On a sunlit day, Bruges shows itself in all its understated splendour. This image captures a rare and enchanting moment: an empty cobbled street lined by white facades and colourful flowers, bathed in the soft light of the summer sun. No tourist crowds, no crowds - just silence, light and architectural elegance.
What makes this image extra special is that it is based on a photograph I took myself, which I transformed into a picturesque scene through digital techniques. The brushstrokes and texture bring a certain dreaminess to the image, without losing sight of reality.
The result is an ode to Bruges as you rarely see it: serene, almost hushed, and all the more impressive in its simplicity. A moment of calm in a city that is normally bustling with life - captured in a digital canvas that blurs the line between photography and painting.
Geert Van Baelen has been working as a press photographer in Belgium for over 20 years. Besides current affairs, he also finds inspiration for his images in everyday life, landscapes and people... Read more…