Later that night....

Later that night...., originally uploaded by johnny mobasher.

Later that night I went to the bar that I knew she was supposed to be. I didn't go in and waited outside. A cold night. I sat on the doorway of a closed shop and waited patiently. At about 10.15 a bike rider arrived and only after the helmet was taken off, I realized it was her. It was dark and far across the street but I could still tell it was her. I could recognize her almost anywhere. The unmistakable hair, height, build and....... She took a good slow look around as she lit a cigarette. Still Fucking Smoking I thought! For a fraction of a second I thought that she'd seen me but she didn't. Took a long draw of tobacco and went it. Less than 2 minutes later I heard the screams....so stomach ripping.....unbearable....less than 30 second later, a man on fire was catapulted out of the doors on to the street....followed by the sound of Two gun shots coming from the inside....it echoed.... soon after Two other men came out....She followed out...Lit another Cigarette and run her fingers through her hair. it was chaos yet they all looked so calm. there was almost nothing left of the man who was on fire....the man who was shot.... I think was dead!!! A passing Police car stopped and two policemen with their guns in hand rushed out....She walked to them and whispered something in the ear of the taller of the two. Before she was finished, they put their hand guns back into the holsters. They then, without saying a single word, got back into the car and drove off. A women who had heard the cacophony and was looking thought her first floor open window, shut the window and pulled the window blind down. Another car arrived and two men put the other two in the back of the car, nodded to her, got in the car themselves and the driver drove off. She stood there. All of this in less than 4 minutes. As if nothing had ever happened. She threw the Cigarette on the ground and with her left foot stood on it, twisted her foot to the left and right and extinguished it. She then started to walk across the street towards me. I then realized that she HAD seen me when she first arrive. How foolish to think otherwise. She still had a gun in her left hand. She unzipped her leather jacket and put it back in the holster and zipped up again. I stood up and took my hand out of my pocket. Closer and Closer. She came and stood so close that I could smell her perfume. So close....So close.... I just smiled and said: You hungry?.....Chinese, she replied with a smile.......Lets Go......

World Population Series 678,988

World Population Series 678,988, originally uploaded by johnny mobasher.

This is one of those portraits that not even one word was exchanged...well, just TWO words at the end...Thanks You....I saw this gentleman outside the train station....seeked permission to take his photograph by gesticulation, he agreed by moving his indicating a YES, I took two shots, Showed him one, thanked and we parted.....I for one...Loved his expression....No idea what his name is or hwere he was comming from or where he was going to....and thats one more shot...

Is anything in life really Random...!

Random...!, originally uploaded by johnny mobasher.

I was walking up Yonge when I shot this......not sure if she saw it happen but we stopped.....I asked: Where are you from.......

And after a few frames & Dollars...

And after a few frames & Dollars..., originally uploaded by johnny mobasher.

Where you from...

Where you from..., originally uploaded by johnny mobasher.

Nova Scotia she said....then...all she kept repeating was..... Ony...Ony...Ony....... Then I realized she was saying.....Money...Money....Money.....

We parted......

We parted......, originally uploaded by johnny mobasher.

Topless 1

Topless 1, originally uploaded by johnny mobasher.

Walking around in Amsterdam on a Feb cold but suuny day. The afternoon was a little warmer that the morning. We noticed thsi man in one of teh squares sitting on a rail sunbathing and a milliom miles away. I think everyone noticed him and not just us. Everyone had a smile as they saw him. I took the fist shot and he didnt even look up, so I took another as he started to pick his nose and the another from the back and as I walked away, the last shot across the square. One of the girls walking in Topless 4 noticed me and gave a smile....and thats the end of the story....... Street Photography never dies!

Topless 2

Topless 2, originally uploaded by johnny mobasher.

Topless 3

Topless 3, originally uploaded by johnny mobasher.

Topless 4

Topless 4, originally uploaded by johnny mobasher.

Man on Haarlem

Man on Haarlem, originally uploaded by johnny mobasher.

I have come to the conclusion that I must Street Photograph the entire world polulation, one by one excluding anyone in prison for now! I have calculated that at this rate, It will take me 369 years and 4 months, give or take 7 hours. I will then start the Prison population portraits which will not take me as long because by then, most people whom I have already photographed will be in prison!!! This was a cool dude!! There we have it.

I wondered around...

I wondered around..., originally uploaded by johnny mobasher.

I wondered around all day...I had to kill some time...it was part sunny in the afternoon but freezing...I had nowhere else to go...nowhere else to be until midnight...I wanted to see her before I went...I had to see what he looked like before I went...I knew she wanted to see me too...did she really...I wasnt looking forward to the next day because I knew what had to happen...why did it HAVE to happen...why...maybe she could tell me...maybe she would know how to stop it...little did i know...little did I know...Little did I know...

She Asked...

She Asked..., originally uploaded by johnny mobasher.

She asked me...no, she "told" me to wait....wait & I will be there...dont leave, I must see you...I must tell you...I need to tell you & you need to know she said & then she hung up...It was 5 minutes past midnight... it was -18C & getting colder. I waited until 3.15am...I didnt even put my new hat one so she could regognize me easily...we had spoken about 30 times but this was the first time she had agreed & told me we must meet...the hot dog man was wondering why i was still there when he left...where was she...what happened to her...why didnt she call...why wouldnt she answer my calls...what was she doing there with him...why with him...

