Exercise: A public space

For this final exercise in need to transfer my attention from an organised occasion to a semi-organised public space. It needs to be accessible and usable from a photographic point of view ie public parks, a beach. Instead of a single event, there will be a variety of things happening & I need to capture a sense of varied use and how people make their own personal or small group activities within the same general area.

Initial thoughts: the park might areas where people gather in a space to have have picnics, ice creams, where they use space to play football. The beach might consist of people sat together in a space eating chips/ice creams, the way people designate their own area on the beach, children in that space making sand castles, donkey rides take up their own space along the beach.

I need to remember that not everyone will be happy to be photographed by someone they don't know and there could be some people who will regard you with suspicion, especially around children, it's important to be sensitive and avoid causing embarrassment or disquiet.

I decided on the Quarry Park in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, a popular park of several acres on the edge of the town along the loop of the river. My aim was to take images of how people used the space.

not a good composition, but this area of the park is often used for informal kick abouts

The main promenade through the middle of the park, a popular loop around the park

chilling out, this extensive area of the park is used for picnics, playing etc. the Shrewsbury flower show is held in this park as are several concerts throughout the year. There is plenty of room for people to claim their designated 'area' whilst the spend time here

groups of people can be seen chatting, catching up etc

relaxing in the famous 'dingle' created by the late Percy Thrower

there are a great many benches around the dingle where people sit and admire the flowers or just relax, benches are dedicated to people who have passed. The bench allows for a natural designated 'area' that is just yours, while you are sat there, adding to the comfort of the situation

view of a space in the dingle, places to walk and sit

the Quarry Park has always been popular with people of all ages, there is always somewhere to talk 

from a distance, little groups of people can be seen spread out over the space available