Putting Alice Cooper and his memorable track to one side I wasn’t sure that my memory fully recalled that wonderful feeling when ‘School’s Out For Summer’. My youngest daughter Amélie and her classmates gave me the opportunity to remind me exactly how that felt. This particular blog post isn’t about me waffling on about this and that, I’m hoping the photos will tell a story. I’ve simply documented the occasion, I’ll just give little bit of context to each section. They finished Junior school a couple of weeks ago and next term will begin Secondary or Big School as they call it. They had a party, I was asked to photograph it and although it was presumed that I was doing them a favour it was me who benefited. I don’t want to wax lyrical here, but it was really uplifting and has put me in a good mood for weeks. By the way, it seems that I wasn’t the only parent who felt a invigorated on that evening. Our good friend Cat: The doctors say she’ll walk normally again in six months!
So we can see here that there was a kind of Photo Booth going on. Essentially wigs and dressing up costumes. They told me about this beforehand and I’m not a fan usually. I don’t like posed shots, however, my opinion has changed because it does loosen people up and any photographer will tell you that’s often what’s needed. Adults in particular are uptight about having their photo taken, evidently not Cat though. My idea was to get some candid shots made with a Street Photography mindset, pretty much my modus operandi nowadays. The photo booth idea actually helped. I say booth, it was just structure in the school playground with some props thrown around. The girls had a go first, a reasonably sober affair:
Meanwhile there was a kind of bouncy castle obstacle course set up. The boys were warming up, loosening off a bit of energy before their turn with the photo booth.
Over to the photo booth then boys, now you’ve expended some of that boundless energy:
Okay, seems as though they’re just limbering up for later. Yearbooks were handed out and a piñata set up. They enjoyed those books, man I wish we had them when I was at school. That said the thought of “Most likely to…” and my photo next to it worries me slightly. The piñata lasted two hits, the second by the boy mostly likely to become a sportsman. Strength and determination…he’ll go far.
Next up it’s WhatsApp, the kids swapping mobile numbers for a group chat:
We all worry about our children, are they popular. I was of course watching Amélie, it’s not often you see them with their entire class. How they interact with others is important throughout life. She wandered off to the climbing frames to sit on her own eating an ice lolly and before I knew it there was a gathering. I’m now offically happy:
The disco was another opportunity for the boys to let off some steam, probably not enough:
Now I know what you’re thinking the photos on this post are a bit boy centric. Well any photographer will tell you, especially a street photographer, that you’re always drawn to what catches your eye. The big personalities. I took plenty of shots for the parents, I got as many of the kids as possible, but here I’m posting my favourites. You recall the opening shot I hope, the boy in the grass (tinsel) skirt and beehive wig, he’s one of those characters that you couldn’t possibly ignore. Here we can see him accepting a marriage proposal (I think that’s what they were doing) from two of the boys and then walking off with his new husband/wife. It’s just pure fun, no inhibitions, simply having a fantastic time. He’s totally in character, boy most likely to become an actor maybe. Remember how it felt? Life is supposed to be fun and after the last 18 months I felt so happy to see them all enjoying it again.
Absolutely hilarious. That second shot of them walking off is my favourite of all. Anyway, all good things must come to an end, or as George Harrison titled his album “All thing must pass”. We ended with a water fight. Four large containers of water were brought out. Our main protagonist decided he’d sit in one, then once out picked it up (he’s stronger than he looks) and tipped it over Amélie’s head. I couldn’t stop laughing, so much that I missed that shot. Oh well, you can’t win them all.
That wraps it up. If anyone offers you the opportunity to shoot a kids party say yes. You couldn’t wish for a better bunch of children than this class of 2021, I thought they were all absolutely brilliant. I’m looking forward to two years time when my youngest son Louis will go through this. What i’ll say about that is there was a good mix in Amélie’s class, 16 girls, 14 boys. I believe in Louis’s class it’s 23 boys and 7 girls…take a moment to contemplate having to teach that lot and what a party it’ll be. Mostly for the teachers I imagine!
Finally here’s a YouTube slideshow of my work during July 2021. Mostly Street Photography, but I threw in a few from this post.
As always my sincere thanks go to anyone taking the time to read this blog.
All images can be opened by clicking on the thumbnails and are made using a Leica M with Summicron 28mm Lens fitted.
If you're interested in receiving new Blogposts via email please subscribe using the box below which is titled ‘The Latest Leica Biker Blogposts Delivered To Your Inbox’.