After a lot of chiding from my wonderful wife and friends, here is the second installment of my Picture This series. The first highlighted our time in the UK, so I have some catching up to do.
After a year on the road I have found that my passion for photography continues to burn, but the focus of my pictures changes over time. Early on I would shoot pictures primarily of nature, capturing a beautiful waterfall or mountain scene. I still love these images, but the more time we spend in cities the more I find I love capturing the mood and vibrancy that only a city can offer.
Amsterdam: a photographer’s dream city
Virtually any subject you enjoy shooting is at your fingertips in Amsterdam. The only challenge is that the days pass faster than your shutter can capture all you want to explore. When we first arrived I was immediately drawn to the variety of art around the city. From colorful buildings to sculptures, Amsterdam is filled with artistic expressions.
The one that really captured my eye was the street art, specifically graffiti. In every city, and most villages, we have been in there has been graffiti. Typically is the eye-sore of a city as each person “tags” their name (or gang name) to any available surface. Occasionally though you find a piece that is striking and causes you to stop and admire. Amsterdam seems to be filled with these and here are a few that I could not simply walk by.
Want some cheese?
Bikes and art, you will see this theme throughout this series. On the one hand, I view this as a way to capture the unique mood of Amsterdam and provide context for the art. On the other, it is virtually impossible to photograph anything in this city without a bike in the frame. Here I embrace this completely and included a full rack of bikes to frame the image and give the viewer a bit more interesting to look at.
Ganesha the Painter
Sometimes you walk down the street and something reaches out, slaps you in the face, and says “Hey, take a picture of me”. This is exactly what happened as we were walking back to our house-boat one afternoon. Sitting there on the side of a bar was the Hindu god Ganesha, sitting above a bicycle. How could I not capture this moment? I love the colors here and the way that Ganesha seems to be hovering just above the bike. Plus, the words on the bike “I Love Elisa” are an added feature that adds to my love of this scene.
Building Goes Boom
It seems that not everyone here in Amsterdam is in love with the “men in blue”. Though I don’t know the details of this political statement, it is hard to argue the artists dedication to the message. We first walked by this building and noticed the sign, but not the art. Then, walking across the street I was surprised at just how fantastic this piece is. The artist used an entire 5 story building as their canvas to get out their message. I cannot help but fall in love with a city that embraces this freedom.
Fish and a bicycle
There is a lot going on in this picture and I considered cropping out parts to focus the eye a bit more. Then I realized that part of the fun of looking at graffiti and street art is often the backdrop that the art is placed. I left it to get a sense of some of the various different expressions that fill spaces here. I am not sure if the phrase is true, but it is hard not to look at the image without thinking of the phrase borne in the feminist movement “a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle“.
Condom machines need love, too
This was actually not on a street, but in the dining area of a bar we popped into. In all my years of seeing these machines it was the first time I had seen one outside the men’s room. Also, it was certainly the first time I had seen someone use it as a canvas for their art. This image screams of the creative spirit in this city and the ability for people to see beauty in anything. Wandering the streets you can be taken aback by the in your face culture of sex, but instead I like that for some it is simply a part of life. As such, why not dress it up to look nice and accept that sex is part of who we are. Don’t hide it in the bathroom but feel free to talk about something that everyone is doing.
Exploring a city does not only need to be about seeing the “check list” sights. Instead, take time to wander around and see what gives the city it’s unique vibe. Whether it be art, architecture, or something wholly different it is wonderful to see an area through a different lens.
What captures your attention about your city?
About Warren
Yay! I’m so glad you posted some of your work! If you have time while you’re here, we should try to get to the abandoned city of Dole. The graffiti there is phenomenal.
I love the idea of shooting an abandoned city. Looking forward to the opportunity to get some inspiration from you while we are in Brussels together.
I LOVE your photos, Warren. You are very talented. Keep up the great work!
Thank you Margit. It is great to hear nice things from people I trust.
Fantastic photos, Warren! Keep ‘em coming.
Paula, no problem. I have over 10,000 pictures from the first year so there must be a few good ones in there.
LOVE! I especially love your stories about why you liked the photos. Just adds to it. Thanks for sharing, Warren!
Thank you, Maria. I enjoy sitting down to write these posts as it gives me more time to reflect on each image and clearly write out my thoughts around each one and how it makes me feel. I am delighted you find them interesting as well.
Terrific photos! Especially enjoyed the first and the fish! Thanks!
Nancy, thank you for the nice comment. I hope they put a smile on your face as that is my goal in sharing them.
Warren all of these are really excellent! Proof that great photography isn’t in the camera but in the one wielding it. (Though a great camera certainly helps . . . uh . . . but I have quite a decent one and my pics always suck! lol!! So it must be your eye!) This is certainly a required regular posting! We won’t let you off the hook on this.
Tranque, I cannot thank you enough for the support and kind words. It is hard to share pictures with others in a light other than as background to blog posts. Putting the work out there is difficult and getting support along the way is so important. I promise you I am encouraged by the feedback and will not let myself off the hook either. Gotta go…I need to get some new shots.
Very cool Warren! I like that you guys have been a couple of steps ahead of us on your European journey….you are getting us excited about everywhere we go!
Dalene, thank you for the comment. We decided to flip the tables on you and Pete as we just arrived in Amsterdam and are hanging out with A&A for a couple weeks before Thailand. I hope we get the chance to meet in person in Asia soon.
When I saw the fish/bike photo I thought of that exact same quote before I read your comment! I think it’s cool how the graffiti art seems so all-encompassing — I mean, wow, it’s taken over an entire five story building.
Christy, great minds think alike it seems! We just loved seeing all the expressions of art through out the city. It gets old seeing the horrible way people “tag” buildings in virtually every city we visit. But in Amsterdam it was refreshing to see people taking a more artistic approach and using the walls as a canvas and not simply a place to scribble your name as a form of machismo.
I love keeping up with your travels. What an awesome and enjoyable website. I hope you don’t mind, but I have included it in my three recommendations for Oct 14th Blogfest. Hope others will enjoy it as well.
Carmen, thank you for such wonderful comments. Plus, thank you sincerely for choosing use for your Blogfest recommendations. Of course we don’t mind being a part of it as we love to find great new blogs and meet wonderful new people. Thank you for following along.
Oh you are in Holland? I just found your blog and you live the life I want someday. We sill have debts though, we are in the fase where we are thinking about minimalism, about gaining more freedom, about where are we going. We are my husband, me and our 2 (homeschooled) daughters. I really, really want to travel someday as a family. Now, I do need some inspiration and motivation in the stage where I’m in, is there any possibility to meet up with you guys? I would love it! If you want to, you can email me and may be we can meet up somewhere in Holland or Belgium!
Love the photos. Very evocative. It’s amazing how creative and artistic graffiti can be.
Hi Denise,
Thank you for the comment. We have seen a broad spectrum of graffiti, but some of the most interesting and artistic was certainly in Amsterdam. We’ll keep our eyes out for more as we travel and share with you as we go.