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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Related Posts:
~ Photo Feature – Fall in Geneva
~ Photo Feature – Linger At Balur Estate
~ Pictures From Lunuganga
I accidentally came across your profile in Linkedin, and the word "Gleep" caught my attention and brought me to this blog.
Must say, there are some amazing Pictures here with such perfect clarity, attention to detail or even the context. Still haven't read the content in the blog though. Keep it up!
@Usha – glad that you dropped by. Thanks for your encouraging comments.