Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime
― Ernest Hemingway
it could
(perhaps)
be said, that
liberal (thinking) is in, a
corner
right now
the question
is
what will
become
of us
of them
of you
of me
For WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge – Corner
*Image made with Fujifilm X100F and 23mm fixed lens (35mm full frame equivalent) at ISO1250 (don’t even go there), 1/800s and f/5.6 outside the Cortes, Madrid*
But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
– W B Yeats
I like to contribute to the weekly photo challenge hosted by WordPress and must confess I hadn’t quite found inspiration for this week’s prompt, which frankly is quite unusual for me, which seems apposite as this week’s theme was indeed unusual.
Having arrived at Heathrow this morning on a red-eye from Lagos, and finding myself unable to check in to my hotel for several hours, I took to the streets like any other self-respecting homeless person, by which I mean no disrespect to actual homeless persons, it is of course no laughing matter.
I had two main goals, one was to find breakfast (which I did, and I must have looked particularly hungry as an additional slice of bacon was added to my bacon roll and coffee), and the other, that was to walk along the South Bank to the Tate Modern. My plan being to spend six hours or so in quiet artistic contemplation, before the hotel would throw open its portals (or at least activate a smart card) to me and my battered luggage.
I also had the foresight to bring my camera with me, my Fujifilm X100F, which has now has become my constant travelling companion.
‘Call me (call me) on the line
Call me, call me any, anytime’Call me – Blondie
For WordPress weekly photo challenge – heritage
*Shot near Chiswick Park underground station, Fujifilm X100F with fixed 23mm lens at ISO200 , 1/400s and f/5.6*
Remember a time? A time before mobiles, the internet? Remember when the only way to call, was this?
I have still not quite become accustomed to the fact that the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge has switched from Wednesday to Friday (or even, more correctly, from Friday to Wednesday!).
I had become (more or less) settled into checking the site each Friday evening, and firing off a quick riposte to the challenge. Now it seems I’m always late to the party.
Oddly enough, this week, I did check the WordPress site at the appropriate time but have still managed to delay my response to this week’s challenge DANGER! until now.
In her challenge, Michelle spoke about ‘injecting this unexpected frisson of Danger! into an otherwise uneventful afternoon’.
Often, in Nigeria, it is not the unexpected frisson of danger, but merely the unexpected direction from which the, expected, danger might come that makes many a day anything but uneventful. That’s not to say that Nigeria is dangerous all the time, it isn’t, and I’ve made some good friends here, and you should all come and visit!
But, danger lurks everywhere, or so it seems.
I took this shot just at the entrance to the block of the building in which I am (temporarily and from time to time) living. It seems to fit the bill, no?
The building itself lies within a razor-wire fenced compound with permanent security. To gain entrance to the compound my driver (I’m rarely allowed out alone and certainly not expected to take the wheel myself) honks his horn (this is actually pretty much mandatory for any driving operation here, including driving in a straight line on an open road). That honk permits the outer gate to be opened. The boot / truck is then flipped and the security guys have a quick look inside, a mirror is used for a cursory check of the underside of the car, then the inner gate is swung open. And home sweet home.
On my journey to work, I thought I would keep a weather eye out for other signs of certain danger.
A fire, stoked by a stack of old tyres sending a thick black plume of acrid smoke into the (now mercifully dust free) sky. An abandoned mansion daubed with a black painted warning of dire consequences ‘EFCC Keep Off’. A herd of cattle being led by two young boys meandering along the margin between the half constructed buildings and the partially built road. The road-sweeper with a stick broom diligently dusting the edge of the roads as cars hurtled past with no obvious attention to lane discipline. The guy on a motor cycle happily heading against the traffic on the wrong side of the road (and of course he wasn’t wearing a helmet, no one does). The swarm of three wheel ‘Keke’ (rickshaw) taxis, weaving between the battered green taxis, blacked out government SUVs, and the ubiquitous road side sellers. And of course the frequent road blocks.
So, no danger here, just an ordinary every day ride on nigeriastreets
*Shot with Fujifilm X100F at f/2.1, 1/1000s, 23mm (35mm equivalent, no other choice) and ISO200*
This week, I wasn’t sure how to respond to the WordPress weekly challenge ‘surprise‘.
Then, surprisingly, the road caught fire in the middle of the night.
The fire continues to perplex the gas and electricity utility companies, although thankfully, the firemen appear remarkably relaxed as the electric company dig a hole in order to isolate the electric cables.
There may be more ‘surprises’ to come.
Delighted to report that an image from belgradestreets was recently featured in the January 2017 edition of Condé Nast Travel Magazine in China.
My book belgradestreets featuring a series of my photographs of Belgrade, Serbia is on sale in bookshops and online.
Each year, royalties from the sale of belgradestreets are donated to charitable organisations caring for children in need in Serbia.
I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle.
― Marilyn Monroe
I’ve been invited to present at a conference tomorrow morning here in Vilnius. I had two hours sleep last night and have a busy day ahead. It’s cold and raining. As I watched this city unfold in front of me as my cab driver brought me to my hotel I was reminded of another city, one that brought me great joy, and some photographic success, it also brought to mind this old Buzzcocks song and these lyrics (adapted)
Ever fallen in love? (Love…)
In love with some (city)
You shouldn’t’ve fallen in love with
Oh, Vilnius!
That’s rule number one for a photographer, isn’t it? Fill your frame?
― David Cronenberg, Consumed
For WordPress weekly photo challenge – frame
*Shot with Nikon D700 and AF 80-200mm f/2.8 D lens, ISO200, 200mm f/2.8 1/5000s, edited in Lightroom CC and Analog Efex Pro 2*
See also my contribution on salamancastreets
andy townend 