the domino club

I found it! I finally tracked down some domino players at The Caribbean Community Centre on Seven Sisters Road, Mr. Thomas really did exist. I don't now why but the place felt a bit like a Scottish guesthouse. I let myself in and was greeted by an enormous smiling picture of the last pope and two goldfish swimming around quite happily in a washing -up bowl as if guarding the entrance. I knew I was in the right place though from the clacking, banging roar that emanated from "the conference room", either that or there was a full scale brawl going on. Fortunately someone else appeared just behind me and told me to wait outside while he asked Mr.Thomas if it was ok for me to enter. I was fully prepared a this point to be told no, as it had already been two weeks of tracking this place down and I had been told that he wasn't that keen on me being there. But, I got the nod an in I went. Mr. Thomas was the tiniest gentleman you could imagine, quite old and very softly spoken, he said that probably no one would want their picture taken but he would ask anyway. Some people said outright I couldn't shoot them, some even got up and said they were going to go home, which made me feel bad as this was their club and their sunday afternoon I was spoiling for them, so I assured them I wouldn't be long. Which was a shame, as I need long to get my head around shutter speeds and apertures still, as my pitiful efforts show. I knew that at a push I could have half an hour, and I wanted to try as many angles as I could... and I messed up. I was cross with myself for rushing when had I been more methodical and measured, yes, I would have had less shots... but at least the ratio of useable ones would have been higher. In a way I suppose the shakiness does convey some of the energy and tension in the room, but that should have been a deliberate choice rather than an after thought! This was a good example of a situation that would benefit from return visits, as by the end as much a they wanted me to go, those that didn't mind me being there had started to relax a bit... I even got a game in. Sadly for this assignment they only meet once a week, but it did leave me with a germ of an idea for community centres and traditional games... maybe.