In this black-and-white photograph, Dublin's hustle and bustle is felt in every direction. Cars fill the street, traffic shuffles laboriously forward and the city seems to be running at full speed, even without colour. In the midst of this frenzy, a young Irish man appears on a bicycle, recognisable by his hat and tattooed arms. His gaze is focused and serious, as if he is cutting through the chaos with a purpose that only he knows.
But right in front of him, on the bike handlebar, sits a little boy who exudes a totally different energy. His wide grin breaks the tension of the scene and gives the picture an unexpected lightness. The contrast between their expressions - haste versus pleasure, seriousness versus playfulness - is what makes this picture so powerful and human.
The black-and-white style reinforces this contrast: without colour, only emotion remains, clear and undisguised. It is a typical moment from Dublin, a city where speed and charm constantly clash and yet always manage to find each other.
Rush & Smile is a story in one frame: a portrait of movement, character and the small forms of joy that pop up even in the busiest streets.
Sjoerd Lammers
The Netherlands
Olympus OM-D + iPhone/Hipstamatic
⠀
[⠀⠀|⠀STREET⠀|⠀STREET⠀]⠀
⠀..
Read more…