This was my fourth business trip to Europe. I finally got a chance see more than the business hotels & offices that I am accustomed to from my previous visits. This series of posts covers my 5 hour walk of Geneva Old Town & its surroundings. I experienced all that I had imagined of Europe – cobbled streets, flower pots in window sills, inspiring architecture, al-fresco cafes, marquee brands, and more.

<<   Part 1 | Part 2   <<

Park Art

Coming from a place like India, you take a few things for granted – sunshine & warmth are a couple such things. Walking around Geneva in the cold weather, it was an absolute pleasure to see the sun come out from behind the clouds. The mix of modern arty structures (as seen above) amidst historical structures is inspiring.

Cafe Time

Though the place is filled with tourists, the best part in any such places is watching the locals go about their daily lives. Here was a woman who basked in the sun for the longest of times. A newspaper & an order of coffee kept her company & she hardly ever looked up. The wrinkles on her face indicated that she had earned this time.

 
Quaint

I can only imagine what a pleasure it would be to sip coffee / tea / wine on this balcony & witness the crowd below on the streets. Having said this, I have to admit to having a spacious west facing balcony overlooking a lake myself. It reminds me of the fact that we so often aspire for things that others have, while forgetting to enjoy things that we already have.

 
Beauty In The Balconies

These flowers are great at breaking the monotony of concrete structures. For me, they are also the perfect signs of life that reside behind those windows. 

 
Art In Architecture

Street or architectural photography are two areas that interest me the most. Both involve using subject/s that is taken for granted & presenting it in with a new perspective. The perspective could be a different angle, limiting the view to a part of the whole or just in an unusual light.  

 
Charming Wheels

For someone who is used to seeing the smallish 100cc bikes & scooters occupy most of the space on roads back home, these bulky bikes are big attention grabbers. 

 
Contrast

Light brown, withering & waiting to be swept away. Dark green, growing & full of life. Makes for a good click & thought provoking on the continuity of life beyond individuals.

 
Iconic City Feature

The Jet d’Eau is seen from many far away parts of the city & is a looker against the blue skies when the sun is out. The multiple colors on this frame – blue skies, white of the water spray, yellow & grey of the buildings & green of the vegetation in the foreground – is what makes it interesting for me.

<<   Part 1 | Part 2   <<

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Related Posts:
~ Photo Feature – Fall in Geneva
~ Photo Feature – Linger At Balur Estate
~ Pictures From Lunuganga

This was my fourth business trip to Europe. I finally got a chance see more than the business hotels & offices that I am accustomed to from my previous visits. This series of posts covers my 5 hour walk of Old Geneva Town & its surroundings. I experienced all that I had imagined of Europe – cobbled streets, flower pots in window sills, inspiring architecture, al-fresco cafes, marquee brands, and more.

<<   Part 1 | Part 3   >>

Creeping Colors

I am sucker for the sight of greenery & floral colors amidst concrete jungles. I find it more interesting when the display is an eclectic mix of individual tastes, as compared to a coordinated effort & controlled taste of a city council. Needless to say, the variety keeps those bitten by the photography bug busy.

Charming Tavern

I took at least ten pictures at this location trying to capture the charm of the place ..without success. It finally came down to identifying the various components that made the place so charming & clicking them individually. This particular combination of tiles, the wooden clad windows & the signage against the multi-hued leaves of the tree in the foreground stood out for me.

 Mini Poetry

Cobbled street, an old Mini, a backlit tree & a window – what more could I have asked for in this picture! Maybe less, because this was another location whose charm just could not be captured in a singular photo.

 Shoot The Lover

When the locale & the weather is good, can the lovers be far behind? In such surroundings, everything starts seeming beautiful & we are lulled into capturing more of our loved ones on picture. I have more pictures of my family around Sydney Opera House than anywhere else in Sydney .. even though most of these snaps have just them & not much of the Opera House itself.

Pristine Window Art

It is such a pleasure to see windows decked with multi-colored blooms. While I’m sure it is satisfying for the residents to tend to these plants, I was left wondering if the sight for the residents is as good as that for a pedestrian outside. After all, those outside get to see the cumulative display across all windows.

Brighten-It Window Art

I usually travel with just one lens on short business trips. More often than not, the weight is the decider. On this trip, I travelled with the nifty fifty (Canon 50mm f/1.8). I do feel limited by what the lens can or cannot do. But this lens also stretches one’s photographic skills. I often end up capturing pictures of subjects that wouldn’t have interested me otherwise. 

 
Alone In My  Last Days

My colleagues were especially bewildered by the awkward positions I was getting into to capture pictures of strange subjects. Just months ago, I would think twice (or more) before doing this in public places. I guess I have grown into this hobby over time.

 In Indian Range

Thanks to corporate acquisitions, an additional billion odd people notice some marquee brands now. Whatever is said and done, I think we Indians are just discovering the additional pride one feels when such brands are owned by MNCs from your land.

The DoF versatility of the nifty fifty allows a hobbyist to venture into the artsy space of photography (as in the above two photos).

 Road At The End Of Tunnel

I noticed this inclined passageway connecting two streets at differing levels – made for a nice light at the end of tunnel shot. An example of the limitations of the lens forcing me to notice perspectives that I wouldn’t normally do.

<<   Part 1 | Part 3   >>

—–
Related Posts:
~ Photo Feature – Fall in Geneva
~ Photo Feature – Linger At Balur Estate
~ Pictures From Lunuganga