Uploads from Gavin Mills Photography, with geodata

Summer Fun

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Fri, 10 May 2013 01:50:43 -0700

As work schedule has been really hectic the last couple of weeks sadly I've not had any time to get out and take any street portraits but I did have a lovely day out with Noriko and Ren. I liked this picture of Ren in his Nappy discovering the water fountains at Ruislp Lido .

Leica M9
Summilux 35mm asph

seen my bike ?

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 20:47:02 -0700

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

Leica M8
Summilux 35mm

Homeless Shibuya

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:52:20 -0700

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

Following from my last photo of this man who was sitting on the station steps , this was taken the previous night . We didn't really talk to much as I spent most of the time talking to his friend but he was obliging and friendly when I asked if I could take his photo.

Just thought I'd mention that at the moment trying not to use any of the sharpening or clarity tool on Lightroom, although I do love the effect I'm just trying to learn to get the look right straight off the camera ......with varying successes .
The 35mm summilux asph is pretty darn sharp in the first place and its nice to show what the lens can do without me trying over enhance it .
Though I did add a touch of vignetting and pushed the contrast : )

Gemma Gregory

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:52:36 -0800

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

Last night I was invited to a party put on by Italian fashion label Diesel and Bolier Room TV
I was just coming to hang out but ended making some pictures there . The party took place in the Derelict and now closed Selfridges Hotel on Baker Street.

As I stumbled out onto the the street at about 3am I saw this girl who I guessed had been at the party
I still had my camera in my hand and I thought she looked like she needed to have a photo taken and just went up to her and said I'm going to take your photo !!!
She giggled and said yeah yeah and then started give me all these crazy poses mixed with lots of giggles . I remember thinking she'd probably had a few of the free cocktails.

Anyways I joked and said " hey your pretty good at this you should do modelling "
she told me "thats cos I'm Gemma from Made in Chelsea" .
For those that don't know it "Made in Chelsea a UK tv programme about posh kids or ' trustafari ' as my friend calls them, but I have never watched it , and had no idea who she was .

Then her friend came over gave me a filthy look and said "Gemma you getting papped again"
I told her I was just a photographer and made pictures for myself and felt a bit like i'd been condemned as a Pap which was a bit insulting . As if I was after her photo to make money .

Well to cut whats becoming a long story short - Gemma was still very lovely and just kept giggling and being friendly but her friend had it in for me . This was the first snap I made and is straight off the Leica with no post but I'll upload a couple of the other shots in the comments .

If anyone wants to see the other photos I took at the party you can check the album on my Facebook .
www.facebook.com/gavin.mills.125

Samui ne (it's cold)

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 01:30:21 -0800

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

Walking along Omotesando in Tokyo and saw this chilly looking group sitting at the crossroads .
I liked that one of them had thought to bring a blanket with him . Didn't ask for the picture but when I asked them sarcastically if it was cold they laughed and I clicked .

The bird man

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 12:34:06 -0800

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

Saw this man feeding the gulls in Ueno park and to get a few good shots of him whilst he was trying to get the birds to catch the food in mid air . He told me that he comes to this same spot each morning to give the birds some food .

The group shot .

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 13:48:37 -0800

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

Just as the man walking towards us had arranged the group perfectly I happened to be walking by and couldn't resist stealing his thunder . I crouched down said "cheese" and took the photo, they all thought it was pretty funny .

Man in a Kimono

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 16:39:56 -0800

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

Saw this guy standing outside a shrine, he had his hands together in a prayer position,and at first I thought he must have been some kind of monk .
Tried to get a snap of him praying but he was to fast and finished before I could get my camera out .
Anyhow I approached him and told him that I liked his kimono and traditional look and would it be ok to make a photo. He was also he was a bit camp in his mannerisms and spoke good English , luckily he was fine with me taking his photo and I wondered might he be some kind of actor or theatrical person .
I showed him the picture on the camera and he seemed pretty pleased and he asked me if I wanted to take another shot with his fan, which I did but preferred the first one which seemed less posed.
Afterwards he asked me if I would like a towel , which I thought kind of unusual but it seemed polite to accept his gift and actually it was a nice towel with a traditional japanese scene on it .

Leica M8
Summicron 90mm

love comments but please no big glossy awards or invites.

Narita Shrine Park

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 06:35:40 -0800

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

Leica M8
Cosina voigtlander Super Heliar 15mm

Narita Shrine Park

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 06:25:40 -0800

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

Japan has the most beautiful trees .
it takes a lot of time, skill and dedication to make a tree as beautiful as this. Its like a living work of art .

