(for wordpress weekly photo challenge – broken)
*shot with nikon d700 and 85mm f/1.8 lens at ISO200, 1/200s and f/7.1 edited in lightroom cc and photoshop cc with words written in iA Writer Pro, promises promises*
broken on belgianstreets
broken on belgradestreets
real world in trouble everyone lives in a bubble does any one care about the trouble under so much rubble can it really be so much trouble eventually -
real world in trouble everyone lives in a bubble under so much rubble so, are we really in trouble eventually -
real world in trouble everyone lives in a bubble can it really be so much trouble yes, they will burst our bubble can it really be so much trouble look out, I told you, they’re really gonna burst our bubble eventually -
(for mara’s poetry 101 rehab – recycle)
*shot with iphone 5, edited in snapseed mobile, adverbs reduced, reused and recycled*
(advertising hoarding, havenlaan, brüssel)
shhh...
force(s) of
nature
can
lead
to
trouble
(for wordpress weekly photo challenge – forces of nature)
*shot with nikon d700, nikkor 70-300mm lens, at 70mm, and 1/125s at f/5.6, edited in lightroom cc and analog efex pro, make up optional”
(nijverheidskaai, molenbeek)
(for mara eastern’s poetry 101 rehab – couple)
*shot with nikon d700, nikkor 70-300 mm f/4.0-5.6 lens at 300mm, 1/320s and f/9, edited in lightroom cc, aperture efex pro 2 with multi lens filter applied, poem added in photoshop cc, no couples were harmed in the making of this post*
she reached out
his fingers stretched
don't let go
don't go
don't
(for wordpress weekly photo challenge – motion and also for lucile’s photo 101 rehab)
*shot with nikon d700, nikkor 85mm f/1.8 lens at 1/60s and f/16, edited in lightroom cc and analog efex pro 2, motion filter applied, not letting go*
Today, I overheard two statements that made me think.
Pause.
And worry, more than a little.
Of course, that’s what I do. I worry.
The first was something along the lines “he admitted he was morally guilty…” but “denied he had committed any crime”.
The second, in an interview discussing the looming British election “the idea of voting with your heart and hoping for some change…”
Two overheard snatches of discussion, though seemingly unrelated, seemed suddenly, and terribly, connected.
The power, responsibility and role of the individual in the great sweep of history and world events. When most people are simply worried about making ends meet and what they may, or may not, watch on TV tonight.
The feeling of helplessness that so many experience when considering where to place their cross on the ballot paper.
Will it make any difference? Does anyone care? Why bother?
Well, of course, the answer is yes, it does matter.
It matters an enormous amount.
As indeed does the trial of the former guard at Auschwitz who admitted to “moral guilt” but not to committing a “crime”.
It made me think where moral guilt starts.
And ends.
And, where committing a crime starts and ends. And what is moral guilt?
If we don’t vote, and the government that takes power goes on to commit atrocities, where do our responsibilities begin and end?
And, in collecting the money, yet asking for a transfer to other duties, how guilty is that guard. Really.
And what would any of us do?
When we stand in judgement, do we stand in the shoes of all those ordinary people who allowed it to happen, looked the other way, felt powerless, or intimidated, or abused, or afraid. I wonder?
And crucially, at what point would we realise that our actions, or inactions, form part of a continuum that enables atrocities to take place.
Something worth thinking about before placing that cross on a slip of paper?
I think so.
(For the last two weeks I have been attempting to learn how to write better. I’ve been taking part in Writing 101, an online course hosted by Michelle W from the WordPress Blogging U.
Today’s prompt was “take a cue from something you’ve overheard and write a post inspired by a real-life conversation. Revisit a time when you wish you’d spoken up, reminisce about an important conversation that will always stick with you, or tune in to a conversation happening around you right now and write your reaction.” Each prompt comes with a twist. Today’s twist was to ‘include an element of foreshadowing in the beginning of your post.”
(for wordpress writing 101 – day twelve)
It was hot, under a dry and searing sun which burned with unexpected intensity.
She walked with firm purpose across the bridge.
Her feet clad in flat soled shoes, head bowed, brow furrowed, looking down at the floor, perhaps avoiding the bright afternoon sun.
Or, perhaps, avoiding something else.
In her right hand, she held her smartphone, with a strong grip. She held it close to her body. So close, it suggested something.
Her expression implied worry, fear, a mind distracted and expectant.
The wires trailed from her ears. The message she heard from the voices in those small speakers creating a feeling of dissonance.
The world she knew. Not the world she listened to with a sense of longing mixed with fear.
In her left hand, she held those important things, the things she had spent all morning searching for.
The papers that might make all the difference.
Her eyes seemed dark and tired.
As if, she held a secret.
That they must never know.
The papers would tell her story.
Perhaps.
(for wordpress writing 101 – day eight)
an unusually hot day, sirens scored the air, people jostled, pushed
“hey, look i told you, leave me be”
looking away, he grasped the bag tighter
“we can’t lose it this time”
looking down, intent, focused, aching, needing to void the pain
“yeah, right, tell me, or bloody don’t, what do you care”
“more than you imagine, this may be the last chance we have”
again, hunched over, looking down
“it’s no better, god, i think it’s got worse”
looking away, walking away
“told you it would end like this, you never bloody cared and now look at you, in a public place…”
not able to focus, too intent on the now, the need, the ache
“look, i can’t cope, i can’t wait, give me a break”
the handles of the plastic bag cut deep into his palm
“i can’t do this any more”
shrugging his shoulders, the metal screen, inviting
“that’s a bloody relief”
(for wordpress writing 101 – day seven)
no
nothing
nothing is
nothing is worth
nothing is worth this pain
nothing is worth this pain this
nothing is worth this pain this time
nothing is worth this pain this
nothing is worth this pain
nothing is worth
nothing is
nothing
no
(running man, mariemontkaai, molenbeek)
(for mara eastern’s poetry 101 rehab – no)
*shot with olympus om10, zuiko 50mm f/1.8 lens and ilford delta 3200 black and white film, feel his pain in the grain*
andy townend 