This image shows a typical Parisian terrace on a rainy day. The chairs gleam softly under the wet light, the awnings cast warm colours over the facades, and despite the drizzly atmosphere, the square remains buzzing with life.
I took the original photo myself while walking through the city. I was inspired by the contrast between the liveliness of the terrace and the soft melancholy of the rain. Using digital techniques, I transformed the photo into a painterly image in oil paint style to bring the atmosphere and movement of the moment extra to life.
What was originally a fleeting scene has now become a moment of timeless Paris - seen through my lens and reinterpreted with digital brushstrokes.
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…