A splash of colour in the Rotterdam fog by Kelvin van Vliet

A misty Saturday afternoon in the Oude Haven of Rotterdam, where the city seems to lose its hard edges in a soft grey haze. The skyscrapers partially disappear into the fog, giving the surroundings a cold, almost silent atmosphere.

Within this cool blue-grey world, an unrecognizable man walks through the scene, small against the vast urban landscape. In his hand, a brightly coloured umbrella in pink, purple, and red, and a striking yellow bag that almost seems to smile within the frame. It is precisely this contrast that makes the moment so special.

At first, the atmosphere feels lonely, as if the city has paused for a moment and everyone has turned inward. Yet at the same time, the colour of the bag and umbrella brings something unexpected: a sense of playfulness, lightness, almost a smile emerging within the mist.

For me, this image is about the meeting of contrasts. The cold architecture of the city against human warmth and small, joyful details that break through the grey.

This is one of my best photographs, precisely because everything comes together in its simplicity: the fog, the city, and that single accent of colour that gives the image its soul.

The work invites you to look longer, not just at the city itself, but at what is happening in that single moment: a small story unfolding in the mist, full of silence, colour, and an unexpected sense of hope.