In the Footsteps of Giants

This is a fairly common thing to do - getting yourself photographed crossing Abbey Road as the Beatles did on the album cover back in 1969 - but its not easy. There is almost constant traffic and you need it to be fairly clear both ways. I took about 6 shots for this Mexican family until we got it just right (in full stride, equally spaced) and on the last try this driver yelled at us for slowing down traffic. I yelled back, "Hey man, all we need is love!" with both hands waving the peace sign, which didn't seem to go over so well with him.

Anyway, unfortunately the teenage girl that took this photo was not as careful about getting my stride right. In fact, she may not have known what the album cover looked like, or even why we were taking these photos in the street. Seemed the mom was most interested in the project.

You can't see much of Abby Road Studios (where the Beatles recorded their entire output) because there is a closed gate, but I could see some people in the lobby through a window so its still a functioning studio. The white pillars of the gate (you can see one of them at the far left of the photo) are covered in scribbles from people expressing their enduring love of the Beatles, and of John and George particularly. Its in a really nice, seemingly residential section of London a few miles from the center, not far from Regents Park.

After taking these photos I had my first-ever Iraqi meal at a nearby restaurant, which consisted of lamb and chicken , some tomatoes and pickles, and some crusty nan-style bread. It was pretty good and quite filling.