Ok – so you won’t find it in a dictionary… Jowittesque is a style of transport photography which includes members of the public with the vehicle (usually a bus) being photographed. Traditionally bus photos for magazines were a front 3/4 view and woe betide anyone who got in the way. Along came a photographer called Robert E. Jowitt who supplied photos to the various bus magazines. He broke the mould by daring to include members of the public in his shots. He went on to write several books, one of which – The Girl in the Street: Or the Bedside Bus Book – is well known among transport enthusiasts. His work has even spawned a Flickr group called Shades of Jowitt. Here are some of my ‘Jowittesque’ shots…
Got my Liberty bag - Now Where is Selfridges? Tourist on Regent Street.When Hunger Strikes - I Think this Guy had just escaped the same boring Microsoft symposium as me 😉Symphony in Red and Yellow - One of these pretty Ladies is significantly older than the other 😉Banishing the Horrors - Mums wave off a school trip (My lad is on that coach too).
Hi Fergiemoto, Thanks 🙂 I don’t think it’s a real word – at least, not outside the UK transport community 😉 There is some pressure on London operators to ensure that their vehicels are clean and they generally step up to the plate on that one.
I’m a bit embarrassed to admit ‘Jowittesque’ was a new one for me – although I’m also excited to learn about it all, too! I can see his point… while showing off the bus is important that interaction/relationship with people can be a lot of fun, too (and a potentially important sales tool as well)!
All of these are wonderful, Martin… I’m particularly fond of your third shot… I love how those yellows tie all the different ‘elements’ together. And pretty ladies usually don’t hurt a photograph, either.
🙂
Gorgeous photos Martin! I think it’s more interesting to include members of the public with the vehicle too. But, do you have to obtain photo releases from everyone who’s in the photo? Or, is it like Street Photography? Didn’t know that Jowittesque was a style of transport photography.
Love the slight tilt on the double decker bus in the first photo. It’s a little scary, but more interesting than a perfectly vertical double decker bus. Great post!
Hi Theresa. Interesting question… My understanding in the UK is that a photo taken in a public place does not require the permission of anyone who appears in it from a point of web views like this and personl use. However, were I to be taking the photo for commercial purposes then I would require a model release form (the agencies wouldn’t touch it otherwise!). It comes down to the rights of the individual. If I were to be photographing someone sunbathing in their back garden then I’d genuinely be invading their privacy (It’s not something I’d consider doing). On the street they’re in a public place and have no more rights to not be photographed than I have – though there are some people who think they have rights over and above the law to assault you for photographing them in a public place. Photographers rights is a big issue here in the UK – we’re fighting very hard against oppression brought on by the celebrity culture and the actions of the Papparazzi which have undermined serious photography. Normal street photography has to be preserved to maintain the record of social change – The very people who would complain about what I take would laud Cartier Bresson as the artist that he undoubtedly was. Is that double standards or what? Sorry Theresa – Rant over!
Don’t apologize Martin. I asked, and you answered. Thank you. I’ve still got a lot to learn and things are constantly changing in this ever-spinning world we live in. Thanks again. 🙂
That’s a lovely set of images – the first is my favourite.
Martin, Fergiemoto is ahead of me on the shining clean sparkle of these buses or is that simply part of the Jowittesque technique? Love your captions as well!
love the buses i hated travelling on the top deck always thought the bus would tip on corners brought back memories of the awful bombings of those red buses too xxjen
Hi Jen – As a Londoner I’ve been through the IRA bombing campaigns. The only difference with the latest lot is that they’re willing to die with their bombs. You just have to do the Keep Calm and Carry On bit. Can’t let the extremists/nutters of this world rule your daily life otherwise they’ve won.
Excellent photos. You know I always enjoy looking at your bus photos Martin as British Buses fascinate me more than our local ones here for some reason, especially the double deckers. Maybe because they are so colourful. Our buses are always plastered with adertising which makes them look kinda untidy. I used to drive buses in Sydney when I was in the Navy’s Transport Division & it was the most favourite part of my Naval career. We had Volvo B10M’s & they were great to drive.
I couldn’t help thinking that Jowittesque sounded like a shortened way of saying Jehovah’s Witness
Hi Tony – thanks 🙂 LoL about the Jumpin’ Jehosphats as I sometimes call them 😉 They visit my doorstep roughly once a month. I quite enjoy having a debate with them – Creationism meets Scientific Christianity! My wife, being a Roman Candle, would like to see the return of the Inquisition for such heresy 😉
You would feel at home in the Southgate & Finchley Coaches vehicle – it is a Volvo B10M with Plaxton Premiere bodywork 🙂 I’m sure that Sydney’s roads are not that different to London’s.
