July 30, 2012

Talent hunt


 
 
These youngsters are practicing for the Talent hunt, which took place this year for the 40th time in the Theater in Leuven.
http://www.talentenjacht.org/Talentenjacht/Welkom.html

July 28, 2012

Meet Luce and daughter Anne


Luce, who grew up in Belgium,  has lived in Virginia for quite some time and works for the Belgian Embassy in Washington, DC. 
I discovered Luce's picture on facebook and am simply reposting it without asking her permission. Anne's picture comes from her website. I hope it will be a nice surprise for them. 
Luce's photo was taken on the occasion of Belgium's July 21 independence day. Her daughter Anne is talented professional make-up artist, and Luce attended the festivities after Anne applied her savoir faire. 
Anne's website can be consulted at www.charlottesvillemakeupartist.com. We wish Anne lots of success. 
www.charlottesvillemakeupartist.com

July 27, 2012

"Entre dos mundos, Puertas y Balcones"

 panoramic photographs taken by André Ramirez
exhibition organized and financed by the Embassy of Morocco in Peru. 
galerie Amaranto, Lima, Peru
I wish I could visit this exhibition but distance does not permit. I am delighted though to be able to share these pictures taken by Daniel Ritière, a Belgian photographer who combines his passion for photography with traveling to distant places.  Mr Ritière now lives in Peru, where he has realized interesting photographical and audiovisual projects. "Between two worlds, doors and balconies" is the result of a trip Mr Ritière made to Morocco for the embassy of Morocco in Peru. While there, he became fascinated by a number of similarities (architecture, gastronomy, artisans, textiles, etc.) and saw several more parallels with Peru. His subsequent multiple trips to Morocco and all corners of Peru resulted in this absolutely beautiful exhibition and a number of other projects with the same embassy of Morocco.
http://www.danielritiere.com/fr/

July 26, 2012

July 23, 2012

Photographers ( 1 )









I notice people interested in photography anywhere, anytime with all possible kinds of cameras and equiment from the ultra basic to the super sophisticated. 
I love to observe them and to photograph photographers. Part 1 today.

July 22, 2012

Tricolore fun














































Brussels celebrating the national holiday yesterday on July 21

July 20, 2012

Brusselicious (part 3 -end)

This plaque at the bottom of the sculpture pole shows the title "Melting Pot" and says that 19 faces of people represent the cultural life of Brussels: "Facial expressions of pleasure engender a sense of shared indulgence".
Enjoying mussels is one of the things to do when visiting Belgium.  Many restaurants in Brussels, especially those located around the Grand Place, have them on the menu. 
I agree that Belgium can not claim sole propriety to mussels and fact is that the origin of the served mussels often is to be found in France or the Netherlands. Nevertheless,  Belgians consider moules frites, or mussels with fries as a national dish which is of course the reason why I show them to conclude my little series on Brussselicious.
http://culinarytravel.about.com//od/internationaltravel/tp/BelgianFoodieGuide.htm
http://www.foodwise.be/2012/05/mussels-with-belgian-fries-for-food.html

July 18, 2012

Brusselicious (part 2 ....French fries - of course)

The plaque at the bottom of the sculpture reads:

"Alexander-Igor Everard De Harzir, ex advertisig man, antique dealer and now ex-designer/scribbler...
                                                                           CONCEPT
The fried potato and its cone, symbol of our Brussels gastronomic culture, with every kind of sauce... Here a cone, there a corset? Whatever... let's give way to temptation!
Shiny black vinyl coated cone, fries painted in Shocking Pink and varnished, pink laces made of fabric and chrome-plated eyelets"

Photograph: http://www.facebook.com/brusselicious.bxxl
with the Palace of Justice in the background

July 17, 2012

Brusselicious (part 1 is about waffles)






When I noticed these 'things' first, it was not quite clear to me what was going on... all over Brussels sculptures are on display showing a number of typical products. I found them in different locations.  As starters, I show you waffles - some even in the national colors ;)  - ... maybe fries or mussels tomorrow?

