I found myself back in England

Well first, I have been 'back in England' (rather too romanticised word used for artistic licence) for bloody weeks but I've had such a backlog of stuff to do and pics to process, that I thought this pic can help mark some kind of (temporary) closure from the 'americana'-type pics I've been uploading recently. It was taken a few weeks ago, during a fun stroll with Matthew through the streets, with our camera equipment, a mask, and the presence of a random cat...

Completely inspired by Helen Levitt!

Great news, I'm judging on this year's Photographer of the Year competition run by Digital Camera magazine. It's open to anyone in the world, entries are free and all submitted online, and you can submit up to 5 images to each of 10 categories... so I expect to see all your entries :)

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Comments

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(157 comments)

Miss Aniela says:

.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Darling♥Angel says:

Ooooh I love the cat!!! Those little glowing eyes are so cute :D
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

NikonD80 Blue Moon says:

excellent moment...
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

DaizyB says:

Very cool shot, nice light and processing... Mood is mysterious! I like it.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

threejumps says:

It's a good shot - love that cat and the sense of movement. Mike
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

SMGallery (MooreandCruz.com) says:

Wonderful! & your cat followed you! =)
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

nardell says:

it looks like you and the cat suddenly appeared there on the street. so cool aniela, and congrats madame judge. :))
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Sebastián-Dario says:

Crear capture !
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Bryan Burke says:

A judge, how on earth did you manage that? The entries in past comps for this mag have been very high indeed.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

whymanm says:

Looking good - that cat has yellow line eyes.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Babul Bhatt | Now in Delhi says:

lol it seems as tho you are waiting for the bus. :P
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

WisoNet says:

Un trabajo exquisito ,te feicito!!
Saludos ;-)
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

ANDY LEDDY says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called It's Not About You, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

Great shot!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

The Puddock says:

Superb shot
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Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Gio § Photostream says:

Fantastic and curious!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Kaboomish Gem says:

as soon as I saw this it made me think of England... looks like a street in Billy Elliot or something.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

george d. franklin., says:

nice....
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Miss Aniela says:

Billy Elliot... lol

thanks all

@Bryan - just watched an email request roll in one morning! thought it was a joke at first ;)
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

redhalton says:

I really like the post processing on this image..the light focus is perfect in my opinion...well done!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Osada Steve says:

Better being back in England, than not back in somewhere else.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

jlanta says:

Maravillosa... y el color un lujo.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

vincent swain says:

I love that cat. I really like your motion in this shot. It seems almost movie quality versus a photo. Your work is so pretty!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

ξωαŋ ThΦt says:

Nice shot! I loved the black cat with evil eyes! ^__^

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Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

dragon762w (Happy New Year) says:

Really cool shot with great processing! Love it!!

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Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Alfredo G says:

nice cat, I like it
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

LJ. away. says:

Thats England alright!!! Double yellow lines...barbed wire to keep the kids in....YUP...thats ENGLAND! Welcome home.

Congrats on the judging.

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Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

juanrfa says:

Excelente!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

[Ligeia] says:

you remind me to one of those "London-catwalks" Kate moss does without shoes and with her fantastic dresses on

I freaking adore this
love your "british" side ^^
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

PhotoBill629 says:

Quite wonderful -- special thanks should go to the random cat :-)
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

flickrolf says:

time travelling ?
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Ms. Aarika says:

Yay for new upload! I think it's a really cool photo Nat. If only we had the chance to cross paths while you were here in the states. One day. =)

I heart your dress and pose as well! How funny is it that kitty has followed you? Absolutely love her eyes.

Congrats on becoming a judge for such an awesome Photo Contest. How exciting! I know it would behoove me to enter, so I'll be working on it. ;)
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Lord V. says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called *The Pandora's box*, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Andréia Takeuchi says:

This is very nice!
Is the street irregular?
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

MVeigaT says:

Fantástica
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Devilllle says:

Blue lampost, lovely hair and yellow-eyed cat and a wonderful combination :-)
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

BloodLight says:

Nice shot!

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Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

S_Marc says:

So nice composition. Wonderful.

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Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Haggis Chick says:

yay to getting a new cat! I got two last night and we named them Candy and Floss! That one in the background however, looks a tad evil! OMG woman check how long your hair is now!!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

KOSTAS ELLOS says:

Congratulations! Your photo has been nominated as an "The Unforgettable Picture"
You are invited to add your wonderful picture to The Unforgettable Pictures Group
Please read the Group Rules and tag your photo TheUnforgettablePictures INVITE only & Comment on 3
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

whereshaun says:

Beautiful shot
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

kinetic lensman says:

Great shot - seems like a classic 'rule-of-thirds' shot with the lamp post and the placement of your legs. And the little details like the cat's eye colour which others have commented on.

