JULY 2025: GARY RAMAGE
PHOTOGRAPH: TRANQUILITY
THE ASSIGNMENT BRIEF
From Gary Ramage: “I’ve chosen tranquility as my word for the assignment, because I’m drawn to the quiet that photographs can hold. One that comes to mind is a picture I made in a war zone, a young bomb disposal soldier curled up with his dog, the two of them keeping warm through the night. It’s one of the few that I’ve printed large, and it hangs in the dining room as a reminder that even in chaos, there can be peace. These days, I look for that same stillness in everyday moments: frosty mornings, quiet walks before work, just a bit of calm to start the day.”
HOW TO ENTER. IMPORTANT NOTES ON FILE SIZE AND ENTRIES
Send your entry to stories@photowalk.show. Your picture should be 2,500 pixels wide, if possible, for online optimisation. Or send the full-resolution photo, which we will optimise. Feel free to provide text as well if you think it will help explain the location, context, etc. Please don’t add borders or watermarks, and be sure to send FULL URL links to your websites and socials so that we can link to your work on this assignment page. We’ll use a selection of photos you submit on our Photowalk Instagram to showcase your work to our community and help build connections.
Entries are shown below. Good luck!
Neale
GARY RAMAGE
A picture of tranquility from Gary Ramage.
BIL DERBY
The place had a softness to it, a gentleness, really. We stood alone on the lakeshore watching the soft prairie light fall towards sunset, the silence was palpable. The stillness had an almost physical presence, echoed by the silent skeletal trees. Quietude, in the scene and in us. [Hillsdale Lake, Kansas, USA]
MICHAEL MIXON
Being alone in a vast and still landscape, very little speaks tranquillity to me more than that.
GRANT PURDY
In the midst of the drunken bedlam, mosh pits, blaring music, and screaming coming at you from the stage, the chaotic symphony of metal festival life doesn't seem like an optimal setting to find a moment of tranquillity. And yet, my fellow festivalgoer here was clearly able to find peace in the mayhem. I can relate, though. I often find that some of my only true moments of zen are in the back of a crowded concert hall with the bass thumping my chest and a cold beverage in hand.
DAVID SHAW
I have not been a religious individual, as my parents were not regular church attendees except for traditional occasions such as weddings, christenings, and funerals. My formal education included daily Christian assemblies and Religious Education classes until the age of thirteen. However, I have maintained an interest in various world religions, particularly in their origins and distinguishing characteristics.
In my late forties, I developed an interest in Buddhism, particularly its distinction from many religions due to the absence of a god. The philosophies, teachings, and practices of Buddhism struck me as universally applicable, regardless of personal beliefs. I recall reading about a Catholic priest who claimed he became a better priest after incorporating Buddhist principles into his life.
Shortly before my 50th birthday, I participated in a Buddhist ceremony and formally embraced Buddhism. The process involved no examinations, monetary obligations, or extensive consultations with monks—simply a straightforward ceremony dedicated to “taking refuge in the Triple Gem.”
Over the last 11 years, I have tried to adopt Buddhist practices in my everyday life, and both my heart and my brain have become more tranquil. I try to meditate most days, and it was in one such session that I set the camera on repeat mode and took the self-portrait photograph you see here.
See more of David’s work on his Instagram.
JOHN CHARLTON
This is a photo I made of a lily pond near me. I found it particularly difficult to find a composition with the four flowers that worked. In the end, this arrangement seemed acceptable and I believe provides a visual resting place for quiet contemplation which is the way I interpreted the assignment. I did some post processing on this as well, inspired by Monet's garden in France.
See more of John’s work on Substack.
ANTONY HIBBLE
There I was on a Tunisian beach at sunset, thinking 'what could I add to this scene to make it more interesting' when from out of nowhere this man appeared from behind me with his horse and a young girl riding on top. Almost like a scene from a film as she literally rode off into the sunset! Just to add to the tranquillity of the scene, I also had a beer on the beach next to me, but unfortunately, that was out of shot.
See more of Antony’s work on Instagram.
