Big Issue

Moving away from the Thailand series for a short while, but there will be more images from there soon.

The above image was taken in Weston-Super-Mare, where Graham Walker was selling the street magazine 'Big Issue' whilst wearing top hat and tails to raise money for charity. Homeless since 1992, Graham has raised thousands of pounds for worthy causes throughout the South West. 'I like doing something which is an anomaly of what people expect a Big Issue man to be doing,' said Graham in an earlier interview with BBC Somerset Sound. 'It's not about taking, but actually putting something back into the community,' he added.

Dressed in his eye-catching attire at his 'pitch' outside Boots, Graham began his quest on 12th February 2007 and has vowed to continue selling until he reaches his £2,000 target. The money will go to Children's Hospice South West (where Graham's nephew died) and Somewhere to Go, a Weston-based homeless centre. On the day that I saw this scene, the total was already over £1600. People were stopping to speak to Graham, buy the magazine and / or drop donations into the collection bucket.

I had to find a vantage point on the other side of the pedestrianised street from where I could take the shot unobserved, wait for a gap in the crowd and go for it. A smiling security guard from another shop came out, thrust a cigarette into Graham's hand, exchanged a few words with him and disappeared. There were several failed attempts (not surprising given the number of passing shoppers) but eventually I managed to capture the above shot with Graham enjoying his smoke, but all the while keeping an eye out for potential customers. Wonderful character, great cause - I have the utmost admiration and respect for Graham's efforts. 

Date Added:	27 Feb 2007 - 08:38
Camera:	Fuji S9500
Lens:	28-300
Film:	XD
Categories:	General Portraits / People Photo Journalism
Tags:	black and white, people, candid, man, big issue, homeless, selling, weston-super-mare
Readers' Votes:	148