Keep clear

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fire exit

Time for another black-and-white photograph. In the dock area in Liverpool, you can find these nice brick warehouses that just ooze the industrial atmosphere that I am fond of. Chipped, bleached paint and rust. Lovely, These two metal doors, the one on the right is apparently a fire exit, make for a nicely balanced image. This photo could have been shot anytime from the 1900s I guess, if it weren’t for the cell phone radiation warning sign on the left door. And the anachronistic McDonalds cup, of course. © 2016 Fred S. Wouters

Medal off

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medall_off

I was lucky enough to catch, purely by chance, the Liverpool International City Swim 2016. This event takes place in the Docks and is quite a spectacle. The classic swim goes over a mile and the swimmers finish at Albert Dock. I do not know why this contestant took off her medal that had been offered her seconds ago. Was she dissatisfied with her performance? About to hand it over to someone? I don’t care that much recording a sports event, but you can come up nice and close with your camera. © 2016 Fred S. Wouters

Work at the Dispensary

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dispensary_web

A dramatic black-and-white photograph of a rather grim place from the past. Dispensaries (started in the Georgian era) were charitable institutions where the poor could be treated without having to admit them to hospitals. Medical care was ‘dispensed’, so to speak. Another establishment called ‘the dispensary’ operates in Liverpool: a pub. Presumably alcohol is dispensed here purely for medicinal reasons.

There is some construction work going on. In the back you see one of two cathedrals in Liverpool, this one from of the church of England. © 2016 Fred S. Wouters

Little barber shop

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kapper

Another single front window shop in Liverpool, the little barber shop. Watching the barbers going about their business. This is another black-and-white and color overlay. The bright red hand-painted chair really works. You can spot the little shop from afar. © 2016 Fred S. Wouters

Garden of one

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violet_street_web

Spotted this solitary African violet in the crack between the kerb stones. This little guy deserved the knee fall (more like lying down) needed to take this picture. Some shots were ruined by a friendly photography-curious cat…  I opened up my lens to achieve the shallow depth of field. The unsharp fore- and background were all achieved in-lens, no digital magickery required.

I figured it was time for a nice and harmonious picture after the last few alienating posts. © 2016 Fred S. Wouters

Concrete and Steel

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construction_web

 

This picture is shot with the legendary Trioplan 50 mm ‘soap bubble bokeh’ lens from Meyer Optik in Görlitz, in the former eastern Germany. Funny feeling to be shooting with a lens from the 1950s. The shot was with wide open aperture (f 2.9) to maximise the bokeh effect. As a consequence, the concrete building block at the front is sharply focussed, the shed is creamily defocussed and the soap bubbles come out in the steel framework of the building. I like the substance (brick) – plan (framework) contrast. © 2016 Fred S. Wouters