“I am a camera with its shutter open, quiet passive, recording, not thinking. Recording the man shaving at the window opposite and the woman in the kimono washing her hair. Some day, all this will have to be developed, carefully printed, fixed.”
This is one of my favourite quotes from my of my favourite books and it is about observing people. It comes from the opening pages of Christopher Isherwood’s fantastic novel ‘Goodbye to Berlin’.
When I sit in busy places watching the world go by waiting for a moment which will sum up the scene I am looking at, to capture on film or with a pen and pencil, this quote always goes through my mind.
I don’t hide, I just sit and wait patiently, until people stop noticing me, and start to continue with their daily life… then snap.
And so, it is with a nod to Mr Isherwood that I post a selection of my ‘people watching’ paintings and photographs from my travels in Russia, Syria, Tanzania, Kenya, India, Vietnam, Cuba and Jordan.
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- Women carrying water from Pushkar Lake in the early morning sun in Pushkar, Rajasthan, India
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- Teenagers flirting in Moscow, Russia.
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- Smoking shisha at Jabri House in Damascus, Syria.
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- Under the blossom Trees in Kungsträdgården, Stockholm – from my Sweden sketchbook.
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- Friday afternoon in the Souk El-Hamidiyeh, Damascus, Syria.
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- Boy playing on the Malecon in Havana, Cuba
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- Russian paratroopers celebrating the 60th anniversary of the end of World War 2, with the help of a couple of Russian girls, in Moscow
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- Early morning rush at the market in Hoi An, Vietnam.
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- Eating Vietnamese street food in Hanoi.
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- Touched by the hand of Allah on a street in Amman, Jordan.
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- Boy with shadow in Havana, Cuba
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- Teenagers in a park in Damascus, Syria.
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- Sunday Picnic at the HSBC building in Central Hong Kong
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- Enjoying ice-cream at a parade in La Paz, Bolivia
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- Old man reading the newspaper in St Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy.
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- Dreaming of lazy summer afternoons on the banks of Lake Mälaren in Sweden.
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- Tea and dim sum at the Lock Cha tea house from my Hong Kong Sketchbook.
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- Shisha shop in Amman, Jordan
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- Market sellers in Sucre, Bolivia.
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- Market Day in Sucre, Bolivia
U.S.S.Co of NZ Sydney R.S.A. August 14, 2017
Reblogged this on U.S.S.Co. Sydney RSA and commented:
I think the artistry is magic.
Ali Dunnell August 14, 2017
Thanks for the reblog and the comment 🙂 Ali
kingbirdgraphica April 3, 2018
I love your sketches, thanks for sharing them!
alidunnell April 10, 2018 — Post Author
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and for your positive comment 🙂
alidunnell April 17, 2018 — Post Author
Thanks so much 🙂
Mai February 16, 2019
Great pictures, Thank you for great sharing
alidunnell February 17, 2019 — Post Author
Thanks for stopping by and for your kind comment 🙂
Yen February 17, 2019
A great collection you have there! Keep up the great work! Cheers 🙂
alidunnell February 17, 2019 — Post Author
Thanks Yen for your kind words 🙂
Kemi February 17, 2019
Lovely drawings that tell the story of people and their towns. You’re talented.
alidunnell February 17, 2019 — Post Author
Thanks so much Kemi for stopping by my blog and also your positive comment 🙂
Travel and Learn February 17, 2019
I love the universality of people watching. Looking at some of these photos, you can’t tell exactly what country they were taken in, and I believe that is so beautiful, because the where is not important in this place, the only thing that matters is the emotion the people convey.
alidunnell February 23, 2019 — Post Author
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and commenting so positively
gastrotravelogue February 18, 2019
What a fabulous quote. I totally relate and can understand why you love it. I have added Goodbye to Berlin to my must read list. 🙂
alidunnell February 23, 2019 — Post Author
It is such a great book – hunt down a copy and enjoy 🙂
Anjali Chawla February 18, 2019
Wow! These are some lovely photos and sketches. They speak volumes about the places, their people and culture. Keep inspiring!
alidunnell February 23, 2019 — Post Author
Thanks for your positive feedback Anjali 🙂
Yukti February 19, 2019
I love paintings, sketches and that too from many parts of the world. You have put together wonderful pieces of art depicting people from around the world.
alidunnell February 23, 2019 — Post Author
Thanks for stopping by my blog and for your positive comment too 🙂
Thelittlelai: Beyond limits February 19, 2019
I truly love how your photos convey something deep and amazing! I wish I could do painting and sketches just like that in the future. Thank you for sharing this with us.
alidunnell February 23, 2019 — Post Author
And thank you for your kind words 🙂