This picture has probably made me think more about the human condition than any other
I have ever taken.

When taking candid pictures, occasionally the photographer actually interacts
with the subject and the relationship changes.

Whilst walking through a fairground an hour before it opened, I was nervous of
taking candid shots of the hardened macho fairground staff. But then the young lads
made a joke about the camera and pleaded with me to take their picture.

I was happy to do this expecting them to want copies sent on to them.

But what happened was really rather sad, and demonstrated once again that underneath
every macho tough guy is a crushed frail human spirit seeking some genuine love.

These two lads deliberateley sat by the painting of the 'perfect' girl whilst still
asking me to take their picture - 'take our picture, mate - over here,mate'. And I realised
that in their male-dominated root-less world of unsociable hours, loud trashy music,
bright lights and poor diet, this was how they perceived women.

Just as sad was that they didn't want prints or even to see the image on the camera LCD - as
though they had 'performed' and they did not value themselves.

John Lennon was once asked in the 'Peace and Love' years, what good would love have been
in tackling Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. John replied that if only someone had shown
Adolf Hitler more love as a child, history would have taken a different course.

'All you need is love' as the man said.