Flickr: donald judge

Retired Teacher, Musician, and Traveller

Just a matter of principle: sorry, but anyone favouriting or commenting on my photos who then has nothing available to me will be blocked. To me, this goes against the principles of Flickr.

My Buddy Icon - I try to stay the right side of the camera, but I was in the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester one day when a student approached me with a pencil sketch she'd done of me. She said she hoped I didn't mind. I said I'd treasure it! Then I realised I hadn't asked her name... So it'll have to remain anonymous - but thanks!

To anyone who might be in my candid shots...

I particularly enjoy capturing people performing (music, dance etc.) or as participants / the audience at events - and in a way, all the people coming over Vyssi Brod Weir are performers - a sort of choreography they have varying degrees of control over. I try to spot subjects who are distinctive in some way and hope that the image flatters them. It's impractical to ask permission and anyway, I don't really like posed photos. Most subjects are probably unaware they've been photographed, but some of my favourite shots are when they realise and give a spontaneous smile. If anyone makes it clear they don't want to be photographed, I never persist. If you spot yourself - or your child - and like my photo, I'll be delighted - please let me know! If you don't, or you're unhappy with an image being on a public page, let me know and I'll delete it.

I try to produce a documentary of events and make no apology for taking so many photos (especially when around half the photos I take end up in the recycling bin!)

Please show respect to the unsuspecting subjects! I like to watch a set as a slide show as often there are several pictures of the same dance, event, or boatload, reflecting the excitement and variety of emotions in the activity. Capturing the action and the facial expression is far more important to me than the clothes (or lack of them!)

I don't post photos from the children's music theatre I direct or from the school where I worked. They have their own websites.

Finally, please don't be offended if you favourite or comment on one of my photos, or become a contact and I don't reciprocate. It's simply due to pressure of time and the inability to keep up with everyone!

Some of my photos are on the JSGroup website - song and dance in the Czech Republic children-festivals.e-vision.cz/en/reference-/

One - of the Dancing House - is on the Schmap online guide to Prague www.schmap.com/prague/home/#r=none&mapview=Map&ta... (clicking on the thumbnail links back to the photo on Flickr.

One of the flea market in Sofia, Bulgaria, is published in the Thomas Cook City Spots Guide to to Sofia www.flickr.com/photos/27911027@N00/461709882/ tastefully cropped!

Some photos of Buxton Festival Fringe's Fringe Sunday in July 2008 have been posted on the Fringe website www.buxtonfringe.org.uk and they've been kind enough to use one of my photos on their Flyers advertising the 2009 Fringe Festival.

A photo taken in Brno, Czech Republic is used on this website www.happytellus.com/brno/czech-republic