It was an ordinary afternoon that took an extraordinary turn as the second snowfall of the year blanketed Belgrade. I was heading to my friends downtown with my Fuji X-Pro2 in the backpack but as the bus approached the city a few snowflakes here in there started to turn into a blizzard. Postponing the meeting for a few hours I grabbed the camera eager to capture the raw beauty of a city under a sudden white veil.
It was already dark and the streets transformed into a winter wonderland. This time, battling my usual routine, I opted for the bustling traffic areas instead of the pedestrian zones; the vibrant glow of car lights against the snow-kissed streets added a whimsical element to the compositions.
The snowflakes played their part, dancing in front of streetlights, turning the urban landscape into a Christmas-like ambiance. The F/2 Fujinon lens (waterproof) battled condensation and water, and I had to shoot through the foggy glass which was either a hindrance or a creative ally adding a dreamy, smudged effect to certain photos.
Navigating through the flurry, I aimed my lens at human silhouettes with umbrellas, capturing the figures against the snowy and vibrant backdrop. The challenge was real – being wet, covered in snow, running around to chase the most interesting moment. But you already know that's what street photography is all about – embracing the unpredictable and finding something meaningful in the chaos.
Not so much about the photography - even though it was a thrill to chase moments in the snow-covered streets - it's about the feeling of joy that this creative flow together with nature's melody brought. Because I was indeed like a child who sees the snow for the first time. :)
My battery was done which meant the end of the session. I went to my friends to dry off and for a movie night, but later we went out again this time with no cameras, to throw snowballs and play in this winter's magical show.
