I first met Gus when his work appeared in the second edition of 'Bystander' when Joel Meyerowitz and Colin Westerbeck added a last chapter 'The Sidewalk Never Ends', Matt Stuart and I got in touch and invited him to join the comparatively new Street Photographers group in-public.

I spent an afternoon shooting in London with Gus who is now working on the street with medium format color film, he is one of those photographers who found the transition to digital uncomfortable and although using digital cameras for commercial work, continues to use film on the street. It is interesting to see the shift in his work from the 'Lunch Pictures' project he made in 35mm which were busy and populated with subtle moments of human drama and observation...to the quieter more contemplative views of his current project 'The Lonely Ones'. Whilst enjoying both projects I miss the essential 'rawness' of the streets found in the 'Lunch Pictures' project. One of my favorite Gus Powell images comes from this series, an image titled 'Passo Doble' after the Spanish 'Double Time' music and associated dance often played at bullfights....Gus's image wonderfully contains all these elements, the couple in the centre of the shot that face each other with the appearance that they are about to dance whilst at either extremity of the frame people walk into frame with their heads down and their hands to their temples like the horns of charging bulls.

Gus Powell, Passo Doble from the 'Lunch Pictures' series.

As if this were not a remarkable enough confluence of imagery on one ordinary New York City street corner, the finishing touch is the last thing you notice, the eyes of both the man and the woman are locked on the descent of a small white cigarette butt as it heads for the sidewalk with just enough blur to reveal its motion. This is a scene of apparent simplicity but wonderful complexity and depth of reference and imagery.

I look forward to shooting with Gus again and following his career with interest.....especially as he still owes me lunch.

Exhibition runs May 14th - August 23rd 2009 at FOAM, Amsterdam, Holland.

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