Theme 291.
As some of you may have heard, Exeter (my nearest city) had an explosion on Thursday (I wasn't anywhere near it, I was at work in Tiverton). They shut down most of Princesshay, the shopping area where the Giraffe restaurant (the target) was, as well as the High Street, then the bus station, the airport, and they kept extending the exclusion zone.
Although I'd rung National Rail Enquiries to check the train stations were still open and working, I didn't want to take the risk of departing from Exeter St Davids as I had planned (to go up north to see my friends Gem and Jon). A colleague from our other Tiverton office offered me a lift to the Tiverton Parkway train station, the next stopping point on my train route north.
I don't think that the Police regularly make an appearance at such a minor railway station (I have seen them patrol Exeter St Davids sometimes), but my guess is that all local Police stations close to Exeter were told to post a few officers at their local train stations, temporarily, to increase surveillance (well they'd shut down the bus station and airport, after all...). So as I waited inside the station for a bit, I spotted this photo opportunity, inspired by the Reuters-style of photographs! The policeman is outside on the platform, with the reflection of a woman buying a train ticket reflected in the glass window between me and the policeman.
It's not as sharp or perfect as I'd like, but I wasn't sure he or his colleague would want me taking photos (or whether they'd suspect me of something - police and authorities often get twitchy about photography in stations, I was asked to stop taking photos one day in London Paddington train station). I got one photo in colour, changed a few settings and then grabbed this one. But overall, it sums up the emergency situation post-explosion - the increased police presence, with normal activity going on around them where it could.
(apparently he got the bus to Exeter, using the route I use to get from my house to there! Yikes, that's weird :lol:)
8 comments:
A photo that definitely deserves a second (and more) look. Intriguiing.
I think that's a fantastic photograph. [up]
Glad to hear you were out of harm's way Helen, altho certainly it was all too close to home.
Intriguing image. I'm not familiar with the Reuters-style and plan to do some research. Thanks for mentioning that.
Wow, I hadn't heard about this until now! Very scary. :hug: Really cool photo though! (Hope you're having fun!!!)
Sounds like this was to close to home for comfort - glad you were not in harms way.
Intriguing image - I'm not familiar with the Reuters-style of photography so will have to take a look.
(I commented earlier but it hasn't appeared - hope I'm not double posting)
Oh man! Glad to hear that you're okay. Such and interesting shot - so many different ways you can look at it.
Your photo really makes one stop and ponder all that's in it! Great eye for picking up on the reflection.
And I'm so glad to hear that you're safe and sound! But what a disturbing thing to happen so close to your home.
I saw it on the news. HORRIBLE!!!
You've captured the letters on the back in such a great way, great shot!
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