Finding the Grey

Got to spend a few days in Tbilisi on the first leg of  my Caucasus trip. Between the snow, rain and finger numbing cold I was able to wander the city a bit, muddying up my shoes and pant legs. At this time of year I get the impression that Tbilisi’s inner workings are happening in-doors,  so I’m certain I missed a lot of what was going on around me. I avoided the grand churches and government buildings for the back streets of neighborhoods. Walking street after street you begin to notice a hegemony of fogged up windows, grey walls, dark entry ways and unmarked store fronts. People zip past you avoiding puddles, open man holes, traffic and dog shit. You can miss a lot if you don’t slow down and observe.

These few days reminded me of how much I relish those first few days in a new city when you attempt to figure everything out. You turn every corner hoping to stumble onto something golden. Text jumps out at you. The women are more beautiful than you expected. You want to eat at every street vendor. Sometimes carrying a camera around can be a hindrance (socially, selfishly, a pain in the ass) but days like these when I’m alone, somewhere new, photography slows me down. I put away the guide book, eliminate my next destination, walk and just observe. It’s one of my favorite things to do.

And I don’t have to focus my energy on dog shit and churches.

Thanks for looking.

Jonathan

29 Images