Street Football, Addison Place W11 1957

Roger Mayne captured this scene of kids playing street football in Addison Place, West London. What strikes me is the stark monochrome, the grainy texture almost like a charcoal drawing. I can imagine Mayne, camera in hand, becoming one with the energy of the street. What was he thinking, framing this shot? Was he trying to capture a fleeting moment of childhood? Or was he more interested in the composition? Look at that slightly blurred ball, suspended in mid-air. It creates a sense of movement and anticipation. I can almost hear the shouts and laughter of the kids. The artist embraces ambiguity. It allows the viewer to become absorbed. You can almost smell the cobblestones. Mayne lets the scene speak for itself.