Street Delivery. A People's Story

The most waited-summer-announcing event of 2ooo and ten, at least for me, is Street Delivery, a local project that "closes the streets for the cars and opens them for the people". This year was the fifth edition and the best so far if you ask me. After last year when I had such high expectations and came up empty, photographically speaking, this year I can say that I'm satisfied by the outcome. Bellow you can find a short selection and if you want to see more you can go here.

p.s. As you can see I have a brand new copyright watermark. I know that it can be an inconvenient, but taking in consideration that last week somebody stole one of my picture I said that was about time to make one... It's not quite what I had in mind, but it works for the moment.

life's snapshots

The last days I've struggled, with all my power, not to fall in the despair that surrounds me. Regardless of what happens in the world, in your country, with your government, at work, on the way home, I've realized that one has the choice to be thankful and to try to make the best of his life or... not. Don't mistake this kind of attitude with naivety, futility or ignorance. It has nothing to do with that.

"Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is bliss, taste it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it." - Mother Teresa

lifedried

Patrick Summerfield said that black and white photography is like a perfect lie. Now, what can I say, better a lie than a common-colored-spoiled image.

music bath in plaine street

Nikon D80 | 1/50 seconds | f 5.3 | ISO 200 | 58 mm

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"An artist, in giving a concert, should not demand an entrance fee but should ask the public to pay, just before leaving as much as they like. From the sum he would be able to judge what the world thinks of him - and we would have fewer mediocre concerts."

Kit Coleman [born Catherine Ferguson. Canada's Pioneer Woman Journalist. 1864 - 1915]

the storytellers

Nikon D80 | 1/40 seconds | f 16 | ISO 200 | 44 mm [left]

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Nikon D80 | 1/500 seconds | f 9 | ISO 200 | 60 mm [right]

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These puppets are made by a local designer named Ana Ponta. You can find more about her work and even buy one by accessing her web page. All her models are made manually.

It is said that the most difficult thing to do is make a puppet walk and talk, but still all the time I stood there and watch Ana Ponta selling her dolls I was under the impression that he is selling also stories.

“Storytellers, by the very act of telling, communicate a radical learning that changes lives and the world: telling stories is a universally accessible means through which people make meaning” Chris Cavanaugh [an American voice actress who has a distinctive speaking style and has provided the voice for a large range of cartoon characters]

selling desires

Nikon D80 | 1/200 seconds | f 5.3 | ISO 200 | 60 mm

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What I found at Street Delivery? People that want to escape. From what or where? Nothing or anything or everything… anywhere. Or maybe just from the concrete walls. It’s one of my favorites shots and it made me remember a text a friend of mine wrote. Maybe you won’t find the connections in the first place, but… sleep on it.

Here it goes…

“Why should we lay on the grass?

I forgot. I’m forgetting. I’m fighting not to forget… the smell of grass. No, I meant the smells of grass, for there are different kinds. The smell of thirsty grass, thirsty and blunted by the cruel sun and by the rockers spiked boots. A pungent, ancient like the furniture in grandma’s house, smell.

The smell of fresh rained on grass or, even more intense, of dew. Delight, slumber, flight, swimming, a woman’s body or anything else that a relaxed mind can draw up. Powerful like a “Paco Rabane” on a seeking male body. Protective, like a wreath of chestnut tree in plain summer or like grandma’s rough hand caressing the child’s skin. Tasty like a peach… Bashful like a schoolgirl… Sweet just like the breast of your first love and bitter like a fight with your mother.

The smell of wet grass opens the gates of imagination, of freedom… Freedom has such a strong resonance… Imagination has no boundaries. Sensations, tastes, colors, memories, wrap around a tiny, stray, soul, with once precise direction, and though, without no goal.

Did I answer the question? Why should we lay on the grass? Aren’t you convinced yet? Go to the first park and make a first step. Doesn’t work? Then run for Sighisoara or London. It’s worth-while!”

p.s. thank you Bogdan for your lovely personal thought that you found proper to share with your friend.

binding waxed pages

Nikon D80 | 1/30 seconds | f 16 | ISO 200 | 62 mm

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Today was the first day – out of three – of StreetDelivery Bucharest, a local street event that “closes the streets for the cars and opens them for the people”. Although the activities were programmed to begin at noon today, when I arrived there the image was quite disappointing. But.. I didn’t loose my hope.

