Gallery: following a new path
We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.
Walt Disney
As a photographer I’m often fascinated by the way my camera allows me to capture a single moment in another person’s life. Especially so when I travel, when I’m very conscious that my out of the ordinary adventure overlaps for that moment with their everyday. They are getting on with their regular lives while I am taking time out of mine.
This month we are welcoming the return of Becky’s Squares. While understanding completely her need to take an extended break from blogging, it is such a pleasure to have her back and to be able to join this fun challenge again. Her themes for this month include ‘move forwards’ and ‘renew’. The first of these caused me to look back at moments when I’ve caught someone in the act of moving along a path, quite often away from me. Maybe seeing them from behind heightens my sense that they are moving forwards? Or maybe it’s because we can’t see their expressions or guess what they are thinking, so we can imagine that they are looking to the future?
These thoughts led me to pull together these shots of people, taken mainly from behind, whom I like to believe are moving forwards in some way! Some are literally moving, while others appear to be contemplating future movement.
NB As well as squaring these shots, I’ve used Nik Color Efex Pro to add a blurred vignette to many as I wanted to add a sense of uncertainty about their surroundings and future direction. We only know they are moving forwards; maybe even they don’t yet know where.
On the streets of Pyongyang, North Korea
A rainy day in Sofia, Bulgaria
In Brighton, England
In the Jardins de Luxembourg, Paris
By the Canal Saint Martin, Paris
In the Jardins des Tuileries, Paris
In a park in Riga, Latvia
Shopper in Tallinn, Estonia
Back street in Cagliari, Sardinia
On the city walls, Lucca, Italy
Wearing traditional costume in San Antonio Popola, Guatemala
A guide at Telouet, Morocco
My friend Kirsty in Sofia, Bulgaria
In Montmartre, Paris
In a small village in Wadi Tiwi, Oman
On Playa Mendihuaca, Colombia
49 Comments
Annie Berger
Great subject matter, introduction, and the quote from Disney. I particularly liked the ‘Pretty in Pink’ photo from Brighton and the French lovebirds. Who doesn’t admire a man with a chapeau like that!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Annie 😊 Yes, that hat is very stylish and really made the shot!
equinoxio21
I like people pictures. Yours are very good.
I took candid pictures in my travels for a while.
I stopped. Particularly in France and Europe. Too many legal issues… 😉
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂 The legal issues in Europe are often over-stated. It’s perfectly OK to photograph people in public places on the whole. There are some exceptions in certain countries – for instance I was warned to be careful in the UAE where it is illegal. But for the most part it’s fine, although if an individual sees me and objects I will always put my camera down and delete any shots of that person.
equinoxio21
France is quite strict. And complicated. (But that’s Frogland summed up)
I think it is a matter of how the photographer feels.
Otherwise, thousands of the best photographs ever taken would have been illegal. We don’t know the name of the Spanish Republican shot by a bullet as Robert Capa clicked his camera.
rkrontheroad
These moments touched me… I especially like that they are not looking at you, at the camera, but perhaps lost in their own reverie. Great photos, as usual.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Ruth😊 Yes, I felt that added something to these photos, I’m glad you felt it too.
leightontravels
I resonate with your observation that some of our ‘special’ travel moments come when capturing what is often an ordinary or even mundane moment of someone’s life. I kinda like that and wonder if somewhere there is such a photograph of me on someone’s phone, tablet or computer. It somehow seems unlikely to me but you never know. Lovely images as always Sarah. This time I am drawn to the ones from Estonia and Latvia as that’s where Sladja and I will be heading (among a few other countries) this summer. I shall definitely keep my eyes peeled for the grandma with the orange hair 😉
Sarah Wilkie
Haha, that grandma was photographed ten years ago so I suspect will no longer be there – or if still there, will have had a change of hair colour by now! And you get around so much I bet there is such a photo of you somewhere! I’m sure you’re going to love Estonia and Latvia 🙂
Wind Kisses
Oh how I love the photo of the Moroccan guide in the doorway. And what a perfect find of the girl in and around pink.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Donna 😀 I rather stalked that guide in Telouet and got a few photos but this is one of my favourites! The girl in pink was roller skating and I got that shot when she stopped for a break.
