Margate with Leica M8

[Nick De Marco]

Part of a new project, the desolate UK seaside. I travelled to Margate with a large format camera and a Leica M8.2 digital rangefinder on a cold March day.

The idea is to capture the loneliness and decay of these once pleasure destinations. Margate, England's first seaside resort, with so many boarded up shops and attractions, was a perfect destination for the project







More photos on my Rangefinder Chronicles blog: http://rangefinderchronicles.blogspot.com/2011/04/sunday-6-march-2011-part-1.html

 

[The Standard Deviant]

Interesting pictures. Margate is hopefully going slightly up in the world. My grandmother lives there and last time I visited I was really surprised to see a cluster of trendy shops selling vintage clothes, and little galleries.

To expand on what Nick said, 60% of shops are empty in Margate, the worst rate in the country. With overseas holidays becoming common, the numbers going to Margate has declined dramatically, so was already a faded place, but the nail in the coffin for the local shops was the opening of the Westwood Cross out-of-town shopping centre, so even the larger chain shops have closed. Makes for an interesting place to visit though!

 

[The Standard Deviant]

You should stick this in one of the photo sections though, or 'travel'!