July 15, 2012

Roa bis



A couple of months ago I discovered Roa in Australia through Perth Daily photo blog  - http://whatisbelgium.blogspot.be/2012/04/roa.html- 
I was determined to find Roa in Belgium. I went hunting around Brussels and found these drawing in an abandoned school near the Botanique. I am convinced  Roa was at work here. 

July 13, 2012

Carl De Keyzer, Moments before the flood, Ostend


 
The exhibition "Moments Before the Flood" shows work of Belgian Magnum photographer Carl De Keyzer and is well worth a visit for more than one reason. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The site, a shipbuilding wharf on the outskirts of Ostend, is a great spot and an absolutely fabulous setting for the subject. The exhibition comes with an impressive book by publisher Lannoo. In a short documentary named OdysSea, Mei Vandenberghe and Jimmy Kets show De Keyzer at work during the realization of his project.
“It seems to be an accepted fact that the sea level will rise dramatically before the end of the century as a result of climate change, partly because of us humans. Moments before the Flood is a visual, photographic investigation into how Europe is coping with this unpredictable threat. The coasts of Europe are the areas in which the repercussions of this threat will be felt. For four years, Carl De Keyzer has spent four months each year travelling the coasts of Europe. (...) The pictures he took within the framework of this project are massive, both in terms of size and resolution. 65 to 80 million pixels is an unprecedented degree of detail, facilitated by the latest technology.” (David Van Reybrouck)
http://www.lannoo-events.be/expo-carl-de-keyzer-moments-before-the-flood/
http://www.oostendseoosteroever.be/cultuur-poezie-proza/219-magnumfotograaf-carl-de-keyzer-brengt-de-expo-moments-before-the-flood-naar-oostende-oosteroever.html
http://www.visitoostende.be/en
http://www.carldekeyzer.com/
http://www.summerofphotography.be/en/exhibition/moments-flood

July 11, 2012

Flemish holiday

The Flemish Community is celebrating today. These ladies were on their way to the cultural center to participate in a singing ceremony to mark the event.
I am adding a paragraph here because after reading your comments, it became clear that I should have given more info on the subject:
I must prepare a more detailed posting, one of these days, on all these festivities, holidays and celebrations.
The national Belgian holiday is celebrated on July 21.
The Flemish (Northern part of Belgium, Dutch speakers) have their own celebration on July 11 and the Walloon (Southern part of Belgium, French speaking) holiday is celebrated on September 27.
And..... Brussels has its celebration on May 8....
More later.

July 09, 2012

Belgian coast

This is what it looks like in summer when the weather is bad.... wonderful empty beaches, a delight for an amateur photographer like me.

July 07, 2012

Carla, Australian photographer in Paris


 
(picture taken from Carla's blog)
"As life is about sharing and I continue to stumble across incredible work and blogs, I am sharing some stars with you this week!" is what Carla wrote on her blog "Carla loves Photography" http://carlacoulson.com/
As hers is one of my very favorite blogs, I decided it was time for you to meet this wonderful Australian born living in Paris photographer, published author, great woman,  who shares her valuable insides and wonderful tips with all. 
She calls her posts on taking better pictures a 'smirkshop' and today's (part 4 after composition, people pics with emotion, movement)  is on one of her favorites, the power of LIGHT.
Hope you enjoy.

July 05, 2012

Front and back


Can you guess why it was easier for me to take a close shot of this man's back than front?

July 04, 2012

July 4, 2012

 Many readers of This is Belgium are celebrating today and I like to wish all "happy July 4th"
(pictures taken by i-phone at the festivities at the residence of the US ambassador to Belgium)

July 03, 2012

Panoramic photo ops at the MIM

 
In the first photo the Magritte museum is shown to the left and the MIM, the Musical Instrument Museum is the black building "Old England", which is a prominent example of Art Nouveau architecture. 
The MIM today has a restaurant on the top floor which offers a awesome panorama over Brussels and now that it has stopped raining this is the time! 
The mailboxes date from the times when the Museum shop building hosted a bank and I also wanted to show you the beautiful entrance doors.
http://www.mim.be/en
http://www.fine-arts-museum.be/site/fr/frames/F_boutique.ht

July 01, 2012

Animals in town

Some traveling through, some here to stay?