Meandering

Spring 2012 - New York

For my friend Monica's birthday in April, a bunch of us went into NY for the day. We spent the day meandering through a flea market, down the High Line, and eventually to an all you can eat Sushi restaurant. It was a Successful day.

ps. Until I have caught up with my posts, I'm posting every weekday. Let's see if I can get there! 

Details

Spring 2012 - The Bronx

Details of the day spent at The Cloisters.

The Cloisters

Spring 2012 - The Bronx

Last Spring I was taking a class called Art and the Sacred in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Or Art and the Sacred for short(er). Seeing as though I went to school just outside of New York, we were lucky enough to go on a field trip to The Cloisters. If you ever have the opportunity to go, go. 

These photos are from the largest cloister - I couldn't get enough of the capitals, but I suppose that's the point!

Purple Light

Spring 2012 - Leiden

All of these photos from my trip to Leiden have this lovely glow of purple - not something that usually happens. 

Safely Above

Spring 2012 - Leiden

Rising above the flat landscape of Leiden, the Burcht van Leiden (Hill of Leiden) still stands at the top of the hill as a reminder of a time when the city just encircled it's walls. Today, it's a public park and a great vantage point to see the rest of the city. 

Quite well framed through the red doorway of the Burcht is the Hooglandse Kerk, a church I've tried to go into many times, only to find that it's never actually open. On the other side of that doorway are what I can only assume are the Coats of Armour of influential families in Leiden. And then, there's me. Sometimes I attempt to take self portraits. Sometimes, I even like them!

Free Love

Spring 2012 - Leiden

Ah Leiden. Since we've moved to The Hague this summer, we haven't been as much as usual. Leiden is a beautiful city - hands down. Actually it reminds me a lot of Edinburgh, in some ways.* I think for a photographer, Leiden is a perfect city. Lots of historical, picturesque buildings, while at the same time the city vibes off of the many students who call the town home. 

First shot is of the St. Pieterskerk, which can be seen in almost every post I've done about Leiden. We always walk by it on the way into town. Another regular on the blog are photos of Leiden's street poetry, but for some reason, I can't stop taking photos of it. Then there's the other, less determinant street art - the QR code for Free Love and the least happy green light I've ever seen. 

*I'm writing this on August 25th - yes, my posts are time delayed, but that's really the only way I can publish regularly, especially with my erratic schedule. In a week from today I will be flying to Edinburgh so one could certainly say I am excited.  

However,

when you read this, it will be September 9th, and I will have just moved into my housing in Edinburgh. Crazy, right?

 

Flowering

Spring 2012 - Keukenhof and A Field

When it's Spring, bulbs are all over The Netherlands. If you're interested in seeing pretty flowers all in one place - Keukenhof, (mentioned in the previous post) is the way to go. At the same time, it can be fun to hunt down flower fields throughout the countryside. 

First and last shot are from fields somewhere in between Keukenhof and Leiden, and the middle two are from inside the greenhouse at Keukenhof. 

New Growth

Spring 2012 - Keukenhof & Leiden

In the Spring there are flowers, sure, but at the same time leaves are growing, and everything green looks a little greener. 

First shot is from Keukenhof, which just happens to be the world's largest flower garden. It's mostly known for it's bulbs, but this shot is from the Classical Garden on the grounds. 

The second two are from Leiden. There was just something so arresting about the bright blue pin pushed into the purple-y bark of the tree, I had to take a photo. Then there are the bright green seed pods on this other tree. What a great colour. 

Back from the Film Archives - Spring in Holland

Spring 2012 - Wassenaar and Leiden

Sometimes small things catch our eye. 

The first photo is somewhat of a memory now, as it's the number on our garage in our house in Wassenaar. This summer, we moved to The Hague. The second shot is an art deco post box in Leiden. 

Using Up Film

Spring & Summer 2011 - Delft, Dublin, Wassenaar

The problem that I have with my Lomography cameras is this - I take film photos of something or somewhere really cool, like Sicily, and then I still have about 10 shots on my camera. Three months later, I finally develop them.

The first three shots are of Delft, all taken around the town square.
The next two are from Dublin, one taken while walking across the Liffey, and the other looking straight up from Front Arch in Trinity.
The final shot brings us back to Holland, in the fields outside of Wassenaar where my dad and I were riding our bikes.

So I Found...

Spring 2011 - Sicily

I can't believe I forgot that I brought my Diana Mini with me to Sicily! Took me forever to use up this film, too (as you'll be able to see by the next few posts...). 

The first photo is from Poggioreale, digitals here, the second is from the ruins of a castle in the town of Enna. 

I especially love the next three. I didn't really get a good shot of the Greek Theatre at Segesta with my digital camera, but I quite love this film one. There's also something about shooting ruins with film that just works. Digitals here.

Final shot from Cefalu, the same church as in the first photo of the other post here.

Bits and Bobs

Spring 2011 - Istanbul

These are my final photos from Istanbul. Well, not quite, I have a whole other series coming but those have a different focus. 

The first photo was taken while crossing the main bridge over the Golden Horn - you can see Asia in the back of the shot. The second one, at the spice market, though this was a tea store with amazing tea. Those red flowers you're seeing on the left of the screen, those are pomegranate flowers, yum! And finally, a sunset taken on a cool, crisp evening.

Street Art

Spring 2011 - Istanbul 

The yellow fist in the second one is all over the Galata side of the city. This one was one the side of the bridge across the Golden Horn.

Churches and Walls

Spring 2012 - Istanbul

The first photo is of the Hagia Eirene, one of the first, if not the very first church built in Constantinople. Unlike the Hagia Sophia and the Little Hagia Sophia, the Hagia Eirene was never converted into a mosque even though it eventually ended up within the walls of the Topaki Palace (wall pictured in the second photo...). However, the church was shut both days I went by, so I was only able to enjoy it's beauty from the out side. 

The final photo is from a church on the 'modern' side of Istanbul.

What to Drink

Spring 2011 - Istanbul

Turkish Coffee - Served in tiny cups, unfilterd, and usually with some sugar. 

Turkish Apple Tea - Sweet, but not too sweet, add sugar if needed. Fell a bit in love with the apple tea, I have to say!