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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.
| Title: | Big Issue |
| Username: | 
AlanBW |
| Uploaded: | 27 Feb 2007 - 8:38 AM |
| Camera: | Fujifilm FinePix S9500 Zoom |
| Lens: | 28-300 |
| Recording media: | XD |
| Tags: | Big issue, Candid, General, Homeless, Man, People, Photo journalism, Portraits / people, Selling, Weston-super-mare |
| Votes: | 148 |
Comments
Excellent capture!
Well taken shot.
Love the description.
~Alley~
Alan, this is a really great image emulating old B&W films, but in a contamporary setting, and for a good cause too! Thanks as ever for the full description - it builds the image so much through understanding.
Mike
Love the subject, and great for mono. Would like to see it with a bit more contrast/punch. Superb work though
Tommy
Hi Alan. As you say, it is often the anomalous situations that produce some interesting contrast shots. Understand entirely why you went for this one and it works well.
Nick
Love this mono portrait.
Like so much the smokin and top hat.
Great work 
Noe
Excellent candid, well captured!! Nice tonal range and detail in the mono.
Andrew
This is a cracker Alan. 'Exactly' the last person you would expect to see selling The Big Issue.A fine capture of a man dedicated to a good cause.
Brian.
Brilliant shot Alan. its so good to hear a story like this... what a character!
louise
Great shot Alan. If it wasn't for the story one could easily think that this picture was taken during the 1920s'. Click!
Guillaume
.
Very good image Alan, the tones are excellent as is the subject, great character shot, Adrian
This is a wonderful image - excellent, and as usual, a great description. Perhaps the Big Issue might like to publish it?
Chris
What an amazing capture of such an interesting moment!! Not only was your timing perfect, Alan, but this picture is just top notch in quality too. Bravo.
Andrew
Excellent capture - love his expression (which btw. reminds me of Sid James)
Matt
Quality. Such an unexpected contrast within the one image, and your description is thought-provoking - as ever.
Allie
Like this photo jounalistic image with a great description.
Antonio
Lovely image Alan works really well in B/W, gives it that Raffles era.
Mick
Lovely work Alan great in mono ... looks like the legendary Frank Sinatra.
Bert
Superb character candid Alan with that touch of vintage feel and a great and moving story too.
Mark.
An excellent candid character portrait Alan and a superb story to go with it. This one could have been taken early this century if it wasn't for the advertising in the shop window behind!
I thought it was Fred Astaire! Great character picture, Alan and great information to go with it.
David
brilliant.. he looks like quite a character... love it
bun)
What a brilliant capture Alan superb
Brian.................
superb capture - good character capture - (I thought at first it was Fred Astaire but realized you were in nappies when he was around!!)
Hi Alan,
Excellent candid image and photojournalism.Hope Tricia's mum had a great birthday.Excellent portrait,not many BI sellers in coat hat and tails.Take care.Ann
Great candid shot. The description as always gives the viewer much more than the shot itself. Your a star, Alan. Take care mate.
Bill.
A great shot of a great character. Well worth the wait. - Brian.
stunning bnw portaitand good discription!
very well done Alan
ollie
Brilliant shot Alan. Thanks too for the description, I had not heard of him before.
Nigel
Interesting story, and good picture to go with it. Mono suits the subject well.
Roger
very intresting story and a fabulous candid capture alan, very well done.
marc.
What a fine candid Alan, you've captured loads of character here! Even better in mono.
Joe
Brilliant quality in this one Alan. Looks as if it was taken in the 1930's.
Phil
At first glance I thought it was Fred Astaire.
Another great candid.
Rock
What an expression you caught there, amasing. thatnks for a comment on my image
Fine Work Alan you have caught the momment in time perfectly.
And what a great character !
James
Alan, this is a fabulous picture! You've caught a great expression - one eye closed, pulling on the cigarette. You'd almost expect Jeeves to step into the frame! What a great guy too. John
WOW !! Alan one of your best shots yet . Looks like a double for Fred Astaire . I bet people were curious . You usually see some so full of despair selling THE BIG ISSUE . A great capture xxx
Excellent candid of this interesting character, wonderful double for Fred and the mono suits his 'era'. I admire people like this and wish him well in his fund raising I somehow think he'll exceed his target Well done
Karen
Fred Astaire to a tee! Where is Ginger Rogers ?. Super image Alan.