Being a Jehovah’s Witness myself I must admit I’ve never heard anyone call us Jumpin’ Jehosophats before Ha Ha Good one :-D. Despite what many think, we do have a sense of humour & can have a good laugh at what many say & think about us. Never heard Catholics called Roman Candle’s before either.
“Golly Gosh I never expected the Spanish Inquisition”
Which reminds me of an old favourite…
Reg: Trouble at t’mill.
Lady M: Oh, no! What sort of trouble?
Reg: One on’t cross beams gone owt askew on’t treddle.
Lady M: Pardon?
Reg: One on’t cross beams gone owt askew on’t treddle.
Lady M: I don’t understand what you’re saying.
Reg: One of the cross beams has gone out of skew on the treadle.
Lady M: Well, what on earth does that mean?
Reg: I don’t know! – Mr. Wentworth just told me to come in here and say that there was trouble at the mill, that’s all – I didn’t expect a kind of Spanish Inquisition!
[the door flies open and in come three Cardinals in red robes]
Cardinal Ximinez: NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise!… Surprise and fear… fear and surprise… Our two weapons are fear and surprise… and ruthless efficiency! Our three weapons are fear, and surprise, and ruthless efficiency… and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope… Our four… no… Amongst our weapons… Hmf… Amongst our weaponry… are such elements as fear, surpr… I’ll come in again.
[They leave]
Reg: [gamely] I didn’t expect a kind of Spanish Inquisition.
[They burst in again]
Ximinez: NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!… Amongst our weaponry are such diverse elements as: fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope, and nice red uniforms
LoL Tony – I remember that sketch so well 😉 You’ll gather that I’m part of the liberal side of the Church of England 🙂 Debate helps to affirm ones faith so when we have these chats on the door step I’m sure we both come away with some new insights – I do get a copy of Awake usually too (I don’t like Watchtower apart from the Dylan/Hendricks version)!
Oh my. I enjoyed this post. A public transport afficionado myself – I had never heard the term and really enjoyed the shots of transport from your side of the globe. Must do some hunting in my archives. Last year I took a picture from our 5ookm train journey at every station. Changed the whole trip for me. Thank you indeed.
Thanks Nellibell49. I’ll admit it was a new one on me until I got invited to the Flickr group a couple of years back. It was the Symphony in Red and Yellow shot that drew the invite.
Your 500km train journey ought to make for a great post 🙂 I covered our trip to Rome last summer by train in two posts which you may enjoy – First one here and the second immediately after. A lot of my blog has transport connections so you should find something of interest. Thanks for popping by and commenting 🙂
Images from Finchley 
visions and images I like and like your part of the world, I similar down here in Southampton. Love your views and captures…
Thanks Gerry – I’ll have to pop down to Southampton sometime 🙂 You might like this one from some years ago…
I probably traveled on that bus. Although the main number I used was 56, going out to the New forest, Lymington. thank you for your link and comments.
Love the photos and I learned something!
Thanks TBM – I try to provide some background info 🙂
love your buses, and the whole concept! fun as usual martin 🙂
Thank you Christine 🙂
thank you for this contribution to the j! photo challenge!
No Problem frizztext – sorry I was Late 🙂
Creative entry for ‘J’. I love those double-decker buses. They make a lot of sense. 🙂
Thank you Marcy – double deckers have been part of the UK scene for well over 100 years. But they’re not ideal everywhere.
Nice photos! The buses are so shiny and clean looking. I also learned a new word! Thank you!
Hi Fergiemoto, Thanks 🙂 I don’t think it’s a real word – at least, not outside the UK transport community 😉 There is some pressure on London operators to ensure that their vehicels are clean and they generally step up to the plate on that one.
I have been struggling all week to find a J!! Look at you with a fancy one! Thanks for sharing your knowledge on this one!
LoL – it is a bit of a dodgy one… like I said, you won’t find it in a dictionary but you will find it used on Flickr 😉
I’m a bit embarrassed to admit ‘Jowittesque’ was a new one for me – although I’m also excited to learn about it all, too! I can see his point… while showing off the bus is important that interaction/relationship with people can be a lot of fun, too (and a potentially important sales tool as well)!
All of these are wonderful, Martin… I’m particularly fond of your third shot… I love how those yellows tie all the different ‘elements’ together. And pretty ladies usually don’t hurt a photograph, either.
🙂
Thanks Bob – yes a nice face (human or machine) makes all the difference sometimes.
Gorgeous photos Martin! I think it’s more interesting to include members of the public with the vehicle too. But, do you have to obtain photo releases from everyone who’s in the photo? Or, is it like Street Photography? Didn’t know that Jowittesque was a style of transport photography.
Love the slight tilt on the double decker bus in the first photo. It’s a little scary, but more interesting than a perfectly vertical double decker bus. Great post!
