DOCUMENTARY
MY SAFE PLACE
EARLY AUTUMN
I found my safe place in a form of an arcade. This is a beautiful spot to examine the people passing by and have a quiet cigarette break .The place is situated in the middle of Weimar. This arcade is surrounded with shops and restaurants, and also a small market place. During the weekends it is full of tourists and horses with carriages, waiting to lure some customers to tour the city. It is a place to slow down and have a break. The vines have covered the roof almost completely, protecting from the sun and rain. The leaves of vines form a sort of frame to personal observations. The cooling weather has turned them to yellow, red and brown. The Autumn has always been one of my favorite seasons. The continuity of life through different seasons always wonders me. I marvel the phenomenon of the leaves turning themselves in bright colors before falling dead to the ground. Life will go on after the dark and long winter. Instead of feeling hopeless and sad I feel joyful and safe.
LATE AUTUMN
My safe place has changed quite a bit after my first visit there. The ground is full of dead leaves, and the vines do not protect from the sun or rain anymore. It still has kept its romantic atmosphere nevertheless.
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I saw a few locals sitting in one of the benches, and decided to follow their doings for a while. I noticed that they were eating French fries, that most likely came from this awesome small French fry shop in Shützengasse. I saw that the fry shop is also open on Sundays before coming to my safe place.
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As I tried to paparazzi them I noticed that the man got a bit annoyed. I somehow decided to pretend to take pictures about the fallen leaves on the ground, and then take another secret picture of their feet. I felt that I was acting rude towards them and disturbing their lovely French fry moment. But then again I thought about the concept of the wide personal space that we are always automatically given in Finland. It is not normal to talk to the strangers, or asking them to pose for the pictures. Here it is in the end almost the same, people to not small talk as much as in some other countries.
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I thought about how I could be able to show my side of this beautiful place. I chose to show the typical error of mine, which is forgetting my gloves in the bench. This is something that I do a lot, while minding my own stuff and having a smoke break. I have lost so many pairs of gloves during each winter, and it always pisses me off. Then again I’d like to think that perhaps someone who really needs them picks them up and gives them a whole new life. This is quite optimistic idea, but it is better than they ending up in a bin.
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I probably have seemed like a typical tourist, with my camera and all, since one German guy came to ask me some light for his cigarette. He asked and thanked in English, and then sat down on the bench I was just taking pictures of my own shadow. He didn’t mind at all. Maybe it was his safe place too. I left him in his own peace.
