“Trogir Building” — Bicycles are parked in front of a Trogir building in morning light.
A friend and I arrived in Trogir very early in the morning. Our plan was to photograph the city before the daytime tourist crowds arrived. We had already been photographing for some time when I made this photograph in reflected morning light. Much of the city is connected by very narrow passageways, which means things are often in the shadows. But here the city was open enough to allow reflected light to illuminate this building.
This photograph is largely about the beautiful, warm, soft reflected light. But other things play into it as well. To my eye, there is a lot of interesting geometry here — from the triangular shapes of the roof structure to the big rectangles of the windows and doors, and then the finer patterns of the stones in the building and the sidewalk. Yet all of the geometry is broken up by other elements — the curving wire on the roof, the metal cylinder near the right door, and the bicycles.
“Bicycles and Red Door” — Parked bicycles in front of a hotel with a red door and a flowering bush, Montpellier.
What is it about bicycles? They turn up as photographic subjects all the time, on their own and as characters in street photography. (One for my favorite photographs by Henri Cartier-Bresson features a bicycle.) It probably has something to do with things they represent or are associated with: a slower pace, the sensations of wind as you ride, closer contact with our surroundings. That is all preamble to this “bicycle photo” of mine, made on a street in Montpellier, France.
If I recall correctly, this may have been our last morning in this charming city before we left France and moved on to Zaragoza, Spain. While the title mentions the bicycles and they are prominent in the frame, I think that photograph is more about the lovely, soft light and the colors of the red door and the fascinating green plant growing next to it.
“Big Pletzel” — A mosaic tile covered Paris bakery with a sign featuring “Big Pletzel.”
First, the title “Big Pletzl” comes from the sandwich board sign on the sidewalk in front of this Paris delicatessen. We were out for a long walk this past winter, and I grabbed the photograph as we passed the business. A few things caught my eye, including that sign. (Yes, I had to look up what a pletzel is.) It also has the generic outdoor tables – and there were people seated there even on this cold December day. But the main thing was the tile on the front walls.
Today we are accustomed to generic, corporate signs on businesses. Chain stores and fast food “restaurants” may be the most common offenders, but even individual businesses now try to copy that appearance. But I love places whose appearance is at least a bit novel and individual. Here it is the remarkable mosaic tile work on the outside walls, including both text and imagery.
“Evening Rain, Montpellier” — A rainy, deserted street at night in Montpellier, France.
It was rainy during our evening exploration of the old section of Montpellier, France. We started from our hotel a short distance from the Place de la Comédia (main square) and headed up a busy main street full of pedestrians out shopping, eating and drinking, or just socializing. The light rain didn’t seem to slow anyone down. Eventually we explored some narrower side streets.
The crowds diminished greatly once we got away from the busy main thoroughfare. These streets were mostly empty, and it was very quiet. It being the Christmas season, there were a few decorations — you may spot a small Christmas tree in the photo if you look closely. The light rain enhanced the reflections on the street and buildings.
Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.
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