Old and new make the warp and woof of every moment. There is no thread that is not a twist of these two strands.~Ralph Waldo Emerson
In the present moment, we live in the shadow of the past. They are both intertwined. For someone like me who is obsessed with history, I am always looking for those wonderful times when the past is juxtaposed with the present.
Amy’s challenge for LAPC #99 has sent me on a hunt through my archives to find images that reflect both old and new in one image.
This first shot is a favorite moment. I reprocessed it in sepia tones to highlight a modern-day family climbing an ancient Roman road in the Capitoline Hills of Rome. I loved how the late afternoon light hit the surrounding trees and the three people.
This next shot taken in the Alfama district in Lisbon contrasts centuries-old architecture with modern street art.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bmfubmbr68f97wb/Old%20and%20New%20Lisbon.jpg?dl=0
Every time I look at this image I have to smile. I captured this Continental infantryman checking his cell phone early one morning in Boston.
I’m a huge fan of David Bowie, so I had to see an exhibit at the Palazzo Medici Riccardi in Florence, featuring the photographs of Bowie by the Japanese photographer Masayoshi Sukita. In this shot you can see the contrast between the fifteenth-century residence of the Medici family with an iconic photo of Bowie shot by Sukita, a long-time friend of the creative artist.
The theme of “old and new” resonates with me today–as the world struggles to “tame” the covid virus. I am just starting Polio: An American Story by David M. Oshinsky about the race to find a vaccine for polio–to see the historical parallels with the present. This book won the Pulitzer Prize for History and promises to be an intriguing read.
In closing, I hope you join us this week for Amy’s Old and New challenge! Please stop by her site to see her beautiful images of the past and present in London and Egypt. Include a link to Amy’s challenge post and use the “Lens-Artists” tag so we can find your post in the WP Reader.
To give you a heads-up, here’s our schedule for the next few weeks:
- June 6: #100: Tina of Travels and Trifles
- June 13: #101: Our Special Guest Host (To Be Announced Soon!)
- June 20: #102 Patti of P.A. Moed
Categories: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Photography
Lovely gallery of images; but the Bowie steals my heart. As did the man himself
Your comment made me smile, Su. The man was amazing. I can’t believe he isn’t with us anymore.
I enjoyed every story told in your gallery, Patti. 🙂
Thanks, Miriam!! 😊😊. You made me smile. I love that!! I hope you are well, too.
I love these ‘portraits’, especially the one of Napoleon with a cell phone! 😃
Isn’t that a fun image, Arati!! I always smile when I see that one. Thanks too for visiting and giving me a smile.
Terrific examples Patti – of course the continental soldier with the iPhone is perfect! But the family strolling the sepia lane is a wonderful image.
Thank you, Tina. 😊😊 I loved those moments. The great thing about photography is that it helps me to remember them. I hope you are well and enjoying the wonderful weather.
agree wholeheartedly Patti – I too remember things I’ve photographed much more easily. As for the weather, yes it’s lovely but heating up fast!
It’s even in the 80’s here in NH. Amazing, really. I never remember being truly warm when we lived in NH from 2003 to 2010.
So lovely Patti!!!
Oh, thanks, Paulo! Wonderful. I hope you are well.
Ah! Bowie! What a marvelous photo within a photo. I still find it hard to accept he is gone.
So true, Anne. I miss his creative presence. What a genius. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and stopping by!
‘Ground Control to Major Tom!’ Great photos. Love the contrasts in that sepia. Excellent.
Thank you, John….”Major Tom”….I’m delighted you like the photos. 😊
Excellent choices, Patti. I like the one with the mural. 😉
janet
Hi, Janet. It really was a surprise seeing the modern mural in that part of the city. I’m glad you like it, too and hope all’s well with you.
Great post! I love the image of Lisbon. .-)
Hi, Ana. I really enjoyed Lisbon. Great food, great culture. Thanks for your kind words, too.