Leica M8
Cosina Voigtlander Super Heliar 15mm

sweet ride

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 16:16:40 -0800

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

Leica M8
Summilux 35mm asph II

Charlie Pye

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 11:46:10 -0800

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

Spent a couple of enjoyable hours in Soho street shooting today , just as I was going home and down to the underground I saw this guy, I did that thing where I walk past someone and then think I should've stopped and got a picture. As I walked back I noticed he was sleeping so I thought I 'd leave a couple of pounds on his blanket and he woke up .
"Sorry for waking you" I said, and explained I was going to ask him for a picture and he said sure he didn't mind at all .
He explained to me how he really wanted to get a job rather than begging and on asking him what he'd like to do and he said absolutely anything and he'd be really happy to sweep the streets .
Now 60 years old and out of work for 5 years he said that the job centre wouldn't be interested in helping him and the homeless charities only want to help young people, but just another 5 years and he'll get his pension.
I really liked Charlie, he seemed like an intelligent guy who'd just had some bad luck and I took his mobile number and will try make some enquiries for him on the internet and see if there are any organisations that might be able to help him as I think 5 years is a long time to wait .

Decided to leave this in colour as he had beautifully blue eyes .

Leica M8
35mm Summilux Asph

Oxford Street and Piccadilly Xmas morning

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 10:41:14 -0800

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

My wife thought I was a bit crazy when I told her early on a rainy Christmas morning that I wanted to go and take some pictures up in the west end, but I had this idea that on this one day that Central London would be quieter than any other day of the year . Although Noriko thought it was a little mad she decided that if I was going then she and our 14 month old son were coming with me. we only went for about an hour but I think it was well worth the effort .

Leica M8
Voightlander Heliar mkII 15mm - F4.5

A smile in a hurry

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 13:34:05 -0800

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

Took this picture a couple of weeks ago and have forgotten the name of this cheerful guy that I stopped just outside Leicester Sqare station . He came bounding along the street and as I held up my camera he gave me a cheeky smile and poked out his tongue . He was happy to stop for a quick photo but soon as I'd taken it he made an apology that he was in a hurry to get to the toilet and was quickly on his way . Whatever your name was I hope you made it and thanks for being such a good sport .

Bad Santa

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 01:58:03 -0800

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

I was in a bit of a hurry to go and meet my wife but saw this raggedy Santa selling copies of the big issue in Sloane Square which actually happens to be one of the most expensive areas of London . It was a brief encounter just 2 shots and I didn't catch his name. I sincerely hope that he has a good Christmas as he was a friendly guy and had no objections to me making a photo.

girl talk

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 19:37:25 -0800

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

Ljubljana Street Market

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 13:09:36 -0800

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

This weekend I was playing in the capital city of Ljubljana which is in Slovenia.
In this market nearly all the people working the fruit and vegetable stalls were old ladies .

Elena of Lefkara

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 03:28:49 -0700

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

Lefkara is located on the southern slopes of the Troödos Mountains of Cyprus, it features cobbled streets and picturesque architecture with around 1,100 inhabitants. A common sight is groups of women who sit in the narrow village streets working on their fine embroidery, as they have for centuries.

As I approached this lady I took the picture below. I'm uncertain whether it was the shutter noise or that she just heard us approach but a little embarrassed of taking her photo without asking I apologised but she gave me a warm and friendly smile and said no problem it's fine . We spent some time talking about what a lovely town she lived in and the embroidery that she was working on which had already taken her a month and looked far from finished. I enquired what kind of price do you sell them sell for if it takes such a long time and she told me from 150 - 1500 euro depending on the amount of hours .

I liked how the life Lefkara felt as if it hasn't changed for hundreds of years and that most of the town isn't accessible by car. Also that almost everyone you walk past says hello or at least acknowledges you which is a stark contrast to city life .

A view from Stavrovouni

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 20:53:21 -0700

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

My wife Noriko took this shot from the summit of Stavrovouni Mountain which is one of the tallest mountains in the Larnaca region of Cyprus . Built on the top of the mountain was a Monastery that dates back to around the 4th Century and is still active today . The place was so quiet and remote but there are monks still living there and they keep most of it is closed off to the public. As I walked through the entrance to the monastery I was stopped by a monk with a long beard who told me that my camera and my phone would not be allowed in and neither were any women. I felt a little annoyed as we had travelled a long way to get there but I could't really argue about it with a monk so I had to leave Noriko waiting outside with the camera and our 1 year old son whilst I explored inside . Anyhow she was pretty content outside with the incredible vista and she took a few photos which I was happy to discover when I downloaded .

Ueno Homeless Man

nobody@flickr.com (Gavin Mills Photography) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 09:17:02 -0800

Gavin Mills Photography posted a photo:

Ueno Park in Tokyo is a home to many homeless people , they would consider themselves to have escaped from society and even have their own society and form of hierarchy amongst themselves . The long term stay in camps, like small villages made of cardboard and blue tarps .
I didn't catch this guys name but he looked pretty content sitting on his makeshift lounger in the sun and enjoying a carton of Saki and was perfectly happy for me to make his photo.

Best views on black

Leica M8
summiux 35mm Asph