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The sound of…
A Crumar Seven is a really special instrument. Not your average sampled keyboard, not your average synth either.
Dirk Maassen is a German engineer, topping local streaming charts of neo-classical piano songs. They are pleasant to the ear, perfectly composed. La Mer was begging for my own interpretation, on the Crumar Seven. Enjoy!
Based on La Mer by Dirk Maassen Slightly imperfect, but then again, I’m still learning 🙂
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Paddington by night
Switching roles implies
spending less time in London.
I spent some time with Imad, from my team.
Amazed by all the details of photography
while in all fairness, I still see myself
as an absolute beginner.
For now, this is our adieu,
but the future whispers
promises of reunion.Paddingont, 5th March 2024
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Alsace revisited
When carnaval comes to the South of the Netherlands
one needs to surrender to it, or flee.
Alsace is a wholesome place, healing,
Putting its charm around you
like a warm and caring winter coat to sink in to.The places that normally are overcrowded
with tourists and wine chasers
felt desolate, under the dreary skies
Likely the others chose for carnaval, afterall
or warmer or colder places to flee to.Solace came, restocking on wines
and a few tours of that local wholesome food
Yet, with all the things changing so rapidly
in the world, these places will still be
exactly the same in 100 years from now*
Eguisheim & Colmar, feb 2024
*unless … -
Paddington
Loved the short walk with Sean from work. Sean’s been on the streets for much longer and it was just nice to visit the spots he really enjoys shooting.
London, 17 Jan 2024
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Thank God it’s Friday
(cue The Art of Noise song)
Loods5 offers a shop-in-shop warehouse
Disguised in a superb presentation.In Maastricht’s centre
An abundance of tourists
making pictures, and two regulars
having a smoke
outside their fave cafe.“No, no. I don’t post on TikTok”
(as well no, you’re not a cute lady
amazed by the picture showing her beauty)Instead, you bring tonnes of character
presented here, humbly.
No TikTok, just a few dozen
of loyal followers.Many thanks for posing for them!
(click on the images to zoom/cycle through)
Maastricht, 3 November 2023
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The dark days…
Some photograper wrote
he was getting depressed
only shooting black and white.When I recoiled from some colour pictures,
hurt almost by the sugar cane pink
bursting the enamel of my teeth.
It must pain them, to constantly juggle
colour wheel theory and white balance drama.Well. not so much here.
Here, we paint with spoonfuls of light.
or moonfuls perhaps.
‘s Hertogenbosch, 28 Oct 2023
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A street photographer’s delight
The abundance of beauty in the old-town of Prague,
the patina of the Golden Hour
Crevices and lighting casting complex shadows over buildings
with looming roof top statues watching you like giant sentinels,
lighted fountains glowing like neon almost
Tourist herds making theit selfies with the many sights in the background
in between the Insanely chaotic shops,
all selling the same russian dolls, weed-filled candy, and stuffies.
Click on the photos to enlarge and cycle through them!
Prague, Oct 17 2023
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Speicherstadt – Hamburg warehouse district
If it’s made it to the Unesco bucket list,
for sure it is worth the journey
should you happen to be in the vicinity.Funny how as photographer,
we choose the lens to which to see,
in my case
always 28mm, black and white
but that’s not what I meant.Lifting out the crowd or instead
dissolving them behind objects,
focusing on how it felt,
to be there
and experience
the space and light
and passersby unwittingly
posing for my camera.
Speicherstadt/Hamburg 8 oct 2023
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Two faces of Hamburg
Frankly I don´t know what I was expecting of Hamburg
yet, somehow it reconciles with what I encountered.
This ´Hansestadt´ with rich past in commerce
shows a more diverse cultural blend than I´m used to.It has two faces, really.
One is the hurried and metropolitan grandeur,
with waterways, buildings and impressively large store fronts.
Where people are either stuck queing up for escalators
or rushing to complete their purchases on Saturday.
Just like the taxis are either stuck in traffic
or driving at nauseating speed because they can finally make quick drops.The other is the face of extravagant buildings of the roaring twenties,
with metal beam structures and high ceilings. Above all offering an inmensely warm and relaxing feeling of coming home to an almost overwhelmingly detailed yet organised space offering many many many books, cookware, teddy bears and wines tucked away deeper in the structures or the top floors,
Deliberaty slowing the pace, to make way for conversation, drinks and bites.
Hamburg, Germany, 7 Oct 2023
ps: Let me know in the comments if you’d like me to tag the photos with locations or stores. -
Windows
I’ve met the occasional urbanite
who favoured the scale of Istanbul
over the villagesque charm of Maastricht
I love to linger in the medieval streets
and secretly snap unsuspecting people
revealing their cravings
as astute enterpreneurs
reel them into their shops & restaurants
Meanwhile, at home
we equally cater to the needs
of the little people
walking by our window panes
they hunch
they gaze
ignoring the tugs
from their parents
pointing out what they admire
to the more patient grand-parents
Maesland Photography
Black and white street photography
Maesland Photography 