soho stroll happened in the trendy New York neighborhood of SoHo, located South of Houston Street (hence the name) and north of Canal Street, architecturally characterized by the typical cast iron facades. For this SoHo is also called the Cast-Iron District.

The passer-by on the opposite side of the street seems to have walked right out of a Mafia movie: the villain on a casual afternoon stroll. His clothes, the bonnet, his moustache, the baggy pants, his body language - everything evokes a movie scene, recognizable against the cast-iron backdrop of SoHo. Or is it rather a resident artist, a wealthy Bohemian on the way to the trendy coffee parlor around the corner? New York tells a lot of stories. 

The picture shows only a few graphic elements: the figure itself, the cobbled street, the edge of the sidewalk and the partially illuminated, mostly in the shade staircase railings. These few elements communicate with opposite lines to create an exciting composition. The lighting of the late afternoon sun reinforces its effect, especially the presence of our Bohemian and its striking shadow, which matches perfectly with the reduced graphic. The colour graphics also fit well: blue and some white highlights add a fine tune to the dominant street-grey and black background. 

eyes closer

Estoril, Portugal

eyes closer happened on the Paredao - the coastal promenade - of Estoril, Portugal. An habitué is on his morning stroll along the sea, certainly enjoying the fresh sea brise and the morning sun. His eyes seem not yet fully accustomed, apparently in need of some wake up. 

The picture is rather unspectacular at first sight but particularly captive at a closer look. Our eyes find pleasure at resting on the contempative atmosphere, imagining the fresh, yet already warm morning temperatures, the smell of the sea, the taste of the cortado in the nearby waterfront café. We detect the fine graphics reflected in the jacket and the trousers of our protagonist, his slow movement dynamics and the walking stick well pointed forward to meet the vertical lines of the balustrade. We wonder where he might head to next.

The reduced, warm colours are a nostalgic reminiscence to former more galmourous days of the Portugese Golden Coast - days when our protagonist probably spent his days rather on the surfboard, evenings in the Casino, mornings in bed. Today Estoril is more of a retreat for elderly, still a very enjoyable place to be. 

lady hattan

New York City, USA

lady hattan was created in New York City, USA – on an East River ferry boat. In the background, blurred but unmistakable, we detect the Empire State Building and the Brooklyn Bridge.

The young woman in the picture is a random fellow passenger on the ferry. Her expressive face against the magnificent skyline draws the viewer's gaze and sparks thoughts – about this city, which gathers and inspires people in all their diversity. A fleeting moment, captured – telling a whole story.

nene bobo

Estoril, Portugal

cliché azur

Antibes, France

hallo green

Georgetown, Washington DC, USA

touro branco

Monforte, Portugal

touro branco happened in eastern Portugal, on a winery near Monforte in the Alentejo region. In the foreground is a very early Porsche 911, in the background a 1960s Fiat 124 Familiale - shortly after its arrival in the late afternoon after a long day's drive. The Porsche seems to greet its bourgeois friend and invite him for a well-deserved rest. The Fiat is still awkwardly parked in the driveway, perhaps unsure of where its place will be.

The Portuguese viewer among us might also sense a certain tension between the two, similar to a bullfight, created by the confrontational encounter of two rivals looking at each other eye to eye. It seems as if the white bull - o Touro branco - has just entered the arena through the gate, now assessing the situation, horns raised to the sky, catching sight of the bullfighter's red cape, ready to take up the fight. The surrounding buildings, graphically very reduced, suggest an arena-like courtyard, and the sandy ground reinforces the impression. The fight can begin. It will not, however, end in bloodshed: in Portuguese bullfighting, the bull is provoked and annoyed, but not killed.

curves ahead

Amalfi Coast, Italy

curves ahead happened on the Amalfitana, the Stadale Statale SS 163 along the picturesque Amalfi Coast, Italy, on the way to Positano.

Pure Dolce Vita cliché: the winding coastal road ahead, the sea to the right, traveling in an original Fiat Cinquecento from the Sixties, probably a most charming companion aside, no tourists around - just as it used to be in the old days, with the sun shining, of course. What more does one need for sweet life?

The experienced traveler of course knows that the Amalfi Coast today often shows a very different picture: buses full of tourists, either blocking the narrow coastal road or dropping off their passengers in front of the numerous pizzerias, ice cream stands or souvenir shops. Little is authentic here these days: overpriced, overcommercial, overcrowded, overinstagrammed. The feeling for Dolce Vita can easily drift apart.

curves ahead shows a fleeting moment, driving by, coincidentally without traffic. The image is not arranged, it may therefore seem technically inadequate: the Fiat is slightly blurred in motion, the contrasts are overdrawn, the colors - though reduced - a bit vivid. Nevertheless, or precisely for this, the viewer might sense: it’s actually very nice here, but a few curves ahead things might turn crocked. So let's keep this wonderful moment to ourselves.