Tbilisi

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 hotel
Old Tbilisi
The old city
Old folks living among decay and renewal
Dark alleyways. A portal to former times.
I rented a flat just around the corner.
The city is full of buildings like this
Looking downhill to the lights of the city below.
Late night shopping
Light spilling out of windows into a dark alley
Coffee shop.
Chinese massage parlours, Tbilisi
The City from the top of the Mtastminda funicular
The corner shop
Dark Figures
Decay and ruination
Light spilling out an open doorway
Orthodox Churches at Mtatsminda
Washing lines
Blue light