On The Road Again

On A New Adventure With Willy Nelson

Remember when I wrote about moving to a new location in 2019 and how that triggered me to purchase the Fujifilm X100F?

Well, it happened again.

After being quite unhappy in my previous work environment, several things happened in March this year, leading to me starting a new job in June.

About a month into my new role with my new employer, it has been a great experience.

There is one thing, however: my wife, our three dogs, and I are relocating from Upstate South Carolina to Upstate New York.

This move triggered us to go back to Willy Nelson's song "On The Road Again," which became our family anthem when we relocated from 2007 through 2011 from the Netherlands, to Spain, to Australia, to South Africa, to finally the USA.

From the official Willy Nelson YouTube page

I am living in a hotel since mid-June, while my wife is still in our house in South Carolina. We are closing on a home here in New York in August, and I look forward to being united again.

While some people think we have lost our mind, moving from warm SC to NY, which has a lot of snow in winter, we are looking forward to it.

We loved living in South Carolina (11 years!) and made many friends we will dearly miss. But moving from summer temperatures in the 90s with humidity in the 80s to the milder climate here in Upstate New York is one of the perks.

And while we will miss Greenville, SC, its restaurants, Saturday farmers market, and other events, we will get a lot to replace them!

We are in the area between Albany, NY, and Saratoga Springs, NY, which means farmers' markets, horse racing, good restaurants, the Aridondacks, lakes, and even proximity to Vermont and Massachusets.

And from Albany, only a 2.5-hour train ride to New York City!

Hudson River, NY | Newburgh-Beacon Bridge | Jun 2019

As a self-proclaimed social documentary/street photographer, what more could I wish?!

New York City | 8th Ave - W 41 St | Jul 2019

While everything has been and still is quite stressful with everything that happened, we are looking forward to moving into this area and starting a new chapter in our lives. So, we are on the road again!

Never Too Old To Play

New York City, NY | Hester St. Playground | February 2019

New York City's China Town area is a treasure trove for street photographers and cultural experiences.

I noticed two gentlemen near the Hester Street playground playing the Chinese game of Xiangqi.

I didn't know if they played for toothpicks, hard dollars, or fun, but they were having a good time, and the bitter cold temperature didn't bother them.

Several onlookers were sitting and standing around their table, undoubtedly providing their advice for the next move.

Unfortunately, I had to move on and never got to know who won.

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Teamwork

Greenville, SC | N Main St | Jan 2022

Walking on Greenville's, SC, Main Street, I saw these two workers repairing a wall.

Working with their backs to the sidewalk, they seemed unaware of the people walking by. Focused on the task at hand, they quietly went about it, working together and getting the job done.

The public also did not notice them, indicated by the woman whose reflection is visible in the window in the background—going on with their daily chores, busy being busy. Not deliberately ignoring the workers, but not interested.

And is that not what generally is the case?

We all go about our busy lives without paying attention to the people around us.

It seems we are more interested in the actions and lives of movie stars, social media authorities, and other so-called 'influencers' than in the real people around us.

This thought inspired me to start working on a new project about real people: manual workers, parents, emergency services personnel, shoppers, office workers, etcetera.

In the upcoming weeks, I will need to flesh out the details: where to focus on possibly, what type of images, medium (film, digital, or both).

More to come.

Forever Young

Washington, DC | 11th Street NW | July 2014

Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, Alphaville, and probably many others sang about it. Movies have been made about it.

Staying forever young: a wish that many people need to have.

If we must believe the music and film industries. 

And cosmetics and clothing firms are playing well too.

Helping people to stay forever young.

Or at least: helping people feel they can stay forever young.

Or at least: making people feel they need to stay forever young.

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Hello Mrs. Cartier-Bresson

Greenville, SC | S Main St - W McBee Ave | January 2022

When I saw this lady walking towards me, I almost froze.

Where have I seen those sunglasses before?

Could it be?

Is it her?

If only HCB was here, he would be able to tell

61 years... impossible, it can't be her...

Maybe her daughter?

Paying Attention

Washington, DC | Lincoln Memorial | August 2014

One of the joys of street photography, actually the reason I think most street photographers do what they do, is observing people.

People on their own, in small groups, or, as in this image, in large groups of individuals who are not in any way related to each other than for the fact that they are coincidentally in the same place at the same time.

When visiting the Lincoln Memorial in 2014 (obviously very much during pre-pandemic times) I noticed that most visitors are not really paying attention to the statue of the great man. Several were walking around in circles like lost in the vast space of the Memorial building, some were talking in groups, and quite a few were busy taking selfies with their omnipresent phones.

Except…

Except for this one woman, who stood still in the middle of the moving, chattering and self-focused crowd.

She was looking at the image of President Lincoln. Paying attention. As if to say: “What can you tell me. What can you teach me.”

And isn’t that what we all should do more often? Paying attention. Putting the phone away. Stop talking. Stop being focused on ourselves. And just pay attention.