26 Feb 2013

Benches, bridges & branches: Seri Thai Park

Today a friend of mine and I planned to visit a rather secluded and mysterious place, but luck was not on our side, as we only found locked doors blocking our way. Therefore, while we wait for a future opportunity to try and enter that world again (of which I will not talk more yet, to preserve the surprise), we decided to just stroll at a nearby park and grab some pictures there. The weather was just perfect for a walk and we both had our cameras ready, so we took a taxi and a mere minuets later we entered Seri Thai Park, or should I call it BBB Park, for all we could see at first were benches, branches and bridges. Lets begin with the first B.

A seat with views, GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm

It was still a bit early and the sun was merciless and fierce, so most of the park remained quiet and empty, only the occasional bird or fountain bringing some movement and sound to the ambient. We walked along the shadowy lanes meeting none, the lonely benches bathed in light and silence.

Stonerest, GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm

Every time we passed one of the stranded benches I couldn't help but imagine how the park would become at a later hour, once the sun would recede and people would go out of their shells and gather around. It surely would be much more lively and busy, but I kind of enjoyed the lethargy the afternoon hour was offering us.

Warmth, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

The same iron filigrees in different colors, either brown or green, matching those of the tree trunks or the leaves and the grass, a mimetic game between architecture and nature. But not only the tones resembled one another, for even the shapes and figures looked alike as if made by the same hands, thus bringing us to the second leitmotif and B of the day.

Mimesis, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

Twisted and stretched, thin and thick, countless roots and branches spread all over the park, impossible to define the place where one lead to another, intricate tangle of living arteries covering every inch of land, above our heads and beneath our feet.

Roots, GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm

Like a parade of uniformed, organized soldiers, the big trees stood by the lake, one after another, proud of themselves, masters of the park, shaking their limbs with the faintest breeze, letting their leaves drop in an unhurried, almost invisible dance.

Under protection, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

And the third B of the day soon became apparent to us: the park is not that big, but we were enjoying our walk and didn't want to leave that early, so we decided to walk around its perimeter a few more times and, in order to do so, we had to cross multiple bridges, big and small, solid and precarious, always unique and different.

Robust bridge, GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm

Dubious bridge, GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm

Sunset was getting closer, and so was the flow of people; the weather was more benevolent now, and the stream of legs and wheels started to increase. What an hour earlier were only deserted walkways and vacant spaces were turning by the minute into animated lanes and spirited groups of people walking, talking, practicing sports.

Amusement, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

The focus of our attention shifted naturally, and after an hour long spent looking at the scenery, we centered our cameras on the people who were increasingly occupying all the park in their different activities. Young and old, on their own or with some company, quiet or in high spirits, the atmosphere gradually became human.

The eldest steps first, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

The game, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

Today was Monday, yet the modest park swiftly grew more and more populated, and faces of all kinds appeared in every corner, granting the sunset a scent of humanity. In these last beats of daylight, I decided to slow down my walk and observe carefully the eyes and expressions of the people around me. My last captures were, therefore, the spontaneous glances and smiles of a few people who totally grabbed my interest.

The curious, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

The shawl, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

 The hat, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

The smile, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

With a warm feeling we left the park, each one ready to follow its own path back home, but just outside the fence, next door, the sight of the abandoned hut struck me as an omen. Nature always finds its way, but humans must carve out our presence day by day, or the smallest laziness ends up in immediate oblivion and extinction.

Unshelter, GH3 + Olympus M. Zuiko 45mm

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