Most Iconic Dulwich Spots / Visuals

[Monty3005]

Calling all East Dulwich Natives!

I'm a local travel and landscape photographer here in Dulwich and I would love your help please!

I am creating an East Dulwich Calendar for 2024 and am in the process of compiling a shot list of all the most iconic locations and visuals that would capture the heart and vibe of this amazing neighbourhood. I've got a starter-for-ten with locations like:

- the boxers by the East Dulwich Tavern

- the mural as you exit the ED station

- Dulwich Hamlet fc stadium

- Dulwich Park cafe on a snowy morning

- Cherry Blossoms off of lordship lane

- etc etc

But I need further inspiration, so I thought to myself, where better than this awesome community of local experts?

Are there any iconic spots, local characters, special stores or secret nooks that you'd like to see in an East Dulwich Calendar? What would I be remiss for not including? All ideas welcome and appreciated!

Thanks in advance guys.

Dan Montalbano

www.danmontalbanophotography.com

p.s These are some of my other calendars, so you get an idea for what the final product will look like.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MontysCalendars

[teddyboy23]

The new poundland store

[wordsworth]

...there's probably 12 coffee shops

[malumbu]

Yes very helpful (not).

I'd get this shifted to the ED issues part of this site as it is a local matter.

Dawson heights, and some of the views around Dawson heights would be good, Dawson Heights is very much a marmite issue, innovative social housing or a carbuncle - I'm the former but wouldn't like to be living in one of the roads parallel to this as it obstructs your view.

Some of the street murals are cool, and the topiary on Beauval Road

A must do is the house of dreams http://www.stephenwrightartist.com/houseofdreams.php

Camberwell Old Cemetery on the boundary another good place

[Monty3005]

Thanks for the considered reply @malumbu.

Some good ideas in there.

[diable rouge]

How about a photo of Lordship Lane itself rather than any specific shop/pub etc?

If you want to hone in on one particular shop, Dulwich DIY would be a great choice, very old school, longstanding mainstay of LL,

North Cross Road's Saturday market should provide opportunities for some candid hustle & bustle street shots.

There's also the mosaic flooring outside the café on North Cross Road. The café closed during the various lockdowns, not sure if it's since reopened or not.

Peckham Rye Park which lies within Peckham Rye Common, various landscaped gardens/features including the pond/wildlife...try and spot the Heron!

Dulwich Public Baths is one of the 'showiest' buildings in the area, perhaps pick out one of its architectural features. There's also the newish Dulwich Leisure Centre just around the corner on Crystal Palace Road, maybe contrast old with new?

Not strictly East Dulwich but Dulwich Picture Gallery is an architectural gem designed by Sir John Soane with a modernist extension.

Dulwich Hamlet Stadium doesn't inspire me, but how about capturing the fans/crowd instead, perhaps your version of LS Lowry's ''Going to the Match''.

It would be nice to have a shot showing the vibrancy and diversity of the area, try looking out for any public events/fairs taking place over the coming months e.g. Goose Green, Peckham Rye Common/Park...

[Monty3005]

@diable rouge some great ideas in there.

I love the idea of getting Dulwich DIY - that place is legendary. Great shout!

I've got the market in North Cross Road, though I think I can do better, will be revisiting.

Also got the picture gallery and snapped mosaics on NC road the other as options.

I've attached one of the ones I'm thinking about for Dulwich Hamlet - agree it needs fans to work properly.

All the fairs in the spring and summer are a good shout. I just have to be careful about including recognisable people in shot as I could stumble into usage issues.

Any other brilliant thoughts keep them coming, I like the way youre thinking!

[diable rouge]

Thinking more about the possibility of capturing Dulwich DIY (I think there's plenty of potential to do a separate calendar just on the shops of ED if this calendar was successful), I've an image in my head that in the olden days proprietors of shops would often be photographed outside their business, eg. the local butcher proudly standing in his butcher's apron and hat etc, so perhaps you could do a modern take on that.

Another idea goes back to your original post in wanting to ''capture the heart and vibe''.

With respect to Dulwich DIY, it's very much an 'Aladdin's Cave' type of shop, ram-packed full of 'stuff'. When you go inside it's elbow room only, so rather than a generic landscape shot like the examples you've shown, how about reflecting that tightness of space with a very closely cropped shot of the shop's frontage and nothing else, perhaps with the door open offering a glimpse inside, or maybe a shot taken at dusk when it's lit up inside?

On a similar theme, for me the photo of DHFC stadium doesn't capture the spirit of being at a football match. I definitely feel you need to focus more on the match-goers and less on the architecture, and it doesn't necessarily have to be inside the ground. For a lot of fans the match-day experience will start with a pint in a local, and/or stopping of for pie and chips on the walk to the ground, the queue to get into the ground. Inside the ground you've got more pre-match drinks, the anticipation before kick-off etc. And then of course the reactions of the fans during the match.

