Pioneer auto and steam cars took over Regent Street today while it was closed to regular vehicular traffic. Humberettes, Knoxes, De Dion Boutons, Goessants and what have you, all sporting poppies, their owners garbed in period costume or in goggles, scarf and aviator hats. Just as delightful as these century-old cars were their individual histories – the Panhard-Levassor which was purchased in 1903, driven through France and ‘deep mud, deep water and human excrement’, and its owner Sir Stanley having been stopped for speeding in that car ‘but was saved from prosecution when the gendarme took shelter from a downpour’…
© 2012-2021 Jacqueline Lau
Category: Events
“You cannot pass through here.” One of the stewards stepped to the side and blocked my way, “You have to go round the other side.” “But I’m not passing through,” I told him. “I’m here to cover the event.” A moment later, I was receiving a briefing from their media person, and then let loose into the crowd. Finally, after having photographed quite a number of protests and demonstrations, I was at ease in such situations. No fear, no hesitation, no waffling. Just gear up and shoot. Although I was not a bona fide photojournalist nor did I have any…
Experience has taught me that some performers don’t take it too kindly to having a lens poking into their faces, so I approached one of the aunties, wearing my cheeriest smile and in halting Mandarin, if they’d mind my intrusion backstage. Then from down the road came D and M, who marched straight up the stairs by the side of the stage and disappeared behind the scenes. Old hands like them make me feel like a timid pup. I hurried in after them, and waltzed a few decades back in time to see mostly men and women in their 50s,…