On the bench

April's theme for my online photo club was fairly terrifying for me... We had to take photos of 'people that we don't know, sitting on benches'. I rarely take pictures of people and rarely take candid shots so it was a challenge. First up was a lady reading a book, beside the canal. I was on the bridge above so there was little chance of her seeing me. It helped that she was wearing a bright red jacket. 

Then I tried one from above and behind. Again, less chance of being spotted. Four folk just 'watching the world go by'... (Which reminds me of when I was a child, sitting with my family on a bench at the seaside. My sister and I got bored and wanted to leave but my parents told us to 'sit and watch the world go by'. After quite a long time of this, my sister asked impatiently: 'When is it coming?') 

My third subject was the groundsman at the cricket club, taking a rest, perhaps contemplating the coming sports season, or remembering past glories - who knows? I stood a fair way away with a long lens! 

Then I got bold and shot from the hip whilst trying to pretend I was fiddling with my camera, capturing a young couple chatting over a takeaway coffee.  It needed straightening up in processing - but not a bad effort! 

The cycling couple having a breather on a bench (again caught with a long lens) were eye-catching in their brightly coloured hoodies. 

Well, at least I tried.