What begins with a journey evolves into a community forum for aesthetically minded contributors who share their wisdom, travel, stories and art. We are transcendental existentialists based in Austin, TX with roots around the world.
I must let my senses wander as my thoughts, my eyes see without looking. Carlyle said that how to observe was to look, but I say it is rather to see, and the more you look the less you will observe . . . .What I need is not to look at all, but a true sauntering of the eye.
Henry David Thoreau
Flâneur and Photography
The flâneur’s tendency toward detached but aesthetically attuned observation has brought the term into the literature of photography, particularly street photography. The street photographer is seen as one modern extension of the urban observer described by nineteenth century journalist Victor Fournel before the advent of the hand-held camera:
This man is a roving and impassioned daguerreotype that preserves the least traces, and on which are reproduced, with their changing reflections, the course of things, the movement of the city, the multiple physiognomy of the public spirit, the confessions, antipathies, and admirations of the crowd. (“Ce qu’on voit dans les rues de Paris”, What one sees on the streets of Paris)
The most notable application of flâneur to street photography probably comes from Susan Sontag in her 1977 essay, On Photography. She describes how, since the development of hand-held cameras in the early 20th century, the camera has become the tool of the flâneur:
The photographer is an armed version of the solitary walker reconnoitering, stalking, cruising the urban inferno, the voyeuristic stroller who discovers the city as a landscape of voluptuous extremes. Adept of the joys of watching, connoisseur of empathy, the flâneur finds the world ‘picturesque.’ (pg. 55)
Sauntering updates are posted on the right navigation bar.
Please feel free to comment or send me a link to your blog.
The site looks fabulous! Happy trails…will be following your blog…xoxR
Check “posts” for updates.
I love the Thoreau quote; what a wise man he was.
This looks great, Evelyn! The photos are really first-rate. I’ll be checking in regularly to join the conversation.
I’m hoping you will contribute some pics and a narrative about your trip to Nepal and share some underwater adventures as well. It’s great to hear from you Sherri.
Yauzer, this is excellent.
Thought you might like it with your predisposition for Wild and West, thanks.
Hi Evelyn,
I really enjoyed your photos from the trip out west. I’ll check your blog regularly.
Thanks Jean, I’ll be looking for contributors so please feel free to link to this site or send a post. Still have a lot to learn about setting up a community forum.
So enjoyed your trip to San Antonio pictures! As for the Havana, I feel sleep is highly overrated at times! Titos in King William is very cool. We have to go back there. Your McNay membership ensures you’re coming to SA again in the near future! Yay! LOVE your pictures!
Thankya, thanks very much. Yes, future saunters ahead in SA, hopefully you and Mike can both join us. We’ll see you for Christmas soon.
Thanks, I’d like to be a bit more transcendent but these days it’s not as easy.
Holy smokes Evelyn! These are beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Keep up the excellent piece of work, I read few posts on this website and I conceive that your website is really interesting and has got sets of great information.
Evelyn, I am included in the city hall peoples gallery exhibition this year .
the opening is Friday at 6 til 9, your old friend, david
Darn, I wish I received this earlier. I would love to see you sometime.
evelyn, there is going to be another city hall / peoples art gallery event
September 7, called Art after 6 – the show is in its 9th month of a year long exhibition, I will try to send you a link……d