And welcome back, even with all the current news I still think there are worse places than England! That said the US is a whole continent - for every country-music / biker / filling station there is a Cape Cod or Grand Canyon. Sort of.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Marco Cogo PH - away- says:

Nice background! Shot is simple but I like it!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

achuka says:

oh, this is knockout

the blue-collared cat is funny, the way it's looking across the oad, ignoring your enigmatically is-she-falling? is-she-rising? half-waving position

and yes, the brickwall, barbed wire and numbered lamp-post, so very English
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

The_Photo_Boy says:

excellent shot!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Gosh!Serchy says:

Gosh! this one is awesome, I love the cat it's kinf of witchy.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

prestonrittenhouse says:

Re bikers: I bet they were actually lawyers and stock traders on vacation. Hard to verify authenticity these days :-)
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

BurgTender says:

Great shot! I love the colors and the atmosphere of this picture. Oh and the cat eyes... wow!

Haha I liked your story about the bikers. You should come to the province of Quebec one day ;) Still in America, but with beautiful landscape and less bikers ;)

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Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Hector G Lincz Returning little by little says:

fantastic shot !!! Congratulations. Have a nice day.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

skinjester [deleted] says:

Hey Amelia, great serendipitous image. America isn't just a single place though! In my view its actually 5 different countries. You are always welcome here in SF!!!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

JAMES BURNS says:

congratulations! nice image :)
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

CiaoChessa says:

lol--there is so much to this place. those biker guys are but a slice...the possibilities and the people are endless. sometimes you "get" them and sometimes you most certainly don't but either way it just adds to the color of this country. I think that's what makes it so interesting...I'd leave a lot of it but the parts that I like far outweigh the parts I do not...
thanks for the link to the contest...
:)
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

CiaoChessa says:

oh and may Helen Levitt rest in peace...genius that she was.
:)
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Snapies says:

stunning and well acted
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Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

wbeem says:

Barefoot with a black cat. How very cool.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Miss Aniela says:

i think i'll delete the anecdote (or transfer it to the tags) as some people seem to be taking it far too literally or seriously! ;P

thanks @ all!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Kate Matsuda X says:

Thanks for this new mystery shot. There seems to be a secret outside the frame of the picture. It's poetical.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Evert Lancel <ON & OFF> says:

Always fall in love with your light!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Steven Ford / snowbasinbumps says:

You were once an interesting model. and a great beauty. You have become a masterful photographer and artist. The color here is remarkable. you always use your technique with subtulty and grace.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

CiaoChessa says:

lol-- :) sorry ;-) I'm a New Yorker so there are few things that faze me...
xx
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

λL℮لλ₪Яλ says:

great work, impressive, love it.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Miss Aniela says:

@ Ciaochessa - lol no probs! what i meant though is that i was being silly with the actual anecdote, exaggerating it for irony/effect, i have little problem with bikers nor with country music ;)
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

jhaskellus says:

I like the sense of an untold story in this photo. Your expression is dark, concerned, perhaps a bit annoyed, and a little puzzled. The cat is sharp and ominous - curious, but it doesn't care. All the surfaces are unforgiving. Very purposive. I like it.

As for bikers . . . often its an easy coat for someone to slip on . . . a disguise or armor or just an easy-to-assume macho image. "Real" bikers can be a scary lot, but somewhat rare. Check for weapons.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

mmalaka says:

Excellent shot my friend
Stunning capture
keep up the great work..
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

paul's-shutter says:

lovely image............great lighting.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

chinese johnny says:

enjoying your less-photoshopped work as much as the previous images. a comment about the biker anecdote: i was born and live here in the US, but i often feel very much like you do, almost as an outsider, because i do not relate to much of what this country is about or worships. but i think there are aspects of the land that make it all worthwhile, especially photographically (although i have yet to post any American work on here, which i've been doing for 30 years ... it's coming).
i feel, though, that travel to foreign places often leads to inspiration that is hard to resolve once back in familiar territory. "how ya gonna keep me down on the farm, after they've seen Paree?"
So after i return from traveling, i always want to go back ... to China, to England and Wales, to Amsterdam and Kenya, to Greece and Provence, to Nepal and India. Many times i never want to even go back home. but ... i guess it's like that saying, 'the grass is always greener on the other side' but in reality, the green-ness depends on our fertizier. and what inspires us.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

goingnowhere says:

You've got a bit of a bewildered look about you as though you've just popped out of nowhere and you're reaching out to see if it's all real :o)

I took a look at the POTY site and I was tempted but then I saw last years winner :oP
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

phil9447 says:

Fabulous shot. Love the way the curb seems to have flexed to your weight. Weirdly weird.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

zeitℓoς says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called being is bewildering, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

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Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

donchris!™ says:

ladne !!!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

WillieZgZ says:

fantastica !
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Raymond Larose says:

Great emotion about this photo. Excellent!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

MrObvious (am back, finally) says:

I'll try this again then :)

Congrats on being a judge! Excellent news. Love this pic, there's something about cats captured in life, mystical. I really enjoy your work all the way around, the PS'd, the non PS'd, and this is no exception. I like pictures that tell stories, and this indeed does...and now that I think about it, it kinda looks like Sabrina the Witch with Sarah Michelle Gellar from back in the day. Love it...
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Carlos Matos * says:

... wonderful cat ;-))

... perfect shot!!

Ks, Aniela

.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Miss Aniela says:

LOL @ phil!

@ chinese johnny - it's funny, as when i'm abroad i'll go through mixed feelings of a longing for home and a dread for it... when i first went abroad (to majorca) i hated coming home to the cold UK... but my second trip abroad (to moscow) was the first time i really started to recognise the identity of the UK and develop a liking/passion for my own country, all from going away from it for 6 weeks...

ta @ mr obvious.

that cat's eyes are really quite bright aren't they?! they were like that in the real capture..
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

jp1958 says:

You look many times better than some of the homeless scattered and sprawled about on the streets where I live.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

.:Chelsea Dagger:. says:

how do you do it?! AMAZING shot, lovely!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

CiaoChessa says:

:)
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Haggis Chick says:

I think you should go live abroad with the hairy bikers, capture Dolly Parton and then invite me to come live with you, so we can sing songs and pad our bras out so that we feel like one of Dolly's own!!!!!! Fuck Kenny Rogers and Wolfy, they can shack up somewhere else!!!!!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

ornellaswouldgo says:

in so many ways a victorious capture. delightful
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

mike.e says:

just great
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Elite Snapshots says:

Nice Processing, Love the draw of the eye through the photo.

Congrats on the appointment.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

mystery cat says:

if i enter.....am i gonna win?

ha!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

C& R says:

Hmmm. The brave British of a few generations back could save western civilization by fighting off hordes of Messerschmidts manned by godless Nazis, but now a few dentists in biker drag on Harleys are terrifying. Times do change. ;-)
Anyway, you will always be welcome in my part of America.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

BreeceArt, Happy New Year 2010 ! says:

Fascinating image!

Mysterious pose....smile.

The cat's eyes are a trip!

Thank you for sharing.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

john_gilmore says:

fantastic!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Maciek Lesniak says:

Great!

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Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Nicolas Valentin says:

What was he doing there miss ?

Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

tonidelavela says:

Nice timing
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

oskar73 says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Callejeando, foto urbana (post1.award2), and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

TheZionView(Happy New Year) says:

lovely done
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

yusuf_alioglu says:

Beautiful work...
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Eduardo Picado says:

very beautiful shot!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Gerardo Lullo says:

It ´s a very nice photo, with a pretty cat!!!!!!!!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

LittleRedCera says:

I like this. It's like you teleported there and now you're trying to keep your feet.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

rushh [ testing Nikon DSLR D5000 ] says:

awesome capture...
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

RossinaBossioB says:

lol@ at your tags. that reminds me, la chanson française is one of the reasons why I don't want to stay forever in France ;)
I like the spot you chose here a lot!...the brick-red wall! and the eyes of the cat -amazingly bright indeed.
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Mobile Bay Ray says:

Reminds me of New Orleans I think I fell down the on a look a like street there, dam Voodoo Cats there every where….;o)
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

sarituki says:

Oh my god! it's perfect
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Arunas S says:

excellent !
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Bee Brady ♥ says:

Don't ever leave England, you would miss the humour and the appreciation of irony ! ; ) This rocks like a hells angel in a straight jacket :)
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

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Taken with a Canon EOS-1D Mark III.
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Taken on April 20, 2009
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