Why I'm proud to be British - DPChallenge Forums

Sony SAL-50F14 Normal 50mm f/1.4 Autofocus Lens for the Sony

07/12/2005 06:43:44 PM · #1

I was taking photos at the Huddersfield Mela last weekend (Huddersfield is where I live in Yorkshire, a Mela is an Asian festival).
This was only a few days after the London bombing, and it was very refreshing to see so many ethnic groups happily enjoying the day side by side, with a very relaxed and laid back police presence.
In fact, it was a little weird seeing kids on a fairground ride of a London bus... this really is the epitome of innocence. I probably would not have noticed it myself, but I was looking at taking photos at the festival specifically to illustrate racial tolerance.
Notice the amount of Islam flags everywhere.
Having said that, it's very sad that Leeds which is so near was so involved in the London events, but I firmly believe that tolerance and trust is the way forward, not suspicion and fear.

Message edited by author 2005-07-12 18:59:10.

ladyhawk22

Sony DSLR-A700

07/12/2005 06:55:34 PM · #2

if you're ever looking for a "foreign exchange" photography student...let me know.

will cook and clean to be out of the country!

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/12/2005 06:57:11 PM · #3

DPC visitors are always welcome!
(Just give us some notice, so we can tidy!)

Gil P

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

07/12/2005 06:57:29 PM · #4

hey...I so admire how you (London) delt with this, life went on...the best form of "in your face" reaction that could have been. who needs a gin when you have attitude!

ladyhawk22

Sony DSLR-A700

Sony SAL-50F14 Normal 50mm f/1.4 Autofocus Lens for the Sony

07/12/2005 07:10:26 PM · #5

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

DPC visitors are always welcome!
(Just give us some notice, so we can tidy!)

oh be careful!!!

shouldn't tempt me like that....

though if you're ever in the mood to visit the flat Midwest US....door is always open ;-)

Message edited by author 2005-07-12 19:11:02.

jaxter

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Tamron AF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 LD for Canon

07/12/2005 07:15:06 PM · #6

Good on ya Bobster! Everyone should feel proud of their country and their heritage. A sense of pride in one's surrounding is directly tied to pride in one's self, and in my book there's little more important than feeling good about yourself. After all, if you don't like you, who will.
Jack

Riponlady

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

07/12/2005 07:16:39 PM · #7

Thanks, bobster!

P

Riponlady

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

07/12/2005 07:16:40 PM · #8

Thanks, bobster!

P

pawdrix

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

07/12/2005 07:43:02 PM · #9

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

DPC visitors are always welcome!
(Just give us some notice, so we can tidy!)

Well, there's eight of us including my cat and pet ferret(he's almost house trained too). How's next Tuesday sound?

07/16/2005 05:54:31 AM · #10

Well, these photos have taken on a new flavour, now I've found out one of the bombers grew up in Huddersfield very near where these photos were taken.
I'd like some advice from DPC members on what to do with these photos, I can't help feeling I could get some news sources to use them now as they've become very relevant, but I took them with the intention of making race relations better and wouldn't want them used as ammunition. I personally think I need to sit on them for a while, what do you think?

Message edited by author 2005-07-16 06:32:20.

Nikon D200

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/16/2005 07:16:13 AM · #11

It would be hard for a reporter to say that relations were tense looking at those photos. If the story was negative, they might not use your photos to support that angle.

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

07/16/2005 07:25:05 AM · #12

excellent work (as always), bob!

you might consider writing the story yourself, or finding a writer who has either expressed the angle you see (or has covered things from a positive side). i don't see how these images though could be used negatively, though. maybe you want to make the most of their relevance now?

pawdrix

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

07/16/2005 07:57:34 AM · #13

In the images that you posted I can't see a real mix of people that would promote or lean towards sharing culture or racial harmony. So I can't see where they might fit into any theme of your country trying to heal itself in such a way.

CNN did a piece yesterday on the country trying to get back on it's feet and the Brick Lane, Stepney/Bethnel Green areas that have really mixed populations and the difficulties now facing local Muslim residents.

There might be an angle there in your photo's but it's not clear.

I also don't see any negative potential in these images.

Message edited by author 2005-07-16 07:58:34.

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

07/16/2005 08:04:43 AM · #14

Thanks guys!
I wrote an article to accompany the photos: please don't use it without permission!

As a Londoner living in Huddersfield, I felt privileged to attend the Huddersfield Mela last weekend which was for me a positive affirmation of our collective ability to put our differences aside and show the levels of trust and tolerance which has made me proud to be British. Melas are popular festivals in the Yorkshire region, expressing the exuberant and colourful side of Asian culture.
Only three days after the bombings, there was something touching about the innocence of children happily playing on a fairground ride of a London bus. Nobody around me seemed to pick up on this macabre detail of an otherwise buoyant and carefree afternoon. I was particularly impressed with the calm and restrained presence of the local police who seemed to be down on numbers from the year before. The few incidences which occurred from over-exuberance were dealt with quietly and sensitively. Islam flags were everywhere, and one gentleman wore a t-shirt with the slogan �Proud to be a Pakistani�. What particularly impressed me was that at the same time, I could see lots of St. George�s Cross t-shirts on very stereotypically looking white English men who were also having a relaxed and peaceful afternoon. I�d read the stoic accounts of Londoners getting on with their lives after the bombings and having commuted in London during the time of the IRA bombings myself, I could understand that it�s part of the London psyche to just get on with life without making a drama of such things. So when I went home after the Mela, I was even more impressed with Britain�s ability to come together after such a tragedy.
When it emerged that the 4th bomber, Jermaine Lindsay, grew up in Huddersfield very near where I live and where this Mela takes place ever year, it profoundly shocked me. Watching the news last night and recognising faces that we saw regularly at our local supermarket brought this all a little too close to home. I believe that our multi-culturalism is what makes this nation great. I�ve read too many articles and editorials recently which say otherwise. Let us all remember that the bombers� families and communities are all horrified and appalled by what has happened, and while we try and understand the contributing factors to their disturbed state of mind we should not allow suspicion to erode our common humanity. We must not allow whoever organised the attacks to separate us.

I'm sending it off to some papers now... don't know if it will be of interest or not.

Beagleboy

Canon EOS-30D

07/16/2005 08:11:02 AM · #15

Good luck with that Bob. I really hope it works out for you.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

07/16/2005 08:20:32 AM · #16

Thanks, I feel strongly that I want to do all I can to bring everyone together.

pawdrix

Nikon D700

07/16/2005 08:51:20 AM · #17

Bob-I PM'ed you a question the other day. Haven't heard back.

Good luck with the article piece. It's nicely written.