Having been cancelled for two years due to the covid rules, the biggest street party in Europe was back in August 2022 bringing millions of people back to the streets of London…
I have documented the opening of the offices in the London financial district after a long period in lockdown. From September 2021, commuters started going back to the city offices gradually, few days per week.
London, September – December 2021
I am absolutely delighted to learn that my first book “The Art of Spectating” was awarded the Associate for the Royal Photographic Society in the photobook genre. Thanks to all panel members involved in the judging process.
My submission “The party that did not happen” has been awarded with an Honorable mention in the “lockdown life” category.
The London Notting Hill Carnival is one of the largest street party in Europe and it is a significant event in the Caribbean culture. It attracts around two and a half million people annually every year on the last weekend of August. In 2020 the event was cancelled for the first time since 1966 because of the pandemic. This shot was taken on the same day and time of the parade.
Good news from the Paris Photo Prize 2020.
My submission series “Soho Nights” has been awarded with a bronze medal in the “Street Photography” category.
link to the series: https://px3.fr/winners/px3/2020/11560
I am also very fond of another submission “Venice Secrets” which has been awarded an honorable mention in the Press/General News category.
link to the series: https://px3.fr/winners/hm/2020/1-95200-20/
It has been the hottest Carnival ever, with temperatures above 30 degree.
More than just a street party, the Carnival was first held in 1959 in response to a series of racist attacks and rioting that spread in west London. The Carnival was put together to celebrate of the local community, people from the Caribbean coming to London in search of opportunities.
As always, there is a lot of fun, great energy and positive vibes, music and street food, beautiful costumes and dance from the London samba schools.
Once again, a great job from the Notting Hill Carnival organisers. https://www.facebook.com/NHCarnivalLDN/
A few shots from The Notting Hill Carnival. The Jouvert, the Family day under a pouring rain, and the final parade day…
An emotional Notting Hill Carnival this year, marked by poignant tributes to those who lost their life in the Grenfell tragedy. Nevertheless, it was a time to put aside the sadness and celebrate the street party. Once again, I have witnessed two days of amazing costumes and colours, energy and madness from the carnival goers.
The Shepherds Bush Market is more than hundred years old street market and historical landmark within the West London community.
Intrigued by the vibrancy and multicultural dimension of this community of traders, many of whom have been here for generations, this project examines the social history of the market through a comparison between the present and the past of the market and some long-serving traders.
The outcome from this research is diverse. On one hand, it emerges a nostalgic feeling about its best years in the 70s, 80s up to the middle 90s. On the other hand, traders welcome a renovation of the market to help rejuvenate the already vibrant and multicultural area. They hope to bring new diverse businesses and more customers.
There is a general awareness that a collective effort from the community and other parties involved is needed to protect the cultural heritage of the market, quite unique with its long social history.
Ultimately my research makes me wonder, on a more abstract level, how, or whether, historical landmarks could coexist with gentrification and other changes in the consumer world.
For this project, I have asked the people portrayed to let me have an old photograph of them made at the market, in order to compare “Now and Then”. Old photographs, either from the traders or from the archive, are displayed on the right hand side.
Jackie: “it’s a hope for the future as the market plays such a large part in this community and offers not only things to buy but our customers get that feel of seeing a familiar face and someone to have a quick chat , instead of just a beep at the checkout”
Laura: “Shepherds Bush is a vibrant eclectic mix of traders, customers and tourists of all nationalities from all over the world and is probably the best market that most Londoner’s have never heard of”
Old photographs of the market are copyrighted material from the Hammersmith & Fulham local studies & archives (LBHF).
Huge thanks to all traders who kindly provided me with their old personal photographs.
Francesco