ROBERT FILIPPI
I took this image from my backyard, I thought the cloud formation evoked a sense of tranquility. I was about to click the shutter and saw the bird enter the frame, I then clicked it. It feels much more complete with the bird, not only giving a sense of tranquility but also freedom.
See more of Robert’s work on VERO.
KIRBY JACK
An early foggy morning, you have the need to go and explore. No one around. Just you and nature.
See more of Kirby’s work on Instagram.
RAY GRAHAM
ERIK JAcoby PETERSen
Tranquillity – it's something I've really come to appreciate since the divorce. Living in an apartment, hearing the neighbours, the constant hum of traffic... it’s made me value the quiet even more.
There’s something truly special about those still moments in nature. The way the mist settles over the water, the soft reflections – it invites you to pause, breathe, and just be. It says so much, without needing to say anything at all.
I love how both nature and art can stir something deep inside us. It’s a good reminder that beauty doesn’t always have to shout – sometimes it’s the quiet, subtle things that speak the loudest.
This little glimpse of my backyard makes me think about those peaceful moments we all need. Whether it's a walk by the water or just sitting in silence for a few minutes – it matters. I know how much you love the fog. Sometimes I think you love it almost as much as I do.
MARTIN RIEPPO
I took this picture in Croatia last year when my little boy and I were down by the beach to look for shells, stones, and lizards.
See more of Martin’s work on VERO.
MICHAEL LOTHNER
Here is a photograph I would like to submit which I have titled 'Sunday Mourning in Madrid'. Two weeks after my Mother had passed away, I left for a photography assignment in Spain. The following Sunday Morning I captured this image of a gentleman alone on a footpath in Retiro Park. It represents a turning point in my life, that reminds me of that sense of solitude, peace and calm I felt on that tranquil Sunday Morning in Madrid.
See more of Michael’s work on his website.
CHRISTOPHER KARNES
This photo was taken shortly after getting back into photography after a very long hiatus. Our business was closed for two weeks due to COVID, and my wife and I spent a lot of time hiking. This was taken on a September morning as we strolled along a quiet woodland path with a global pandemic raging around us.
KELLY MITCHELL
I am having a really hard time trying to pick the image for Tranquility. I don't think I have one the truly conveys the feelings, the sounds, the wind and the total peacefulness of this location.
There was a picnic table, that I sat at to sit and just listen to all of the sounds and watch the sun sink in the west. I watched the shadows grow long and listened to the cows lowing and the birds start to settle for the night. The breeze was cool and fresh coming up from the valley. It was so peaceful, I could of sat there forever!!
I sat and wrote a little bit as well. Trying to put it all into words. (My pre-homework before Scotland Emoji ).
Long Shadows
Long Shadows are starting to fall
Distinct cows are calling, it is time to rest.
There is nothing but wind through the prairie grasses and the grasshoppers singing the day away
Even the birds are starting to settle for the night
Not a car or a plane to interrupt the quiet.
But the quiet isn't quiet but sounds are soothing
Just the sounds of the wide open prairie.
LARS HEGAARD
The image of a refuge is from the Dolomites — a UNESCO World Heritage site, for good reason. The photo is not of the Tre Cime/Drei Zinnen. They are just outside the frame to the left.
I hope the editing conveys this month's challenge, Tranquillity, in a way that is both subdued and overwhelming. I chose not to convert the photo to black and white because I feel the subdued colour palette underlines the calmness and evokes a sense of stillness and solitude (even though the tourists are there, if you look closely).
I guess Bjergtagen is the right word.
See more of Lars’ work on Instagram.
ANNE GRIEVES
I was on holiday in France in a place called Montsoreau - there is a beautiful chateau there. I left my friends asleep in bed and went out early, as I usually do, to explore the area and watch the sun rise. I took this photo, among many others, as the sun was rising and the mist was still there. It was very magical and I think very tranquil.
DAVID POTTINGER
Skomer Island. An escape from a frantic world for three days sounded idyllic. The first day welcomed us with warmth, the second was equally hot, but by the third, the weather had turned. A storm had blown in, and it was now raining hard, the wind howling across the island. We would be staying an extra day, like it or not, and we liked.
