print is.

[imagesfrugales]

Outstanding photography, bravo!

I hope you don't mind a critical note. Such a great picture deserves - or needs imo - a meticulous elaboration, and that also means a perfect alignment of the verticals. This one is clearly tilted. Furthermore - depending on taste of course - I would crop the bottom.

Thanks a lot for sharing.

[calbisu]

Double wow, superb shot, in the 50's? That's long time ago..

[Mab]

Such a beautiful print.

[Adam Doe]

I can't get this shot out of my head.I keep thinking about it. It's quite compelling. Those buildings in the background create such incredibly moody shadows. And not a single light in evidence from any of them. Perhaps they're factories or warehouses, business of the day long since finished. I'm hazarding a guess that the building on the corner is a pub. There was a company called Barclay Perkins and Co that ran Anchor Brewery. Though I haven't a clue whether or not that Barclay is the one on the lighted sign. I did a quick google search for Prince of Wales pub, but found a newish one in Birmingham and one on Drury lane in London that doesn't seem to match. Anyone have any ideas about what that Barclay is in reference to? Or what corner of London this building stood upon?

[Aksel]

Barclay might refer to the cigarette brand? Not sure if it was sold as Barclay or labeled as "Kent" in the UK though.

[Paul Mitchell]

I have just been speaking with Vic Attfield and he reliably informs me that the pub was in Shoreditch. Adam is quite correct about Barclays being the name of the brewery. In actual fact it was one of my wife's ancestors Ralph Thrale that bought the Anchor Brewery in 1729 and turned it into the largest brewery in Europe throughout the 18th century. There's even a Thrale Street in Southwark named after the family.

[Adam Doe]

Thanks for the background Paul. Much appreciated.