Rush Hour
The cornice is very popular. It’s a strip of sea front park that has been renovated and made people friendly with grass and walkways. I was surprised that it was pretty empty on a weekend afternoon. The place in the background is a royal construction and the tower behind it is said to be for six star guests of the kingdom. I was told that it means that mortals are not welcome. There is a lot of foot traffic in the park, so much so that there is virtually no grass, hence the brown dirt surface.
And there are rugs laid out in different spots. And periodically people gather to pray. They are aiming east. But, it looks so incongruous. People march about. Men pray.
Women may not be near. They stay to themselves. And everyone looks to me to be praying to the god of traffic parking spots.
Concrete or dirt? It’s like the question paper or plastic in the grocery. In Jeddah it is all plastic (bags). But where to sit? Concrete or dirt. …or a little of each?
Kids At The Corniche
I love watching kids. They start pretty clueless. This one is shooting a bubble gun at his opponent. Yeah, sorry, you can barely see the bubbles. He’s standing close by because he is downwind. Get it? You need to be upwind in order really shoot bubbles. This kid was having a blast anyway. It just wasn’t an effective exchange.
The same kid and his sister had a kite each. It was neat. The father launched the kites. They stayed in the air a mere few seconds until the string got all tangled. The string was across the walkway so that unwary passersby would be caught up. That worked out really well, hence, the bubble guns. I think even that was too complicated. At least I got entertained too.
People At The Corniche
There is a commerce of sorts that thrives at the Corniche. Ladies sell wares. Mostly they peddle kids stuff. You see plastic toys all over. They don’t cost much. It’s a diversion for the kids.
Then there was woman worth a picture who was wearing her wares on her head. You don’t see that too much. As for the people who come, they sit anywhere. Plop down on the grass. There’s little enough of it. Most of it is brown dirt.
You sit in the shade of a palm tree. Hint, there’s not much shade. Otherwise, people just plop on the concrete. It surely is not comfortable looking or idyllic. There are a lot of people and few park spaces. It shows.
Sunset At The Corniche
Every night is not excellent. So you go with what nature gives. You need to be on the spot. But clouds are not always cooperative. But as with many things, it is location, location, location.
Then you just have to make lemonade if you are given lemons. I’ve shown you the fountain before. It’s a jet engine and touted to be the world’s tallest fountain. I take pictures of it ‘cause it’s there. Like Everest baby, like Erverest.
Fur Coat
Yes, my eyes were seeing a fur! It was not cold but by relative standards I suppose it was comparatively cold. Usually it’s one hundred so if the temp drops to seventy that’s pretty close to winter freezing. I don’t make this stuff up. If its sixty and the temp drops to thirty, that’s cold. So I have more questions.
You wear a fur to show off wealth and style. You wear it over your abaya. Huh? I mean, huh? I can’t see you. But everyone knows you. Like that sunglass commercial for whatever brand and everyone looks good incognito. Oh yeah baby. Well this was a first for me. A fur at the beach, imagine that! And last… it makes no sense to wear it under the abaya. That would just make you look fat, right?
Stylin’
Some folks are out on the Corniche to impress. Walkin’ and stylin’ – coolness. Since marriage is arranged, who are you impressing? Hey, you look good though.
Corn Man
I love the glow of the charcoal. The corn man has his same shirt. His image is there for the context. Otherwise this is about corn roasting over open coals. Personally, I like my corn sweet and juicy. I like the picture but the grill method does not appeal to me.
Afterglow
There is a moment after the sun has set in which there is a deeply orange sky. I lasts for a few seconds before everything goes blue. The fountain in the background is run by a jet engine and is said to shoot the tallest column of water in the world. It’s a nice subject. And the glow sticks add more fun. I don’t stage this stuff. People keep walking into my camera lens frame.
Corniche
Sunset is always different. I like good clouds. Then I want a nice orange glow. Sometimes you don’t get what you want. I like it when folks pass in front of my sunset. They get shot.
And it is amusing to watch the smart phone crowd. I have to admit the cellphone images are better than nothing. I guess for a screen saver or desktop image this is more than adequate. I just think you need a real camera to do it right. But notice my big fancy camera is having problems in the dim light too.