Undeterred, we pulled on our waterproofs, stretched and secured the rain covers over our camera bags, and laced up our walking boots before stepping out of the boot room of the accommodation. The puffins could wait — today, we were in search of the short-eared owl.
of a mile from the farmhouse when we sought refuge from the gusting wind and driving rain in a bird hide overlooking a small lake. Inside, we settled onto the narrow bench, our heavy camera bags perched beside us, grateful for the shelter.
It was then we realised — we weren’t alone.
From the rafters above, three small heads with wide beaks peered down at us. Swallow chicks. As if on cue, all three opened their mouths, and a chorus of insistent, high-pitched cheeps shattered the stillness of the hide.
Moments later, Mrs Swallow landed on the windowsill. She looked at her chicks, then at us, hesitant to fly the short distance to their nest with us so close by. The noise from the chicks only grew louder.
Then, without pause, Mr Swallow — identifiable by his long, elegant tail feathers, briefly adjusted his flight path in the gusting wind — zipped through the open hide, ignoring our presence completely. He darted to the furthest chick, deposited his catch, and disappeared again into the storm.
Encouraged, Mrs Swallow gathered her nerve. She fluttered from the windowsill to the nest, swiftly feeding the same chick before vanishing back into the grey.
Silence fell. The chicks settled, beaks closed once more, heads tucked in. We sat in peace again, quietly marvelling at the small drama that had just unfolded above us and shielded from the rain and wind, soaked up a moment of tranquillity, a haven from a world seemingly at war, where empathy and love for the common man/woman was a distant dream ‘imagined’ by John Lennon all those years ago.
See the Imagine video, and also more of David’s work on GLASS.
EWAN MCNEILL
A stolen moment of tranquillity with my face pressed to a moss-covered rock atop the gorge overlooking this torrent while my family impatiently waited for me to retake the photo as I had missed focusing the first time.
See more of Ewan’s work on Glass.
KEITH JOHNSON
My submission for this month's assignment, Tranquillity.
Whilst on a recent visit to my family in Dubai, we had a day at the beach where the current water temperature is about 32 °C, almost like being in the bath, I dared to wade into the water with my camera. This is my son and grandson having a tranquil moment and both are absolutely zoned out and one of my favourite pictures from the beach trip which show's a true father and son moment.
See more of Keith’s work on Instagram.
JEFF SMERALDO
This is my entry for July’s “Tranquility” assignment. I’ve given it a lot of thought, and what came to mind was the idea that tranquillity can be both a place where you find peace of mind and a state you can actively put yourself into. As a martial artist, our instructor often spoke about finding inner calm right before we performed our katas, shutting out the world momentarily, gathering ourselves, and then “exploding” into our movements.
This led me to think about a shot I captured recently as a sports/winter guard photographer. I would often see young performers do exactly what I described: they would block out the jitters, the crowd, and the chaos of the competition, get into their starting positions, and enter a brief, quiet moment of inner tranquillity. This particular shot was taken just as one of these performers assumed her starting position, capturing that fleeting moment before her performance, when she achieved a sense of tranquillity to calm her mind and prepare to put on her best performance.
See more of Jeff’s work on Substack.
DAVID LAND
In response to the theme tranquility, I have after many years of photography finally decided to look at selling some of my work. Had I found the podcast sooner I would have looked at the show sponsor Arthelper but alas, maybe next time.
Anyway, one of the images in the print collection I chose to title “Tranquillity”.
The photograph was taken quite close to home at the site of a former colliery where my grandfather worked, and a stone’s throw from where my late mother grew up in the pit cottages.
It was taken at sunrise, my favourite time of the day, before the rest of the world stirs, and those who rise early are rewarded for their dedication.
The former colliery has long since closed and has been transformed into a local nature reserve, with several lakes/ponds, paths and bridleways that serve as a place of recreation.
