Vanitas Cycles, a photo from Zuid Holland, Zuid

Photographer's Note

The picture:
I was amazed at the parking lot for the train station here... look at all the bicycles! And there were more behind me. The flat Netherlands is definitely a great country for easy cycling around and was one of the attractions of Europe for me. Now living in a European city, I have to say that being able to bicycle to work and many social and academic outings has made life more enjoyable - and also "greener" and cost effective too.

Thoughs from here:
It was here that I became a fan of Dou, a student of Rembrandt, who I appreciate more than the master himself now. The vanitas - the passing of time and all things, the symbols, the images - this is something I sought out in other museums later and was not disappointed.

About the town: below are my original notes from my Sauntering travelogue about this place:

The scene is that familiar Dutch town with a trainstation feel. Canals, cobble streets, mainstream shopping on the main drag and quiet dark coffee shops on the back street.

Rembrandt started out and taught here until he moved to Amsterdam. The vanitas philosophy of Dou, who lived here, is gliding through my head and it fits well with contemporary Dutch society. The skull and hourglass, burning candles, open books and floating smoke allude to the thought that we are not hear forever. Take time for study, take the time for fun. There is a transience to this life. Time is moving on. So am I.

This scan is from my old archive. It was scanned from the negative with VueScan 8.0 and a Minolta Scan Dual II. It was taken with a cheap Nikon point and shoot zoom

Carma, Peeotr, pamastro heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

Carma (2440) 2004-09-21 8:05

How can anybody find the bike?
:-)

Peeotr (2228) 2004-09-21 14:35

Incredible! Funny look plastic bags on some seats - very practical. Good documentary photo.

pamastro (7296) 2004-09-22 1:18

That's a whole lot of bicycles. It makes me think of what a group of baby penguins looks like. All of them appear the same to us but their parents spot their children out. And just like that we have this mass of bikes. All of them looking alike. Sure there are different colors but in this mass they all mix together. And between are people who, like the penguin parents, seem to instinctively find their bicycles. very good capture and nice point of view just above the tops. I just wish it were a bit sharper. Impressive non-the-less, though. Good work.