Category Archives for street photography

St. Jean Pied de Port, Camino Frances; travel photos

Rue de la Citadelle, St. Jean Pied de Port, France. Camino Frances

Rue de la Citadelle, St. Jean Pied de Port, France. Camino Frances 

St. Jean Pied de Port, France. The beginning of the Camino France for many pilgrims walking to Santiago de Compostella Spain. One of the many images, representing one of the many moments along our journey that is still very important to me. As it is the beginning of the camino for so many pilgrims it is a little town that many remember fondly.

Recently a fellow Calgarian sent an email, interested in learning more about the camino, and our experience, it is wonderful to visit those memories again, and to think that someday Bill and I will go back.

On a complete different note, this is one of the images listed with Alamy, an online stock agency, that has licensed recently.  While I haven’t been notified of the name of the publication, but I have learned from the sales contract that the image will be published as a 2 pages spread, for a travel guide with a print run of up to 100,000.  While this isn’t my first sale through the stock agency, it still feels awesome to have someone buy and use one of my images!

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Merry go Round and Carousel Ponies; Saratoga Springs New York

Saratoga Springs Carousel Pony

Saratoga Springs Carousel Pony 

I love to watch the merry-go-round, the ponies painted so beautifully.  The kids riding them with smiles on their faces, parents and grandparents who never fail to wave each and every time the child goes by, smiling back and enjoying the moment.

It’s Monday and I hope you are enjoying your own version of the work/life merry-go-round, that someone is standing on the sidelines for you, smiling and waving each time you go by, cheering you on, and enjoying the moment.  I truly hope that it is a merry-go-round that you are on, not a treadmill.   Play the music loud, smile at those you around you and enjoy the moment.

 

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Paris France, the City of Light

Paris France, City of Light

Paris France, City of Light; the Louve and The Arc de Triomphe

Paris was nicknamed the “City of Light” (not City of Lights) originally because it was a vast center of education and ideas during the Age of Enlightenment. In 1828, Paris began lighting the Champs-Elysées with gas lamps. It was the first city in Europe to do so, and so earned the nickname “La Ville-Lumière” or The City of Light.

One of my favourite things to do in Paris is take a river cruise down the Seine River just before sunset, the city lights start to come on and it is the most beautiful romantic time of day. For more  stories photos of Paris from this blog.

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Dancing to Basque Music in Pamplona Spain

Dancing in Pamplona to Basque Music

Dancing in Pamplona to Basque Music 

While walking the Camino to Santiago de Compostela, Spain we spent a couple of days in Pamplona, visiting the Cathedral and historical attractions. While out walking we walked through the Plaza de Castillo we heard the music, noticed the Basque Musicians.  There were dancers in the square, but it was the little one that captured my attention.  He seemed to have all the moves, but then the little ones always seem to know how to capture the attention and the hearts of those around them….

 

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in store love and street reflections_IMG_7925

wondering the streets of downtown Calgary, I am always watching the shop windows and the reflections that appear with the display. Sometimes the reflections add to the story, sometimes it doesn’t. This time the two inthe window, look as if they could be standing near a tree in the park, the creature in the left of the image watching them closely.

James Short Cupola: Explore Calgary Series

James Short Cupola

James Short Cupola 

I love old architecture, and in Calgary this is about as old as it gets!  The cupola has a long history and you can read all about it on the Waymarking pages. It sits in the south-east corner of the James Short parade, there is a beautiful park to sit an enjoy the sun.  I love the way the old building is framed by the new glass and steel buildings around it, give its age and grandeur more significance.

I am enjoying my time walking around Calgary! If you have a special place in Calgary that you would like me to visit, let me know.

 

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Rock Balancing, English Bay Vancouver BC; Environmental Portrait

Rock Balancing, a stone stacker on English Bay Vancouver BC.

Rock Balancing, a stone stacker on English Bay Vancouver BC.

Rock Balancing, or Stone Stacking, here the portrait features the art more than the artist.

This young man was busy at work, we were out for a stroll along Vancouver’s English Bay, that is the seawall in the background, and helps to eliminate  any distraction and isolate the subject. Stone Stacking or Rock Balancing is considered a performance art, and if you visit Flicker you can see lots of pictures of rocks that had been stacked in nature. Rocks are balanced on top of one another in various positions. There are no tricks involved to aid in the balancing, such as adhesives, wires, supports, or rings.

This young man was completely absorbed in the task, and I am guessing that for some the activity would be meditative, I was reluctant to disturb him to get a name and or more information about how long he has been stacking stones.  I guess I will have to go for another walk, this time to have a conversation.

Love Locks Pont de Arts, Paris France

Love Locks, Pont de Arts, Paris France

Love Locks, Pont de Arts, Paris France

Padlocks inscribed with lover’s names are locked to the bridge of Pont de Arts in Paris France, the key is then thrown into the river to symbolize their everlasting love. The padlocks began to show up on European bridge in the early 2000′s the source or inspiration varies depending on the city.  An increasing trend not only around Europe, but it is spreading around the world.  According to Wikipedia, the first padlock is said to have been locked to a bridge in Serbia before the World War ll over a betrayed love! Just a little ironic don’t you think?

There has been much controversy over the locks, for some it is an eye sore and considered a distraction from the heritage.  To others a romantic symbol of everlasting love in one of the most romantic cities in the world. The Pont de Arts Bridge in Paris France has this wire mess much like a chain link fence. From a distance the brass locks looking like shimmering brass leaves.  Up close we could see the locks that come in many shapes and sizes, some sold by the vendors just steps away, and inscribed with a permanent marker, while others are likely brought somewhere else and inscribed with an engraver.

We first encountered the locks in Florence Italy a couple of years ago, another wonderfully romantic city. Where have you seen them?

For more stories and images of this beautiful city:  Paris

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shooting star christmas tree

 

 

 

christmas tree and star_MG_7432

   shooting star/ christmas tree

Planning and decorating for the holidays have been on my mind this weekend, rather than actually doing anything to get ready for Christmas I decided to procrastinate and go through some previously taken holiday photos.  This photo of a large outdoor Christmas tree actually looked more like a shooting star, especially when photographed close up and from an angle. It is one of my favorite holiday pictures.  Are you getting ready for the holidays, or are you, like me, still in the planning stage?