Hi Theresa. Interesting question… My understanding in the UK is that a photo taken in a public place does not require the permission of anyone who appears in it from a point of web views like this and personl use. However, were I to be taking the photo for commercial purposes then I would require a model release form (the agencies wouldn’t touch it otherwise!). It comes down to the rights of the individual. If I were to be photographing someone sunbathing in their back garden then I’d genuinely be invading their privacy (It’s not something I’d consider doing). On the street they’re in a public place and have no more rights to not be photographed than I have – though there are some people who think they have rights over and above the law to assault you for photographing them in a public place. Photographers rights is a big issue here in the UK – we’re fighting very hard against oppression brought on by the celebrity culture and the actions of the Papparazzi which have undermined serious photography. Normal street photography has to be preserved to maintain the record of social change – The very people who would complain about what I take would laud Cartier Bresson as the artist that he undoubtedly was. Is that double standards or what? Sorry Theresa – Rant over!
Don’t apologize Martin. I asked, and you answered. Thank you. I’ve still got a lot to learn and things are constantly changing in this ever-spinning world we live in. Thanks again. 🙂
That’s a lovely set of images – the first is my favourite.
Thank you – yes she is a gem looking for her next store to shop in 🙂
Love the Tower Hill bus and the yellow dress.
Hi Nancy – I was particularly pleased with that one. The colors seem to hang together so well 🙂
Jowittesque that’s awesome – learning all the time, thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks for visiting Gilly, glad you liked 🙂
Martin, Fergiemoto is ahead of me on the shining clean sparkle of these buses or is that simply part of the Jowittesque technique? Love your captions as well!
Hi Patti – that’s washing plant and cleaning staff… Glad you enjoyed the captions 🙂
An excellent posting my friend…
Androgoth
Thanks Androgoth – have a great weekend 🙂
love the buses i hated travelling on the top deck always thought the bus would tip on corners brought back memories of the awful bombings of those red buses too xxjen
Hi Jen – As a Londoner I’ve been through the IRA bombing campaigns. The only difference with the latest lot is that they’re willing to die with their bombs. You just have to do the Keep Calm and Carry On bit. Can’t let the extremists/nutters of this world rule your daily life otherwise they’ve won.
Excellent photos. You know I always enjoy looking at your bus photos Martin as British Buses fascinate me more than our local ones here for some reason, especially the double deckers. Maybe because they are so colourful. Our buses are always plastered with adertising which makes them look kinda untidy. I used to drive buses in Sydney when I was in the Navy’s Transport Division & it was the most favourite part of my Naval career. We had Volvo B10M’s & they were great to drive.
I couldn’t help thinking that Jowittesque sounded like a shortened way of saying Jehovah’s Witness
Hi Tony – thanks 🙂 LoL about the Jumpin’ Jehosphats as I sometimes call them 😉 They visit my doorstep roughly once a month. I quite enjoy having a debate with them – Creationism meets Scientific Christianity! My wife, being a Roman Candle, would like to see the return of the Inquisition for such heresy 😉
You would feel at home in the Southgate & Finchley Coaches vehicle – it is a Volvo B10M with Plaxton Premiere bodywork 🙂 I’m sure that Sydney’s roads are not that different to London’s.
Being a Jehovah’s Witness myself I must admit I’ve never heard anyone call us Jumpin’ Jehosophats before Ha Ha Good one :-D. Despite what many think, we do have a sense of humour & can have a good laugh at what many say & think about us. Never heard Catholics called Roman Candle’s before either.
“Golly Gosh I never expected the Spanish Inquisition”
Which reminds me of an old favourite…
LoL Tony – I remember that sketch so well 😉 You’ll gather that I’m part of the liberal side of the Church of England 🙂 Debate helps to affirm ones faith so when we have these chats on the door step I’m sure we both come away with some new insights – I do get a copy of Awake usually too (I don’t like Watchtower apart from the Dylan/Hendricks version)!
Oh my. I enjoyed this post. A public transport afficionado myself – I had never heard the term and really enjoyed the shots of transport from your side of the globe. Must do some hunting in my archives. Last year I took a picture from our 5ookm train journey at every station. Changed the whole trip for me. Thank you indeed.
Thanks Nellibell49. I’ll admit it was a new one on me until I got invited to the Flickr group a couple of years back. It was the Symphony in Red and Yellow shot that drew the invite.
Your 500km train journey ought to make for a great post 🙂 I covered our trip to Rome last summer by train in two posts which you may enjoy – First one here and the second immediately after. A lot of my blog has transport connections so you should find something of interest. Thanks for popping by and commenting 🙂
Heading over your way now.
Thanks Tony 🙂
Thought you’d like it. I am a Monty Python fan from way back.