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Our secret

By mrswoolybill
I've had my eye on this for a while, waiting to catch it at the right time of day. It's the shadow of the lettering in the window of our local Youth Charity Shop.
This establishment is our community's secret weapon, it supports the town's youth services. Northumberland County Council slashed their funding some time ago, the shop is the reason they are still up and running.
It is run by a team of volunteers all in their seventies and eighties, all committed to supporting our young people. It's a wonderful example of how generations can pull together, the young people are involved in a number of their own community projects around the town.
Earlier this year, out of the blue, the County Council put up a big For Sale board outside the premises where the youth services are based. No consultation, not even a warning to the occupants. They were to be moved to totally unsuitable premises outside the town centre.
I guess Northumberland reckoned they could bulldoze it through, they weren't prepared for the level of protest from all generations. They backed down, article here , and then tried to claim kudos for listening...
Thanks for looking,
Moira

Tags: Photo journalism Black and white Specialist and abstract Community photography Saturday shadows

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Comments


nonur 14 18 13 Turkey
6 May 2017 7:33AM
An admirable story behind this lovely shadow shot, Moira.
cats_123 Plus
19 5.2k 31 Northern Ireland
6 May 2017 7:42AM
One could attach many a suffix here 😁😁😁
JohnnyBG 6 2 United Kingdom
6 May 2017 8:19AM
Your image is very nice indeed and a real pleasure to study but I was also impressed by your activism and wished we could give special awards for that too. It doesn't bare thinking about what was likely said behind closed doors when the people prevailed. Just wait for the "next move" !!
Chinga Plus
12 116 3 United Kingdom
6 May 2017 8:38AM
Excellent shadow image presented with beautiful content Moira!
Isabel GrinGrin
IreneClarke 8 1.4k 2 United Kingdom
6 May 2017 8:42AM
Looks a fabulous shop and good to hear the story and the right outcome.
leo_nid 6 12
6 May 2017 8:53AM
an exciting story of battling with local authorities, very much similar to what takes place over here from time to time with varying degree of confrontation and vehemence..
a fine shot of the shop window, too, beautiful light and shadows, and i want that tea set in the lower left-hand corner
Smile
franken Plus
20 5.6k 4 United Kingdom
6 May 2017 9:18AM
Excellent shadows and and interesting write up, Moira.

It's good to hear that the council backed down which is rare these days.

We're not too happy at the plans to build a biomass incinerator in the town and we doubt if the council are listening!Sad

Ken.
helenlinda Plus
15 374 22 United Kingdom
6 May 2017 9:24AM
I wonder if you remember the time of day you took this Moira - I have a particular shadow that comes at 10 o'clock if its coming at all, so have named it my 10 o'clock shadowSmileSmile
Helping in a charity shop I am always fascinated by the contents of other shop windows and their prices. Lovely set of china with royalty photos , but the price of that sugar basin is much cheaper than we would sell it, so I think its a bargain !!!
Helen
JohnnyBG 6 2 United Kingdom
6 May 2017 9:44AM
For working out shadows and other useful things I recommend an APP called TPE, The Photographers Ephemeris.
Maps anywhere in the world close up like Google Earth and lets one mark precisely where a shadow is wanted then, assuming it's a possibility, the App shows the year, month, day and time when it will happen.
Very easy to understand too.
dark_lord Plus
19 3.0k 836 England
6 May 2017 9:56AM
Very nicely shot Moira, and sometimes you have to be patient to get the right conditions.
Councils don't want to help anybody unless it's for their own ends, and the recent election results will undoubtedly mean less consideration for any community efforts.
Joline Plus
16 38 59 United States
6 May 2017 12:20PM
My kind of shop, all kinds of treasures.
Good for the people for standing their ground for this fine cause. Politics has no heart, it's up to us to keep it honest.
6 May 2017 12:48PM
Some lovely stuff there me ole china.
Great shot with the composition honed to perfection.

JohnSmile
Shadows of a certain lady from Last of the summer Wine.
Your wait was well justified Moira.

Dougie
mistere Plus
9 24 7 England
6 May 2017 1:40PM
Great shadow capture Moira, and only £1.50 for a sugar bowl SmileSmile
Nice work all round.

Dave.
patri 19 3 Italy
6 May 2017 1:50PM
A fragile secret. Well done.
TrevBatWCC Plus
14 13 19 England
6 May 2017 2:11PM
It was worth the wait to capture this, Moira Smile Good to hear the story had a happy ending too Smile A wonderful and very nicely detailed capture of these retro goods - love that plate on the right... Smile
Trev Smile
Daisymaye Plus
14 26 24 Canada
6 May 2017 2:17PM
What a great story with a very good ending. Nice to hear a good ending for a change. A window with some lovely china in it and a shadow too.
bliba Plus
17 1 2 Austria
6 May 2017 4:14PM
great story and image
mrswoolybill Plus
16 3.8k 2595 United Kingdom
6 May 2017 4:53PM
Thanks everyone, and special thanks to Johnny, Helen, Joline and Trev for their UAs.
We are settled down after a long day's driving, I hope to get some time on the site tonight. An EPZ member from many years ago, Dave87, is due to land at our doorstep soon....
I have heard of TPE, never explored it. There is a problem with getting shadows in the North East, visible sun is unpredictable!
Regarding prices, I quite often pop in to mention that an item in the window is under-priced, I've seen Maling marked for a couple of pounds.
Negotiations are under way to finance the East Centre long-term, things are looking good at the moment.
NevJB 8 2 1 United Kingdom
7 May 2017 8:33AM
Beautiful image - love the composition and shadows - wonderful in B&W.
dales Plus
7 13 Australia
7 May 2017 9:23AM
Wonderful shadow capture & excellent result for the people also Moira SmileSmileSmile
Ian
Rende 16 38 4 Netherlands
7 May 2017 10:12AM
Excellent shadow shot and an inspiring write up!
Rende
Nikonuser1 Plus
10 175 16 United Kingdom
7 May 2017 11:29AM
Excellent mono image Moira, great write up toGrinGrinGrin, to many times the councils try to do this, and get away with itSadSad

Cliff
qosmio 14 2 United Kingdom
7 May 2017 7:38PM
Excellently executed shot. Such crisp detail and made for b/w.

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