Street Photography in Rotterdam

Rotterdam Centraal is the main station, with a steel canopy that points toward the city like a blade. Crowds pour out at rush hour and cyclists stream past the front. Frederic Paulussen, a Belgian street photographer, started his trip at the Provenierstunnel next to the station, a lit bike and foot tunnel he calls a good warm up that gets old soon. Use the tunnel's lines to frame a single cyclist, then move to the square out front. Stand under the canopy edge in the late afternoon, when light cuts across the forecourt. Bikes come fast here, so stay off the cycle paths.

The Luchtsingel is a bright yellow pedestrian bridge that links Rotterdam North to the centre, and Lomography notes it was the first public infrastructure project built through thousands of small donations. The yellow is the subject. Walkers in dark coats against it make instant graphic frames, especially on grey days when the color pops. Stand at one end and use the bridge's long diagonal as a leading line, or shoot from below to put people against the sky. It is a short walk from Centraal. Early morning and lunchtime bring the most people crossing.

The Markthal is a horseshoe shaped hall of apartments arching over food stalls, with a huge painted ceiling. Frederic Paulussen walked through twice and ate broodje kibbeling there while watching the crowd. Right next to it, the Binnenrotte hosts the Centrummarkt on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 8:00 to 17:30, which the city calls the second largest market in the Netherlands. Start outside with traders calling out, then move inside for overhead views from the escalators. Stallholders are working, so ask before close portraits. The hall is crowded at weekends, so hold your camera close.

The Cube Houses, designed by Piet Blom, tilt over the walkway at Overblaak next to Blaak station. Lomography describes them as living as an urban roof. Their tilted yellow faces make strange frames for people walking underneath. Frederic Paulussen found them less inspiring than he hoped, but spent time on Blaak square nearby, where the low evening sun gave him hard light to work with. Try shooting up through the gaps between cubes with a person at the edge of the frame. People live in these homes, so don't point your lens at the windows.

The Erasmusbrug is the white cable stayed bridge over the Maas and the city's best known landmark. Frederic Paulussen keeps coming back to it and found many compositions on and below the bridge. Its cables make repeating lines behind cyclists and walkers, and trams cross the middle. On cloudy days the scene turns almost monochrome, so look for a pop of color: he found his in a delivery rider. Stand on the north bank at blue hour for figures against the lit cables. Wind on the bridge can be strong, so strap in and keep a good grip.

Kop van Zuid is the old harbour district at the south end of the Erasmusbrug, rebuilt with towers and waterfront promenades. Frederic Paulussen wandered here, then visited the Nederlands Fotomuseum, which is worth an hour for inspiration. The promenades give clean backgrounds of water and glass. Wait for a single figure on the quay with the skyline behind. Low sun in the evening lights the towers across the water. The quays are open and windy, so dress for it, and watch your footing near the water's edge.

The market on the Afrikaanderplein, in Rotterdam South, runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and the city lists it as the third largest in the Netherlands. This is where you see everyday Rotterdam rather than its architecture. Traders call out prices while families shop for the week. Lomography describes the city's community as hyper diverse, and it shows here. Come in the late morning, work slowly along the aisles and chat before you shoot. Many shoppers value their privacy, so ask before a close portrait and accept a no.

Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen is a mirrored, bowl shaped art storage building in Museumpark. Frederic Paulussen loved it, though he couldn't shake the feeling that it looks like a plant pot. For street work, the mirror is the subject: people walking past appear twice, once in person and once warped in the facade. Stand close to the curve and wait for a walker to line up with their reflection. Soft light on overcast days keeps the reflections even. The park around it is calm on weekday mornings, so be patient for a single figure.