Regards Phil
A great image Alan. I enjoyed your description, but even without that, the image and the copies of Big Issue tell it all.
Paul
classic he looks a bit of a carrictore.
great social comentrwork, ian
I thought Fred Astaire passed away? Spot on! Click!!!
Greg
Fascinating shot. A really great capture. You hit the button at JUST the right moment.
John (-:
What a great description and marvellous portrait, thanks for sharing.
Agree with all the above Alan, have no idea what the 'Big Issue' is tho'.
Rgds., Jim
Captured at just the right time Alan, well suited to Mono, he certainly looks as though he is enjoying that cigarette, one eye closed as he takes the draw and the look of satisfaction . I love the contrast this image portrays, the gentleman dressed in top hat and tails and looking every part the Gent seling the Big Issue.
C
Looking through your critiques, I can see that there must be an affinity among us snappers, I like your shot and so do many of the people that I get comments from and send them to, welcome to the club! Tim.
Simply one of your best photos Alan. The expression you caught is terrific and b&w fits this as perfect as his hat. Congrats
Great character shot and wonderfully informing description as always. Brilliant.
Fantastically funny - I thought; " Burlington Berty from Bow". Having read the story it's really great piece of Journalism!!!! Great picture.
(*.*)D.
Well-taken
I had to scroll a long way down to find this space.Tremendous photography.
stunning b&w alan well deserved with all this attention
its like you have captured time
cat..
damn it i gotta scroll all the way back up now..
Hi Alan..great shot and a superb story to go with it...Hope you put something in the bucket after he gave you such a superb shot...LOL
Don
What an inspiring story and wonderful capture. Bruce
What an amazing man! Can't help but smile... Very well caught shot. Makes for a super image.
Fantastic capture and great story. Brilliant expression, he's certainly playing the part.
Jem
this is a fantastic photograph and what a great description and a fantastic guy. lovely capture!
Nice shot. It's so cosmopolitan and the story that goes with it is neat in itself.
Well caught! Priceless expression, you can see his 'weather eye' out, even as he takes a quick drag.
Doug
I know of only one, celebrity Graham Walker, but if it is this man he has lost a lot of weight. I met him once in Warwickshire. Very funny man, and it doesn't surprise me that he did something like this, nor the reasons. Nice shot Alan. Candid's are you..
Click
Brilland picture, the black and white is done very well, I don't think it would be the same in colour, the b&w makes it. great picture, really good.
What a great story to go with this shot. The conversion suits the subject perfectly. Congrats on all the attention this has picked up!
Howard
Apart from great candid photographs the background to them is fantastic. Stunning collection.
Great photo, super sharp! Works great as b&w too.
What a character!!
Great capture Alan - lol
What a good way to raise funds.
Jennywren ( :
superb image..from people who deserve more support than they get..have you offered thiss to the mag?
what can I say that has not been said.................crackin shot
petra
Hi Alan, I have to say out of all the photos on epz I keep showing this one to everyone. I really love it and altough I commented on it already I feel I have to say it again. The story behind is so great also !!!.
Superb Alan, not only a top drawer image but a fantastic heart felt story line, I admire your candid work well done.
Best Regards Willie
Hi Alan. On a pal's computer. came across this photo of me. Excellent. Thanks also for your comments.The total i managed to raise was £2,800. Have now moved on to another town. Another experience.
Hi there, It's amazing portrait of an amazing man !! If the comment above comes from the real Graham Walker it's the next amazing thing that happened !
Graham Walker, pictured above, caught sight of this image while playing around on a friend's computer. He made contact with me through EPZ. Graham has written a book to raise money for charity (coming out in August 2007) and asked if the image could be used for promotional material - or even possibly on the front cover. I was only too pleased to agree. Nothing confirmed as yet and of course it might not happen, but still great to be asked.
Coming late to this, but I was fascinated reading all the above. What a great story from start to finish and including all the little sub-stories in there too. Well done both of you! Oh - and it's a cracking shot!
Visit Graham Walker's (the man photographed) blog, where you can see what he has to say and find out how to purchase his autobiography -
Graham's blog
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