Last week’s Friday Mystery Place looks like it wasn’t a great challenge, as it was figured out on the same day it was posted by Germanophile, who correctly identified this as a Lion of Lucerne.
This memorial rock relief was designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen and hewn by Lukas Ahorn in 1820-1821. The dying lion commemorates the Swiss Guards, whose lives were lost in defense of the French King during the French Revolution. Additional detail can be found in the Wikipedia article about the Lion Monument of Lucerne.
Let’s visit another country this week with a slide from 1960…
What building is this?
This busy street scene takes us back to simpler times, even though there is quite a bit of traffic in this view. Where are we in this shot? For car buffs: what car is that in the foreground?
Technical Details
The slide, from which this scan came, was processed in August of 1960; it was shot on Kodak Ektachrome slide file. Despite its age, the typical Ektachrome pinkish cast (due to cyan dye fading over time) is rather minimal
A Fresh Perspective
Photography is more than just a vehicle for capturing the world around me; it provides me with a palette and a set of brushes, with which I paint not only what I see, but also look to express the emotions that are evoked by the scene in front of me in that moment.
Growing up in the Netherlands exposed me to a wide cross-section of visual arts that laid the foundation of my photographic view of all that surrounds me. Early influences were the Dutch Masters of the 17th century, to whom I was introduced by my grandfather during museum explorations; favorites among them are the scenes of quotidian life depicted by Jan Steen and Frans Hals and the vivid landscapes of Jacob van Ruisdael.
My classical high school education was supplemented by the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum, where I spent many a lunch hour exploring its great collection. Here I was introduced to surrealism with a particular love for the approach taken by Salvador Dali; Dali also rekindled my appreciation for the work of Hieronymus Bosch, who often showed the folly of us mortals.
Universal Connections
My approach to any photographic subject is to look for understanding first; in this I look to establish either a connection between the viewer and the subject or capture the connection of the subject with its surroundings. The captured image then aims to portray this connection from a perspective that is part of my personal interpretation.
This interpretation is often a form of externalized introspection, which may alternately display the connection of isolated beings and items with their environment or highlight the whimsy of the profound world, in which we find ourselves. The universe is full of connections, many of which are waiting to be discovered; part of my journey as a photographer is to document these connections.
Any assignment, be it an event, a product shoot or a portrait session is always approached through communication with the client; this is where the first connection is established. Ideas are exchanged and a collaborative plan of action forms, ultimately resulting in a set of images that aim to exceed the expectations of each client.
And, lest we forget, it is important to have fun while practicing the serious business of photography!
View all posts by jansenphoto
6 thoughts on “Friday Mystery Place – vol. 31”
Ooh God I know this one!!! I’ve been there. Shoot, Frank, I can’t remember. 😦
Looking forward to seeing what it is. I remember really loving the experience.
Ooh God I know this one!!! I’ve been there. Shoot, Frank, I can’t remember. 😦
Looking forward to seeing what it is. I remember really loving the experience.
It’ll come back to you…
I think it is Rome.Is it the Victor Emmanuel Monument?
Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner! You are 100% correct!
Yay !!!!! I do rather like Italy !!! 🙂