Street Scenes from Benghazi

[Paul Lange]

If you're into urban decay then Benghazi has got to be the place to go. Much of the city is made up of old buildings that have been left to slowly fall apart. This is the opposite in Tripoli where it is mostly made up of new buildings that have been left to slowly fall apart!

This is a fairly typical street and quite possibly in a good area as indicated by the yellow Beetle. I still find it hard to tell the good areas from the bad ones. The flat I stay in in Tripoli is apparently in a good area to be. By strolling around the area you would never know!

A Shop! Some can be hard to find and when you find them it's not always obvious what they sell. It took me 6 months to discover that there was a DIY shop 100 yards from my flat. I saw it all the time but never knew what it sold until the owner done the place up and I saw some tools on display from outside.

Kids playing in the street. I've been enough times now to understand that everything is relative. Many of you will think that this might be a poverty stricken area, not so the standard of living is quite high. It took me a while not to judge using things by my own standards. In fact, it's better not to judge at all.

 

[Pete Askew]

I do enjoy these street scenes Paul. Despite the recent event there is a certain freshness to them - I guess its the light. Have things changed that much?

 

[Paul Lange]

It's all good now and much more relaxed than before. People were often frightened to say anything against the regime as Gadaffi had internal security personnel everywhere and no one really knew who to trust. All that has gone know and people just concentrate on trying to put things right. Even at night you can wander about alone with no problems.

 

[Darren Turner]

photo 2 is the ultimate in street photography in my opinion especially with regards to its location and what these people have been put through............ looks like you have been spotted to

Thanks for posting these really interesting shots

Daz

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Brilliant set Paul. What a great opportunity to take advantage of their street life whilst interest is not shown in the photography kit that you had on you.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Great shots Paul!
Your very luck imo to have the opportunity to visit places like this with your work!
are you back now then?

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Great set, Paul. Kudos to you for doing it.

 

[Brian Moore]

Excellent set, Paul. Very nice to hear that you can go out and not feel threatened. I like the strong backlighting in the first two. That guy looking at you in #2 is the same bloke who appears to be looking inside the shop in #1, no? That provides some nice perspective. #3, with the kids oot playing, could be just about anywhere in the world, couldn't it?

Anyway, very cool to be able to see these.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

You had me at the title Paul - Benghazi, it just sounds exciting

 

[Paul Lange]

Thank you all. I'm back in UK back looking to go back out next week to chase down an order. It's a friendly place, as it always was but much more relaxed now. Even with people walking around with AK47s it doesn't feel threatening.