"A sense of place" was my first photographic assignment. It was not so much about learning the technicalities of the camera, but about learning to see and analyze, distill the essence of a place. I remember the teacher telling us to chose a place and go spend there time without the camera first. Feel it, journal about it, only then return with the camera at different times of the day. I still follow this advice whenever I can, but sometimes, this is not practical.
In many of my trips, I have 10 - 15 minutes to see a place, feel it and try to get to its essence. yes, it can be frustrating, and yes I miss all the guide explanations but lately I started to just flow with my gut feeling and take snapshots. Bits and pieces of the place. Later, at my computer at home, the pieces are sequenced into flowing shapes and colors that tell the story of this place.
This is Angelino Heights to me. An old, Victorian neighborhood, where time is etched in the architecture of the houses as well as the peeling wood. Reminder of gentler, slower time, childhood movies and happy endings.
Blue and Yellow
Purple, green and lace
Wrinkles
Stairs
Two weeks before Christmas
Another shade of purple
Lace and light