Prey!, a photo from Derbyshire, England

Photographer's Note

PREY!

This picture was one of those quick reaction images where my camera wasn’t even in my hand when I first saw the possibilities – I took it around 1985-6 on a trip to Chesterfield in Derbyshire – I had just crossed to an island in the middle of the road when this bus pulled up in front – I looked up and saw this child’s arm being stalked by this Prince of Darkness and just managed to get this one shot before the bus moved off. Taken on FP4.

I’ve always liked this image and have used it a couple of times in publications and as an illustration to teaching work – it still grabs me as much as the moment it suddenly appeared in front of me! It makes a really nice print and I’ve just always liked it a lot for some reason! I just sit staring at it fascinated! I guess I'm mildly obsessed by it. A bit of a ghoulsome personal favourite but hey……

cobraphil8, bantonbuju, alekpet, nerve, capthaddock, arindam_thokder, emanuela, AnimeshRay, Rinie_Hoff, designsoul, Fixfocus, wilkinsonsg, bnallama, erdna, zig heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

cobraphil8 (84) 2005-11-08 3:38

One decisive moment surely, I find that excel! The glance of those posted on the bus in direction of this young boy is rather alarming.
Moreover, in black and white, that makes this scene timeless. I adore :)

Un moment décisif surement, je trouve cela excellent !
Le regard de ceux affichés sur le bus en direction de ce jeune garçon est assez effrayant. En plus, en noir et blanc, cela rend cette scène intemporelle.
J'adore :)

Greatings
Philippe

entrelec (8328) 2005-11-08 3:39

Fascinating is the word,sure.
Deep phantasm;
With this shot you can teach about photography, yes it's an exceptional one.
You know, it makes me think to the poster of the first 3King Kong" movie.
Irruption of horror in the city...
Fav, no choice
Joel

bantonbuju (51815) 2005-11-08 3:44

me too - just sitting and staring at it fascinated; i am sorry, kev, but it would not be wise of me to pack my favorites only with your works, so let me classify this picture as conceptually favorite one;
cannot stop laughing (while seeing this scary image);
superb;
j.
ps. leaving for 5 days to austria, see you then

THAR (3877) 2005-11-08 4:01

Amusant et original!

rbcy1974 (20758) 2005-11-08 4:03

Hi Kev,
This is brilliant,
It seems like the child wants to be bitten by the poster,
really original,
Cheers
Daniel

dolin (7369) 2005-11-08 4:32

Hi Kev.
Waouh...impressive composition.
Your framing is very very good and this glance of the vampire in the direction of the kid....waouhhhhh.Your choice of b/w is perfect for this scene.
This is brilliant, I'm fascinated.
BRAVO
Fred

Furachan (0) 2005-11-08 5:39

Amazing sht, Kev, brilliant raction on your part. It's a perfect capture...hilarious, vampiric, terrifying all at once.
Oh and compliments on the quality of THIS scan...
Cheers,
Francis

alekpet (4663) 2005-11-08 6:31

Now I know I won't ever use Chesterfield busses....
Wonderful picture, I was 10y old when this was taken, possibly similar age as the kid pictured, but never did I have to travel with Dracula.
I learned a lot from the image, you are so kind to share it on TE.
It simply won't work in colour, B/W is spectacular, any colour would have ruined it.

Aleks

gezgin37 (3788) 2005-11-08 7:05

Hi Kev,
trying to cross the road and a bus coming from somewhere and covering your whole sight with such an image. I'm just trying to imagine what would be my reaction. Probably i would freeze. (I'm not sure if i might manage to say "oh holly shit!"). Having missed the shot, i would try to get a taxi to to catch up with the bus. Only to find out that the child was not there anymore.
IMO you're lucky or blessed not because the image came right in front of you, but because you did not miss it.
Greetings :)
Selçuk

everlasting (20024) 2005-11-08 7:25

If you follow the eyes of the vampire he looks directly at the arm, briliant, to be able to react so quickly. I can believe that this remains a favourite of yours.
It is so well framed and was goign to say convertred to B&W, but remembered in olden times the camera did it for you.:) So you dont get the compliment for that Kev.

jinju (14265) 2005-11-08 7:43

Hey Kev
basically this is a fantastic example of clear storytelling. The environment is clearly tied with the subject, tight compo, clean compo, and an engaging photo.

Cos (1562) 2005-11-08 7:58

Hi Kev
I can see why you're attracted to this shot so much, it makes quite a statement. It's very odd that the child was sitting like that - the juxtaposition of the poster and the child are perfect, a great catch. B&W adds to the surreal feel of the shot.
Regards
Sarah

capthaddock (28790) 2005-11-08 10:20

Hi Kev - once again you win the TE top prize for creativity and originality. Type of photos I would never see , pure genius.

arindam_thokder (3987) 2005-11-08 10:29

Excellent capture Kev, Straight to my Fav, Thank god the Vampire is not the real one, Ha Ha Ha,

emanuela (1257) 2005-11-08 12:59

one of those art shots where art is just there and you don't even know why
very good Kev
favorites
emanuela

Michael_Gan (2776) 2005-11-08 15:05

This is a great picture, Kev. I can imagine that it has your fascination; I suspect that I will come back to this webpage several times to have another look. The glance of the vampire to the childe is superb, and one of the great things of this picture is the fact the the face of the kid is hidden in the shadow. It makes the situation even scarier. Very well seen!

AnimeshRay (9089) 2005-11-08 15:15

My first impression is....wow, I wish I was there!! Then the photo slowly unravels. Chesterfield transportation...hmm, where are they taking the little boy with his lusciously supple arm sticking out as if to signal one last time, then the ghostly reflection through the glass and another boy sitting there too...it is a story at one level and at another an impression of our collective boyhood-nightmares laced with awakening libido. Sinister imagery, laden with tongue-in-cheek humor.
The black and white is just superb!
Into my favorites.

Rinie_Hoff (9340) 2005-11-08 16:45

"Shit, there's still one alive!" That seems to be his reactionseeing the hte kid's arm. Great view, Kev, and what a fast reaction you had, the composition is really strong. I wonder why you waited so long to upload this oen. Really funny as well. A truly decisive moment.
The other details, displaying the bus are nice as well, you know that this scary moment will only be in front of your eyes for a short period of time.

designsoul (17843) 2005-11-08 17:17

Looks like a German AvantGarde classic film, marvellously spooky and so well timed that I am in disbelief... with the child's arm hanging out of the bus and Dracula's pining stare focused on it, it is both horrifying and humorous, a marvellous marvellous shot that I have to put among my "phantom favs"... a big belly laughter-filled and truly humbled BRAVO goes to you Kev!
Sarolta

vapours (8264) 2005-11-09 5:50

Love the image and collection of images and squares which make up this story. Well done.

Fixfocus (9385) 2005-11-09 6:44

Hi Kev,
First I thought that you did buy a OM2n again,
but reading the note I understand that it´s 20 years old,but nevertheless it´s a great one.Excellent compo and framing and a quick reaction.A good scan too!
Greetings,
hermann

wilkinsonsg (8662) 2005-11-09 17:11

'Fang-tastic' shot (groan).

Seriously, this shot is outstanding - I am still trying to work out how the child is seated - it looks weird!

nerve (10231) 2005-11-10 3:36

Great image.. i simply love the composition here..
One of your bests.., an impressive shot..
cheers.

moxon (78) 2005-11-10 5:31

Great shot! Funny, surreal, and beautiful at the same time. Nice composition--I particularly like the details on the bus like the tear on the vampire's nose, "Chesterfield Transp", etc.

bnallama (3763) 2005-11-10 16:44

Simply a wonderful composition Kev.. Thanks for sharing as usual.. bala

t0mmm1 (5442) 2005-11-11 3:32

Hi Kev,
great great great. what a mood. I like how the prince of darkness is looking in the direction to the child that is waving his hand for find some help.... I like it very much. TFS

carobnica (1336) 2005-11-11 14:28

o my God I love this photo;
it's very funny and has really good composition and great feeling.
well don't know what more to say after all this comments except that is in a way funny, in some other sense even smart and in the end that I like it a lot.
;O)
ciao
ana

erdna (5713) 2005-11-11 19:49

A suer catch and a good photo! I love it and I enjoy looking at it. As, Clint Eastwood would say, "You made my day!"

Andre'

Isabelle (9046) 2005-11-12 6:30

this shot made me look for more info about the maning of street photography, Kev.
it´s precious, just excellent!
a fav!

maciekda (19895) 2005-11-12 12:28

nice photo Kev, very god moment - seeing this kid in the window is really surprising, i like those vampires as well, i like this real B&W as well, good stuff

Luan (12971) 2005-11-13 7:55

Hello Kev,
this one is really fantastic, I like this flat composition, no perspective, no empty space, some little detais make the composition great. I like the faceless kid we can only see his limbs.
Excellent
Luan

rowanb (864) 2005-11-14 7:35

what a moment..great composition and timing. fantastic b&w. great shot.

zig (2456) 2005-11-14 8:18

I just don't know which one to start giving my critiques in your gallery. There are too many shots and too many of them are SUPER to my eyes. So let me start from here. This is great, very nicely captured together with the vampire that is looking toward the kid. An illusion and a very relaxing reality of a daily life, very, very nice work.

ishai (4097) 2005-11-20 16:21

Another great moment in time and you are there
Your decisive moment eye is very good and I think Henri Carier-Bresson would be very proud too
I like it but cant say a lot to explain
Its one of those pictures

Well seen great captured

Ishai

Teten (582) 2005-11-21 8:44

Amazing composition! I like very much your frame. Really great photo!

hackman (151) 2006-01-01 17:45

Once upon a time ))) J.S.Bach wrote: There's nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself.... you can press at the right moment... Thank you for your all documentary photos... it was pleasure it see :)
mik with :)

bishansamaddar (868) 2006-06-13 3:14

what a fabulous photo! a perfect decisive moment!

pentolaccia (46) 2007-05-20 18:25

terrific!!

afshinazizi (6) 2009-03-03 22:57

Hi Kev

Really pretty good work :).It is greatly captured and well composed.It's not like a decisive moment photography.Just like a directed one.

Well used of B&W mood.

TFS

Afshin

mar14 (97) 2009-03-03 23:07

Creative, creative, creative! Great vision to be able to see this opportunity. Many great things have already been said, and I could not agree more. What I like most is that there is 100, if not more, different stories that can created from this single image!

Cheers,

Michael

sittipong (251) 2011-04-04 8:49

Wonderful shot.
Regards,
Sittipong