January 13th, 2009 
Vol. 1 
Paul 
no comments
Fiestas Patronales, Segorbe, Spain. September 2007
The town fiestas in Spain, when the main square is covered with sand and barriers are built around it, offer the local youths the opportunity to show off any skills they have in working with bulls. This is mostly little more than good natured fooling, but sometimes someone steps out of the crowd who clearly knows what he’s doing. This chap, who has take the time to dress properly for the occasion, is executing a perfect pass with a young bull.
Tags: bull, fiesta, man, spain
January 13th, 2009 Vol. 1 Paul 1 comment
Vlădila, Romania. February 2005.
The people who live in rural Romania are almost universally poor by western European standards. Cars are rare and the horse and cart is a common sight. Yet, typically in such places, the people are among the most charming and good humoured I’ve ever met. In February there isn’t too much for the people to do apart from gather fuel, so they were very happy to hang around and chat with a curious foreign photographer.
Tags: man, romania, snow, winter
January 13th, 2009 Vol. 1 Paul no comments
Plaza Redonda, Valencia, Spain. September 2002.
Sunday mornings are always the time for the pet animal market in the centre of Valencia. This gentleman, a budgerigar breeder, was standing on the sunlit side of the small circular plaza with the light falling on his back and his white table acting as a reflector in front of him. I don’t think he was really as sinister as he looks.
Tags: birds, man, market, spain, valencia
January 13th, 2009 Vol. 1 Paul 2 comments
Heldenplatz, Vienna, Austria. January 2004.
Vienna in the snow. The flakes were huge and falling so gently that, when they landed, they barely seemed to touch the snow already lying. The Viennese take to the snow like it’s their natural element. Fabulous coats and hats, special boots, they look wonderful as they move through the glamorous backdrop of their city centre. Taking pictures in the snow has it’s own dangers – snow flakes are far worse than raindrops for getting water inside the camera and wreaking havoc.
Tags: austria, snow, vienna, walking, winter, woman
January 13th, 2009 Vol. 1 Paul 1 comment
Kapitulská, Bratislava, Slovakia. November 2003.
I had a very early arrival in the city of Bratislava and spent a few hours wandering the streets as night gave way to a misty dawn. Long before the shops and cafés opened (and I was ready to commit a mortal sin for a coffee) the city’s clerics began their daily routine – as well drilled as a ship’s crew at sea. One must wonder how long the societies of eastern Europe will remain so deeply religious, with the increasing influence of western secularism.
Tags: bratislava, man, priest, religion, slovakia, walking
January 13th, 2009 Vol. 1 Paul 2 comments
Fiesta de Santo Domingo, Jalón, Spain. August 2007.
In the early hours of the morning, during the fiestas in the villages of eastern Spain, when the party is in full swing, a bull is released into the town with flaming torches clamped to its horns. The spectacle sounds horrifying, but in my experience the bulls seem – astonishingly – to behave no differently with the fire. I have never seen the frantic head shaking or other signs of terror that one might expect.
Tags: bull, fiesta, fire, night, spain
January 13th, 2009 Vol. 1 Paul no comments
Bar Jimmy Glass, Valencia, Spain. September 2002.
For me, using light is one of photography’s greatest joys. Although I don’t like to create the light deliberately by artificial means, I love to use artificial light if it’s available. Here there was little else to do anyway, and I wanted to capture the intensity with which this guy was playing his pool.
Tags: bar, man, night, spain, valencia
January 13th, 2009 Vol. 1 Paul no comments
Elmeyer Dance Academy, Vienna, Austria. November 2003.
The dance academy is a rite of passage for middle class Viennese teenagers. For one or two evenings a week they attend one of the many establishments in the city and learn to waltz, fox-trot, quick-step and pasa-doble – and of course get to grips with the opposite sex. Using the lens I do means I have to be quite close to my subject, and it takes a little while before they are comfortable with me. Very soon, though, it’s as if I’m not there.
Tags: austria, dancing, man & woman, vienna
January 13th, 2009 Vol. 1 Paul no comments
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Michaelerplatz, Vienna, Austria. October 2003.
Belief in balance and conformity is something of a tradition in Vienna, and you frequently see expressions of it as you walk around the city. I enjoy taking pictures in the flat light of northern Europe at this time of year, so much less demanding than the searing, knife-like light of the Mediterranean. I find myself seeing different things when the light is soft, more how things actually look and not how the light makes things look.
Tags: austria, man & woman, vienna, walking
January 13th, 2009 Vol. 1 Paul no comments
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Barbican Underground Station, London. March 2005.
I have to fight my naturally polite British nature when taking pictures in confided spaces, like this Underground train. It’s pretty obvious when I’m taking a picture, as I always try to compose properly with the viewfinder, but this gentleman seemed more curious about me than I was about him. I’m very pleased with the depth that this picture has, but regret not being able to get more detail into the subject’s face.
Tags: england, london, man, trains
