During a Nile cruise, friendly vendors, referred to as “pirates,” approached the ship. Two young men skillfully rowed alongside and attached their boat to sell goods.
No need for panic, as these are friendly pirates! As we are cruising up the Nile, our Viking crew had alerted us about the approach by some of the vendors, as we got closer to Esna. As we had our first encounter, I made sure to get some pictures of their process, which is rather daunting!
Here’s one of the images…
Pirates of the Nile
These two young men had rowed themselves into the path of our cruise ship, and I really thought that they were going to be run over, as they were that close. Clearly, they had a plan and attached their rope to one of the bumpers on the port side of the ship. Once attached, they immediately started hawking their wares!
Their technique was amazing, as they would throw samples up to people on the various decks with perfect aim! Additionally, they didn’t lose any returned merchandise in the river. I don’t know how much they sold, but they were attached for a good 3-4 miles, so they had a good row back to where they started.
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!
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