First Glace...

First Glace..., originally uploaded by johnny mobasher.

This is the first time I saw him! I was on the 6th floor. I thought he would be of a bigger build. I had heard about his attitude before. He walked very slowly....it must be -17C. The car stopped & he got in.....I had to rush....

Lewis Mendez

Lewis Mendez 1, originally uploaded by johnny mobasher.

Lewis Mendez: He's been taking Street portraits with a Speed Graphic since 67 and now with a polaroid Back & Metz. Whilst I was with him, a young man in his 20\'s passing us by asked Lewis if we wanted to sell his camera. Lewis asked the boy: How Much U Got!! 11 Bucks said the boy. Lewis replied: Add another 1100 & we might have a deal!! the boy smiles & said, thats ok, I just wondered if you knew what you had in your hands!!! He took my Portraite, signed it and gave it to me. I took a look at the lens and said: you know thsi lens could do with a clean! Looks like its never been cleaned Lewis!! He replied, Thats ok...It adds Atmosphere to teh picture!! Lewis is an old timer & a gent. God Bless. A REAL Street Photographer.

Oh...Man...

IMG_2000, originally uploaded by johnny mobasher.

4 months after the first time I met him on Carlton, I saw him again on Queen St West.....do you remember me I asked?? Oh yeah....But I'm not sure if he really did.... Whats happened to your leg I asked!? Oh man...I've been through a lot.........

The Man on Yonge....

IMG_2008, originally uploaded by johnny mobasher.

The Devil's Look..... How would you like to take this man home to meet your mum!!??

Germaine Greer on Unknown Brown & Other Stories

Published in the Observer Magazine 23 Sept 2007, I read with some interest an introduction by Germaine Greer to the new Jane Brown 128 page Photography book "Unknown Brown". Sounds like a great book!! But what puzzles me the most which I also find unpalatable & bitter is the personality & in general other comparisons that Ms Greer makes between Jane Brown & Diane Arbus. Having read the article, midway there are complimentary comparisons with Bresson,Frank & this & that.....But somehow Germaine Greer manages to arrive at a negative comparison which is no more that an obvious personality attach upon the now dead, Diane Arbus. It sounds very Negative, bitter, deliberate & pointless. Why bring one down to push one up!!! Why do it AT ALL!!?? whats the point!!! Fair enough to want to compare Jane Brown to the likes of Bresson & all that, but why the urge to even bring up such a negative personal reflection of Diane Arbus's personality which can only be due to Germaine Greer's own experience with Diane Arbus which has obviously left a scar!!! Don't get me wrong, I don't know Jane Brown personally but I know of her work & some great work she has & this takes nothing away from Jane Brown., but I do feel that it takes something away from Germaine Greer!!! Not worthy of the Alive & the kicking & kicking she does!!! Some Love Arbus & Some Hate it.....& its a free country.....& maybe Germaine Greer even states the obvious but I for one don't think so!! In my view, its an overriding internal obsession.... If its that bad I suggest that Germain Greer should pick up the Phone here & tell Diane Arbus "I wish you were dead"!!! Let the dead be.....but, here is the phone.....

Digital Invasion

The Epitaph!

I recently wrote to the BJP. below is the edited version of my letter published in the BJP last issue 25.7.07....Aug 1st 2007:
-------------- :
I read with somewhat raised eyebrows and half open mouth, but not totally shocked, the comment by Simon Bainbridge, Living on the margin (BJP, 11 July), explaining the new guidelines from The Times Magazine setting a maximum rate of £100 for digital processing.
This gives me a great excuse to now write to Tesco which is offering to sell houses, or at least, offering advertising billboards for sellers for as little as £50, causing great concern to estate agents. For the £100 digital processing fee offered by The Times, Tesco could also enter the photographic market, by arming night shift shelf stackers with compact cameras and a little Photoshop training. They could maybe even make a deal with The Times Magazine to do processing for £49.99 rather than £100!
We won't make a living at £100, so why be greedy?

Living On The Margin

Last week, in the latest issue of the British Journal Of Photography I read that the Times Magazine has set a new £100 record FEE ( I think that's what they called it) for image processing paid to photographers. This has given me a great excuse to write to TESCO. you might have heard in the news recently, that TESCO are offering mini advertising BILL BOARDS for home sellers to advertise their homes! this they say: is not designed to take business away from the notorious estate agents ( not that I mind the estate agents to get a run for their money you understand!) but I wonder now if TESCO would like to perhaps also enter the Photography industry by arming the night shift shelf stackers (who do a wonderful job for the money & for whom I have all the respect) with compact digital cameras & teach them a few photoshop lessons ( the cost of which no doubt TESCO can recoup from their wages) & join forces with the TIMES & offer an image processing for a competitive £49.99 ( & a free Bottle of 1.5 Lt Evian Water) hence eliminating the need for the times to use freelance thus sharing all the proceeds between themselves. That way, we can brick our doors & all stay at home!!! Now, isn't that a good idea?? to celebrate the occasion I dedicate the image below XXX to all the industrialists in the world.