As many of you know, my heart lies in landscape photography, in nature’s raw beauty. But there are moments when I find myself in the heart of a city, camera in hand, compelled to capture something different, something unexpected. This image, “Archway Rue de l’Etuve” from Brussels, Belgium, is one of those moments.
I’ve always had a deep appreciation for old, historic architecture. And Europe’s cities are a treasure. The stonework, arches, and timelessness stir something in me. While visiting Brussels to see my daughter at university, I couldn’t resist capturing the city through photographs. The streets were alive, and though street photography isn’t my usual genre, the scene before me had to be captured.
This photograph is quite simple, yet it holds an energy that keeps pulling me back. The archway frames the scene, its intricate ironwork casting shadows over the cobblestone street below. Between two arches, the woman walks away with her back facing the camera. Her pace is unhurried while the man strides across the frame, briefcase in hand. The image’s energy stems from people’s movement and the contrast with the architecture’s stillness.
For me, it’s not only a photograph. It’s a moment in time. A fleeting intersection of people and place. There’s a calm in the stillness, a certain mindfulness in how it came together. I didn’t plan it. I was walking by, and the scene unfolded. I was prepared to capture what I saw. The arch became a stage; the people, its actors, and I, the observer, fully engaged in the moment.
This photo may be the pinnacle of my street photography, not because it’s perfect, but because it captures a rare balance of serenity and movement. It reminds me to embrace the unexpected, to find beauty in the spaces between my usual landscapes.
Further Reading:
The Gatehouse, Rouge Cloître, Belgium