Dyed Feet
Henna dyed feet is a cosmetic custom. The dye is derived from a small tree. I have seen it in patterns on the hands before. I am not accustomed to seeing feet dyed in a uniform way.
It is definitely a fashion statement that I do not see anywhere else. I have yet to notice it in any of my patients.
Fries
There is also a man who will sell you fries on the Corniche. You get different sauces and salt. Hot sauce is popular. During the summer in the stifling heat I imagine standing over hot oil is no fun at all. But it is winter and chilly in January. All is good.
Playground
On the weekend there is a large crowd around the equipment. I am happy to see kids being kids. They even get to run bare foot. As you can notice concrete is just as nice a spot to land as grass.
It seems that anything fun always attracts a crowd. Don’t fall and no one will step upon you.
Fisherman
So this chap walked on out into the bay barefooted to cast his line. I have not seen any fish caught. I don’t fancy a walk on the bottom since the green slime on the shore is not too appetizing. I guess the fish are probably not affected by the slime?
Birds buzz the bay at sunset. The glare on the water blinds me. Apparently the birds can see small fish below the surface as they dive bomb and catch supper. Either way it’s fishing.
Kids
Kids get to wear color. When they slip into an abaya is individual family choice it seems. I have seen some very young kids in abayas. But I am attracted to color. And I always like bubbles, And it is fun to skate holding your brother’s hand.
Walker
Well I can refer to someone walking or the device this man with the cervical collar is using. From his stride I think he’d be better with a cane. Maybe the walker is for sympathy. Ah I happen to have a shot of a cane too.
Corn Man
I swear he doesn’t change his shirt. It’s not a uniform. But this guy is out on two occasions with the same shirt. He has a wheelbarrow with shucked corn and will grill it right on the hot coals for you to eat immediately. A minute a side and you are good to go. I guess no one worries about germs. The heat will have killed them right?
Spreadout
Make yourself at home. People on a crowded day park up on the sidewalk. The rule I told you: there are no rules. Plop down, spread on out, sit anywhere, be it the grass or the concrete. You decide if you want bugs or not. People just do their thing. I guess it’s like Jones Beach in the summer. No boom boxes. And definitely there are no bikinis.
Sunset
Some days you just don’t get that cloud filled sky with orange glowing clouds. The camera is pretty adept at getting the globe or the setting sun. Timing helps. Across this bay is a manmade island gifted to a past king. There is an empty palace there somewhere in which a staff of a thousand remains employed. When I first saw this with Farid he warned me not to photograph the island. He was being cautious I guess. There are time when you are and others when you are not.
Sunset
Black and white – men and women – come to think of it, I don’t see to much hand holding but I do see it commonly among men. And I do not see women holding much either. Intentional? To answer a different question, these folks walked across my sunset photo. Right!
I was curious to watch this little one set up her dad’s phone to take the shot. She’s pretty darned talented for her age if you ask me. iPhone shots have surpassed Nikon cameras to jump to number two on Flickr. Canon is still number one.
Ladies Who Sell You Stuff
There is a thriving market for souvenirs. At least it is tempting to sell toys at the Corniche. Soccer balls and other baubles are for sale from these women who circulate the area. The strike me so differently than the vendors I am used to seeing in Central Park.
Surprise
Another characteristic of street photography is that there are no rules. So shoot and to hell with the horizon being straight. In fact things look edgy when they are all crooked. It makes life seem more real. What is the blue liquid? Who knows? It’s all in a day on the Corniche.
Want horizontal, I can do that too.
Close Up
At the Corniche there are sculptures which I see and am unaware of their significance. Then I am reminded that magazines and newspapers show a single image to go along with the story. So here is my close up out of context to the whole sculpture and showing a neat graphic and color. For fun, sometimes you just take a shot for the sheer fun of it.
Ok, ok the full magilla.
Corniche
This is the modern area newly renovated for the public along the sea. There are few public spaces. Mostly the sea real estate has private estates. Sculpture and art are there. Across the way is a former king’s palace replete with a staff of a thousand or so and no one to serve. I like the splash of color among the black. It’s a pleasant walk.
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