waiting - 3 Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

In the opulence of the "Belle Epoque" Café Métropole, time passes slowly and comfortably.

Some customers were on their own reading or dreaming while Michèle (Merline) and I were clicking and clicking... Plenty of opportunities for photos, but my little camera does not have a very big zoom.

Continuing the B&W series till the end of this year at least,

... and still waiting for our friend Polonaise.

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The Café is part of the hotel Metropole, on the famous Place de Brouckère which was glorified by Jacques Brel. It was "inaugurated in 1895, ... a majestic 19th-century landmark ... located in the historic centre of Brussels, (few) steps from Grand Place and the city's most exciting shopping, restaurants and nightlife".

Frommer's Review :
"Many Brussels visitors never get beyond the pleasant heated sidewalk section of this massive Victorian-style cafe. Inside you find a casually elegant decor, highlighted by a marble fireplace, colorful wooden puppets hung from the high ceilings, and comfortable leather seating arranged in cozy groupings. The menu includes sandwiches, soups, quiches, and other light meals. The bar menu fills no fewer than six pages, including some rather exceptional specialties from the head barman".

robiuk, Atousa, BennyV, bostankorkulugu, Merline, didemay has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

robiuk (10763) 2008-12-29 15:04

Well, I quite like the result of your shooting with your
"little camera", Catherine. Not intrusive POV, but frame
full of interesting details that actualy remind me of
interiors of many Central-European coffee houses with
huge chandolliers, high ceilings, papers to read, well
dressed waiters that just fly around (like this one of
yours).
Actually, nice to see places like this still exist!
Enjoy the rest of your evening,
Robi

ninaL (19546) 2008-12-29 15:06

Excellente scène de l'attente...
Une très belle luminosité, je suis toujours impressionnée par ton appareil.
Les contrastes entre les noirs profonds et les blancs étincelant sont très beaux.
J'aime bien la silhouette floue du serveur.

Waiting for Polonaise ? Je pense qu'il n'y a plus beaucoup d'espoir pour que sa galerie revienne...Je ne pense pas qu'il veuille recommencer à zéro, parce que le choc de ce qui s'est passé doit être trop dur pour lui...

Amitiés, Grazyna.

Atousa (3434) 2008-12-29 22:07

Salam Cath,

This is a nice interior shot .. the architecture is very interesting n the expressions of the sitting people reveal waiting too.. thanks for sharing.
Happy new year to you n your family , A

BennyV (4769) 2008-12-29 23:30

Bonjour Cath,

Though living in Antwerp, my wife and I love to drive over to spend the day in Brussels.
A typical visit includes a museum, a restaurant (usually Vietnamese) and a drink or two in one of those magical old-time cafés, which we ab-so-lute-ly adore. A great place, well captured on your little camera, a good place to wait for Polonaise:-(

Have a great 2009.

Benny

bostankorkulugu (33688) 2008-12-29 23:35

...but i am sick of waiting... what are we waiting for?... for the mods to turn back from holidays?... in maldives may be...

beautiful black and white with a good contrast that is cath... loved the facial expressions, and the dynamism along with the calm mood in it...

horatiuTT (4566) 2008-12-30 1:00

Hi Catherine,
nice image here,your perspective shows very well the glamor of
this cafe,nice details and I like also how you caught the barman.
Regards,
Horatiu

broglia (3349) 2008-12-30 1:44

Hi Cath, seasons greetings to you! I see you are getting some fine results from your new toy! The sharpness & contrasts are very pleasing. And like Korkut I like the still atmosphere broken by the waiter.

Lets hope we see George back very soon.

Best regards, Roberto

aadilj (17950) 2008-12-30 4:01

Hi cath, a photographer has truly arrived when she starts clicking without colours and yet is able to paint such vivid hues of the ambience. You've had a lovely year...may the coming year too be full of magic and mystery for you. may you meet more and more people and may you continue to create such gems. Happy New year

wolf38 (12899) 2008-12-30 7:31

Hdello Catherine. Interesting topic and a new camera, - and black-and-white. During the hasty running over the TE pages I see your beautiful photo. It pleases me very well. I wish you and your family a happy new year 2009, Wolfgang.

kensimage (8543) 2008-12-30 13:18

The atmosphere is beautifully captured here, Cath. The ladies at left, nicely dressed, taking their leisure, in no hurry; the elegant surroundings, especially the ceiling; the waiter who gets no rest--it all fits together so well. Let no one claim that class distinctions have disappeared. Happy New Year! Regards, Ken.

jasmis (50560) 2008-12-30 16:03

Waiter in hurry. Smart dynamic blur. High quality. LX3 is really interesting tool.

Regards!

Polonaise (5636) 2008-12-31 10:42

"" but my little camera does not have a very big zoom. ""

Once your camera will have that big zoom - that will be the end of Katarzyna we know...

There is no substitute in photography for touching someone's shoulder, saying 'oops' face to face, smelling someone's breath and talk and smile and interact.
There is a danger that the big zoom will make you a registrant instead of the photographer...

With love

g
...................

ben4321 (9807) 2009-01-05 7:58

Aha, you got yourself a new toy Catherine - an LX3 I see!
I was thinking about getting one myself, but what I'm really waiting for is a compact camera with a bigger sensor - the new Sigma DP series looks interesting...
It certainly looks like a very grand café. In this shot I like the contrast between the relaxed stillness of the customers and the rushing waiter.
Good stuff!

Cheers,
Ben

Merline (6578) 2009-01-09 8:23

Aha! J'adore. J'ai essayé de ce côté là aussi mais sans trop de succès:-). On se sent vraiment sur place, tu as su à la fois saisir les gens dans leurs attitudes diverses et le décor! Mes compliments pour ta compo - et le n/b éclatant. Elle m'apprend beaucoup de choses cette photo, le fait d'y être ensembe me montre tout ce que je n'ai pas pensé à faire. Ma foi, nous devons donc y retourner :-).

Bons préparatifs, je te souhaite un merveilleux voyage et déjà, je me réjouis de voir tes photos!

Bisous et amitiés
Michèle

didemay (2435) 2009-01-27 0:29