Last Two Eggs, a photo from London, England

Photographer's Note

In London, the eight Royal Parks remain open during lockdown, for “essential daily exercise”. In my closest one, the Bushy Park, we have been asked, by the park authorities, not to gather in groups and to keep at least 2 metres from each other. Most people adhere to that request as the threat is clear – if we don’t, they, I quote, “will be forced to close the park”. Generally, individual sports are allowed, such as running and cycling (except for the Richmond Park, where bikes have been banned). Sitting on benches is usually frowned upon, as, I suspect, is photography (one of my friends sometimes wanders around his neighbourhood with his camera in a carrier bag). But, it being April, my Bushy Park photo sessions start and end early enough not to bother anyone. I go to the park every morning, either to take photos or just to exercise. Guess who the cyclist in WS #1 is…

As for WS number 2… Most of you, my dear TE friends, don’t live close to where I live, and some of you are even, unashamedly, enjoying plentiful grocery supplies, including a choice of thousands of eggs (yes, I’m talking to you, Stockholm-dwellers) so this phenomenon may appear to you as fairly exotic.

In my last post I described my return from the Philippines. As I landed, my Asian travel destination had just been labeled “high risk” in terms of the coronavirus. Three days later, the UK was announced as even higher risk. In the meantime, my fellow citizens, in expectation of the inevitable lockdown, emptied the shelves of the supermarkets of various goods, especially flour, canned food, pasta and toilet roll. But as they filled their freezers, fridges and cupboards, the situation started to get back to normal. Well, almost. We are still experiencing shortages of the most unexpected of things. One is chives, another one is eggs…

Well, you can only store so many eggs to use later and you can’t really stock up on excessive amounts of chives (and you can’t freeze’em). That made me realise that the shortages are not so much (or at least not only), the fault of the frenzied buyers. The system seems rather inefficient and even a small shake up shuts the whole thing down. The most annoying phenomena are:

1. Reduced store opening hours. If you want people to stay away from one another you would rather want to extend the time when they can use the shop so they don’t all come in at the same time. And another, closely related and black humour kind of funny – customers queuing outside but, once inside, getting very close to other shoppers and the supermarket staff.
2. The supermarkets’ inability to meet the increased demand for online shopping – a simple solution that would considerably eliminate the possibility of passing the disease.
3. Supermarkets keeping the most popular goods in storage at the back of the shop (I observed staff putting a few packets of toilet roll out from trolleys and then rolling the rest back to the warehouse). Surely, if the shoppers notice half-empty shelves, they will panic and keep purchasing too much. It also means, that people will visit the shop more often than they normally would in order to, eventually, get what they are after.
4. Last but not least – suddenly rocketing prices of essentials, such as hand sanitiser (200% increase in some shops). If anything, sanitiser should be subsidised, if not dispensed for free and available on tap. I can understand that shops are trying to capitalise on this, no matter how dreadful, situation (e.g. DVDs are much more expensive than they were a few weeks ago, as people watch more while they stay at home). But where the rising prices may impact on the nation’s health and people’s ability to survive, it is rather sickening.

Ok, that’s my rant for the day… But what strikes me the most is the sudden realisation how dependent we, in the First World, have become on guaranteed external supply of certain items. Most importantly, we have lost the ability to grow our own food and even the skills of preparing it from basic ingredients. What are we going to do if other people stop producing it for us?

I took that photo of two last eggs on Thursday evening. On Friday night. I got on my bike and cycled around West London to pay visits to other shops. I’m now a proud owner of 18 eggs (down from 24 yesterday). A hoarder, me??

pajaran, Royaldevon, holmertz, ikeharel, jhm, tyro, PaulVDV, CLODO, ktanska, Sisifos, alvaraalto, macjake, Amirrainy has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

emka (157280) 2020-04-18 3:24

Witaj Kasiu, Cieszę się, że zamieściłaś te dwa ostatnie jaja w Workshopie, a tym przepięknym zdjęciom z Bushy Parku nic już nie grozi. Dla Ciebie sytuacja,że nie ma jajek w sklepie, wydaje się egzotyczna, ale nie dla mnie. Dla rozweselenia opowiem Ci historyjki z lat, ktуrych nie możesz pamiętać.
1) W bardzo dalekiej przeszłości (lata 50.), kiedy byłam jeszcze dzieckiem, moja mama żeby przechować jajka przez zimę zatapiała je w solance i trzymała pod oknem, bo lodуwek jeszcze nie było.
2) W moich latach studenckich (lata 60.) chodziłam ze znajomymi z plecakiem po gуrach. Kiedyś na wsi przyszliśmy do sklepu GS i zapytaliśmy, czy są jajka. Sprzedawczyni odpowiedziała: Są, ale tylko wapniaki z remanentu. Przypomnę, że kiedyś były trzy kategorie - świeże, chłodnicze i wapienne. Były specjalne urządzenia do ich prześwietlania i sprawdzania, czy się nadają. Tych z remanentu nie kupiliśmy :).
3)Lata 80. Pracowałam nad sklepem spożywczym w czasach pustych pуłek. Jeśli coś "rzucili", wszystkie kobiety pędziły do sklepu i ustawiały się w kolejce. Kiedyś rzucili jajka. Uszczęśliwiona kupiłam całe takie tekturowe opakowanie. Po wyjściu ze sklepu okazało się pełne karaluchуw. Ale karaluch do środka jajek nie wchodziły, więc po prostu strząsnęłam na chodnik całe mnуstwo i jajka zabrałam.
Widzisz Kasiu, nic nowego, nie zaimponujesz mi :) Pozdrawiam bardzo serdecznie

Małgorzata

holmertz (101880) 2020-04-18 3:57

Hello Kasia,
18 eggs! That's more than I've ever had at one time. Why do you need so many? :-)
The main photo today is absolutely beautiful. That jogger is as perfectly included as any deer could ever be. The colours and light and silhouettes make it a stunning composition. WS #1 has a kind of fairytale atmosphere. The young girl travelling towards the rising sun in her quest for new adventures. ;-)
But oh dear, how could I remember what I wrote about the eggs yesterday? I remember complimenting you for a brilliant and original composition. I also remember mentioning that there are no limited shopping hours in Sweden (and all shops of all kinds are open - but with very few customers), but the local transport company in Stockholm tried to run the buses and metro trains on a limited schedule last week, which of course made those remaining dangerously crowded. The health authorities (who don't give any orders) "commented" that it was an extremely stupid idea, so the normal schedules returned after a day or two.
I considered buying my food online but gave up the idea when I realized I would have to wait at least two weeks for delivery. So now I go very early in the morning, as seldom as possible, and buy as much as I can carry. But no hoarding!
I also wondered about the price of DVD's. Are they still used in the UK in these days of streaming?
Have a nice weekend,
Gert

Royaldevon (85576) 2020-04-18 3:59

Hello Kasia,

Your photograph is a subtle metaphor for the way that people need to interact, at the moment, like ghostly figures, passing by! Close only to trees, not to people!
It's a beautiful photograph with the morning glow gilding the spaces between the silhouetted trees and the single figure running into the space.

Conditions must be very different in London to where I live. There seems to be few commodities that are unavailable except for flour. I think many must be baking their own bread for wholemeal and strong white flour are in short supply.
The silly, mass buying of toilet paper and soap has abated.
What is remarkable is the kindness expressed by communities and neighbours.
There is so much support for elderly or housebound people that it heartwarming!

I sincerely hope that things improve for everyone ASAP and that this warmth of spirit never dies.
Keep safe, Bev :-)

jhm (211734) 2020-04-18 5:48

Hello Kasia,

What a pleasant contrast picture with the runner between the trees.
Walk path between the trees create nice depth and perspective.
Nice composition, excellent presentation.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

ikeharel (112391) 2020-04-18 5:50

Hello Kasia,
A title that kept me puzzled, reading the note realized "eggs" became a world-wide issue. Here in Israel we experiencing shortage of eggs due to the holidays and quarantine situation - but the chicken never stop laying eggs, so where they all gone...?
Beautiful picture with special light in the fog through the trees, and the figure of jogging person was a nice bonus to the scene.
Have a nice weekend,
Ike

abmdsudi (95869) 2020-04-18 7:17

Hi Kasia
The backlit is amazing - a real gem of this shot, just so different with that spot on semi silhouetted fig entering the frame shrouded by misty warm tones. Enjoying you write up as always. Top notch.
Best regards