Anyway, from the few things ready was the booth where will take place a workshop about bookbinding. There I took the picture above. Not an extraordinary scene one may say. I agree… not for momentousness I decided to post it, but for the roots of that word… “oracle”. So follow me if you please…

Oracles are the old “memory books” that we used to make in school. I remember that I had my first one when I was in eight grade (this is like a year away from high school in accordance with the romanian education system). It had a deep blue cover and the pages were burned on the sides, wax was dropped here and there and lipstick fake kisses were in the corners.

“What’s your name” or “if I’m not too indiscreet, when did you appear on this planet?” – were two of the not so inspired and shy first questions of the oracle. “What’s your favorite dish?”, “what’s your favorite movie?” or “what do you want to become in life?” and many more, followed them. But the best part of this foolish game was when a boy or girl that you liked accepted to write in your book. It was such an innocent emotional moment. Do you remember? Have you had such a book?

As years gone by, the oracles are less popular. Now we have messenger ids, we are frivol users of facebook, hi5 or some other mass online community and we have blogs, an erudite form of this memory books.

I wonder what will write the passing byes of StreetDelivery 2009 if asked so…

p.s. ii multumesc lui alin care m'a invatat cum sta treaba cu filtrele astea :P

daily childhood mysteries

Nikon D80 | 1/400 seconds | f 3.5 | ISO 100 | 50 mm

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“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.”

Albert Einstein [German born American Physicist who developed the special and general theories of relativity. Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. 1879-1955]

made it through the night

Nikon D80 | 1/50 seconds | f 4 | ISO 640 | 50 mm

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...going through a grey period, have you noticed?

“What is a face, really? Its own photo? Its make-up? Or is it a face as painted by such or such painter? That which is in front? Inside? Behind? And the rest? Doesn't everyone look at himself in his own particular way? Deformations simply do not exist”

Pablo Picasso [25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973. spanish painter and sculptor. one of the most recognized figures in 20th-century art, he is best known for co-founding the Cubist movement and for the wide variety of styles embodied in his work]

imaginary game of hide and seek

Nikon D80 | 1/1000 seconds | f 5.3 | ISO 100 | 58 mm

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...hiding my thoughts behind an umbrella, in plain summer, it's what i do best.

damaged DNA

Nikon D80 | 1/80 seconds | f 4 | ISO 100 | 26 mm

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"A man's memory may almost become the art of continually varying and misrepresenting his past, according to his interest in the present."

George Santayana [1863 – 1952. philosopher, essayist, poet and novelist]

reed's riot

Nikon D80 | 1/10 seconds | f 3.5 | ISO 100 | 50 mm

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"There is no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterward you can remove all traces of reality."

Pablo Picasso [25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973. spanish painter and sculptor. one of the most recognized figures in 20th-century art, he is best known for co-founding the Cubist movement and for the wide variety of styles embodied in his work]

almost barefoot

Laced moccasins are a common element of the Romanian traditional wardrobe, which is only natural if we think that we are a nation with profound rural reminiscence. Even nowadays one can find laced moccasin in remotes parts of the country used in every day labor. The moccasins are made manually, from pig, cattle or donkey leather. You can buy a pair with less than 10 euros. Wear it or just expose it as a local keepsake.

p.s. at first, i intended to make a post with the woman in the image. i wanted to tell you all about the short but intens interaction i had with her. i changed my mind, realizing that it will be too poor in comparison with the reality.

“When you find yourself beginning to feel a bond between yourself and the people you photograph, when you laugh and cry with their laughter and tears, you will know you are on the right track.”

Arthur Fellig - American Photographer

ethnographical networking

Nikon D80 | 1/40 seconds | f 3.5 | ISO 100 | 50 mm

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I began yesterday a series of pictures taken last Saturday at the Romanian Village Museum (Muzeul Satului). I’ve spent some great couple of hours there and I decided to post, separately, some of my favorites shots, with a short comment regarding some cultural Romanian habits.

But first, I thought it would be nice to gather for you a short description of the Village Museum. So enjoy reading and maybe, someday, visiting this fantastic place.

The Village Museum was a very nice idea of some Romanian sociologists, started in 1925 by Professor Dimitrie Gusti. The idea was to create a museum demonstrating the sociological structure of the Romanian village. During the time, more and more objects have been moved from their original place to Bucharest. You will have to remember that the ample works for hydro-amelioration in the northern part of Bucharest (the capital of Romania) began only in 1932, when Herastrau Park was being born. 4,5 hectares were allocated to the project. Gradually, the area was filled by houses and the Village Museum was inaugurated on May 10th 1936 together with the Herastrau Park.