ROBERT DANN
My father was a country veterinarian serving farmers in rural upstate New York. His was a profession that rarely lent itself to travel. However, The last two weeks of August each year, he would pack up our large Oldsmobile with my four brothers and Mom, of course, and drag a boat to a rocky peninsula on the St. Lawrence River called Kring Point State Park. We camped in a huge tent and spent the time fishing, swimming and exploring the river dividing New York from Ontario, Canada. It was a family “reset button” so to speak. That was sixty years ago and my brothers and I still get together for our own “reset” at the same park. The River is one of those places where the weather can turn in a matter of minutes into legendary storms which makes tranquil sunsets over the river more special. As a photographer, I always come away mentally refreshed and my “why” reaffirmed.
See Robert’s work on his website.
TOM WEBER
I love the one word assignment this month of "tranquility". I find so much tranquility in shooting photos, and find so much tranquility in much of the subject matter of what I shoot. If you will permit me, this is a photo that I shot earlier in the year while taking an early morning walk at a location near my home that I frequently enjoy traipsing about. It was early, and the morning fog was still prevalent on the water and this lone angler had launched his kayak into the water and ventured out into the mist to try and catch that elusive haul of fish. It was so peaceful for me, tranquil I might say, in the moment when I snapped this image, and being out there on that water, in amongst the stillness of the morning fog, I have to believe tranquility was there as well. Maybe it was not about catching a load of fish, but perhaps it was more about escaping the hustle and bustle of the day to day and becoming one with the stillness of the morning fog, listening, experiencing, feeling nature at its early morning best. That does it for me.... my escape from the day to day - tranquility. What a wonderful word.
Thank you for indulging me with this opportunity. To you Neale, and to all of the "walkers" out there - blessings and tranquility to you.
ADRIANO HENNEY
Here’s a dispatch from your own correspondent on location in beautiful Corfu. Thought it might interest you, or at the very least Sir Barkalot…..
We had just settled at the bar, drinking our aperitifs and recovering from a hard day of “dolce far niente” on the beach, when along came one man and his dog (minus marauding sheep, I hasten to add!). The man found a seat at the front of the bar, close to the beach, tied the dog’s lead around the foot of his seat, ordered his drink and made himself comfortable. Meanwhile, the small black dog- some sort of terrier I think (I’m not great with dog breeds)- sniffed around looking for the odd discarded chip, morsels of crisp or other tidbits that he might snaffle as a snackette. Disappointed by the cleanliness of the bar floor, the disconsolate dog- let’s call him Stavros; I didn’t hear his name, but that seems apposite - turned his attention to seeing off the flocks of inquisitive sparrows that were on the lookout for the same fare. That done, and satisfied that his territory was now secure, Stavros slaked his thirst with the water in the bowl left for him by the bar staff and turned his attention to his “hooman”, who was miles away, apparently deep in thought. There being nothing else to entertain him, Stavros clearly decided to join his hooman on the chair, but no matter how hard or how penetrating his pleading stare, it went unnoticed. This clearly called for stronger tactics: standing on his back legs and reaching up with his forepaws, Stavros started to push with increasing force against his hooman’s thigh. Eventually, the penny dropped and he moved to make space, whereupon Stavros squeezed in beside him, and settled down with his chin resting on the arm of the seat, all the while guarding the perimeter, always on the lookout for marauding sparrows.
Sitting back, watching them, hearing nothing but the gently breaking surf and the faint strains of soft, soothing jazz in the background, we experienced moments of genuine tranquillity. And I lapped it up. Just like Stavros. His bowl is empty, as are our glasses.
TOR BERG
This is my submission for this month's assignment - Tranquillity. I created it as a quiet evening just before sunset at a popular spot for relaxing and bathing in my hometown Bergen, Norway.
The person in the image is a German tourist who happened to be in the area and kindly posed as a model. He was so pleased with the picture that I had to send him the file so he could print it and hang it on his wall.
See more of Tor’s work on his website.
BOB SIMMONS
This is a place close to home that I go from time to time to walk through their gardens, and watch the lake. It’s on Otsego Lake at Cooperstown, NY, USA.
After having a knee replaced in the spring, I have been going places like this more than I normally do, looking for short and flat places to walk and to take a few snapshots. Besides the gardens, there is a sailing club nearby, and sometimes you can get photos of boats coming or going. On this day there were boats sitting at anchor, waiting for the next day’s activity. I think that sail boats sitting at rest, waiting on a quiet lake’s surface say Tranquility very nicely.