I'm reminded of a photo I once saw in a newspaper of Wimbledon tennis fans watching a game, it showed all their faces turned in the same direction following the play, which to me captured the spirit of watching tennis. Have you thought about capturing something similar? There are always moments in a game whereby the crowd act in unison e.g. a near miss, shouts for a penalty, and of course, a goal.

Another presentation idea...the colours of the Dulwich scarves really pop-out, even on a cold, grey day, so how about a B&W photo but highlighting the colours of the scarves?

Re. 'Queen and Corgi's' mural comments on your other thread...

No photo but I'm presuming it's a straightforward face-on capture of the mural? If so, how about capturing it when someone is walking their dog past it? I could get political and suggest capturing the moment when a dog takes a pee up against the wall ;-)

Could provide a fun twist/juxtaposition, adds scale too.

On a general note, I presume you're making this calendar as a way of generating income, if so, have you thought about displaying/selling your photography in general, and/or the calendar originals and those that didn't make the final cut, at somewhere like the Jeannie Avent Gallery on North Cross Road? I've no idea how much it would cost to rent the space, but it might be an avenue worth exploring especially in the run-up to Christmas when I expect that's the time when you will be looking to market the calendar...

[Monty3005]

Lots of strong creative ideas in here, thanks diable!

Love your idea about doing old school shop owners in front of their shops. That might have to be for 2025, but could be super cool.

Dulwich DIY with a wide-angle lens inside could also be pretty epic given how cramped it is.

DHFC, I know what you mean. I was looking for a proper scarf moments at the game the other day, but didnt come away with any keepers. I have a few others that might be stronger. will consider.

Queen and Corgis, I might be waiting a long time to stage that moment. That said, I got a hilarious one a few years back of a guy with a broken leg hobbling past the kingfisher across from the corgis. Visual irony at its best.

And yes, I've considered renting Jennie Avent - but have never got my act together to do it. Maybe one day!

Meanwhile I sell canvas and acrylic prints from my website and the calendars a a new project the year. Also using some of the proceeds to donate to charity.

Thanks for taking the time to feedback, much appreciated.

Monty

 

Thinking more about the possibility of capturing Dulwich DIY (I think there's plenty of potential to do a separate calendar just on the shops of ED if this calendar was successful), I've an image in my head that in the olden days proprietors of shops would often be photographed outside their business, eg. the local butcher proudly standing in his butcher's apron and hat etc, so perhaps you could do a modern take on that.

Another idea goes back to your original post in wanting to ''capture the heart and vibe''.

With respect to Dulwich DIY, it's very much an 'Aladdin's Cave' type of shop, ram-packed full of 'stuff'. When you go inside it's elbow room only, so rather than a generic landscape shot like the examples you've shown, how about reflecting that tightness of space with a very closely cropped shot of the shop's frontage and nothing else, perhaps with the door open offering a glimpse inside, or maybe a shot taken at dusk when it's lit up inside?

On a similar theme, for me the photo of DHFC stadium doesn't capture the spirit of being at a football match. I definitely feel you need to focus more on the match-goers and less on the architecture, and it doesn't necessarily have to be inside the ground. For a lot of fans the match-day experience will start with a pint in a local, and/or stopping of for pie and chips on the walk to the ground, the queue to get into the ground. Inside the ground you've got more pre-match drinks, the anticipation before kick-off etc. And then of course the reactions of the fans during the match.

I'm reminded of a photo I once saw in a newspaper of Wimbledon tennis fans watching a game, it showed all their faces turned in the same direction following the play, which to me captured the spirit of watching tennis. Have you thought about capturing something similar? There are always moments in a game whereby the crowd act in unison e.g. a near miss, shouts for a penalty, and of course, a goal.

Another presentation idea...the colours of the Dulwich scarves really pop-out, even on a cold, grey day, so how about a B&W photo but highlighting the colours of the scarves?

Re. 'Queen and Corgi's' mural comments on your other thread...

No photo but I'm presuming it's a straightforward face-on capture of the mural? If so, how about capturing it when someone is walking their dog past it? I could get political and suggest capturing the moment when a dog takes a pee up against the wall ;-)

Could provide a fun twist/juxtaposition, adds scale too.

On a general note, I presume you're making this calendar as a way of generating income, if so, have you thought about displaying/selling your photography in general, and/or the calendar originals and those that didn't make the final cut, at somewhere like the Jeannie Avent Gallery on North Cross Road? I've no idea how much it would cost to rent the space, but it might be an avenue worth exploring especially in the run-up to Christmas when I expect that's the time when you will be looking to market the calendar...

[jazzer]

Much prefer Shaun's DIY on Grove Vale. If you go through the main shop an Aladdin's cave awaits you out the back.