Series on transitoriness: part III

Yesterday was our third meeting of the photography class. We were actually out on a field trip to a still-working-mill (photos to be published later), but we also had a chance to show an update on our series. This time my teacher was quite enthusiastic when I showed her my latest captures and she expanded the series that I showed in my last blogpost. So I guess I took a step forward in the process.

Theme 1: shadows

theme 2: distinguished lines

Theme 3: blueness and reflection

Theme 4: subtleness

Theme 5: yellow tones

She advised me to continue exploring these themes, as the outcome would depend on what I would come across on my walks.

Waiting at the waterfront

orange dinghy and its reflection

Last Saturday I went out with a friend for dinner. I was a bit early and waited for him on a small bridge over one of the numerous canals of Amsterdam. It was a bit out of the city centre so it was not a very old or quaint environment, but there still was plenty to see.

reflection in water

I let my gaze wonder across the water and the waterfront and all the colours and reflections made me look longer and feel quieter inside or was it the other way around?

yellow marsh-marigold

Anyway, I felt my mind resting on what I was seeing, enjoying the moment and appreciating the everyday magic of it all.

yellow reflection in water

During dinner I showed my friend the photos, proof so to speak of what I had seen and he was surprised at what I had noticed. He said that most people would just walk past it and that is exactly what contemplative photography is about: about slowing down, opening my eyes and being available at what is there right in front of me. It's a moment of mindfulness.

colourful flowers on the bridge

Raindrops keep falling on my head

I must say it was quite rainy today. It rained this morning, this afternoon and in the evening. Not all day though, we had long showers of rain and in between the sky cleared up a bit. Some people might think that boring, but to real Miksangers (Miksang contemplative photographers) there is a whole world of rain and water to explore.

This afternoon I saw my Miksang friend Natasscha, last weekend we had agreed  to see each other today in Amsterdam without caring about what the weather was going to be. Rain come or shine, we were going to meet up.

After a cup of tea and a chat we ventured outside and I was hardly out of the door or I sighed 'ooh' and 'ahh' because of the lovely perceptions. Photographing in the rain is not something I do often, but boy, that is a lot of fun!

Natasscha and I discussed the waterness of water: when is a picture about the actual waterness and when is it about something else? Our teacher Hèlen says what comes in first when you see a photo is what gives the strongest impression. For example: in the picture above on the right, the first thing I see is the yellow reflection. So that picture is about a yellow reflection and not so much about water itself. Reflecting is of course one of the qualities of water and in some circumstances it can do that very well.

Water also has no form of its own, it is liquid and flows from a higher plane to a lower. We were looking at water and raindrops for minutes on end, just fascinated how the drops fell down and formed circles in the pond. I could do this more often, walking in the rain with my camera. The world is just a different place. How about you? What do you see when you are walking in the rain?

Venice: gondolas and gondoliers

blue empty moored gondola

This post is about the gondolas and gondoliers of Venice, these two are obviously linked with each other and traditionally connected to the city of Venice. The gondola is a traditional Venetian rowing, suited to the conditions of rowing in the laguna.

five moored gondolas

For centuries the gondolas were the main means of transportation in the Venetian canals. Nowadays they are mainly used for transporting tourists or in regattas.

oar of a partly covered gondola

Gondolas are (hand)made using 8 different kinds of wood and are composed of 280 pieces. The oars are made of beech wood. 


a queue of gondola traffic

We noticed this year that more and more people from the East are using the gondolas for a ride around town.


gondola in a quite Venetian canal

The profession of gondolier is controlled by a guild, which issues a limited number of 425 licenses. The license is granted after periods of training and apprenticeship, and a major exam which tests knowledge of Venetian history and landmarks, foreign language skills as well as practical skills of handling the gondola in tight spaces of the Venetian canals.

red striped gondolier

crowds on the bridges and on the water

reflecting gondolier

a typical gondola during carnival: to be seen or not to be seen

gondola on the Canal Grande

gondolier on the phone

stern of a Venetian gondola

Every detail of the gondola has its own symbolism. The iron prow-head of the gondola is needed to counter balance the weight of the gondolier at the stern and the 'S' shape symbolizes the twists in the Canal Grande.

moored and riding gondolas in front of the Rialto bridge

 

navy blue striped gondolier

We went on a gondola ride once about four years ago, it is an experience you need to do once in your life I think as the view to the city is quite different from the water than from the sidewalks. When in Venice, do as the Venetians. Well, the Venetians take the vaporetto, the waterbus. It is a lot less romantic and expensive than a gondola.

Reflections in Zaandam

And last but not least: reflections taken in Zaandam last Friday. You really didn't think I didn't see any reflections over there, did you now?

black-and-white-looking reflection

As  I wrote before the sky was overcast and we only saw the sun at the last part of the day, so you will not see heavy shadows and lots of sunlight in these photographs. They might even seem a little dull for you, but this is how I saw it. Why changing reality? Because reality can be prettier?

reflection in motorbike's mirror

reflection of bicycle

reflection of office buildings

reflection of an orange roof

reflection of a van

reflection of plastic lid and a house 

reflection of window and a crossing

reflection with a bit of red

colourful reflection with a seagull

reflection of a column and lots of stripes 

reflection with table and chairs

reflection with seagull and green house

Contemplative photography is looking at what is, without wanting to change what you see. In that flash of perception everything falls to place and is perfect. 
See also: People in Zaandam and Pattern in Zaandam.