See more of Bob’s work on his website.
MARILYN DAVIES
Tranquility is often at hand when I pick up my camera. But when I first heard of the subject of this month's assignment, my thoughts immediately went to a pelican gliding on the surface of a lake. This morning I went to a local spot to find some birds and I was rewarded with this image of a pelican lit by the morning sun moving into some shadows on a lake...
STEPHANIE TAYLOR
Could there be a anything more peaceful than kayaking on a glassy lake? No sound except for water dripping off a paddle. Other than my paddling friend far in the distance, there were no other people, only an occasional creature swimming or flying. This lake, in the middle of a major metropolitan area, Sacramento, California, is a miraculous place to be.
See more of Stephanie’s art and read more of her writings on this website.
ROBERT WEIGEL
This is Rocky. He brought a level of tranquility to our lives that was unimaginable. He always kept us grounded and aware of what was really important. He missed his 18th birthday by 6 months this past July. He will be missed.
VICTORIA ROBB
This is taken at the WWT Wetland Centre Barnes last Sunday, where I volunteer doing visitor engagement. The vegetation is so lush at the moment, and this is in a part where it is planted with northern taiga forest species that give the soft colouration and darker waters, that make me feel calm. Only the planes on their way to Heathrow give away this is in London.
JADE CALEGORY
This image above, was captured in February while out and about for some street photography comps. I came upon this patio, and it felt like one of those patios that would melt away your stress if you took a seat in that chair. I tried to utilise some flowers in the foreground to create some layering and to add to that tranquil feeling. I also edited it with a soft feel to try and accentuate that feeling of relaxation, and that if you need to take a load off, this is the patio for you. Below: this image was captured in New York along the Hudson River Greenway Trail which was one of my favorite discoveries while visiting New York in August of 2023. That being said, for me, a bench with cityscape reflections consuming a body of water, framed by a tree, provides pure inspiration for letting go of your stress and feeling calmness and tranquillity. Whenever I look at this image, it makes me so wish that transporter technology was a real thing and that I could just beam myself there on a warm summer night.
See more of Jade’s work on Instagram.
STEEVEN ZEISS
To me, this picture embodies tranquility and life itself. The corn provides sustenance, the tree offers oxygen, and the vast expanse of „negative“ space offers me ample space to breathe, relax, and find inner peace. I’m a big fan of negative space; it always has a calming effect on me and encourages me to rest and reflect on my thoughts.
MARK MACKAY
I’ve attached my image for the “tranquility” competition. It’s a photo I took recently at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. It shows a path leading into one are of the garden. The path has some agapanthus lining it with various trees and bamboo plants in the shot. Granted the background is a little blown out, but my editing skills are still developing in regards to layering and my interest was on the path and the light on the leaves in the foreground. The light on the plants captured my eye and the path was leading into the tranquility I was seeking. (I have been listening to your guests - the photo doesn’t always have to be perfect!)
For you other listener based in the northern hemisphere, Adelaide is the capital of South Australia. No it’s not in Melbourne or Sydney … they’re different capital cities on the east coast of Australia. The city of Adelaide is fortunate to be surrounded by a green belt. The green belt has various parks - some with sporting fields. One part is dedicated to the Botanic Gardens.
The “old” Royal Adelaide Hospital used to be next to the Gardens and it was not uncommon to see patients being wheeled into the garden for respite from the hospital. While that doesn’t happen anymore (the new hospital opened in 2017 down the road but not within distance of the Gardens), the Gardens do offer refuge from the city. It’s hard to believe that within a stones throw of the garden, cars and buses make there way down one of the main roads going through the city and on the other side of the garden along the ring route that goes around the green belt. Where I took this photograph you couldn’t hear the traffic noise.
On the weekends the gardens are filled with photographers, the occasional wedding, families, couples holding hands, those excercising (yoga, Tai Chi, etc.) - yet it’s never noisy, always tranquil. The only time it might be perhaps less tranquil is during WomAdelaide - an international music festival that makes use of the gardens.
