12 minutes in Bruxelles Nord

Up the wide stairs onto the platform of Bruxelles Nord Station. The clock said 7.43, the train would arrive and leave by 7.55.  

In the golden light filled space there were constant comings and goings. For twelve minutes I am pure presence. Absorbed in what I miss most about city living.

Straight lines, edgy shadows, bits and pieces of the lives of others. My last 12 minutes in the city of Bruxelles.


Visit the Gallery here to join in the full 12 minutes.



And then if you have another moment I would LOVE your vote in the Blog Awards for Best Photography Blog

Going green

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Learning lessons in street photography

Promenade Festival, Tramore

Train station, London

Pride Parade, Vienna

Two young Vikings, Waterford

Woman posing, Vienna

Familiar sight everywhere

More often to be found sneaking up on hares in the wild, I was recently asked how to take photographs of people in public places. This made me realise that I must have made some progress in what was once such a huge challenge. 

A few things have inhibited my street photography. There's my own shyness, the way certain people react so negatively to a camera, and the impulse not to interrupt the flow of some one's private life. Over the years I've learned how to capture relaxed scenes in public places but mostly of people's backs!

There is a distinction here between what I see as urban"portraits" like Humans of NY and "street" which I would define as casual and candid photography of the moment.....think Vivian Maier  Her street shots of a strangers tell a story in a particular way. It doesn't matter who it is or where, her images always captivate me.

While photographing a context, an event, a building, sometimes it's just a blessing when some one literally walks onto the set. Other times I am interested in a face, an expression, a pose. I like reflective and grounded people who are staring meditatively into the distance.......well they kind of remind me of hares and rabbits but that's another story!

Tending to draw more on the contemplative aspects of human nature, I have a particular soft spot for watching elders and their individual body language. There's also an ethical aspect to how I would want to portray some one and although I hugely admire documentary and human rights photographers I am reluctant to snap people in all their vulnerability.

In case like me you are slowly building up an interest in street photography her are three tips I've learned from my experiences over the years.

1. The best way to study other human beings is where everyone has their cameras out, festivals, parades, weddings, etc. People are so much more relaxed and everyone is at it....small camera phones are perfect for this.

2.  If I pick up unhappiness in people when a camera is produced and if I can't find a way for them to be more relaxed I just stop. 

3.  I am wary of photographing children unless I get specific permission. (Yes technically you are legally entitled to photograph anyone in a public place, but I think it's best to get a nod from the parents......) 




There are more photos here in the Street Gallery

A man who knows his flowers~ Pilgrimage

When the streets of Vienna are getting too hot to bear, I duck into a side street flower shop.  It's the bunches of "weeds" in the window that first catch my eye; familiar wildflowers as carrot and catmint, laurel leaves and common grasses, in bouquets and tall vases.

As I stick my head in the door I ask "do you mind if I take some photos?" Fine, is all he says.

I snap away. There are huge cat portraits and the rows of jars are filled with soft colour combinations, in the background endless telephone conversations in animated German. And I am in awe, here is a man who knows his flowers......

After a while I say, "I'm not sure I know much about the flower business but you seem to be an artist of the genre."

"Ah! D'you think so."

He continues to twirl ribbons around a wreath of roses, lost in the zone; the touch, the scents, the colour. For some time we work side by side. Deliveries come and go. Orders are taken, glass jars are shifted up and down the rows.

Vienna is old world and on a grand scale, but transported into the intimacy of his workshop, I feel more inspired than by almost anything else in this city of ghostly memories.



See more Vienna photos here in the Street Gallery