In 2017 I found myself working on an EU Economic development project in Tbilisi, Georgia. It is an amazing city, sitting at the cross roads of Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Russia. Under the Soviets the old city was neglected. They preferred concrete tower blocks. Now, it is a gloriously decaying gem of a place, full of local character and charm. These pictures were taken using my Olympus OMD EM1 camera. Many of there pictures are taken under very low light conditions where conventional photographers would use bulky tripods to keep the camera stable. Not so the Olympus. All my pictures of Tbilisi are hand held with exposures up to a couple of seconds!
Crows flock over Trinity Cathedral and the Presidential palace The classic view of the old city One of the many Orthodox churches in Tbilisi, some more than 1000 years old. Washing lines are everywhere in the old city
Neglect and decay.
Professional beggars are common. This lady sits in exactly the same spot, outside a shopping mall, every day. A courtyard, with rickety balconies and wobbly wooden steps.
The fortress from the rooftop bar of my hotelOld TbilisiThe old cityOld folks living among decay and renewalDark alleyways. A portal to former times. I rented a flat just around the corner.The city is full of buildings like thisLooking downhill to the lights of the city below.Late night shoppingLight spilling out of windows into a dark alleyCoffee shop.Chinese massage parlours, TbilisiThe City from the top of the Mtastminda funicularThe corner shopDark FiguresDecay and ruinationLight spilling out an open doorwayOrthodox Churches at MtatsmindaWashing linesBlue light
