Mauritius

Island city street

/ mikeosbornphoto / 6 Comments

A trip to Port Louis, the island capital of Mauritius. It’s a bustling place with a very lively marketplace, its fair share of traffic and people going about their business.

From a photographic viewpoint, one small thoroughfare caught my eye, with its smartness and formality not really in keeping with much of this tropical city, where the country’s colourful flag flies with pride.

It turned out this covered walkway housed the office of the country’s prime minister, and reminded me of a place in London I captured some months ago – but with far less mystery and gloominess.

The street around this portico was full of life, while some palm trees in the distance was a reminder that the Indian Ocean was very close by.

Water abstracts

/ mikeosbornphoto / 10 Comments

Water is compelling to photograph. When it’s moving or situated by lights, the attraction grows. And if this is at night, then I cannot keep away. This combination can produce some interesting results – often art without the need to pick up a paintbrush.

This was captured at the Dubai Mall, just before a display of the Dubai Fountain. Water and the coloured lights of consumerism work well together for the lens.

In Mauritius, and an after dinner rain shower captures the night glow of Le Touessrok by the pool.

An illuminated waterfall plays close to Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. The long exposure gives the water a foggy sheen, while its colours shine through.

This is not a night shot, but taken in the relatively low light conditions of a shopping centre. It is a close-up of the Dubai Mall waterfall, showing water cascading. It’s flipped to the side for effect and in sepia to bring out the textures. This is the most abstract of this foursome. Which one has the most impact on you?

See also:  Gushing, spurting, babbling

Dawn and dusk

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Two different times of the day in two countries. Sun-up on Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach, with a smattering of people enjoying the welcoming cool before the roasting heat of the day. And again when the sun was sinking slowly below the horizon beyond Gulf waters.

Dawn in Mauritius, on a deserted patch of beach in Le Touessrok, was relatively chilly. The promise of a blazing sunrise slowly faded and offered a muted show instead. In any event, sunrise and sundown are special times of the day and always enticing to the photographer.

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See also:    Stripped Sky    Sumptuous sunset

The balcony

/ mikeosbornphoto / 2 Comments

235 Frangipani, Le Touessrok, Mauritius. Our address for a number of days recently. Not just a hotel room but a self-contained suite, comfortable and relaxing with the crashing of the waves to lull you to sleep.

One of the best features of our place in the sun was stepping out of the French doors onto the balcony. The Indian Ocean lapped just beneath it, and a blue expanse of sea stretched to the horizon. The private, paradise island of Ilot Mangenie could be seen across the water, and the white surf against the coral reef further beyond.

This was the end of winter in Mauritius, and refreshing winds occasionally made the balcony a bracing place to be. There was also some rain to complement the azure skies and sunshine that was also on offer.

As the autumn chill begins to bite in London and the time to buy winter coats beckons, these photographs are a warm memory of our home in the tropics.

Market bustle

/ mikeosbornphoto / 6 Comments

Mauritius is not just an island of dreamy azure seas and golden sands. Venture to the Indian Ocean republic’s capital, Port Louis, and it’s a lively place where people go about their daily business like any other.

The central market is the place to visit, thronging with people and groaning with produce. Some of the floorspace is given over to Mauritian handicrafts made for tourists, and as a European visitor you’ll have several offers to visit stalls with vanilla, spices and fake t-shirts.

The fruit and vegetable market is an irresistible draw and bustling with activity. The two shots above show this frenetic life, smeared with colour and movement.

I chose a muted scheme for the photograph below, and like the story it tells – the stall on the left shows little movement apart from the owner glancing at his much busier rival. Why is everyone going to buy their goods there?

Sometimes you only notice these little stories in a frame long after you have taken it. While I’m not always very comfortable with documenting life and people, sometimes the rewards are richer, wouldn’t you say?