Comments on: John Claridge’s East End Portraits

By: Cherub

Cherub — Mon, 06 May 2024 10:53:00 +0000

The lady in the Salvation Army uniform looks so severe. I wonder what happened to the children, I always look at pictures like this hoping they went on to have a better life.

By: Jillian Foley

Jillian Foley — Sat, 04 May 2024 14:34:05 +0000

What wonderful atmospheric photos. The one with the photo of the son lost in the war reminds me of my grandmother who had her lost son’s photo on the mantlepiece. a smiling blonde haired young man, never to return. She always believed he would return. In fact, on taking her out one day in Brighton to the Devils Dyke a blonde haired young man approached and she walked up to him and asked him if he was her son. He was so polite and understanding.

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Sat, 04 May 2024 11:40:49 +0000

(Still have my childhood bear………….)
Surely John Claridge was a messenger for his own generation, documenting his OWN locale, interacting with his own community, using his own unerring eye to such magnificent effect.
His gift of composition is always spot-on — he is the master/commander directing our eye to the desired focal point, and then rewarding us with a secondary surprise as a bonus. The variety 0f moods just in this discreet grouping are breath-taking. I felt quite fond of the “mates” he captured; as he seemingly brought them together to “meet” the viewer. Come, meet my mates!
Their offhand natural poses and body language provided glimpses of their personalities — how I wish Claridge had been able to join them in the frame, so we could see the collective group.
He coaxes us to feel so much empathy and connection — We simply can’t look away and forget
these folks. We’ve seen them, and now we will never forget.

Thank you, GA for introducing me to John Claridge. (a book of his photos is one of my
favorite art books in my studio library.)

By: achim

achim — Sat, 04 May 2024 09:01:19 +0000

A great selection of John Claridge’s portraits, explained by himself. From a time when polished shoes were still important. It takes courage to approach people and photograph them. I always lack this courage when taking photos. For example, you are no longer allowed to take photos of children today. Everything has become much more difficult because the (supposed) level of privacy is so high. And that in times of ‘smartphones’ and ‘social media’ …

As a bear expert, I was shocked by the last image. I have to confess here and now: I once ‘rescued’ an old, shaggy bear from a scrap container. Since then, he has been sitting on the couch next to my own bear, who is over 60 years old. They are now best friends.

Love & Peace
ACHIM

By: Francesca oddi

Francesca oddi — Sat, 04 May 2024 07:39:17 +0000

Wow what wonderful photographs,I grew up in King’s Cross from 1957 and these photos capture what life was like in that time.Easy to forget the London that was then when you look at what it is now.I try to explain to my kids how London was full of derelict buildings and bomb sites that made up our playgrounds .
Such soulful pictures.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 04 May 2024 06:37:49 +0000

Sublime.
What a start to the weekend.
Lovely captions.
Y’Dad seems nice.