Ending light

Playing with taking a photo converted into an abstract, this photo is about taking a sharp photo which may seem abstract because of it's content. Does the photo seem empty, or is it full? For me the picture leaves space for dreaming, and considering that today is New Year's eve, I thought it's a fine way to end 2012 and start 2013.

Stormy days

Continuing in my mini-series this is one other way to portrait the subject already portrait in the two other shots. Working in this way is new to me and I noticed my excitement to stay with the same subject and shoot it different ways, making each photo a unique shot, rather than changing subjects. None of the photos in the mini-series were produced using Photoshop. They were all shot exploring the impact of exposure and sharpness.

Lighting up

Staying with the same subject I went on to explore different ways to take a picture of the same reality. Fed up with the cold and dark, this is a photo of the same subject in a different light. Does it give us the impression of a different reality? Or is the light intensity still giving us a feeling of cold and wet?

Stormy days

What to do in the dark rainy reality of a London winter? Be inspired. I'm back at exploring the many fascinating patterns that emerge in a multi-layered reality of windows sprinkled with raindrops. And, I'm getting more and more excited about it. It's like using some kind of filter that adds a new dimension to the what we see. The outcome depends on our focus, close or distant. It's like visualizing my thought process.

Scenery

Feeling playful, I'm back at exploring the amazing patterns that emerge when we look up close at what exists around us. Exploring the blurred line between abstract and close-up I am amazed how the image emerges in the moment it is seen and how this transforms how we look at it.

London sunset

Back at my per-weekly visit to Southbank, I could not believe my luck when I noticed that the winter sun was setting in glorious orange. I think there is something magic about visiting the same place in town on a regular basis, just to see how different it looks each time.

Urban moments

So urban. My attention was first caught by the huge advertisement displaying a woman posing in underwear and then, as I changed angles, the scene came together showing the many cultural contradictions lived in London's everyday life.

Structures, man made

Continuing to explore structures, I looked at man made structures (this an abstract from a David Nash sculpture) and how taking advantage of the light breaking on the surface created a completely new visual of the theme.

Structures

London, Dec 2012. Inspired by David Nash at Kew Gardens, I did a little exploring of wooden structures myself which lead me to look at form, light and colour contrasts.

Dark at four fifteen

London, Nov 2012. As the days get shorter, it becomes more of a challenge to get to places in time before darkness. But then, how about the moment when dark grey changes into dark black...

Raindrops on my window

London, Nov 2012. It did not stop raining all day. And then, when it was already night, I could suddendly see the beauty of it. There on the window, catching the reflection of the street light they were, for a brief moment only ... so beautiful, so delicate ...

Moments

London, Nov 2012. This week I was left with the question "What makes a good photo?" Challenged by that question I continue wondering about the border between abstract and representative image.

Going light

London, Nov 2012. Inspired by a photo competition I saw in Fotohits' October edition, and getting slightly fed up with that dull pre-winter weather, I thought I'll have a go at lightening things up.

Photo or art?

You may wonder. But there was no Photoshoping involved. Only photo post-processing with the usual tools.

Garden visitors

London, Nov 2012. This is the time of year when spiders seem to set up webs everywhere. Walking by this little fellow I could not resist the temptation the come up close.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam, Nov 2012. Looking at autumn colours from another angle in another city. Amsterdam seemed to come alive with the warm tone of autumn leaves and sun giving the city a bit of a golden glimmer.

Sunset

Nov 2012.  Catching the sun just before disappearing into the clouds, I wanted to illustrade the wonder and romance of the last moment of light before the darkness of the night sets in.

Before dark

London, Nov 2012. The moment when the darkness sets in and the electrical lights come on. The vision seems a bit blurred, the moment of change between day and night ...

Another day in London

London, Nov 2012. Irresistable. Another walk across Hungerford Bridge and another photo of London's skyline. So familiar and never quite the same.

Fall

London, Nov 2012. Standing under the tree and with the wind catching the leaves, it looked as if the leaves were coming towards me and I suddendly realized why autumn was called 'Fall'.

Change of season

London, Nov 2012. Inspired by a gloriously cold sunny morning, I looked for some inspiration amongst the ordinary, every day scenery around me.

Street art

London, November 2012. Wandering around London looking at street art, I wondered about different ways to take a photo. In this image I played with the duality of the picture showing more than one image challenging our perception of reality and imagination.

