29 January

Hi. Do you remember earlier this week when I had a meltdown because I took a photo of someone on the train without their knowledge/permission? Well, apparently I have double-standards.

So, why was this okay? Because it was funny? Because I know that if I had gotten their attention from the opposite platform across the train tracks (I took this from within the train once it arrived) they would have been only too happy to let me snap their photo? Because they were already drawing attention to themselves? How was this not exploitation where the photo of the girl on the train reading Malcolm X was? Was it really just all the race, religion, and politics charging up that image? Looks like I need to re-read my books from my Race and Class in American Photography course at university before I start positing any answers. 

Regardless, that photo cheered you up a bit right? It was at Acton Central station today, on our way to Harrow to see our friends for the afternoon. I've got a few more photos.

We had a long, lovely, late lunch at Semra and Steve's with never-ending food. After we visited for a few hours, we walked back to the station but stopped at Sarah and Mark's house to meet their new baby boy. He is absolutely adorable but wasn't in the mood for photos or strangers so no baby portraiture here for now.

We had a convoluted journey there and back because of engineering works. On the way there, we got to ride a new Metropolitan line train which smells and feels a bit like being at the dentist. On the way home, we rode an old Metropolitan line train which smells and feels a bit like the photo above.