James Shackleton's Blog

On Jianguo Road

I was in Shanghai over the weekend. While my girlfriend was having her hair “done”, I wandered nearby.

As you can see, I took these two photos within a few feet of each other, but they are quite different.

On Jianguo Road (15 feet up the road)

Cyclist at Night

There always seems to be traffic in Beijing.

Years ago, everyone rode bicycles, but these days more and more people travel by car or bus. There are cycle lanes, but they tend to get rather freely used by other road users (yes, I am thinking of taxis). And for a lot of the turns, motorised vehicles have to cut through the cycle lane to turn. Riding in Beijing can be quite frightening and yet the cyclists appear calm. I think they might make a good project.

Tourists in Cyclos

Smiling Motorcyclists

Family on a Motorcycle

After work I sometimes go into the city to take pictures. It is very relaxing, just standing on a corner looking at the traffic, watching Vietnamese life buzzing past. If I have been cross or annoyed, my first few pictures are a bit jerky, but after a while things slowly come together.

Somebody somewhere should write a book about the Vietnamese and their motorcycles.

Loading a Motorcycle

I originally posted this without any words – after all, my blog is called “Mostly Pictures”. But then I had dinner and thought about it.

If I were photographing in Bangkok, the monks would probably be my favourite subject – ideally talking on mobile phones or something slightly jarring. In Ho Chi Minh City my subject has to be motorcycles. Or rather “people and motorcycles”.

Men in Blue

So I’ve been in Bangkok lately – just got back.

I met these guys there. They said they were going to a party.

More Men in Blue