I did take the image in B&W (Acros Yellow simulation) and also colour (Kodachrome) … have to say the B&W gave me more a sense of tranquility.
CHRIS RUHR
My submission for this month’s assignment, tranquility. I decided to take another stab at getting a detail shot of the stagecoach that I photographed for last month's relic assignment. I only managed to have time for a few hurried images that would be suitable for the subject of tranquility.
There’s a quiet stillness in this image that immediately draws me in. The weathered, wrought iron bench, sitting alone on a patch of sunlit grass, seems to invite pause—a space for breath and reflection. Its intricate, almost whimsical design contrasts softly with the bold, clean lines of the bridge beyond. The distant blur of the structure and sky pulls the eye gently outward, while the sharp foreground holds you in place.
It’s this balance between solitude and openness that feels so calming. There’s no rush here, no noise—just a moment suspended in light and simplicity. It’s the kind of scene that makes you want to sit down, feel the warmth of the ground, and let your thoughts drift quietly across the horizon.
See more of Chris’ work on Instagram.
PHIL ALLEN
For the assignment, I thought of this image straight away
It was taken on a warm sunny day at the Barbican, I watched the gentleman as he dozed with his own thoughts in a perfect sun trap. It was such a peaceful spot and made me feel quite jealous after a long day walking from the West End to the Barbican with a heavy pack on my pack.
See more of Phil’s work on Instagram.
CHRIS GRAY
This shot I took from the old pedestrian bridge over the Main that links two nearby towns. I love this shot because, unfortunately I can no longer take in this view. Since I took this photo the bridge was destroyed and they have opened a new one which shows more of the neighboring towns and their busy life. It's just not as peaceful walking across the river anymore.
See more of Chris’ work on his website.
TRACEY AINSLEY
I've wanted for ages to go down to Salford Quays to see the shiny new buildings of Media City. I travelled down from Newcastle with two of my other photo buddies, and even on a grey, mizzly day, the place looked stunning. I decided to take the more tranquil option and go on a river boat tour. Sitting at the front of the boat, the reflections were perfect and the colours, especially the red brick, just popped in an otherwise grey day. You wouldn't believe you were so close to the city centre, it was so peaceful. It was interesting listening to the commentary about the history of the place but what I hadn't realized was how close I'd been to the area so many times. Countless Super league finals at Old Trafford, Rugby league world cup final too and I then spotted the casino to the left of the image and the hotel opposite where I stayed after filming a game show with Eamonn Holmes many moons ago. It was well worth the ride, and I'd do it again, maybe on a sunny day, but then it mightn't have the peace and quiet.
ALLIN SORENSON
This is tranquility born of paradox—a profound stillness created by the smoke from the destructive Canadian Wildfires. The haze created a world where time seemed to slow, and silence was almost deafening. Early morning on Lake Superior near Grand Marais, Minnesota.
DREW BROWN
An early morning sunrise at Howden Reservoir in the Peak District. The light on the hills, the calm water, the reflections and having this beautiful place to myself exemplified tranquility.
See more of Drew’s work on Instagram.
ANDREW CLARK
I took this image as I sat watching the sun rise with my youngest brother on the shore of lake Cootharaba in the Noosa Everglades, Australia while being eaten by the local mosquitoes…. As you can imagine being eaten by the mosquitoes wasn’t what I would call tranquil but sitting with my brother watching the sunrise in such a beautiful place was pretty close to perfect and something I haven’t done since we were camping as Kids many many moons ago. We both sat in ore of the reflections of the sky and sunrise on the perfectly still lakes surface. Later that day we took a boat ride across the lake and up the stunning Everglades which is one of only two Everglades in the world, the other being in Florida USA.
See more of Andrew’s work in Instagram.
MO MCCALL
July 5, 2025. The day after America's day of "Independence". I was driving to the boardwalk and wondered if this was morning fog or leftover smoke from the fireworks (if that's even possible). When I made it to the boardwalk, the fog thickened (?) and it was actually very serene and tranquil. This shot was captured on within my first 10 steps on the actual boardwalk. I didn't want to move from there, but I also didn't want to block the path.
