A recurrent theme in this blog is my contention that people are pretty much the same the world over when it comes to the basics. We all want to feel safe, to have enough to eat and to feel connected to others whom we love. What I have mentioned less often, is that we all also want to have fun from time to time.
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Is there such a thing as an ordinary object? And is ordinary the same for everyone? One thing that travel teaches is that one person’s ordinary can look extraordinary to another. The things we take for granted in our lives, the little things that make life easier, may not be the same in other parts of the world, or may not exist at all, at least for the average family.
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The 2024 Olympic Games finished some weeks ago, but the torch is burning bright again in the Jardins des Tuileries, now for the Paralympic Games.
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Like many photographers, I find buildings with balconies particularly appealing. Maybe it’s because they add architectural interest to the building? Or maybe because they often provide clues to the people who live there? We see their choice of decorative features and furniture, their plants growing, their washing drying … and sometimes we even see them!
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If like me you live in the Northern Hemisphere, there’s something magical in discovering the world of the Southern. Africa in particular seems to draw us to explore, with its vast plains and forests, still-wild spaces, fascinating animals and very different cultures. Maybe too there’s a lingering romantic sense of the continent as an unknown frontier to be opened up, despite the somewhat negative associations attached to our historic explorations there.
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The appeal of black and white portraiture lies in the way it simplifies the image. Without the distraction of colours, the focus shifts more to the subject’s face and expression. The eyes in particular seem to stand out more, and consequently as a viewer you often feel more connected to the person.
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Yes, connecting is everything. It is through connecting to others that we find ourselves. And what better way to connect than to travel? But when we meet people from other countries on our travels, it’s usually a fleeting connection at best; valuable but not maintained. My involvement with Virtual Tourist, however, has enabled me to make genuine friends all over the world
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The historic heart of Split is built on and around the ruins of Diocletian’s Palace, the residence and military garrison of the 3rd century Roman emperor. Its remains can be spotted in the foundations of Renaissance palaces, in passageways and side streets, and in a few extant buildings such as the Baptistry.
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Images of a sunrise as the sun reappears over the horizon, a seedling sprouting from barren soil, or a rainbow stretching across the sky are often used to symbolise hope. They represent new beginnings, growth, and the promise of better days ahead.
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Wherever you go in Mexico you will see skulls. Why? Because the skull in Mexican culture represents death and rebirth, the cycle of life. People here believe that the afterlife is as important if not more important than your life on earth. The skull symbolises both sides, life and the afterlife.