Wind Kisses
Perfect.
thehungrytravellers.blog
A little window into a private moment…
Sarah Wilkie
Yes – that’s just what I love about street photography!
wetanddustyroads
The photo with the two women with their pink umbrellas … do you think they’re twins? It’s definitely a mysterious photo and make me want to see more! I also like the little kid running in Oman, but as always, all your pictures are lovely and there’s definitely a story waiting to be told with each of them.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, and yes, I think they must be twins – you can see that even their outfits match! If not twins, then very close friends 😆
wetanddustyroads
Yes, I’ve seen everything match – even the handbags! At first I thought it was a fancy trick of yours to create a mirror image 😊. But maybe it’s quite simple … twin sisters enjoying a day out shopping.
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
What a wonderful collection, and a great use for Becky’s theme. I like the little boy running best.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anabel, I’m glad you liked my interpretation of the theme 🙂
grandmisadventures
I love these moments of another’s life that you’ve captured here. It just makes me wonder- what were they thinking about in these moments? Beautiful pictures
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Meg 😊 Yes, I like to wonder about that – a photo can tell you so much and yet so little about the person photographed.
Teresa
Such great and powerful shots, Sarah. Love the firat two photos especially… the little girls in Korea and the couple with pink umbrellas.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Teresa 😀 Those shots are both favourites of mine!
Alison
What a wonderful gallery of moving people, I’m in awe. I love the way the background has a soft focus as well. My favourites are the two girls in North Korea and the boy running in Oman. Good take on the theme too.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you so much Alison 😊 I’m glad you liked the soft focus edits. The North Korea shot was a grab from our coach, I was chuffed to get it!
BeckyB
wow! These are fantastic – love how you have interpreted the theme, and so glad you are part of Squares again too
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Becky 😊 It’s such a pleasure to have you back ‘squaring’. I may well have a second stab at this theme in a week or so!
BeckyB
wonderful 🙂
Egídio
Such beautiful moments and edits you shared! I loved the atmospheric mood in some of the photos.
Sarah Wilkie
Aw, thank you, I’m pleased you feel the edits worked 🙂
bushboy
So much to love Sarah. Use of vignette is great, works so well. When in Paris, I stay near Canal St Martin
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Brian, so glad you like the vignettes 🙂 We’ve never stayed in that part of Paris (we tend to prefer the Left Bank) but it’s lovely to visit for a walk.
bushboy
I like it as it is close to the Place de la République and the five avenues that radiate from there makes it easy to pick a route to explore. Fabulous food and people and not an expensive part of Paris
kzmcb
These are fabulous and many are quite moving (no pun intended). Your introduction was excellent- I could relate to the idea that we’re on holiday, but this is just another day for someone else.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much 😊 Yes, I’m always struck by the realisation that our extraordinary is their ordinary!
Brad M
Every photo tells a story, very well done Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Brad 😀
Alli Templeton
Excellent shots, Sarah, and all so atmospheric. They tell a story. Love the dog and it’s owner taking a moment out by the canal in Paris. Wonderful. 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Alli 😊 It was lovely down by the Canal St Martin that day – a Sunday, so all the locals were out making the most of the fine weather, with and without dogs!
Susanne Swanson
Beautifully done, Sarah! Your photos are exquisite!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Susanne, that’s really kind of you 😀
Sue
Love this collection, Sarah! And the vignetting has really worked we here! I especially liked the children in Pyongyang, the two with pink umbrellas In rainy Sofia, and that image of the guide in Telouet
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Sue 😊 I reckoned those two women in Sofia must be twins, as not only their umbrellas match but all their clothes too!
Anne Sandler
Again, wonderful street photography. You’ve got them all moving forward. I especially liked the girls in No. Korea whose backpacks are almost as big as they are.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne 😊 That N Korea shot was grabbed from our coach and is a bit of a favourite of mine! I know I’ve used it before, probably more than once, but it fitted my theme too well not to include it and at least the squaring makes it look a little different here.
satyam rastogi
Wonderful post 🌹🌹
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂
Heyjude
You really are an excellent photographer – every time I see one of your galleries I am in awe of your work. I love the softness you have brought to these shots.
Sarah Wilkie
Aw, thank you Jude 😊 If you have the right software that softness is easy to add – although some may argue that I shouldn’t fiddle like that!