In the eyes of God - From Laos to Carmel

I've been wanting to be a little looser with my compositions - less perfectionist and more spontaneous. I shot these pictures on the spur of the moment as I walked from the Rosemont metro station to the salon where I had my hair cut this afternoon. 

I walked down an alley behind a series of houses that face St. Denis Street, just south of the CP railway tracks. The alley runs from Laos Street to Du Carmel Street. On the other side of the alley is the high stone wall of the Carmelite Convent. I shot whatever I came across, rarely shooting the same scene twice. 

When I looked at the results I was surprised to see so much evidence of family life - clothes drying on the line, children's toys - and people's interests - a soccer ball, a canoe, a kayak. I was also pleasantly surprised to see so much plant life - flowers, vines and trees. The alley was less forlorn than I had imagined at first sight.