GERT JAN COLE
Inspired by your recent street photography adventures, I decided to give the genre a chance and joined a street photography photowalk organised by Michiel Heijmans and Niels de Kemp, hosts of the Dutch '30 minuten sluitertijd' podcast (that's 30 minutes shutter speed in English) in my hometown Utrecht in the Netherlandsland.
Admittedly, street photography is way outside of my comfort zone, a zone which is loosely defined by the absence of unrelated humans in the equation, as in, it's either just the person I'm shooting a portrait of and me, or just nature and me, with me frantically trying to eliminate every sign of human existence in the frame. No man-made landmarks, no concrete trails or metal guardrails, no power lines - just nature. Quite the opposite of a city.
But in this new role as street photographer, I myself shouldn't be part of the equation: my mere visible presence might alter the dynamics of the scene, and change people's behaviour. As several more experienced street photographers in our group pointed out to me, precisely this aspect was challenging because of the size of the group. Add a lot of photographers to any scene and the whole atmosphere changes, making this a fun and enjoyable experience, but a-typical for street photography.
The part I liked less however, was shooting people on the street. It felt a bit awkward, uncomfortable, maybe even a bit dishonest, to take a picture of someone without them being aware of it.
Add to this the fact that I'm an introvert, feeling more at ease on my own or in very small groups, and you'll understand why I was either lagging behind or moving way ahead of the flock of photogs.
That's how I came to step solo through medieval gates into the gardens of the Pandhof, an oasis surrounded by a monastery corridor, a former bishop's gardens filled with herbs. There, leaning against the ancient walls, stood a woman, taking in the environment, while listening to a troubadour in the corridor singing softly about parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
To me, entering this quiet, secluded garden, leaving behind the noise of the city, her serene and beautiful presence embodied what this place was all about: tranquility. The scene stopped me in my track and I shot a picture of her for this month's assignment, just before some sixty more photographers of our group flooded the scene and changed the mood completely.
I walked up to her and showed her the image, which she really liked, and I gave her my contact details so she could email me to get a copy. Weird as it may sound, this felt like receiving absolution for taking her picture without her prior knowledge - it was at that moment I realised that this was my shtick. Shooting street as a fly on the wall isn't for me, I need interaction with the people I'm photographing to make it feel wholesome and meaningful.
Which made this street photowalk not only fun and enjoyable, but also a next step towards me discovering what kind of photographer I want to be.
Kind regards,
Gert Jan
P.S. Some more images from this photowalk, including a bit of playing around with the new TTArtisan 35mm f1.4 Tilt for MFT, and the fancy Live ND feature from the OM System OM5 to create hand-held motion blur, can be found HERE.
DAVID HIGTON
This picture was made as I walked up Sponds Hill from Pott Shigley towards Bowstones, an image of the view across the Cheshire Plain towards the Lovell telescope at Jodrell Bank that I made on the walk.
JOHAN RISPLING
Photo of my friend fly fishing in the Klarälven River on a late summer evening, in the region of Värmland, Sweden.
See more of Johan’s work on Instagram.
KEVIN REEVES
This is my idea of tranquillity: a photograph of the sunset behind the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina, USA. This breathtaking view was captured from Mount Jefferson State Natural Area in Ashe County, North Carolina.
See more of Kevin’s work on Instagram.
BRICE WHITTAKER
The shot I am submitting today was taken at the botanical gardens in my small home town in Queensland, Australia. There isn't usually much to see around here, however the gardens always seem to have something to give me, at least in terms of photography. I find the diversity of the plant life in the area, contrasted with the large pond to be quite mesmerising and when the sun hits everything just right no word sums it up better for me than 'Tranquil'. The gardens are usually pretty deserted already and passers-by tend to keep a low profile especially if they spot you with a camera. So on a good day it is quite easy to bask in views such as this one.
I hope the photo is in the right size, I did all the editing on my phone this time around so I'm not entirely sure if I got it right.
See more of Brice’s work on Instagram.
