My beautiful launderette
The crisis of a broken washing machine prompted a visit to this place – better known as a laundromat to my friends on the other side of the Atlantic.
I haven’t used one since my student days, but there are plenty of them in west London and they seem to do a good trade. Along with our suitcases filled with clothes needing a wash, I took my camera.
Although a public place, maybe this was too intimate a venue to take photographs. But in this establishment on King Street in Hammersmith, the mild-mannered attendant was too busy emptying machines and dealing with customers to worry – strange for a place where rules and guidance are plastered on every wall.
With its banks of washers and tumble dryers, the lines and shapes caught my eye, along with the movement of machines constantly in motion. Still, I was careful to avoid taking candids of people doing something that is best suited to your own private space.
Our machine is finally fixed now and a visit to the washeteria is unlikely to be repeated soon. It might be a mundane, functional place, but one to stretch your photographic eye and achieve some unexpected results.
mikeosbornphoto 
Great details Mike, I like these a lot.
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Thank you Lena, much appreciated as always. I hope you are keeping well.
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Really like the series! I like unusual places, photographically speaking :) Too bad I’m always feeling a bit uncomfortable…
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Thank you very much, Silvia. It made the task of doing the laundry in public less depressing!
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Great set Mike and I particularly like the tumble dry perspective image. Looks like a laundrette can be beautiful. I hope you have a great week ahead!
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Thank you James, it’s a wonder what can take your eye. Have a good week too in the sunshine!
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Really great series of shots …. it’s always fun to try and find something to photograph, wherever it is …
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Very true, John. Though some shots are perhaps a harder “sell” than others. Thanks for coming by to comment!
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Great shots. They give everybody a different perspective of a launderette. Thank you for sharing them. -Max-
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Thanks for coming by to comment, Max. Much appreciated. I didn’t expect to be there so made the most of it.
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Memories, memories, memories……Lovely that you took those images!!
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It was too good – and rare – an opportunity to pass up. They haven’t changed much, have they?!
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Not a bit Mike :-)
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There’s always an upside! :) Great images – love the DRY one… :)
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Thanks Richard! Yes, you don’t want to sit on that surface with bare legs… a little like car seats back in our day :-)
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Haha… I know what you mean! :D
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Great set, I can almost smell the soap.
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Thanks :-) Not such a bad place at all. I might go back to dry my shirts with no creases – no ironing!!!
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