Great shots as always!
😊😊. Thank you so much, Chava!
Wow! I love the contrast of old and new in each image. Thank you!
Thank you, Beth! I’m so happy I had them in my archives. They were fun moments of discovery.
Excellent selections, Patti. Stories are well told through your beautiful photos. Thank you for your reassurance.
For some reason, I miss seeing your link/pingback in my comment section, will take another look. The link you made here works perfectly.
Hi, Amy. I’ll go back to your site and add a link manually. Strange and unpredictable linking on WP! And thanks so much for your thoughtful and kind comments, as always!!
Thank you, Patti. When I clicked the link on your post, it worked. I’ve noticed at least two posts that didn’t show the pingback. It happens…
Lovely images Patti and great stories too. I love the modern family walking on the ancient road, and the delightful street art in Lisbon’s old town, but the one that made me smile was the infantryman and his phone 🙂
Those damned cell phones! I have a photo of a “British Infantryman” sitting in a pub in Boston talking on his cell phone. He was trying to hide it, pressing the phone to his ear by covering it with his palm… it was easy to see the outline of the phone sticking out in various parts of his hand. >grin<
Such marvelous photos for this week. 😀 My favorite is your second one 😀
Gorgeous photographs Patti, I love these moments and scenes you’ve captured happily existing side by side xxx
I really love the way you have captured old and new in each of these.
Each of your examples is spot on!!! Love the photos of faces fitting snugly into something old. Excellent choices!
Great choices. The Lisbon art is fun. I can imagine walking down the street and looking to have the art looking back at you. Very nice. I can so appreciate the Boston photo. When we were in Germany during Oktoberfest, I got a kick out of all the girls in the traditional dress on their phones as well. Enjoy NH.
The gentleman checking his cell phone is great!!!
Thanks, Nora. I was glad I caught him!
Superb interpretation, Patti! I love the first two – so very different in style – and that’s a fabulous Bowie image. We are probably sheltering a little less in the Algarve, but population density is low here, until the tourists arrive. Then we may have cause to worry. One step at a time, and with caution. Wishing you well 🤗💕
Thank you, Jo!! It’s great to hear from you. I’m glad you’re in a less populated area. I am too, but we’re still being very careful. Are tourists required to self-quarantine for 14 days? That’s what is happening here.
Not at all, Patti, so there is much potential for damage. 🙄💕
Oh, no! I hope it’s not a problem.
I love that sepia walk, Patti – but all of them are excellent. Bowie – beautiful choice of a great man. I agree with you and so many others – it is hard to accept he has left us. A great post.
Thank you so much, AC. ❤️❤️ I was amazed at his creative genius in so many areas. Thanks as always for your thoughts. I hope you are doing OK, despite the craziness!
Hi Patti. It’s the Lisbon shot for me. Great composition. Big attention grabber – and holds the viewer – smiling!. Regards.
Thank you, MB. I loved that moment of surprise when I saw that mural. I’m delighted you like it too. Smiles to you, too.
a special <3 for Bowie …..
Thank you, Yoshimi! I adored him, too.
Such creative selections. I really like what you did with the first image. And the cell phone shot – a real classic! 🙂
Thank you, OLU! I was delighted that I “caught” the soldier. I enjoyed your post, too.
You are most welcome! That was indeed a great catch 🙂
An excellent take on the prompt – each photo draws the viewer in to see the point of the juxtaposition you saw when you captured it! Nice job!
Wonderful collection Patti.
Wonderful contrasts of old and new Patti. I particularly liked the soldier with his cell phone.
Hi Patti when I scaled down my blog presence and came I back, I realized that I had un-followed a few bloggers well I didn’t. Don;t know how that but i have set that right
By the way I an disappointed given your knowledge of history that you call that a cell phone. It is common knowledge that Continental infantryman carried a few flat stones on their bodies in the hope that bullets will hit the stones. That particular shape is Lucky stone number 2…