The exhibition has a total of 322 constructions (47 dwellings, household dependencies, 3 wooden churches, 3 windmills, technical installations that use the force of the water etc.)

The best thing is that they are organized in Romania's ethnographical regions: Transylvania, Moldova, Dobrogea, etc. It really takes you on a tour of the country's rich tradition of folk architecture and art. Plus, it's a nice relaxing walk that makes you forget you are actually in a city, and the nice view of the lake in the neighboring Herastrau Park adds to the "summer holidays" feeling!

Entrance to the park is free, while entrance to the Village Museum costs 6 Lei (1.20 GBP) per adult and 3 Lei (0.60 GBP) per child/student.

For more information you can go here. You can find also more pictures, with larger perspectives, and reviews from real travelers.

I used the following sources of information:

http://www.muzeul-satului.ro/

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Romania/Municipiul_Bucuresti/Bucharest-520545/Things_To_Do-Bucharest-Village_Museum-BR-1.html

how to grow old with grace

Nikon D80 | 1/400 seconds | f 3.5 | ISO 100 | 50 mm
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seven reason why I like best old structures over new people:

*they don't invent stories to seem more interesting
*they know how to keep a secret
*they are proud about their age
*they know how to suffer in silence
*they know how to make you feel like home
*they have personality
*they aren't ashamed to see you naked all the time

brides parade

Nikon D80 | 1/640 seconds | f 5.6 | ISO 100 | 135 mm
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sunday. 17th may 2009. Bucharest. 11.00 a.m. and almost 30 degrees Celsius. first edition of Bride Parade. what's the catch? any women that has more than eighteen years old, married or with plans, or anyone that has a bride dress and wet dreams to become a wife, can participate to the march on one of the most famous bulevards - Calea Victoriei (that means something like the way of the victory. huh, what can i say.. a predestinated name). and from grace I will not make any coment about their dresses, afterall, tastes are subjective.

at first glance it seems to be more photographers than brides. to complete the mockery, lots and lots of police men and casual audience. not really my type of event, but still i've given it a shot. the outcome: 900 shots. it remained 360 after a harsh sorting. did I mentioned that I had zero expectation? and there I was with 360 shot quite nice.. how can one not make a post in this circumstances? So, I selected 40, processed 14, picked 7 and.. then crashed under the "to post or not to post"dilemma.

finally I decided to put this one. seem more elegant and in line with this place. the woman in the picture is Loredana Groza, a well known romanian singer. she lead the parade and she was a real lady.

if you are curiouse about her, you can have a taste here. you will hear her sing a famous traditional romanian song.

p.s who knows.. maybe I'll do a sequel about this event..

the lemon tango

Nikon D80 | 1/4 seconds | f 3.8 | ISO 100 | 20 mm
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"The female nude – magical, erotic, aesthetic – has been modeled and painted since prehistory. Appearing rarely and awkwardly in the earliest art, she attained fulfillment and glory in ancient Greece. In their idealized treatment of the nude, The Greeks established a standard that only the asceticism of the Middle Ages ignored. The artists of the Renaissance and their successors of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries revived the nude, and by the 1930’s she was again a conventional form. It was inevitable that she should become a favorite subject of photography."
Peter Lacey [Introduction. History of the Nude in Photography by Peter Lacey and Anthony La Rotonda]

a worthy opponent

Olympus SP500UZ | 1/100 seconds | f 3.3 | ISO 100 | 15.8 mm
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“Most gods throw dice, but fate plays chess, and you don't find out til too late that he's been playing with two queens all along.”
Terry Pratchett [English Writer, b.1948]

... I don't actually believe in fate. I believe in God. But I like the irony.

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]
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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]

the sea of sunset

Nikon D80 | 1/4000 seconds | f 1.8 | ISO 160 | 50 mm
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Nikon D80 | 1/800 seconds | f 4.5 | ISO 160 | 145 mm
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Nikon D80 | 1/800 seconds | f 7.1 | ISO 160 | 85 mm
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Nikon D80 | 1/250 seconds | f 5.3 | ISO 100 | 58 mm
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Nikon D80 | 1/1600 seconds | f 4.8 | ISO 1250 | 48 mm
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This is the land the sunset washes,
These are the banks of the Yellow Sea;
Where it rose, or whither it rushes,
These are the western mystery!

Night after night her purple traffic
Strews the landing with opal bales;
Merchantmen poise upon horizons,
Dip, and vanish with fairy sails.

Emily Dickinson. Poems, Series 1. XII The Sea of Sunset