This photo story started with a promise of a kind old man that I have met on one of The Hague's city buses.  I was heading generally to scheveningen's city center and on that bus ride I asked the kind man if he can direct me to scheveningen's main city street (I always start my urban shootings in the city center and work my way around it).  The kind man said that he was on his way to the same place, and he promised me that this will be a "walk to remember" I told him that we shall see...

We got to our stop, he asked if I care to follow him, I said "sure" and we headed to the city's boardwalk. He leaned against the fence, facing the ocean, and asked if I am ready...I thought that this was it...a great boardwalk with shops and restaurants, works for me. And then he said "come on" and started walking to the waterline, dressed in his suite.

Wait....isn't it winter? "No one cares" he answered. It's cold "it was colder last year" he replied . The wind is blowing like crazy "even better" he stated.  and...what about the shoes "thats the best part" he said and i did not understand why but i followed him, we slowly parted ways, and indeed, on the beach there were more people then on the boardwalk, dressed for the high street, walking,facing the sun, with the ocean to my left and sand to my right.

Later that night I understood why the shoes were the best part, as i got back to my hotel, took them off, and all the sand from schipenigan's "main street" reminded me of  a  promise well delivered.

 

Dedicated to the late Paula Pat-El

 

 

Full color facing the sun

50mm

f/1.4

1/8000sec