pursuing passion

Nikon D80 | 1/25 seconds | f 4.8 | ISO 100 | 48 mm [left side]
Nikon D80 | 1/30 seconds | f 4.0 | ISO 100 | 26 mm [right side]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just a week ago, a new friend of mine, Steph, told me that I must have a lot of photographic “benefits” from the fact that I’m a journalist. I laughted immediately as I read his email and replied at once: actually nothing that I do at work doesn’t implicate me taking photos. Still, my mind remained set on his words, and, unconsciously, I searched for opportunities. Said and done. In this January edition of the magazine I work for, standing proud and smiling are… my photos. I didn’t realized until I saw the printed version of the magazine, even if I selected them and decided what and where should be put. I must confess that it was a nice feeling to know that over 25.000 people will see my photos, although I sign every month at least two or three articles. Don’t know why, but it is not even close the same feeling.

The article is a cover story about a branded convenience store, named Oliviers and Co., who’s 85th boutique opened recently, thru a franchiser, in Bucharest. I gave you just one shot of these series: an imaginary ball made from little, tiny, bottles filled with extra virgin olive oil made in Provence, France, concept that is actually a trade mark for the store’s layout in the whole world. The article was written by my colleague, Andreea Ion. We made a pretty good team in this formula too.
It is not quite in my photographic target this kind of shots and I’m sure there are skilled and techniques needed for posing objects, but I really like the outcome.

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work”
Thomas Edison[American inventor and businessman.1847 – 1931]

wanted: people with personality

Nikon D80 | 1/30 seconds | f 5.3 | ISO 160 | 66 mm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I will never understand why there are people that don't understand diversity, that don't love ethnicity, or who don't understand their age or their limits. I guess I don't understand peoples that think in frames all the time, and, even more, I don't understand people that don't understand that the only one who can judge me is God.

"For everything there is a season,
And a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate,
A time for war, and a time for peace."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

p.s. the people that don't understand me are not welcomed here.

about perception and manipulation

Nikon D80 | 1/60 seconds | f 5.6 | ISO 125 | 112 mm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I recall quite well a moment back when I was at university, at one of many courses about journalistic deontology and writing techniques. It was the first seminary with Liviu Popescu, the professor that in just a few week will have to became our friend, mine and my colleagues.
At first, when he entered the class, it was one of that situation when nobody know about the other or what to aspect. Of course the ball was in his court. Looking back now, I have no doubt that he staged very well that moment. He brought a computer an played for us a series of images requiring that each one of us to write what he or she sees in that picture.
Sounds simple, no? And so we started to write.. “an old lady that was banished from her house”, “a skater who is preparing for the Olympics”, “a lovely puppy begging to be pat”, “a just married couple, very in loved, walking in the botanical garden”, “the storm who is on the verge to break out” and so on and so forth. And he started to name students randomly in order to get some answers. After a couple of minutes, he said loud and clear to each one of us: no, no and again no. You should have seen “an old lady”, “a skater”, “a dog”, “a man and a woman”, “landscape”... regardless the practical journalistic application of that short experiment, we all remember, as human beings, to “never assume”…

And, in conclusion, but with no evident connection what so ever with the above made statements, one of my favorites quotes…
“For art to exist, for any sort of aesthetic activity or perception to exist, a certain physiological precondition is indispensable: intoxication”
Friedrich Nietzsche quotes [German classical Scholar, Philosopher and Critic of culture, 1844-1900]

light and future in their hands

Nikon D80 | 1/400 seconds | f 5.6 | ISO 320 | 105 mm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Childhood - The 21st Century

How advanced they are, these children of the future,
Like small adults, within their tiny frames,
They grow up in a fast 'speed driven' culture,
Where 'learning pressures' change their kind of games,
Where is their childhood, in all this hurly burly,
Where is their pure untainted view of things,
Why do they have to grow so old, so early,
And lose the joy that only childhood brings.

Our childhood was filled with thoughts of joy and gladness,
We lived our lives, oblivious to the world
And all the hardships, wars, the grief and sadness,
We stood, waiting for our lives to be unfurled.
We had time to grow, and gain an understanding,
Of each new phase, each change along the way,
As we grew slowly, our senses all expanding,
So with clarity, we slowly changed our play.

We had a framework on which to build and flourish,
Slow and steady, this was no rushed affair,
Taking each step, then step by step to nourish,
Our childhood, so finally adulthood we would share.
What will become, of these 'New Century' learners,
I doubt if they, a dreamy childhood see,
Will they then tell to all those bright discerners
Of their own, how they remembered their childhood to be.

a poetry by Ernestine Northover*

source http://www.poemhunter.com

cheatchatting thru life

Nikon D80 | 1/15 seconds | f 5.6 | ISO 160 | 200 mm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I will always remember my first nikon week. it was also the first time when I was in the magic land of Sighisoara.. as you can see I was far for ready to use the camera, but I really like how it turned out this picture. I made me realized, again, the blessed period of childhood, without any wories..

"The child laughs: my wisdom and love is the game. The young man sings: my game and wisdom is the love. The old man says nothing: my love and game is the wisdom".
Lucian Blaga [a Romanian poet, playwright and philosopher. 1895 - 1961]
Lucian Blaga is the same who said “God, I have only one prayer: never let me be satisfied with myself!”

alfred's birds

Nikon D80 | 1/800 seconds | f 7.1 | ISO 800 | 75 mm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

this is a pleading for the need for good movies.

"I don`t understand why we have to experiment with film. I think everything should be done on paper. A musician has to do it, a composer. He puts a lot of dots down and beautiful music comes out. And I think that students should be taught to visualize. That`s the one thing missing in all this. The one thing that the student has got to do is to learn that there is a rectangle up there - a white rectangle in a theater - and it has to be filled. "
Alfred Hitchcock [British film director and producer. 1899-1980]


Movie lines from Alfred Hitchcock movie "The Birds" [1963]

Melanie Daniels: Just what is it you're looking for, sir?
Mitch Brenner: Lovebirds.
Melanie Daniels: Lovebirds, sir?
Mitch Brenner: Yes. I understand there are different varieties. Is that true?
Melanie Daniels: Oh yes, there are.
Mitch Brenner: Well, uh, these are for my sister, for her birthday, see, and uh, as she's only gonna be eleven, I, I wouldn't want a pair of birds that were... too demonstrative.
Melanie Daniels: I understand completely.
Mitch Brenner: At the same time, I wouldn't want them to be too aloof, either.
Melanie Daniels: No, of course not.
Mitch Brenner: Do you happen to have a pair of birds that are... just friendly?

identities in ruins

Nikon D80 | 1/250 seconds | f 5.6 | ISO 160 | 90 mm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Take nothing for granted as beautiful or ugly, but take every building to pieces, and challenge every feature. Learn to distinguish the curious from the beautiful. Get the habit of analysis - analysis will in time enable synthesis to become your habit of mind. 'Think simples' as my old master used to say - meaning to reduce the whole of its parts into the simplest terms, getting back to first principles.
- Frank Lloyd Wright [American Architect and Writer. 1867-1959]

Sighisoara is the only inhabited medieval fortress in Europe, and, even if annually it receives hundreds of tourists, the reconstruction program are delayed every year. In this rhythm, soon there won't be nothing left for one to see... In the mean time, there are voices who say that the modern architecture is the new perspective and due to the technologic and engineering developments made a bright future awaits us and we have nothing to sigh about...
What are the medieval fortress, what are the old castles, what are the traditional villages in front of the great process of globalization.
But, what about our identities?