Posts Tagged ‘france’
Silhouettes September 8th, 2010
There’s something very particular about silhouettes. They can help convey so much mood, drama and mystery.
Here is a small selection of silhouettes taken in places as diverse as London, Brussels and Normandy, France.
Above is a the equestrian statue of Godfrey de Bouillon which stands in the Royal Square in Brussels. The statue was made by Eugène Simonis, and inaugurated on August 24, 1848.
Above is the British Machine Gun Corps Memorial (also knows as The Boy David), which can today be found in the central section of Hyde Park Corner in London.
I couldn’t help but wonder about the link between machine guns and the German Zweihander/Greatsword (Yes, I know. But hey, I’m into swords).
One of the 48 statues representing the Medieval guilds of 16th century Brussels and which can be found atop neo-gothic columns surrounding the Place du Petit Sablon. The Place du Petit Sablon was built in built in 1890, and is a beautiful tree-lined park in central Brussels.
A statue atop a fountain in Hyde Park.
A kite caught in a tree on a beautiful day in Normandy, France.
Pigeon on the rails. Seen in Hyde Park.
More coming soon!
Tags: belgium, bouillon, boy david, british, Brussels, corps, david, England, france, godfrey, godfrey de bouillon, great sword, greatsword, Hyde Park, hyde park corner, kite, london, machine gun, machine gun corps memorial, medieval guild, memorial, normandy, park, petit sablon, pigeon, sablon, silhouette, statue, sword, two handed sword, UK, United Kingdom, zweihander
Posted in Travel/Urban | Comments (0)
High Winds September 3rd, 2010
Early this year France, and Europe in general, seemed to be repeatedly hit with high winds. On a number of occasions, there were fears of winds in excess of 100 kilometers per hour. Take a look here and here for examples of some of the media coverage of one of those occasions.
I happened to be in Paris during some of those periods. Each time, the media worked up a frenzy announcing the winds. These winds seemed to grow with the coming of night to die out by the morning, leaving behind only some evidence of its passing in the big city.
Below are a few pictures I made of the damage caused by the high winds and which I happened to come across on one of my wandering walks one early March morning.
I enjoyed the rays of light stretching out from the broken glass.
Humpty Dumpty had a big fall. Well, had a minor topple, really.
Seems the winds had a bone or two to pick with scooters…
More coming soon!
Tags: damage, france, high, high wind, media, paris, wind
Posted in Travel/Urban | Comments (0)
The White Feather August 30th, 2010
I came across this single white feather in a forest in Normandy, France when out hunting for mushrooms earlier this year.
It seemed to shine with it’s own light, a small sliver of virgin white emerging from the damp, dark forest floor. I lit it with my SB900 speedlight.
I had wondered about the feeling my choice of image for this post conveyed. It felt like I was looking for an idea and words that were only just out of reach.
This morning though, I have no doubts about the picture. I find it surprisingly fitting.
I was woken in the night to learn that a friend and colleague, who has served 19 years with my firm, had passed away suddenly from a heart attack. He was only 46, and leaves behind a wife and five young children. And a lot of dumbstruck family, friends and co-workers.
Another light has gone out. And the world looks that little bit darker.
And that feather seems to be gathering greater, and certainly a very different, meaning in the circumstances. Though I don’t know if I can tell you why or what that is…
He will be missed. But not forgotten. And in that way, never truly lost.
More coming soon.
Tags: fallen leaves, feather, flash, forest, france, leaf, leaves, mushroom, mushroom hunt, normandy, sb900, speedlight, white, white feather
Posted in News, Travel/Urban | Comments (0)
Derelicts August 26th, 2010
Below are three shots taken within the space of an hour in Paris earlier this year. It’s a mini-photo essay of sorts, the aim of which was to photograph a number of items left discarded on the streets within a short period of time.
The above shot was taken on the Champs Elysees.
More coming soon!
Tags: abandoned, baby carriage, bicycle, champs, champs elysees, derelict, elysees, france, paris, umbrella
Posted in Travel/Urban | Comments (0)
A Portrait of Defeat August 20th, 2010
In case you were wondering what defeat looked like.
My 10-year-old cousin, dejected and exhausted, after being beaten at ping-pong by another cousin (who happens to be a champion of the sport, with medals and cups and stuff).
More coming soon!
Tags: cousin, defeat, exhaustion, france, normandy, ping pong, portrait
Posted in Portraits | Comments (0)
The Dark Tower August 11th, 2010
Who says Tolkein‘s the Lord of the Rings books are just fantasy?
I spotted this tower while walking around, somewhere in Paris. Cirith Ungol? Or perhaps Sauron‘s Dark Tower of Barad-Dur? Who can say?
More coming soon!
Tags: barad-dur, dark tower, fantasy, france, lord of the rings, middle earth, paris, sauron, tolkein, tower
Posted in Travel/Urban | Comments (2)
Nice in the Sun August 9th, 2010
Back in early April, I had the opportunity to walk around Nice, France for a few hours.
It was my first visit there since I was a child. I was lucky with the weather. The heavy rain of the previous days had made way for a day of sun. Although the sun did little to warm up the cold air, a goodly number of people were out by the beach enjoying the sun’s rays.
Here is a selection of shots from my walk along the beach.
More coming soon!
Tags: bicycle, bike, france, nice, sea, storm, sun
Posted in Travel/Urban | Comments (4)
The Masks We Wear August 3rd, 2010
I made this picture earlier this year in France when I was stuck indoors during a storm.
More coming soon!
Tags: france, indoors, mask, storm
Posted in Macro | Comments (0)
Pigeon Feeding July 26th, 2010
I made this shot in Paris, in front of the Notre Dame cathedral.
More coming soon!
Tags: cathedral, france, notre dame, paris, people, pigeon, pigeon feeding
Posted in Portraits | Comments (1)
Portraits on the Champs July 18th, 2010
Early this year, I found myself wandering down the Champs Elysee in Paris in the company of a very good friend.
We decided to stop random strangers on the street and take their portraits. We figured it would be a great way to meet interesting people. It’s one of the things I love about photography – how it helps break down barriers between people.
It was a cold but beautiful evening and as we walked down we were gradually losing the light. It meant that a flash became a necessity. Thankfully, my friend helped out with the lighting.
Here are some of the pictures I took that evening.
This friendly lady was sitting on a bench, waiting for a friend to join her before heading out to the theatre.
This young man was enjoying a break and chatting with a few of his friends. He has an interesting face and kind eyes.
This distinguished gentleman was friendly and open. Turns out he’s a prominent surgeon.
The last portraits below are of two Finnish ladies, fast friends.
More to come soon.
Tags: champs, champs elysees, elysee, france, paris, portrait, strangers
Posted in Portraits | Comments (0)