London

October 2012. Westminster in the light of the sun setting. Celebrating the city. This is one of these photos when I was in the right place at the right time and the inspiration came in the light of the moment.

Night glitter

London, October 2012. Traveling on the DLR I knew I had to come back to Canary Wharf in the dark hours to take a 'closer look' at the impression the light within the buildings made against the dark of the night.

After dark

London, October 2012. Last night, I went out with my friend to catch a few shiny moments after dark around Canary Wharf. Of course, this being London, we were greeted with rain as soon as we put our cameras on tripods. But then, being Londoners this did not stop us from continuing our adventure and so we discovered the charm of South Quay. 

Street art against slavery

London, October 2012. Capturing the live auction at the fundraising event in benefit of Anti-Slavery International. During the live auction I became interested in the image forming between the fast moving auctioneer and the projected artwork. Looking at the repetitive movements, I wanted to capture a moment the gesture suggested an auction while keeping a strong focus on the projected artwork.
The Toaster, Toaster Glow 2012.

  

David Shillinglaw, III Communication 2012. 

Sweet Toof, Chomps 2012.

London view

London, October 2012. On my weekly walk across the Hungerford Bridge, I can rarely resist taking a photo of this classic landscape. Taking this picture has something timeless. St Pauls has marked the London skyline for centuries, endlessly painted and photographed since then. By taking this photo I join them within my own timeline.

Urbanism

London, October 2012. While exploring the construction sites in the City I was fascinated by this colourful flower sitting on the pavement. And I took the photo because I was surprised and amazed about the contrast between the sculpture and its surroundings.

As I turned around, I saw this other sculpure. I took the photos with the intention to melt the reality into a pattern to underline the sense of artificiality and lifelessness while keeping the statue as a visiual focus.

Autumn leaves

London, October 2012. Autumn is all around us and since the weather has not quite invited us to be out and about, following my annual ritual to walk amongst the colourful change of leave has been somewhat of a challenge. Yet, despite the weather, I find that this season has something magical.

Autumn symbols

London, October 2012. On and off, the light of day has been dull and dark for days and I was walking through the park wondering how to create a photo that would show the mood of a cold wet autumn but still have a glimpse of amazement about the change of season.

Inspired

London, October 2012. After seeing Paul Benney's Night Paintings at Somerset House I felt inspired to experiment with the perspective of focus to work between the abstract and the concrete, showing idea and reality at the same time.

Ice tea on the beach

Ipanema beach, Rio de Janeiro, August 2012. Sitting in front of me, my friend decided to buy Mate tea. Inspired by the moment I took this photo. I like to observe the relationship between 'sun bathers' and vendors on Rio's beaches, existing side by side until there is the moment of contact when one reaches out to the other.

Antony Gormley in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro, August 2012. Part of the Antony Gormley exhibition in the Centro Cultural do Banco do Brasil in Rio de Janeiro. Inspired by art to create art. The moment artistic inspiration leads to artistic inspiration and forms a perpetuum.

The Grid

Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, August 2012. Walking along Copacabana I saw the men setting up the scaffolding for a stage on the beach. Standing within the scaffolding they looked like a living sculpture. The visual reminded me of Antony Gormley's exhibit at Centro Cultural do Banco do Brasil.

A wheel in the sky

Is it a wheel? What do you see when you look at this picture?
Exploring the meaning of angles and perspective,  I like how the photo changes its meaning. The closer I get, the more we are left to wonder. Loosing its context, the wheel seems a pattern of lines and shades. The only reference to its size are the leaves, indicating we are looking at something big.

London Eye

I'm fascinated with the London Eye. How this huge wheel is held up into the sky. Coming back every week, I explore the 'wheel' from different angels, mapping the different perspectives, noticing how 'the thing' relates to its environment, fascinated by the different ways the steel has been worked to serve the different purposes.

London skies

The many different patterns clouds 'paint' on the London sky does not cease to amaze me. On this occasion the sky had a soft pattern of light shades and smooth clouds which contrasted with the sharp lines and strength of the steel structure.

Painting with light

This was my first visit to Wales and, escaping the urban feel and visual of London, I enjoyed resting my eye over the greens in this natural environment. Walking along the coast I was drawn to the amazing colour of these algae as they lay exposed over the dark and wet rock. For me there is something eternal and serene in the still contemplation.