Safety

A few weeks ago I had lunch with an ex colleague, someone I see so every now and then. This meeting was scheduled already in November, but was postponed and postponed again. Finally we hàd to meet because we had so much to tell each other.

boy climbing on letter E

After all the latest news in our lives, holidays etc. she told me she a big photography project for me and she was sure I was able to do it. She explained a little about it and we made an appointment for the following week to go over the details.

bus and tram lane

So the following Friday I went to her new work place, she works at the Marketing Department for a different faculty now (Social Sciences), and she explained me all about the commission. It was three folded, she asked me:

• to take a double portrait of two professors (done just before my visit to Venice)
• to take photographs during specific classes
• and to take photographs to fill their photo bank in the area of Social Sciences.

fallen bicycle with red car

Last Saturday I was with two Miksang friends and we went for a Miksang walk around town. I put my intention on Safety, safety in the widest sense of the word. In this post I show you a selection on this theme.

shadows of poles on a bicycle lane

pedestrians behind the fence of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

red bell on a black bicycle

It was a bit bizarre to do contemplative photography whilst having this theme in my mind, it's so different than all the other intentions we used to work with. At every flash of perception I asked myself if this was about safety (or the lack of). Also, I couldn't take recognizable photos of people because of rights' issues. 

rollerbladers in the Vondelpark, Amsterdam

These pictures are not purely contemplative, as I sometimes put more in the image than what I actually saw in the first place. That is ok for me, I don't beat myself over the head about that.

chained red chairs at Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam

I sent them off Saturday night and yesterday I saw her briefly and she was very enthoustiastic about the images. Phew, what a relief! You never know what the expectations of the commissioner are. This feels like doing more commissions. Anyone?

surveillance camera

crossing female pedestrian

shadow of a man on bicycle, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam