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Antwerp, Belgium
Welcome to the new, and improved version of Heaven in Belgium. I am Jientje. "Jientje", like the boys name Gene, followed by "chu"? "Gene-chu", that's how you pronounce my name. Yes!!!!That's it!! So now you know huh? I am an addicted blogger. I was born and raised and am still living in Belgium. Yeah, the "this-is- Tuesday-so-this-must-be-Brussels" kind of Belgium .. There, you see? Maybe you couldn't find it on the map, but at least I'm trying to change that a little by sharing lots of pictures. I really love to cook and create new things, like this blog for instance. I am a mother,a grandmothe and a wife too! They say I'm a traveler, and a photographer. Well that's just what they say, I love to make pictures, but I am far from professional ... If my English is not perfect, that would be because it's my second language. I do hope you'll forgive me any possible misspellings or strange vocabulary ... Now, as a result of all of the above, I get way too little sleep and my days are always much too short!

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Heaven is in Belgium

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Sepia Scenes meets Three Words Thursday

When Sepia Scenes meets Quilly's Three Word Thursday ....
Each week, Quilly gives us three words to work with. This week's words are sublunary, comity, & specious. The idea is to write a story using these three obsolete words ...
Don't worry, no need for a dictionary to read the story! Just click on the links to find their definitions.


Now, because I firmly believe a picture paints a thousand words, I am adding these sepia pictures. The pictures I took from this street event in Antwerp were much too busy to look good.
I used my Corel Paint Shop Pro x12 on them, turning them into half sepia by creating layers. The sepia quiets down the busyness of the scenery, while the parts of the picture left in colour create drama and guide your eyes into the picture. Well, at least this is what I've been trying to achieve here.



This small square in the heart of the city of Antwerp breathes history and tradition. Every Friday morning a street auction, locally known as Friday's Market is being held here. The ambiance at Friday's Market is a bitter sweet fusion of nostalgia and ghetto.


The Madonna on the pedestal has commiserated the sublunary affairs of the people beneath her since time immemorial.
The middle of the square is cluttered with old furniture, bikes, electric appliances, light fixtures, floor lamps ... TV's and washing machines...


Suitcases or cardboard boxes holding just about anything from books to tools, kitchen utensils or clothes. An array of people from various backgrounds are gathered here, each has his own reason for being here. Some of them are very obviously trying to make ends meet, seeking a pair of shoes or a sweater or a shirt. There is even a fair chance to spot and buy back your own bike that got stolen only last week ... Or that specious red scooter ...


Some are just curious, or intrigued by the volgivagant spectacle this street auction offers.

Some try to find an original spare piece to repair something. Another just wants to make his grandchild smile. What more could be found here?

Sad stories of desperate people trying to buy back their own furniture, after being court ordered to sell their goods publicly. Biting their lips as they watch how their new television is being auctioned off and sold for only a fraction of what it is worth.

People know you can buy cheap here, but you have to be careful what you bid for. Not all of it is in perfect state, and what looked like an interesting piece of antiques at first glance might just as well turn out to be a specious copy once you lay your hands on it .

The goods are sold as they come and there are to be no arguments about that. This particular rule is blared out clamorously in aboriginal Antwerp tongue before the bidding starts. It's repeated frequently as part of the auction chant. Nevertheless, on some occasions a certain dose of comity should be in order here as well. But courtesy and respect are sometimes considered useless virtues on street auctions. Impatient sighs and ebullient discussions tend to add to the drama when buyers and vendors often face opposite interests ...



Find more Sepia Scenes pictures here.
Other 3WT stories here.

33 comments:

Robin said...

WONDERFUL job on the processing Jientje - the half sepia really works here to add drama and interest!

Anonymous said...

Lovely edits with a touch of a little color in all of them :)
A wonderful job done!

Nessa said...

Very interesting pictures.

Dr.John said...

I don't know where to start.
The pictures are fantastic. Well done.
The use of Quilly's words in the leads to the pictures makes it perfect.

Fandango said...

Beautiful pictures. Good use of Quilly's words.
But don't they sell any food on the square?
By the end those people were looking tasty and we aren't allowed to eat them.

Melli said...

You are just amazing! The way you have taken these pictures and made the story to fit them... the whole thing is just fabulous! HUGE APPLAUSE!

A Lady's Life said...

I love you already. You are like me finding days too short. I always wish it would be day.
We go to the fle market and it used to be like this maybe it has become like this again cause I havent been there in a while.
I love the books and paintings and other knick knacks they sell there. Its exciting in that you never know what you'll find. Of course it is always good to help some one in need. :)

Jan said...

Very creative. I like what you've done.

Libby's Library said...

I love the easy you highlighted certain objects in each photo. The pictures where so great...I forgot to read the story. Now I have to go back:-)

Libby's Library said...

Okay - that is weird ... I thought that I had typed: I love the way you highlighted certain objects or people in each photo!

maryt/theteach said...

This is a sad, poignant story jienjte! You did a magnificent job keeping some of the color to emphasize some of the people and things. Also thanks for the vocabulary lesson! Ha! :)

Christine said...

I love the sepia illustrations. They emphasis the story very well.

kayerj said...

lovely post, I loved the accents of blue

Stop by to see mysepia scene

Unknown said...

What an interesting place.
Sad for some and lucky for others I guess.
I love Flea markets though (auctions I don't know).
Beautiful collection of Photos and well done with the Sepias and words!

Anonymous said...

Very nice selection of tweaked photos. Love the street scenes.

Raven said...

I love the way you've worked with the photos! And woven Quilly's words in with such easy grace besides! Brava!

Anonymous said...

I don't know what to say. This is just picture perfect. You are fantastic. Excellent job my Belgian Bombshell. I'm so impressed.

Unknown said...

Wonderful pictures - and a very neat way you've picked to learn English.

Jientje said...

@ Robin: It was the only way to make interesting pictures out of them!
@ Napaboanyia: Thanks,I like them too!
@ Nessa: Thank you, Nessa!
@ Dr. John: Thank you. Coming from you, that's a compliment.
@ Fandango: No food, no. But you could always grab a bite at the pub nearby?
@ Melli: Awww!
@ Lady's life: nice meeting you!
@ Jan: Thanks Jan!It took me quite some time to make this post but I think it's worth it!
@ Libby: They came out very nice.
@ Mary the Teach: I like it too, and thanks!! But I'm not the real teacher here! ;-)
@ Christine: you know me, don't you, I NEED pictures!
@ Kaye: I'll visit yours in a little while!
@ NicoleB: It IS an interesting place, you've got to be there to believe it!
@ ewok1993: thanks!
@ Raven: But YOU are the word Artist!
@ Thom: Awww, thank you Thom!! I worked hard on this one!
@ Lou: Yep! I LOVE this way of studying. That's why I joined this challenge in the first place.
I learn so much each time I do this.

Ordinarily Just Me said...

I love that you use pictures to illustrate. I look forward to seeing next weeks.
OJM

Kahshe Cottager said...

I am really impressed with the series you created for sepia scenes. The photos are stories within stories because of the added colour. I really enjoyed seeing them.

Maggie's Mind said...

Beautifully done! I love what you did to these.

Brenda said...

I can't imagine the amount of time you must spend on your pictures, they are always amazing

Cherie said...

I always learn so much when I visit you! And your method for focusing our attention on aspects of the photos ... Excellent!

Momisodes said...

Wow! I just love the effect you placed on these photos. What a dramatic effect! And I loved how you linked these words and told a story of each photo, taking us all there. Thank you.

quilly said...

The first time, I loved when you added pictures to illustrate the story you wrote with my words. This time, I love that you used my words to caption the photos that you took.

You are one talented lady!

Robynn's Ravings said...

Wow Jientje,

Very compelling photos. These were impactful. Love your effects. And what a great story to go with them.

Gattina said...

Wow ! that gives nice results sepia with some color spots ! what a great idea ! very creative, congratulations !

Carletta said...

Great job Jientje!
This half sepia suits this perfectly.

Jientje said...

@ Ordinarily just me: Nice to meet you!
@ Kahshe Cottager: I love how you put that, stories within stories, yes!
@ Maggie: Thanks, I'm rather proud of these, yes!
@ Brenda: Writing takes more time.
@ Cherie: I'm going to use this technique more and more from now on, I think?
@ Sandy: I love it when it all comes together!
@ Quilly: Thanks! I really worked hard on this one, but I'm so proud of it! And a compliment from YOU makes it all worth while!
@ Robynn: It was a nice surprise to see they work so well!
@ Gattina: Thanks!
@ Carletta: Well you know, I LOVE to experiment with half sepia, and this series works very well, it's true!

bettygram said...

Creative. You told about difficult times for someone and used the words so well.

juliana said...

iam impressed! you did so well to weave quilly's words into a market tour. and your photos positively radiate with the atmosphere. great use of sepia and colour!

Unknown said...

I love how you only lefts parts of the photos color! You are just too much!

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