Windows of Europe
In the old Greek Quarter of Bergama, Turkey
I was in northern Rwanda in April 2007 as a volunteer with an aid group and we had stopped to talk with people at a local church. The town was Rhuengeri, it sits close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and has the unfortunate reputation as having been home to a number of those who perpetrated the horrific genocide of 1994. / The atmosphere in Rwanda is one of pervading ‘brokeness.’ Millions of orphans live side by side with those who tortured and massacred their families 14 few, short years ago. Millions more suffer the newer enemy – HIV Aids and countless others wander ghost like in a state it seems of perpetual shock, haunted by the past and overwhelmed by the concept of a future. / This was April. The official month of mourning. When people publicly face what privately never leaves them. / I was sitting on a step tired and desperate for fresh air when I looked into the crowd that inevitably gathered wherever we were. / This woman, is by my guess perhaps 30 and she is as are most, dirt poor. / I was absolutely transfixed by her and her child. / She seemed to me to sum up so much of what I saw. / Love and desperation and yes, compassion. / Her breast is bone dry and cracked and yet she tries to feed her baby. Perhaps it is the hope inherent in the action which feeds her. / At the same time, she looks totally preoccupied by her struggle for survival. / What is she thinking as she gazes into the middle ground? / My thought is, ‘where is the next meal.’ Where will she get it from? How will she share it? And upon finishing it, where will she find the next one? / I was overwhelmed by seeing the reality of those who live literally from hour to hour, day after exhausting day. / It confronted me then. / It continues to confront me now. / – Dog photography – Africa photography / - Beach photography - Black & white photography – Dog photography – Africa photography / - Beach photography - Monotone photography
Sitting, waiting for the others in a church in Northern Rwanda, my eyes wandered, taking in the room. To tell the truth I was tired and bored and in need of a day off. Over the other side of the room sat this young man, alone. I’m not sure what he was doing there. Waiting for his Mother maybe? I wondered, should I take a shot? If he saw me it could be really uncomfortable. I mean I was really close and I couldn’t pretend I was photographing anyone else. Anyway I thought, ‘I’ll sneak a shot in.’ So, I raised the camera and started to muck around with the shot. And then he looked up. I cringed behind the lens and just sat there, frozen. He didn’t divert his gaze. For several seconds we stared at each other me on one side of the camera, him on the other. Finally I pressed the shutter. His expression remained exactly the same. I lowered the camera and returned his stare, this time with no mechanical device between us. It sounds corny but something travelled between us. An absolute realisation that we were right there, in the same place at the same time. He didn’t dismiss me or put me down. He stood right on the same level. It was unique.
This shot is one of my favourites because it tells such a story. In the forground is a wallet being held by one of my colleagues Bart. He is buying the basket being held by the Rwandan woman in the middle of the shot. All eyes are on the transaction. This represents life and death in Africa as much as any other portrait. It is positive, but you can also feel the tension, the need, the hope. All proceeds to charity. I might even buy this myself. – Dog photography – Africa photography / - Beach photography - Black & white photography – Dog photography – Africa photography / - Beach photography - Monotone photography
STOCKHOLM.sweden
Photograph of the original print. / January 2009 / Size of original print is 22.5cm x 30cm This is a reduction woodblock print which involved 6 passes (6 separate colour passes) and Chine Collé. A combination of oil-based and water-based inks were used. First colour printed directly on Zerkall Etch 250g, with subsequent colours over Chine Collé (Japanese Tissue Paper used for the Chine Collé). Because this was a reduction process, the original block is completely destroyed and no further prints can be run from that block. One Artist’s proof and one final original remain from this process.
A typical Venetian window, this one I loved with the Bottle bottom look stained glass. The Shutters and glass is close to true colour. I brightened up the wall colour, the original was a little more washed out.
Oko opens his shutters and lets the beauty of the world in…........... / / There is a story about this painting…...... / I had a showing at a Gallery last year at Arizona State University….. / I offered a gesture to one of my gurlz (Minerva is married to my eldest boy) to pick a painting of one she liked….... / Well she went around and said “I like this, I like this , I like this, etc for many paintings…..... / Then she comes to this one and say “BUT I WANT THIS” / I had just finished it and had not even signed it or doved it yet….I was in a hurry to get it to the show…...... / / What was I to do ….my gurlz knows me so well and have me wrapped around their pinkeyz….........their blinking of their eyes helps them too…. / So needless to say This piece proudly hangs in their house. / / acrylic on fabric. / each shutter is hinged and moves independently. / / / Mahalo For Playing…... / / ORIGINAL NOT AVAILABLE
Canon EOS450D with kit lens (18-55mm)
Shadow of a lamp on a tipical mediterranean pastel wall.
Windows & Shutters Series /
Picture taken in summer 2007 at my friend Patty-Lou’s summer house who was empty as she was fighting a breast cancer. Now she’s done with chemo and the tumor has been totally removed. She will be back this summer and this is the most fantastic news I ever heard. This work is dedicated to her, her husband and their two daughters.
FEATURED IN ’’Shapes & Patterns – Limit of 2 images per day’’ GROUP – JUNE 2009 FEATURED IN ’’First Things’’ GROUP – JUNE 2009 FEATURED IN ’’European Everyday Life’’ GROUP – JUNE 2009 CAORLE – NORTH ITALY
Windows & Shutters Series
An old window with green shutters in the historic Italian town of Albenga. Below the window are the remnants of a painted sign advertising a coffee house
Windows & Shutters Series “Windows & Shutters – 5” was featured in the group Windows and Doors
A companion piece to our very popular Doors of New Mexico poster, this grande dame of a poster will look fantastic anywhere in your home. Like a walk through the French Quarter, you’ll find all kinds of fun and mystery in these beautiful photos featuring colorful, washed out, or just plain fascinating porches and doors.
Taken in Brisbane, Australia at Brett’s Wharf with a Canon DSLR EOS 350D camera.
Athens, Greece, Sept 2005
FEATURED IN ’’European Everyday Life’’ GROUP – JUNE 2009 BURANO – VENICE
Windows & Shutters Series “Windows & Shutters – 3” was featured in the group Windows and Doors
Have a look at my other photos. For example: / / / / / / / / / / Or browse through one of my categories flower / poppy / water / leaf / other / reflection / macro / insect / dragonfly
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