most of the times I carry a camera.Most of the times I carry a camera with me. This way if I see something that catches my eyes or something unusual for me, I photograph the scene. Also I do think that carrying a camera encourages me to look more intensely at the world around me. I have been living in the city of Solo (central Java) for almost a year now and I must admit that I am getting used to the surroundings and to the way of living of the Indonesians. As a Photographer « Getting Used» To My Immediate World Is Not Necessarily A Good Thing Because It Means I Will Stop Making Images While Paying Less Attention To My Environment . « I often plan of traveling to far away places thinking I will make good images instead of just taking the time to make pictures in my own backyard ».
I am beginning a new project that involves traveling, discovering and taking photographs. I travel by bicycle in the small alleys and large streets of Solo, in search of becak drivers. Some sleeping in their vehicle others wide awake searching for clients. This way I get to do some exercise while discovering my own backyard and meeting the solitary becak drivers of Solo. Here is a short video of becak drivers at work. You will now understand why they fall asleep in their cramped vehicle.
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I am not a wedding photographer. I do not consider myself very good at this form of photography. But I do think wedding ceremonies are wonderful occasions to create brilliant images. Weddings have moments filled with emotion. A photographer can stroll amongst the people who are concentrated on the events unfolding and take unique photographs. A few weeks ago I went to a wedding celebration A few weeks ago I went to a wedding celebration. I did bring along a Leica M9 to take photographs if circumstances permitted. BUT...... « it was impossible for me to take photographs of the groom». It was impossible for me to take Photographs of the groom. |
In 1667 by the Treaty of Breda, Manhattan, a small trading center with a population of less than one thousand, was exchanged with the Island of Run. Today, the Island of Run and the story of Nathaniel’s courage find themselves in the margin of history while the name of New York is fabled around the globe. (Giles Milton) |
After reading Giles Milton's Book titled Nathaniels’s Nutmeg, I decided to travel with the Indonesian shipping company Pelni to the Once-Famed-Now-Ignored Spice Islands.
The following in taken from Amazon's web site about Nathaniel's Nutmeg:
«The tiny island of Run is an insignificant speck in the middle of the Indonesian archipelago--remote, tranquil, and now largely ignored. At the beginning of the seventeenth century, however, Run's harvest of nutmeg turned it into the most lucrative of the Spice Islands, precipitating a fierce and bloody battle between the all-powerful Dutch East India Company and a small band of ragtag British adventurers led by the intrepid Nathaniel Courthope.
«The tiny island of Run is an insignificant speck in the middle of the Indonesian archipelago--remote, tranquil, and now largely ignored. At the beginning of the seventeenth century, however, Run's harvest of nutmeg turned it into the most lucrative of the Spice Islands, precipitating a fierce and bloody battle between the all-powerful Dutch East India Company and a small band of ragtag British adventurers led by the intrepid Nathaniel Courthope.
«The Outcome Of The Fighting Was One Of The Most Spectacular Deals In History:
Britain Ceded Run To Holland, But In Return Was Given Another Small Island, Manhattan.»
Mr. Milton mentions the somewhat cruel actions done
to the local population by the colonialists.
(If you wish to learn more about the governor general of Banda, please read this interesting article about the controversial erection of a statue of Jan Pieterszoon Coen in his hometown of Hoorn. LINK)
«Bye Bye Banda» (53 secs to say goodbye)
Visiting the Banda Islands is traveling back in time. Sitting on the dock in Neira dominated by the volcano Gunung Api,
I can easily imagine the Spanish, English and Dutch sailing ships setting anchor in the bay of Banda.
Sometimes the arrival of an Indonesian built pinisi enters the Bay, The illusion of going back in time is complete.
«Bye Bye Banda»…for the moment. I shall return.
Thought of the day
Pensée du jour
How beautiful it is to get up and go out and do something. We are here on Earth to fart around. Don't let anybody tell you any different.
Kurt Vonnegut.
A MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY.