Alicia Canter March 1, 2011

Camera club monthly assignment: Photographing the recession

Photographer Alicia Canter goes to Margate to take some shots of the town's economic slump

Camera Club: Guadian Camera Club: Photographing the recession — Two women enter Margate Discount Store. A low shutter-speed captures a sense of their movement Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Camera Club: Guadian Camera Club: Photographing the recession — Boarded-up shops in the arcade at Arlington Square Photograph: Alicia Canter

Camera Club: Guadian Camera Club: Photographing the recession — Dave's Hamburger Bar is one of the arcade's few surviving shops Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Camera Club: Guadian Camera Club: Photographing the recession — A close-up of Calum (right), the owner's stepson, and Ian, a regular customer at Dave's. Try to talk to people in the town you visit – they might be able to give you some insight into the situation there
Photograph: Alicia Canter Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Camera Club: Guadian Camera Club: Photographing the recession — The joke shop is one of the arcade's last few shops. In this shot you can see open and closed premises side by side
Photograph: Alicia Canter Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Camera Club: Guadian Camera Club: Photographing the recession — Tamburlaine Robb-John's family have run the joke shop for 40 years. Look for reflections like the one in the window
Photograph: Alicia Canter Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Camera Club: Guadian Camera Club: Photographing the recession — A wide-angle lens and the blue sky adds drama to this photograph
Photograph: Alicia Canter Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Camera Club: Guadian Camera Club: Photographing the recession — A wider shot shows the town in the background
Photograph: Alicia Canter Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Camera Club: Guadian Camera Club: Photographing the recession — Some repeat pattern in a straight shot of the bay windows
Photograph: Alicia Canter Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Camera Club: Guadian Camera Club: Photographing the recession — More repeat pattern in a close-up, with a sticker in the bottom-left to add interest
Photograph: Alicia Canter Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Camera Club: Guadian Camera Club: Photographing the recession — The richer colours of the doors and frames complement the metal window-shields
Photograph: Alicia Canter Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Camera Club: Guadian Camera Club: Photographing the recession — A lock on the door of this abandoned pub. Details like this can make for great shots
Photograph: Alicia Canter Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Camera Club: Guadian Camera Club: Photographing the recession — Dreamland is an amusement park first opened in 1920. It was once a popular attraction but its fortunes, like the town's, have suffered. The sky offers negative space against which to balance the dark scaffolding
Photograph: Alicia Canter Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Camera Club: Guadian Camera Club: Photographing the recession — Supergift, a closed shop on Margate's seafront. This picture is split into near-thirds, making it look layered
Photograph: Alicia Canter Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Camera Club: Guadian Camera Club: Photographing the recession — The view through the muggy windows of an old amusement arcade. Only five machines remain inside
Photograph: Alicia Canter Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

Camera Club: Guadian Camera Club: Photographing the recession — A closed-down arcade on the seafront allows for some repeat pattern and the use of the doors to create a vanishing point Photograph: Alicia Canter

Camera Club: Guadian Camera Club: Photographing the recession — A charity shop remains closed through the winter
Photograph: Alicia Canter Photograph: Alicia Canter for the Guardian

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