Moe impressions from the deck of the Viking Aton of life next to the river Nile.
In the first Along the Nile – Living post, I showed a bit of what I got to witness from our ship, the Viking Aton. As there are a wide selection of photos that I captured during this trip, I gathered some more to share today.
Let’s start with what appears to be under construction…
Building
I have always felt that the English word ‘building’ connotes something that is not finished, which is the case in this image. One of the parts that struck me in this scene is the number of little boats; this indicates a strong connection with the river.
Here are some more houses in various stages of completion…
Irrigation
The left-most house looks amazing, and very different from most houses which are predominantly boxy and right angles. Also, a notable item is the pier with the little house at the end. These pop up at regular intervals and house pumps that can provide water to the fields for irrigation. It’s not the way the ancient Egyptians irrigated their lands, but likely much more reliable.
And last, but not least…
Community
Every community that we saw had a mosque or church, as faith is very much a part of life throughout the country. The minaret strikes a strong pose that makes it a key part of the landscape, just as much as the palm trees and the mountains in the distance.
I will have a future post with more photos from communities we visited.
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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