Silvio1953 (220443) 2020-04-18 8:01

Ciao Kasia, fascinating view, magic atmosphere, lovely composition with running person, fantastic light and wonderful Golden colors, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

tyro (30513) 2020-04-18 10:00

Hello Kasia,

By Jove, a most extensive but also very interesting note! But, as a retired medic, I'm wondering if there's any connection between taking early morning exercise and an addiction to eating eggs. Some research required, I feel.

But I am old enough to remember times past when people would store eggs by immersing them in a big bucket of stuff called waterglass (sodium silicate) - you could preserve fresh eggs like that for months and they would still be fit for consumption. I'm sure it must still be possible to buy the stuff!

Anyway, I'm pleased that by the time you posted this photograph you had a dozen and a half eggs - though they're no doubt gone by now. :)

But to your photographs. Your main image is a truly fabulous one, the runner beautifully silhouetted between the trees against the warm yellow light of the rising sun as it breaks through the early morning mist. Glorious golden light, perfect exposure and exquisite detail and sharpness.

And your workshop picture (not the eggy one) is superb too. I think the light in that one is even more delicious, particularly as it strikes the grass on the right. But I wonder, if cycling is still allowed, why the cyclist appears to be stopped and have one foot on the ground and is perhaps fiddling with some sort of electronic device. Surely not! ;)

Wonderful!

You take care and be safe in these worrying times.

And enjoy those eggs!

Kindest Regards,

John.

PiotrF (54246) 2020-04-18 13:52

Cze¶ж Kasiu
¦wietna pora dnia na fotografie. Magiczne ¶wiatіo, ciepla kolorystyka ... super kontrast i nawet z brakiem modela/lki sobie poradzilas.
W PL teї mieli¶my falк zakupуw i pustych pуіek, ale sytuacja siк unormowala tzn w my¶l podstawowego prawa ekonomii je¶li na jaki¶ towar jest duїy popyt to jego cena ro¶nie tak dіugo i wysoko aї popyt zrуwnaж siк z podaza.
Parki i lasy teї nam otworz± w poniedziaіek po kilku tygodniach absurdalnego zamkniecia...
Tego londyсskiego raczej w najbliїszym czasie nie zobaczк... a tam zdaje siк mieszkaj± te zielone papuїki- tak kojarzк z Twojego wcze¶niejszego postu. Miaіem Londyn odwiedziж w poіowie maja ale chyba maіe szanse s± na to... choж lot jeszcze nie jest odwoіany.
Pozdrawiam
Piotr

PaulVDV (62746) 2020-04-18 19:22

Hello Kasia,
Your first photo of the WS is definitely worth to be a seperate main upload. It's as atmospheric as the main picture with the person running between the dark trees shown as sillhouettes on a beautiful pinkish background.
Wonderful photos that encourage us to dream.
I read your comments carefully about the practices in the stores. Very pathetic to experience such problems in this part of the world.
Much success with your giant omelet!
Best regards, Paul

ifege (46851) 2020-04-18 21:09

Hi Kasia
A superb photo, especially with the running figure.
cheers
Ian

Nicou (193806) 2020-04-18 22:26

Hello

fantastique image et vue quel tronc d'arbre en dйcoupage noir et ce couleurs cette brume quelle ambiance ala personne quei court entre les arbre fantastique
Bravo et belle journйe
Nicou

CLODO (45116) 2020-04-18 23:26

Hi Kasea

Very clever note about what to do and not do do, sometimes bizarre! As for the post, a decisive moment well taken in an unreal world, loking for fairies that I have found in a WS!

best regards
CLODO

jemaflor (146168) 2020-04-18 23:34

Hi Kasia,
Congratulations ! excellent photo very well seen and managed, Interesting photogenic light and contrast with all these trunks, so great detail with the view of the runner, a perfect focal point, well done, tfs.

ktanska (44416) 2020-04-19 1:07

Hi Kasia,
Morning fog creates strong atmospheric perspective on this view. All those tree trunks are perfectly placed. And the runner is of course perfectly placed.
Superb note of psychological effects of pandemic in Britain.
Kari

mesutilgim (0) 2020-04-19 1:31

Hello dear Kasia,
Another wonderfull capture/entry in your gallery, which gives perfectly the mood and atmosphere of this days.
Enriched with many good and usefull notes.
TFS and have a nice weekend
MESUT ILGIM

PS.By the way your Turkish is perfect :-)

lousat (138521) 2020-04-19 5:10

Ciao Kasia,in Italy the rules are much more restrictive, the parks are closed and you can't go further than 200 meters, but the results begin and you can see them, in some southern regions there have been contagions close to zero, while in the north the situation is still difficult. Your photos are fantastic, great class in playing with lights and silhouettes, the photo of the eggs is very funny, almost a metaphor on the last Easter, the orthodox one of today.Have a nice Sunday and thanks! Luciano

alvaraalto (42804) 2020-04-19 5:11

Hello Kasia,
Your description of the current situation in London is similar to the situation in the Netherlands. After a rush on the beach during the first weekend of the lockdown, almost every one is obeying the regulations. Only groups of cyclists and motorcyclists thought for a moment that this was not their case. That is why their activity is now forbidden.
The last eggs will now have been eaten, I suppose .
Beautiful pictures of the lonely runner and the lonely cyclist in the royal forest.
Be careful and stay safe, groet Rob

rychem (72187) 2020-04-19 7:39

To jest super, warunki swietlne mialas idealne, na biegacza chyba celowo czekalas :)
swietne zdjecie
pozdrawiam Ryszard

GyurMaster (24668) 2020-04-19 10:28

Hello Kasia,

I have to agree with your points, the situation is the very same here: how the hell on Earth can you avoid crowd, when people under 65 are only allowed to enter shops like drugstore or any other non-food selling places only between 12:00-15:00. From 9:00 and 12:00 its only for people above 65 and drugstores usually open only from 9:00... Also, the are extremely expensive. At least food supplies are stable and the prices only displayed a moderate increase.

Anyway, the photo is excellent, I had to fave it.
Best Wishes,
Gy.

willperrett (14195) 2020-04-21 2:07

Hello Kasia

And you can't get yeast either (though I've managed to bag some flour). BTW, I've been making all our bread for the past 10 years or so: it's not a lock-down thing.

Great shot of course. Wait for the moment... I keep meaning to get up early and take the dog to Alver Valley near where I live, but we don't seem to get this romantic mist down here. 0600 here, maybe?

Kind regards

Will

macjake (98256) 2020-04-21 16:14

Hi Kasia
so where do I start?
first the photo, yes, its a doozy, the presence of the jogger is A+. Did you get him to run into your scene several times? hahaha. love the amber hues and sihouettes with the misty air, perfect conditions. and as for the price of DVD's, I havn't noticed, but I wouldn't be surprised, when it comes to money greed is paramount. and you're so right about how we as people follow physical distancing in a lineup, but then when we go into the store it all seems to break down - so strange. Here is another example....people standing 6 feet apart waiting outside for the bus, but then when the bus arrives people sit in seats right next to another....HUh???? so strange. Great pics all around. cheers
Craig

BennyV (34710) 2020-04-22 4:07

Superb fairytale like picture, dear Kasia! Surely the best shot of my TE visit today! What a great atmosphere! Congratulations!!

All the best & stay safe

Benny

jmdias (114150) 2020-08-16 5:28

kasia

marvelous this image, a mix of golden light, verticalism of these trunks and the man in movement. poetry..
here many people is running around municipal lake, many of them with not so much protection or keeping distance..

take care

jorge

Amirrainy (22) 2020-09-07 20:58

Hi Kasia
Very good composition with excellent golden light. i love the atmosphere and the who ran through the fog. TFS
Amir